8th Annual Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antiques Show, West Palm Beach, February 18-22, 2011

Saturday, 16 April 2011 05:28

After only eight years, the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show has quickly established itself as the most anticipated event of the season in South Florida, both for dealers and collectors. Tens of thousands of savvy collectors, industry experts, and serious collectors flocked to the annual event, which saw active buying and an enthusiasm that was electric. Antiques industry icon Ronald Bourgeault commented, “I’ve never seen such crowds at an antique show—it was packed.” With the collections of more than 180 world-renowned dealers on display, the show featured a broad spectrum of items available for purchase, including fine art, antique and estate jewelry, furniture, porcelain, Asian art, American and European silver, glass, textiles, sculpture, contemporary art and more, ranging from the antiquities to the twentieth century. In addition to the strong paintings and jewelry sales, decorative arts and furniture faired extremely well. Buying energy was high and showed no sign of a slow economy. Says Phil Tyler of Sallea Antiques, “This was probably our best show of the year. It’s the best far and away and consistent from year to year.”

“We’ve done a considerable amount of business,” said Graham Arader of Arader Galleries, who sold several Audubon prints of birds, Gould prints of hummingbirds, and Thornton prints of flowers. Jim Alterman, of Jim’s of Lambertville and Ashley John Gallery, stated “The sales this year were the best we’ve ever had at a Palm Beach Show Group fair, and sales have continued after the show from clients who attended.” He adds, “Buyers came from across the country and bought a range of materials, from our jewelry to Pennsylvania impressionist and contemporary paintings.” Among his sales was a seven-figure Edward Redfield painting to a new collector that he met at the show. Howard Rehs echoed the point about this year’s attendance and continued, “We met a lot of new clients this year, and the people who come to this show are educated about the material and understand what they are looking at.” Alan Granby of Hyland Granby Antiques added, “There was a higher level of energy and enthusiasm this year, which resulted in more sales. It was a terrific show.” Among his sales was a rare, carved and gilded eagle, asking price of $250,000, paintings, and scrimshaw. Gavin Spanierman, who sold, among other things, an Ernest Lawson painting, noted, “I am very pleased with the attendance and quality of the collectors present.”

8th Annual Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antiques Show, West Palm Beach, February 18-22, 2011

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