Under the New York Big Top

Attention collectors, connoisseurs, tourists from Nebraska (from whence I hail), art history graduate students, and social climbers at all rungs: the aesthetic circus for adults, a.k.a., the International Fine Arts & Antiques Dealers Show (IFAADS), is coming to Manhattan October 22-28, its 65 dealers specializing in everything I want but can’t afford (OK sadists, that includes furniture, paintings, sculpture, textiles, ceramics, glass, clocks, watches, rare books, loads of jewelry, some choice Fabergé, objets de vertu because I enjoy saying “objets de vertu”, and of course arms and armor (to complete my “downtown look” south of 14th Street. No, people don’t talk to me on the subway).

But wait! There’s more. As in the past the fair, established in 1989, will launch with a preview party to benefit the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center—a must-stop for those whose flights regularly leave from Teterboro. Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 21. Additionally, there are a host of exhibitions at Manhattan galleries timed to coordinate with the season generally and the International specifically. Among the prime picks are Body and Soul: Masterpieces of Italian Renaissance and Baroque Sculpture, twelve works on view for the first time, including Medusa by Andrea del Verrocchio, teacher to the great Leonardo (a collaboration between Andrew Butterfield Fine Arts and Moretti Fine Art); and Swedish-born interior designer Lars Bolander’s new shop specializing in Scandinavian furniture (and complementing the recent publication of his book, Lar’s Bolander’s Scandinavian Design).

Now, fairs at this echelon have a rep for only “offering” goods going for the five and six figures. But it just ain’t so—at least not according to Brian and Anna Haughton, the International’s London-based founders and organizers, who promise there are objects for as little as several hundred dollars. My suggestion this Saturday, especially should it rain, is to take the wife, husband, man-wife and/or mistress, rent some attractive and well-behaved children, and have a Great Race-style competition to find the most and least expensive pieces. Fun for the whole family—and the dealers, not to mention security, will undoubtedly love it too! (Note: I accept no liability or responsibility, and am not available to post bail of any size. My lawyers instructed me to make this clear.)

For those who think the above idea a tad irresponsible, I don’t want you to leave this article empty headed. Below are responses from three new exhibitors to the International, who share their views on the fair and New York. (There are three other dealers new to the fair this year, but either they didn’t respond to my queries or paid an enormous sum to be omitted. You decide.)

Jack Kilgore, Jack Kilgore & Co., New York

1. What are the major pieces you’re bringing?

I deal in Old Master and 19th Century pictures. For this fair I will only exhibit 19th century works. This is a first for me. Some of the “major” pieces are: Two portraits by Theodore Chasseriau, ‘The Comte and Comtesse de Ranchincourt’; ‘Ruth and Naomi’ by Alfred Dehodencqu; ‘The Matterhorn’ by Gustave Dore; ‘Portrait of Monsieur Marcotte De Genlis’ by Hippolyte Flandrin; ‘Judith’ by Nathaniel Sichel.

2. If you had to pick one favorite piece, what is it and what makes it your personal favorite?

One of my favorite pieces is by the English painter John Linnell, ‘Balaam and the Angel’ [pictured above]. It is a mysterious painting – very poetic and luminous. The landscape holds the same Romantic and spiritual quality to be found in the works of his friends William Blake and Samuel Palmer.

3. What was the catalyst for participating this year in the International?

I exhibited in the May Fine Art Fair for more than 14 years. Finally, I left that fair. Several years later it was terminated. I have never exhibited at the International, so this will be my first year. There are not many picture dealers, and this is not known as a paintings fair, but we shall see….

4. What is your favorite restaurant in New York—upscale and more moderate? A secret favorite you’d care to share?

My favorite Restaurant is actually a wine shop – “The Italian Wine Merchants” on 16th Street. You can rent a small room for about ten people, or a larger room for thirty. The food is absolutely fabulous. I know this sounds unlikely, but it is true. I just went to a new restaurant last week called “Carpe Diem” at 181 East 78th Street. The food was outstanding. Wine list is a work in progress. Then there is the restaurant at the Mark, but you already know about that. I don’t get Downtown much, so am not up with the latest trend.

5. Favorite shops, and why?

I don’t shop – ask my wife.

6. What exhibitions (gallery or museum) are you most excited about this October in New York?

The Gossart exhibition at the Met is sensational. Spend some time before the ‘Malvagna Triptych’, then the last room full of portraits. The curator, Maryan Ainsworth did a supernatural job getting the loans she did.

