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22
Jan
The “Jewel in the Crown” of New York's Winter Antiques and Americana Week season has long been the New York Ceramics Fair. Caskey Lees of Topanga California have been at the forefront of the international ceramics calendar since their first foray in 2000.
The Fair is now in its 13th year, the second in the Grand Ballroom of the Bohemian National Hall, on East 73rd Street in New York City. The move is a welcome reprieve from the biting wind that would greet visitors at the door of the National Academy Museum coming across central park from the west. The BNH also has large bright windows that allow the sunshine to reflect on all the shimmering glass and ceramics. Though some may miss the intimate rabbit warren floorplan at the National Academy, the BNH offers an aspect of openness more in-line with the collegial atmosphere.
The Fair's lecture series continues in the BNH's newly renovated cinema/lecture hall that can accommodate 60 attendees. This year's series, sponsored by The Chipstone Foundation and Ceramics in America include many familiar faces and lots of new insights. Follow this link for the press release pdf of the lecture series that irons it all out in a concise and entertaining manner.
Charles L. Washburne will be exhibiting with his myriad and delicious Victorian majolica featuring a six figure group of frog band players with maestro by Wilhelm Schiller, Germany, Circa 1880.
Paul Vandekar, Earle Vandekar of Knightsbridge Inc. returns this year with more of his wonderfully eclectic selection. The salt-glazed stoneware camel teapot featured below is sure to be a crowd favourite.
Garry Atkins, a specialist in early English pottery will be exhibiting some very nice things as always. An important Staffordshire creamware Arbor Group and a whimsical slipware owl jug with it's head useful as a drinking cup will highlight Garry's stand. I always look forward to his rare and enchanting selection of tiles.
Janice Paull from Portugal and Connecticut our resident Mason's expert would like to showcase some delightful bowls with shimmering blue and gold accents. The fox handles on the Carp bowl from 1820 is dynamite.
Jill Fenichell historically focuses on a theme and has a penchant for figures in white, this year it's all about TEXTURE.
"This Brick-form vase was made at the Troika ceramic collective in Cornwall, England, circa 1975. The ware made at Troika exploits surface tension, 'Art Brut' in ceramic form. This example approximately 8 inches high, the glazes reflect the natural materials in the area, very rich in tin and other minerals." Amazing.
John Howard at Heritage writes "The New York Ceramic fair has been my best fair every year for the past 12 years. It attracts serious collectors of ceramics who are knowledgeable and enthusiastic. They are also very loyal to the fair and the individual dealers, it's always a pleasure to exhibit. The fair is a wonderful platform to profile my inventory and re-establish contact with my collectors friends in USA."
John has a wonderful documentary ALE pitcher recently published by Lois Roberts in her new book "Dated in Blue", the followup to her seminal 2006 volume "Painted in Blue". A must have for documentary ceramics fans, the new book is available from the author through the ECC in the UK or the TCC in the US.
Katherine Houston of Katherine Houston Porcelain with her intricate and fascinating porcelain flowers, vegetables and fruits will exhibit her best crop to date. Katherine writes "There is practically nowhere else in the world where such magnificent ceramics can be acquired in such lovely surroundings! As my goal is to emulate 18th century porcelain wares in color and form I am delighted to be included and find it a constant source of inspiration!"
Alan Kaplan of Leo Kaplan, Ltd. will exhibit at the Fair with a mix of wares from the 18th through 20th centuries and including some phenomenal glass from Thomas Webb and Daum. If you have a chance, check out their unsurpassed paperweight collection.
Sarah Eigen of Eudora & 19th Century Decorative Arts Etc. will be exhibiting at the Fair for the first time. She brings a selection of 19th Century Aesthetic Movement items as well as Art Deco Plates produced by Royal Doulton and Vases produced by Boch Freres and leading designers, Charles Catteau and Raymond Chevallier, active in the 1920s and later.