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NEW YORK GLITTERS IN JANUARY FOR VIP WEEKEND

Many Trust members gathered in New York last January, 2002 for our VIP New York Weekend, to participate in the activities of Americana Week. Built around the Winter Antiques Show that benefits the East Side House Settlement, Americana Week includes auction sales, antiques shows all over town, exhibits at dealers’ shops and at many museums timed to coincide with the January extravaganza.

This year, additional elements added excitement to the trip. The East Side Show had been forced by the events of September 11 to leave the Armory for the first time in 48 years. Would the buyers follow it across town? There was great uncertainty about auction prices. In the fall, sales had been poor; would they continue to plummet? And one of the most celebrated families of American antiques, the Sacks, were closing their shop. Was it the end of The Antiques World As We Know It?

Not at all! We watched auction prices for fine objects rise confidently, in multiple sales at all of the houses. We staggered happily around numerous shows. We were invited to visit several dealers’ shops, and were guided through an impressive exhibition at Hirschl and Adler Gallery by Stuart Feld’s daughter, Elizabeth, the younger member of the firm. Hirschl and Adler joins several of the nation’s decorative arts institutions celebrating landmark anniversaries this year: in this case, its 50th.

We joined members of the museum and collecting world at a farewell reception held at the firm of Israel Sack and Sons, hosted by Albert Sack. Toasts were made and memories were shared of a firm whose influence on the field of American antiques has been extraordinary. The doorway to the shop - whose image on advertisements and publications has made it an icon of American antiques - has been given to the Winterthur Museum. Winterthur’s Director, Leslie Greene Bowman, who accepted it at the reception, spoke of the gift with enthusiasm. “We’re thrilled to have the doorway, and are designing a space in our galleries to keep it on display.”

Our private tour around the East Side Show, before its opening to the general public, was arranged by Trust member Sarah Donnem, a Senior member of the Show Committee. Guiding us were some of “the best in the business” (and good friends of the Trust): Sumpter Priddy, of Sumpter Priddy III, Inc.; Clifford Harvard, of Leigh Keno American Antiques; and Ralph Harvard, of Ralph Harvard, Incorporated. They knew the show well, and their guidance gave us the opportunity to see and discuss objects they knew would interest us.

We dined as guests of John Smiroldo, founder and publisher of The Catalogue of Antiques and Fine Art, and Johanna McBrien, its Editor in Chief. Cabinetmaker Alan Breed talked with us about making Newport tables, and demonstrated the carving of a Newport claw and ball foot - a presentation so enthralling that we asked him to join us in New Haven to give Philadelphia’s foot an equal opportunity.

Then, like true antiques junkies, we hurried back into the show, checking our watches and wondering how many additional shows or museums we could attend before closing. Once more the “January High” would keep us going until spring.

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