The Spring Show NYC

BB with designer Lars Bolander and his son Christopher (this photo by Ann Watt; click on photos to enlarge)
You may remember I attended a luncheon in March to preview the Spring Show NYC, a brand new antiques show in New York mounted by the Art and Antique Dealers of America in the Armory on Park Avenue. Well, last night was the big event, the opening night of this inaugural show which was sponsored by 1stdibs. Sixty top dealers in fine and decorative arts are now presenting their best there through Sunday, May 2. Tickets are $20.

At the door I ran into Lars Bolander, the Swedish designer who I visited with in January. Lars designed the look of this show, lighting up the vast arched ceiling of the Armory, removing curtains so that you could see through galleries, and adding seating covered in yellow zebra stripes. The whole effect made the environment lighter and airier. "It can be very stuffy in here," Lars said.

Close to the front door was Carlton Hobbs who always has the most amazing things. He describes them with wonder in his English accent so it sounds like you're listening to a fairy tale. This huge Italian painting from the early eighteenth century was owned by a son of Malcolm Forbes. The fantasy landscape scene depicts a pair of castles on matching hills. Dreamy.

This very large tile painting is from a 1770's kitchen in Valencia, Spain, and is the only thing like it in existence on the marketplace.

Both of these paintings are approximately $220,000 each. But even if you are not a serious collector, it's fun to browse the offerings and get ideas. I walked with Mario Buatta a while and we looked at some dealers.
Folk art and antiques from Yew Tree Antiques in New York:

Ancient Chinese horses paired with modern art at Iliad on East 57th Street:

This was my favorite painting; Comte Oscar de Ranchicourt Leaving for the Hunt, painted by Theodore Chasseriau, and offered at Jack Kilgore & Co.

I love his gold-buttoned green jacket (I guess that's hunter green?), beige jodhpurs and tall leather boots. The wonderful play of green and gold in the painting and frame make this a treasure. Take in this show if you can and see what you like.