Baltimore Summer Antiques Show Wrap Up

“The Baltimore Show exceeded all expectations,” said Scott Diament, president and CEO of the Palm Beach Show Group. “Items sold in all price ranges and the market proved very, very strong.” 

The 2012 Baltimore Show marked the third anniversary for Collectorsnet.com, an international marketplace for fine art, antiques and jewelry, created by the Palm Beach Show Group, where members can view and purchase the world’s most exquisite treasures 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. The Collectorsnet.com booth was buzzing with excitement, offering dealers the opportunity to have state-of-the-art, 360-degree images taken of their items and placed directly onto the Collectorsnet.com site. Dealers were not only reporting sales of items on the show floor, but were also making sales online.  

Throughout the show’s four-day run, August 23-26, significant sales were reported.  The following list of reported sales is a diminutive sampling of the thousands of diverse transactions consummated on the floor and will likely continue throughout the course of the year: 

• Spencer Marks, Ltd. sold a Tiffany sterling art deco vase made in the 1930’s that was once owned by Andy Warhol.

• Jacob’s Diamond and Estate Jewelry sold several interesting art deco pieces and noticed an increased interest in sapphire jewelry.
• Your Piece of History sold a museum quality Civil War Recruiting Poster along with many interesting Broadsides. 
• Camilla Dietz Bergeron, Ltd. sold a very unusual carnelian and lapis lazuli necklace in 18 karat yellow gold circa 1974 as well as an 18 karat yellow gold and diamond Hamsa hand with over 7.00 carats of diamonds circa 1972, both pieces by Aldo Cipullo. Several yellow gold and enamel bracelets by Jean Schlumberger were also reported. 

• Philip Chasen Antiques sold several pieces of American and French art glass, as well as Tiffany Pine Needle and Grapevine items. 

• Haig’s of Rochester sold a beautiful 1940’s retro diamond, platinum and jade bracelet. 

• Fantasia Antiques had huge success with jade and Asian antiques reporting the sale of a large bronze vase and a 17th century Thai Buddha.
• Monique’s Antiques reported an increase in interest and sales in Oyster plates and Quimper. 
• Walker Home sold numerous Asian antique pieces including a rare spinach jade Qinglong period brush pot, Qinglong period wax seal box, and an 18th century zitan table screen. 

• The Norwoods’ Spirit of America sold a stunning 18th century American schoolgirl needlework by ten year old Mehitabel Poor of Rawley, Massachusetts dated 1796 and featured in the Massachusetts chapter of Betty Ring’s landmark book, Girlhood Embroidery. 
• TOJ Gallery sold two beautiful pieces of Boch Frères Keramis. 
• A.B. Levy sold a very important French clock circa 1885 and an intricate ivory and Shibyama elephant circa 1865. 
• Past Era Antique Jewelry sold a beautiful Victorian micro mosaic with mother of pearl bracelet to a very influential collector. 
• Wooden Skate Antiques sold an ivory California sterling dog cane and an 1855 University of Michigan cane signed by the entire class of that year. 
• LR Antiques sold a pair of oriental paintings on silk to a customer from England who came to Baltimore specifically for the show. 

• Saddle River Gallery sold two works of art by the Pissarro family.  
• Renata Ramsburg sold multiple pieces of antique furniture made in Baltimore as well as an exquisite diamond and emerald bracelet with an asking price of $7,500. 
• Jeffrey Tillou Antiques sold a Frysmith bronze statue of a parade eagle.

• Perry Joyce Fine Arts had a follow up sale to an 18th century needlework sold at the Baltimore Show several years ago purchased by The Baltimore Museum of Art and featured in their permanent collection. A board member from the museum, accompanied by the President of the Maryland Historical Society, purchased another very rare and intricate 18th century European needlework again this year. 
• Multiple high-end fine art and jewelry purchases were recorded, but will remain anonymous due to purchasers’ preferences for privacy. 

Quotes and observations from dealers at the 2012 Baltimore Summer Antiques Show:

• “This is the best show I’ve had in 40 years of business,” said Martin Chasin of Martin Chasin Fine Art. “Each year sales are better than the last!”
• “This is the official kick-off show of the ‘antique circuit’ and always has been,” said Edo Ophir of Ophir Gallery. “We are glad that we were able to make such a strong start. It’s the best show I’ve had in 11 years.”
• “As a local dealer, the local advertising spots on TV and in the major newspapers created quite a buzz for my booth, bringing local collectors and enthusiasts that were more than willing to share their stories, “ stated Robert Quilter or Robert M. Quilter Fine Arts. “Many of the local paintings I brought were sold, including the highlighted John Ross Key and John Wilson paintings.”
• “One of the most well attended shows in which I’ve been involved,” stated Janet Dunayevich of L and Z Antiques and Estate Jewelers.
• “The interest from collectors was incredible,” said Michael Teller of TK Asian Antiquities. “I sold to past and new clients.” 
• “This was our first show of any type and we were very pleased with the results. We sold more than expected,” stated Art Samuels of Vivid Diamonds and Jewelry. “We can’t wait to exhibit again and especially in Baltimore next year!”
• “Every visitor passing through our booth commented on how much they were enjoying the show,” commented Camille Calabrese of Saddle River Gallery. “The show this year certainly showed improvements in ideas and design reminiscent to your other successful shows in, especially the Palm Beach Show.”
• “This show would have to rank as one of the top shows we have EVER participated in. We had constant sales throughout the weekend, strong interest in our pieces, and our many follow-up sales after the show,” stated Renata Ramsburg.  
• “This was the first time in several years that we have sold pieces to first time collectors, “ stated Robin Greenwald of Greenwald Antiques. “It’s very refreshing to know that the people of all ages are interested in what we have to offer and the Palm Beach Show Group is promoting the show to everyone.”

“We produce shows as a platform to cultivate the antique, fine art, and jewelry industries, therefore we are constantly pursuing new ways to provide exposure for these beautiful things,” stated Diament. “We would like to think that this show is the closest a person will ever come to time-travel. A person could come to our show and pick up a decanter that was once held by their great ancestors or even a member of ancient royalty!”

In addition to exploring the more than 200,000 items on display on the show floor, guests at the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show also enjoyed a free public lecture series. The well-attended lectures featured engaging talks that included:

• Juvenile Series Books - Not Just for Kids Anymore by Lee Temares of Lee & Mike Temares, LLC
• The Clay Gardener by Katherine Houston of Katherine Houston Porcelain.
• Collecting East Asian Lacquers by Robert Mintz, Ph.D. Chief Curator and the Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Quincy Scott Curator of Asian Art at the Walters Art Museum
• Treen - Early Wooden Objects with an Emphasis on the Whimsical by Patricia Funt Oxman of Patricia Funt Antiques
• Posters & Broadsides: From Advertising to Art Forms by Gerald Barkhan & Steve Epstein of Your Piece of History
• The Vertical Art of Antique Cane World by Gary Durow of Wooden Skate Antiques 
• Chinese Textiles by Paul Haig of Haig’s of Rochester
• Masterpieces of Minton by Nick & Martine Boston of Nick & Martine Boston Antiques 

Diament added, “This was a breakthrough year, the greatest proof of which is dealer resign, by the final day, it was the highest ever.  We are very much looking forward to Baltimore 2013.”


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