After an impressive turnout of more than 1,500 guests at the opening night preview on Thursday, February 9, the inaugural Naples Art, Antique & Jewelry Show opened its doors on Friday, February 10, to an enthusiastic crowd of art connoisseurs, private collectors and serious buyers that traveled from all over South Florida to attend the event. The show ran through February 13.
Taking place in a 40,000-square-foot luxury, climate-controlled tent christened the Naples Exhibition Center, the show featured more than 75 international exhibitors showcasing their fine collections that included major works of art, antique and estate jewelry, furniture, porcelain, Asian antiquities, American and European silver, glass, textiles, sculpture, contemporary art and more.
“There has been a great turnout so far,” Albert Levy of A.B. Levy Palm Beach, said during the show’s run. “The guests are showing a lot of interest in my pieces.”
“After two days, there is a lot of traffic and enthusiasm. We have made some sales and have more to come,” said Greg Kwiat of Fred Leighton, New York City and Las Vegas.
“What a great gate!” added Carol Pier of Naples-based Pier & Co. “I am very happy to be making contacts.”
Tim Stevenson of Carlson & Stevenson Antiques, Manchester Center, Vt., said, “We have had quite a few sales and are very happy with the turnout, facility and guests. The show is fabulous and we are very impressed.”
Several dealers reported strong sales for the first full show day, including Antediluvian, Arader Galleries, J.S. Fearnley, Eve Stone, Only Authentics, Sherry Sheaf & Co., Fred Leighton and Eostone, among others.
Antediluvian sold two rose medallion pieces, a covered tureen and a presentation bowl with ormolu mounts, circa 1820. The dealers also sold a Chinese lacquer turtle box, circa 1900, a Nineteenth Century Irish carved bench seat with Scalamandre fabric and an Alaskan Inuit carved walrus tusk, circa 1910, among other sales.
J.S. Fearnley sold an Art Deco Tiffany sapphire and diamond bracelet, a white gold and diamond bracelet by Henry Dunay and a pair of Van Cleef & Arpels earrings, while noted vintage and antique handbag dealer Only Authentics sold an Hermès Birkin bag.
Eve Stone, Woodbury, Conn., sold a lot of very interesting French copper, and Arader Galleries’ clients have been very responsive to Audubons.
Sherry Sheaf & Co. sold a limited edition Vhernier Pirouette charity ring. Vhernier has joined forces with Artists for Peace and Justice, a nonprofit organization serving Haitian children and their families, to create a limited edition Pirouette ring.
Fossil and natural history specialist Eostone, Doral, Fla., sold a 50-million-year-old framed fossil tile, a 12-by-18-inch tile with the Priscacara liops.
Lillian Nassau, New York City, sold a Charles Martin original artwork for New Yorker Magazine, circa 1956, titled “Archery Class.”
Vendome sold an Art Deco-style 2-carat diamond ring with sapphires and emeralds, while The Englishman Gallery sold a maritime scene oil painting from 1910, and M.S. Rau Antiques, New Orleans, wrote up the sale of a French Impressionist oil painting, circa 1885.
TK Asian Antiquities, Williamsburg, Va., and New York City, sold a rare 500-year-old book that has all gold pages and is inscribed with the most popular sutras. The asking price for the book was in the six figures.
Carlson & Stevenson Antiques sold the original artwork for a book published by Prentice-Hall †a book of a “collection of historical American flags.”
“All we have been hearing from the crowd is how pleased they are that [we] finally came to Naples,” said Christopher English of Antediluvian.
“There has been a great response to our Charles Martin original artwork and lots of interest in George Nakashima furniture and our Tiffany lamps,” said Arlie Sulka of Lillian Nassau.
Michael Teller of TK Asian Antiquities also said, “We have met some of the most interesting people we have ever met in 30 years of doing shows. I spent nine hours with one couple and four hours with another couple. These people are knowledgeable and the exchange of conversation and intelligence is unlike any other. Naples has proven itself in interest and intellect.”
The Palm Beach Show Group is now gearing up for its next show, the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show, which runs February 17′1 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. The prestigious show will feature more than 180 international exhibitors.
For more information, 561-822-5440 or www.palmbeachshow.com .
