Attending the American Antiques Show
On Wednesday evening, January 20th, I attended The American Antiques Show (TAAS) Gala Benefit Preview with a small group of colleagues. It was held at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City and the show runs through Sunday, January 24th. This very popular exhibition features the finest dealers in 17th to 20th century American folk art, furniture, and American Indian art. TAAS kicks off Americana Week in New York and all proceeds from the Preview support the American Folk Art Museum's educational and exhibition programming. The American Folk Art Museum is a fabulous institution, which displays traditional folk art and creative expressions of contemporary self-taught artists from the United States and abroad. Our evening at the gala was fun and interesting and it's always a treat to see such amazing creations.
1 Here I am with Lynda Bird Johnson Robb - daughter of our President Lyndon B. Johnson - she was Texas Committee of Honor Grand Chair of the Antiques Show.
2 Here I am with Susan Flamm, the PR Director for the American Folk Art Museum.
3 This unusual piece is a rare lacemaker's lamp.
4 $14,500!!!!
5 This lady designed her entire outfit, including the jewelry and hat. I asked her what kind of feathers she used, her reply was that it was human hair!
6 Another look
7 One of a pair of three light sconces from France, circa 1815 - extraordinary!
8 $5,750!
9 Kevin always likes to pose me in front of amazingly beautiful quilts.
10 This is a rack of finely woven overshot coverlets.
11 I had never before seen Noah's ark depicted on a hooked rug.
12 Perhaps my favorite piece in the show was this massive Iroquois open handled ash burl bowl - circa 1760 from Steven S. Powers Antiques. www.burlsnuff.com
13 $48,000!!!!!
14 Gary R. Sullivan - www.garysullivanantiques.com - American Antiques from the Queen Anne through the Classical Periods
15 Gary R. Sullivan - www.garysullivanantiques.com - American Antiques from the Queen Anne through the Classical Periods
16 Gary R. Sullivan - www.garysullivanantiques.com - American Antiques from the Queen Anne through the Classical Periods
17 Artemis Gallery Federal Furniture and Related Decorative Arts www.artemisantiques.com
18 American Primitive Gallery - www.americanprimitive.com - American Folk Art and Works by Self-Taught Artists
19 A marble game from American Primitive Gallery - www.americanprimitive.com
20 Noah and the Ark Carved Marble
21 $28,000!!!
22 The Herrs Antiques - www.theherrsantiques.com - Pennsylvania German Decorative Arts and 18th- and 19th-Century American Textiles and Pewter
23 The Herrs Antiques - www.theherrsantiques.com - Pennsylvania German Decorative Arts and 18th- and 19th-Century American Textiles and Pewter
24 The Herrs Antiques - www.theherrsantiques.com - Pennsylvania German Decorative Arts and 18th- and 19th-Century American Textiles and Pewter
25 Western Branding Iron Patterns Hooked Rug
26 $1575
27 The Herrs Antiques - www.theherrsantiques.com - Pennsylvania German Decorative Arts and 18th- and 19th-Century American Textiles and Pewter
28 HIll Gallery - www.hillgallery.com - American Folk Art of the 19th and 20th Centuries
29 HIll Gallery - www.hillgallery.com - American Folk Art of the 19th and 20th Centuries
30 HIll Gallery - www.hillgallery.com - American Folk Art of the 19th and 20th Centuries
31 HIll Gallery - www.hillgallery.com - American Folk Art of the 19th and 20th Centuries
32 Clifton Sulser
33 Carl Hammer Gallery - www.hammergallery.com - American Folk and Outsider Art
34 Roberto Freitas American Antiques and Decorative Arts - www.robertofreitas.com - Period 18th- and 19th-Century American Furniture, Selected Folk Art, Marine Art, and Decorative Arts
35 Jeff R. Bridgman American Antiques - www.jeffbridgman.com - Antique Flags, American Furniture, Folk Art, Paintings, and Early Textiles
36 Gemini Antiques Ltd. - www.geminiantiques.com - Americana, American Folk Art, and Antique Toys and Banks
37 Gemini Antiques Ltd. Americana, American Folk Art, and Antique Toys and Banks julgert@geminiantiques.com www.geminiantiques.com
