Date: Fri 06-Nov-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: SHIRLE

Quick Words:

Fifth

Full Text:

Fifth Avenue Art And Antiques Show

w/cuts

By Susan and Al Bagdade

NEW YORK CITY -- Frederique Browne's ninth annual Fifth Avenue Art and

Antiques Show benefiting ChildHope and Nathaniel Wharton Fund opened one day

earlier than the four other antiques events in New York City during the

exceptionally busy week of shows in mid-October.

The historic mansion owned by the Ukrainian Institute of America hosted 22

selected American and European dealers who exhibited antiques and fine arts

from October 15-19.

Many of the exhibitors were showing at the Fifth Avenue Show for the first

time. They were anxious to be a part of the exciting "antiques week" and were

hopeful that attendees at the other shows would also find their way to the

lovely mansion located just one block south of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Numerous dignitaries involved with the United Nations were in attendance at

the preview. The exhibitors were utilizing all three floors of the historic

mansion for their displays, and Frederique Browne was greeting people who

attended the show during all five days.

Newcomer Timothy Bruce-Dick of The Alberti Gallery from London featured the

work of Russian artist Olga Suvorova, a post-communist generation artist. She

is especially known in England for her wooden screens with richly ornamented

characters from history. She is also known for oil portraits, one of which

sold early in the show. The screens were also being shown for the first time

in New York and to a receptive audience as well. The "St. Petersbury Court"

screen was available for $17,500, and one of courtiers was $6,500. In a more

affordable format were some delightful scenes of Russian folklore in

watercolors on paper priced from $100/175.

Hallam and Swope from Ancram, N.Y., was pleased with his new third floor room

for his exhibit. Early in the preview evening he sold a circa 1830s adjustable

day bed to a New York resident. Dating circa 1820 was a wonderful pair of

Empire candelabra in gilt bronze, marble, and patinated bronze for $22,000,

while a circa 1870 French Gregco revival gilt bronze mantel clock was $5,500.

With a replaced marble-top was a circa 1820 New York classical fall front desk

for $13,500.

French objets d'art from the Seventeenth to Twentieth Century were displayed

by first timer Les Deux Iles from New York City in a large, spacious exhibit.

One case was filled with an interesting collection of corkscrews made of

brass, bronze, and iron. Nineteenth Century silver plated wall sconces were

tagged $2,400, and an Eighteenth Century French walnut bergere signed

Delaporte was $4,200.

The Gallery of European Art from Trumbull, Conn. was at Fifth Avenue for the

first time and was featuring Albert de Belleroche's "charcoal drawings on

stone" which were very expressive and sensitive renderings of women. The

French artist also has works in the Metropolitan Museum and National Gallery

in Washington, D.C. Another French artist, Louis Legrand, was also shown with

etchings and aquatints.

Dennis R. Dodds from Philadelphia, Penn., showed antique rugs and textiles

from Asia, the Near East, and Europe. New Yorker John Norwood Antiques

exhibited for the first time with an eclectic mix of French and English

antiques. We note a French 1930 steel and brass round dental table tagged

$4,800, and a French Eighteenth Century commode, $9,500.

First timer Escabelle has a shop in SoHo in New York City, and specialized in

Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century neoclassical furniture. For $18,500 one

could take home an Empire mahogany, bronze and gilt daybed from Lyon, France,

and a 1790 Dijon bahut a deux corps (double sideboard) in walnut and marquetry

for $22,000.

Elaine Miller from New York and Raleigh, N.C. was the new dealer in estate and

antique jewelry. Fine pieces from Tiffany, David Webb, Cartier, Oscar Heyman,

Van Cleef and Arpels and others attracted interest.

Le Trianon from Sheffield, Mass., was also a newcomer with high quality

Seventeenth, Eighteenth, and Nineteenth Century European furniture and

accessories. Of special interest was a mid-Eighteenth Century Hungarian gilt

wood and engraved mirror featuring a rectangular beveled plate with lapped

border, the frame inset with floral panels centered by a scalloped shell, and

crested with central quatrefoil cartouches, $89,000. An important pair of

ebonized rosewood brass mounted cabinets from the 2nd quarter of the

Nineteenth Century was $68,000.

Another Massachusetts dealer was Lawrence J. Perna Antiques from Medfield

showing Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century furniture for the first time at

Fifth Avenue. He is known for always carrying bow front chests and does his

own restorations. Dating circa 1790-1800 was a mahogany Hepplewhite bow front

chest with graduated cock beaded drawers, ribbon stripe and plum pudding

mahogany, boxwood and rosewood inlays and flared French feet for $4,800.

Probably of English origin was a circa 1750-1780 Cuban mahogany Queen Anne tea

table with birdcage tilt-top and original brass catch for $2,250.

Returning exhibitor Jonathan Burden, Inc., from New York moved upstairs to the

larger space and was sharing with Mark Thormahlen since both displayed fine

English furniture. There was much interest here in the bookcase, mahogany

sympathetic dining table and some chairs.

Fitted for a TV cabinet was a circa 1800 George III mahogany linen press

stamped Gillows of Lancaster for $12,500.

New York dealer San Lorenzo set up for its first time in the entry was with a

Baltic Nineteenth Century beaded birch dining table and set of six Swedish

Empire birch side chairs for $12,500.

Flemington, New Jersey's Klinesville House Antiques sold some good Mason's

china during the preview and had much interest in a dining table, English

ceramics, and brass candlesticks.

Returning from last year was Elisabeth de Bussy, Inc., from New Canaan, Conn.

Fine delftware, Oriental Export porcelains, pottery, and high country

Continental furniture are her interests. Robin Miller and Claire White from

New York displayed French and Italian furniture. First timer Gallerius

collection form East Wareham, Mass., showed fine Oriental ceramics and silver.

Returning dealer Isaacs and Isaacs from Louisville, Ky., reported both good

traffic during the show and a good mix of dealers with all the newcomers. He

was pleased with some sales during the preview evening, including some to

designers for the resale market. His fine English and Continental furniture

and accessories showed well at the top of the stairs on the second floor.

Silver included a pair of George II dinner plates with engraved armorial by

Paul De Lamerie from London dating 1734-1735 for $6,900. Dating circa

1814-1815 was a sterling silver dinner plate with an engraved crest and a

gadrooned border made by Paul Storr in London, $2,400.