International Fine Art and Antique Dealers Show

Browsing events like the International Fine Art and Antique Dealers Show isn’t just for potential buyers. Anyone interested in art and design should consider attending such shows. It hones your eye, educates you about the marketplace and helps put things in perspective across the board. In fact it’s this connecting the dots that’s my favorite aspect, tracing inspiration and finding common threads throughout disciplines and eras.

While a source of inspiration for years, interest in India has been enjoying a recent resurgence. So I was pleased to see the booth of Samina Inc, the only gallery to specialize in “rare and collectable antique jewellery and jewelled arts of India.” When I mentioned to Dr. Samina Khanyar, the founder, that I have several books I need to revisit, including Made for Maharajahs, she replied, not surprisingly that the author, Amin Jaffer, is a close friend.

It was in this volume that I was introduced to the opulence and splendor of these incredible jewels. Samina carries pieces from all eras. The elegant gold, diamond and emerald armlet at top is late 19th century Rajasthan while the decorative paisley shaped turban ornament above is 18th century Mughal. The reverse is enameled with a receptacle for a feather. You may have never thought about the existence of turban ornaments but they were “crests of honor, the ultimate symbol of royalty or royal favor. A presentation of a turban ornament indicated imperial approval.”

I was immediately taken with this stunning 20th century necklace, that “simulates the buds of the Michelia champaca flower.” With Burmese sapphires, rubies, diamonds and Basra pearls, the champakali necklace is one of the oldest Indian necklace designs.

Jane Kahan is an internationally respected NYC gallery dealing primarily in modern masters but is also one of the few who carries fine art tapestries as well, including this beautiful Yvette Cauquil-Prince “La faune, la belle et l’oiseau” from 1960, above.

She was one of the first to deal in Picasso ceramics, seen above with his “Head of a Woman” linocut.

John Mitchell Fine Paintings of London is a family owned third generation business, who had a beautiful collection of classic art at the show. Dutch still lifes are one of my favorite genres and this lovely Elias van den Broeck was a pretty example.

Painter Georg Frederik Ziesel lived in Antwerp where floral still lifes were especially popular, signifying an emphasis on home. What is truly amazing, however, is that this was reverse painted on glass. Beautiful even before I knew that, it was astounding to realize that all the intricate refined detail was hand painted backwards.

And from the French School, this 1820 “feathered choir” is charming. The brooding sky really sets off the menagerie of birds.

I had intended to include more from the show today, but after a long day, my eyes are just not cooperating. So stop by on Sunday to see more from the show.