38 Quy Nguyen and Fritz Karch
39 Kevin posing at the Gemeni booth - www.geminiantiques.com - Americana, American Folk Art, and Antique Toys and Banks
40 Lillian Nassau collection of glass lamps - www.lilliannassau.com - Louis Comfort Tiffany and Tiffany Studios, Including Lamps, Glass, Windows, Ceramics, Paintings, and Metalwork; European and American Late 19th- and Early 20th-Century Decorative Arts and Sculpture
41 Stella Rubin - www.stellarubin.com - American Antique Quilts and Textiles; Silver and Gold Jewelry with a Specialty in Mexican Jewelry and Hollowware
42 Stella Rubin American Antique Quilts and Textiles; Silver and Gold Jewelry with a Specialty in Mexican Jewelry and Hollowware www.stellarubin.com
43 Stella Rubin - www.stellarubin.com - American Antique Quilts and Textiles; Silver and Gold Jewelry with a Specialty in Mexican Jewelry and Hollowware
44 Stella Rubin - www.stellarubin.com - American Antique Quilts and Textiles; Silver and Gold Jewelry with a Specialty in Mexican Jewelry and Hollowware
45 Stella Rubin - www.stellarubin.com - American Antique Quilts and Textiles; Silver and Gold Jewelry with a Specialty in Mexican Jewelry and Hollowware
46 Stella Rubin - www.stellarubin.com - American Antique Quilts and Textiles; Silver and Gold Jewelry with a Specialty in Mexican Jewelry and Hollowware
47 Dalton’s American Decorative Arts - www.daltons.com - 20th-Century Decorative Arts, Especially the American Arts and Crafts Movement
48 Dalton’s American Decorative Arts - www.daltons.com - 20th-Century Decorative Arts, Especially the American Arts and Crafts Movement
49 Judith and James Milne, Inc. American Folk Art, Country Furniture, and Garden Antiques www.milneinc.com
50 Russack & Loto Books, LLC Out-of-Print and New Reference Books about Objects Used in American Homes of the 17th–19th Centuries www.booksaboutantiques.com
51 My friend Judy Angelo
52 Dick Parsons current chairman of Citigroup
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Martha, you look so beautiful, you are truly a wonderful person and an inspiration to me.
Cheers,
Margaret B
Posted by: Margaret Bouwmeester | January 22nd, 2010 at 1:02 am
Very interesting antiques show with beautiful collection. I love the Tiffany Lamps I have couple of pieces at home. I love the photo that Kevin took for you in front of the beautiful quilts and the ash burl bowl is pretty.
Very interesting post, thank you!
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | January 22nd, 2010 at 5:40 am
Martha, You look like you thoroughly enjoyed The American Antique Show you attended in Jan. It was so lovely to see all the magnificent quilts that were on your blog. I am a quilter living in Australia but I am always in awe of the talented quilters in America, past and present.
Posted by: Sandi | January 22nd, 2010 at 5:57 am
I LOVE THE HAIR HAT!
Posted by: Lynn from For Love or Funny | January 22nd, 2010 at 9:05 am
Thanks for sharing all of these amazing pictures. Most amazing: the woman in the hair hat - OMG!!!
Posted by: The Frugal Hostess | January 22nd, 2010 at 10:28 am
Can't claim to know antiques but have picked up so many 'collectibles' at tag sales and flea markets and have much to organize. We can all look even if on limited budget and my family is planning a trunk show to honor our Grandma Gina.
Thanks for yet another great BLOG with photos that are spectacular.
Posted by: ann | January 22nd, 2010 at 10:33 am
As a quilter I enjoyed the many quilts that appeared in your photos. With the many pictures to enjoy it seemed I had attended this event! Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Susan | January 22nd, 2010 at 11:20 am
Thank you for posting these pictures, they are amazing and something I would not have gotten a chance to see otherwise.
Posted by: Dionicia Hoppe | January 22nd, 2010 at 12:09 pm
I wish I lived in NYC because the 20th was my B-day!I would have loved 2 go & loved & buy antiques!! Thanks for sharing! GO MARTHA! ; )
Posted by: Suzanne B | January 22nd, 2010 at 12:11 pm
I'm going to go tonight!! Can't wait!
