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A luminous hanging dragonfly lamp (71-inches overall) was created by Tiffany Studios of leaded glass and bronze in 1905. Dragonflies were a popular motif then, as now. Geoffrey Diner Gallery (price not available).
From a Tiffany chandelier to small-scale sculpture, animal-loving collectors will find much to admire.
New York's 56th Annual Winter Antiques show – a cultural event with special cachet for its combination of art, charity and commerce – opened today at the Park Avenue Armory. Some 75 top dealers from around the world are showcasing rare antiques from ancient times through the 1970s in elaborate booths filled with fresh flowers.
Winter Antiques is the crown jewel of an intense week of auctions and antique fairs that attracts top collectors and dealers to New York each year. Dealers offer their best and rarest pieces and, on opening night, the New York collecting elite gets a few private hours shopping along with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Once pieces are sold, they are whisked off the floor.
Proceeds benefit New York's East Side House Settlement, a non-profit organization that provides social services to residents of the South Bronx. The show runs until Jan. 31; daily 12 pm – 8 pm; Sunday and Thursday until 8 pm. General admission is $20.
While trends are virtually nonexistent – after all, nothing is new – this is the first time in five years where a clear theme emerged. Animals appeared in so many forms, materials and sizes it seems dealers and collectors have "back to nature" very much in mind.
We loved these two seated cats. Left, a cast-iron cat doorstop shown by Frank and Barbara Pollack is signed and dates to ca. 1930, ($4950). The other (right) is a painted chalkware sculpture made from Plaster of Paris in Pennsylvania, ca. 1860, from Olde Hope Antiques ($6500).
There was a veritable petting zoo at Barbara Israel Garden Antiques. An intricately worked composition stone peacock by Edric Soderholtz of Bar Harbor, Maine, dates between 1925 and 1940. Drill marks indicate it was likely part of a fountain. ($4950).
This English terra cotta dog, made around 1870, is larger than life size ($14,500) and so realistic I could almost hear him bark. I wonder who inspired the sculptor? Barbara Israel Garden Antiques.
The delicate lines of the cast-metal fountain in the form of a heron was made in 1950, fabricated by Pompeian Studios in New York. When installed, water streams out of the bird's beak. Barbara Israel Garden Antiques ($4500)
This incredibly charming Noah's Ark has 53 pairs of animals, all hand-carved and painted wood, made in Germany, ca. 1875. The door of the ark slides open. The animals are displayed on a special wall rack. Robert Young Antiques ($65,000)
Here's a close up of some ark animals which have realistic expressions and incredible detail. Robert Young Antiques.