7. Favorite hotel that you recommend to out-of-towners, and why please?

I enjoy the Carlyle. Old fashion with that Dorothy Draper touch in the lobby. Many people feel that this hotel is long past due for a makeover. I met Neil Young in the elevator, some people think he could use a make over, too, but I like them both.

Charles Mathes, Director, Jane Kahan Gallery, New York

1. What are the major pieces you’re bringing?

Our collection of modern tapestries is one of the largest in the world.
 We’re bringing a selection of these museum-quality pieces by such artists as
 Chagall, Leger, Robert and Sonia Delaunay, Magritte and Rousseau. Others
 will be on view at our newly opened private exhibition space on 59th Street.

2. If you had to pick one favorite piece, what is it and what makes it
 your personal favorite?

Personally I am very excited by our mini-show of paintings by the
 Hungarian-born French realist/surrealist Istvan Sandorfi. The Jane Kahan
 Gallery was Sandorfi’s exclusive agent in the 1990s, and this is the first
 time that his major works will be exhibited in New York since his death in
2007. I think my own favorite of these is “Le Repos d’Amelie” [pictured above]—which I
 think perfectly exemplifies Sandorfi’s intellectually challenging style.

3. What was the catalyst for participating this year in the 
International?

We’ve done fairs all over the world, and we have found that
 the Haughtons consistently present the absolute best events for both dealers 
and collectors alike.

4. What is your favorite restaurant in New York, upscale and more
 moderate? A secret favorite you’d care to share?

My own favorite restaurant in New York in Sparks, for the best steak in
 America. Best wine list, too, as far as I’m concerned. If money is an
issue, I recommend that folks head down to Chinatown. Great New York
 Noodletown on the corner of Bayard and Bowery offers salt baked shrimp and
 other seafood that even Martha Stewart raves about, and the duck with
 asparagus is sublime. If ambiance is important (at Great New York
 Noodletown there is none), try Jing Fong at 20 Elizabeth. It is one of the
 largest restaurants in the city and probably the most surreal. My secret
 favorite vice is the coffee at Via Quadronno around the corner from our
 gallery at 73rd and Madison: It’s like crack.

5. Favorite shops, and why?

The gift shop at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is vast and absolutely
 marvelous.

6. What exhibitions (gallery or museum) are you most excited about this
 October in New York?

I don’t get out of the gallery enough to know.

7. Favorite hotel that you recommend to out-of-towners, and why please?

On the Upper East Side the choice has narrowed to the Carlyle, the Mark and
 the Surrey.

Michael James, Founder, The Silver Fund, San Francisco

1. What are the major pieces you’re bringing?

We have a very rare Pair of gorgeous Georg Jensen Tureens; we almost never see these in pairs.

Among 20th century decorative art I really love an extraordinary Silvered Bronze and Ceramic French Vase ($25,000) signed by E. Sanglan and dating to 1900….and a Pair of German Sterling Silver and Ivory Art deco Candelabra made in the 1930s by Bruckmann ($45,000).

From the mid century we are bringing a unique Chaumet Paris Centerpiece. It is a magnificent carved agate bowl surmounted with an 18K gold ram encrusted with diamonds, moonstones, coral, diamond-banded bloodstone horns and emerald eyes. The ‘fur’ is naturalistically carved to emulate the fleece of a goat. 11 x 13. ($125,000).

2. If you had to pick one favorite piece, what is it and what makes it your personal favorite?

My personal favorite is probably the only known Pair of Georg Jensen sterling silver Dolphin Pyramid Pattern Fish Dishes [pictured above]. We have sold single dishes but never seen a pair before. These were designed in 1930 by Harald Neilsen, one of the most important and longest serving Jensen studio talents. A truly elegant design. ($450,000).

3. What was the catalyst for participating this year in the International?

The Haughton International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show is the best show in the United States, attracting the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable collectors. It’s taken us 15 years of dealing in 20th century silver and decorative art to become part of this celebrated show, and we are delighted to be included.

7. Favorite hotel, and why please?

I used to enjoy staying at The Mark very much, but now my choice is the smaller Lowell on East 63 Street. It’s convenient to everything and delivers personal attention … important after a long day at the fair. To me The Lowell is like a comfort blanket in a big crazy metropolis.

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