Posted by: cindy byington | January 22nd, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Thank you for sharing! I love the antique toys and silver. Reminds me of the Newark Antique Fair in England... there is usually silver for miles.
You look lovely as always...
Posted by: Stacey Rider | January 22nd, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Martha,
You look wonderful...what an exciting experience being on the road show!
Posted by: Dawn | January 22nd, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Hi Martha , I'm Pam Lewallen I have you as one of my following guest on twitter , I'm 61 years old and was married to my Kids Father for 29 years and I always kept your colors in my home ! it worked out good for me and now I wear these colors most of the time , one of your cummunitys is in my town Fairburn Ga. on hwy 92 I went and looked at them they are beautiful ! I'm married to an older man now and hes also a heart patient we live on three acres in a A- frame ! God Bless ! Pam
Posted by: Pam Lewallen | January 22nd, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Ha ha, Martha. I loved the exclamation pointed price tags. I like that about you. Even though you have more money than most people, you're still reasonable.
Posted by: Mike | January 22nd, 2010 at 6:14 pm
The (T)AAS show could actually be termed a 'cabin-fever festival'! What a fun time this looked like, especially with manymany favorite things to view and ooo-n-ahhh over. My forever favorite will be the woven coverlets, which call my name so! I have new 'textiles' in my home which are look-alikes, but we know down deep that they're not the real thing. 'Til I am able to acquire an authentic one (but which color scheme would I choose if I could?! - I like several! [giggle] ), they'll 'do' for now.
~
It's funny...wintertime naturally brings my focus indoors - into the home - cleaning things thoroughly, tweaking what's even already organized, looking for ways to rearrange collections for a visual pick-me-up... When summer arrives, there seems to be no time for the aforementioned - things get cleaned, put back in their places, but the focus then turns to outside with how things look from the curb OR out a frequented window INSIDE the house. (big sigh!) It's what makes me get up in the mornings, though...I have such passion for homekeeping! The antiques show would've done my heart good while giving me inspiration, especially if it were an overcast and cloudy January day!
~
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | January 22nd, 2010 at 7:11 pm
Not inges mais I LOVE YOU good nait
Posted by: Ademir | January 22nd, 2010 at 8:30 pm
I loved the lacemaker's lamp. Although; I didn't see anything like my original fully functional blue milk paint blueberry winnower from Maine. I may consider selling it to someone who has a Maine summer cottage w/ a blueberry field.
Posted by: Mary Jo Smalley | January 22nd, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Martha,
I love the textiles. Those patterns and colors are amazing.
I have hand hooked wool rugs and know the many hours of work involved, and the tremendous pleasure and beauty the art can bring.
The prices you phtographed had me taking a second blinked look to make sure I was seeing correctly, but these are demanding pieces, and after all, collective rarities, and most are quite beautiful, and all definitely appreciated.
Thank you so much for sharing the great photos of the show to those of us who otherwise would never be able to view such exquisite items.
It looked like great fun!
Posted by: Becky HK | January 23rd, 2010 at 12:10 am
Oh my goodness! As she ages, she now looks so much like Lady Bird did long ago.
Posted by: Nan | January 23rd, 2010 at 11:36 am
Thank you for the beautiful pictures. It is so amazing at all the talent in our world. Thanks for sharing your finds of these treasures from your loyal fan.
Posted by: Karlene Wissel | January 23rd, 2010 at 12:32 pm
Martha,
Thanks for the great pics from the show. Yours is the first place where I've been able to get good shots of the stuff in the booths, with prices no less! Much appreciated for those of us who aren't able to make it to New York.
For your readers that like antiques and American Folk Art, they may also want to check out my blog: http://anonymousworks.blogspot.com/
Thanks Martha!
Posted by: Joey | January 23rd, 2010 at 1:05 pm
So, Martha did you bring anything home? Lately I've been doing a lot of looking but it has to be pretty special (and of course reasonable) to bring something home. Thanks for all the photos~love looking.
Posted by: Cathybytheriver | January 23rd, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Hi Martha, What a fantastic blog about a wonderful antique show that you recently attended in NYC. These photos are very inspiring and certainly make me want to visit an antique show myself. Loved your TV show today with Julie Andrews. She is a wonderful person and the two of you together are overwhelming!!! I loved every minute of her presence with you! Please have her on your show again. I checked your blog rather late last night and found a 1/23 new blog entitled' Are you Martha Clean?' and it was missing today. Will it be back on Mon? 1/25? Also, the Daily Wag had a 1/23 blog 'New Brother Genghis Kahn' and it was missing today, also. Hope it returns, too. Hope you are having a great weekend. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | January 23rd, 2010 at 11:42 pm
Lady Bird gave us such a great legacy to our country - What a great passion for American art! I like Kevin Sharkey's idea of photographing you in front of the quilt work. Gives great perspective. I enjoyed watching his segment on TV on Thursday about his new closet. Very helpful. Ken Parsons seems to have so many interesting hobbies besides his day job. I would love to meet him. The city offers such great exhibits. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Teresa Touey | January 24th, 2010 at 12:52 am
Martha, Thank you for sharing your photos of the antique show with us. How lucky and fortunate you are in life to be able to experience so many diverse and wonderful things. I noticed also that "Are you Martha Clean" post was missing. Keep up the wonderful work on your TV show and your business! You are a great role model.
Posted by: Rebecca | January 24th, 2010 at 1:44 am
What wonderful antiques! Have you ever considered a segment featuring bobbin lacemaking? For special events, members of my lacemaking guild (Five Rivers Bobbin Lacemakers) work by the light of reproduction lacemaker's lamps just like the one you saw at the show.
Posted by: Gina | January 24th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
I loved looking at all the great photos. I just love antiques and folk art. We have a great folk art museum here in New Mexico (Santa Fe) that I love to visit. I was looking for the "Are you Martha Clean" article too but it is missing. Also wondered if you will be doing something about turquoise, the color of the year chosen by Pantone for 2010. We are excited about this at http://www.theturquoisechick.com Thanks Martha for sharing so much with us.
Posted by: Lin Valentine | January 24th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Martha..I'm so glad you blog about where you go and about what you see. I felt like I was there with you, looking at all the handmade works of art! Being a self-taught artist myself, who's just entered the blogging world, I appreciate all the work and love that goes into creativity. There are so many avenues you explore, and that's why you're so fascinating! (and successful, of course!)
I guess I won't know if I'm Martha Clean....??
Posted by: Carmelina Lounsbury | January 24th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
Martha, after many years of following your committment ti 'living well' and creating sacred space for living I've decided to find a way to meet you and get close to the work first hand. We are in process of getting a 1922 Florida Cracker restored and need Vintage Pieces: fixtures, sinks, fixtures, recycle wood for kitchen floor. Anyone that has leads ..please contact my email at bekind11@aol.com. Goal is for the property to reflect the period yet be eco friendly and energy efficient. Also need materials for 100 year old reading chairs being restored/reup. what a lovely opportunity to connect with a woman I have admired for over 25 years! Thank you for your steadfast contributions. I wish you well! Margaret Winter Park Florida Have you ever been to Winter Park?
Posted by: Margaret Alexandra DAVIS | January 25th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
Thanks for photos of classic and cutting-edge Americana. While the true love for neutral colors rages on, these pieces show that American antiques can hold their own, in any palette. Martha, come visit our great antique shows in Texas. We are re-inventing ourselves for the future.
Posted by: Jan Orr-Harter | February 1st, 2010 at 6:14 pm
We were there, too. It was a fantastic show--and the buying was good, too. We found a pristine pair of Pennsylvania redware plates at a fair price. We look forward to seeing you in a few weeks at the Delaware Antiques Show!
Posted by: Charlie | September 27th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Thanks for bringing a photographer! This is always one of the best shows in NYC, and I was unable to attend this year. Much appreciate the pictures.
Jim Linderman
Dull Tool Dim Bulb
Posted by: Jim Linderman | January 22nd, 2011 at 9:25 pm
The sad thing: the show has been sold and will not continue as an Americana show. But it might actually be pretty interesting in its new, more diversified focus: Americana, modern, art and more.
Posted by: Charlie Hammell | June 26th, 2011 at 7:49 am