Pier Antiques Show Boasts Strongest Opening Line Yet

The Pier Antiques Show has built a following for presenting a solid and interesting mix of traditional antiques, Modern and design offerings, as well as collectibles at its shows. The November 19–20 edition lived up to its standards and then some.

With 500 exhibitors filling Pier 94, Stella Show Mgmt Co. also presents its popular Fashion Alley section of the show that draws in buyers seeking vintage couture and jewelry. The promoters upped the ante with a fall autograph show this year featuring 15 dealers from the Professional Autograph Dealers Association, ensuring there was something for every taste at the Pier.

"We are just getting out a survey this week to the dealers but things seemed very positive. The opening line was the longest ever," said Jeanne Stella after the show. Indeed, the line by 10 am when the gate officially opened had not only filled the lobby with buyers, but snaked around the outside of the building forming two lines heading off in opposite directions.

Americana and traditional antiques show fare were ably represented with such dealers as Art & Antique Gallery, Worcester, Mass. Standouts among elegant oil paintings included a Hayley Lever painting of a wagon crossing on a snowy winter's day, Louis Ritman's "The Looking Glass" and John White Alexander's still life titled "Beautiful Flowers." A more modern feel but equally compelling was achieved by Blanche Lazzell's colorful "Shore Boats."

One of the most talked-about objects at the show was a folky and handmade life-size horse in the booth of Kabinett & Kammer, which is a contemporary curiosity shop of antiques, natural wonders and art. With an upstate location since 2007, the company opened a branch in New York City in March, so it did not have far to travel to do this show.

Dealer Sean Scherer said the turn-of-the-Nineteenth Century tack shop display figure was made of paper mache and was the hit of the show. This was the dealers' first antiques show and Scherer was pleased with his decision to test the waters. The dealers mostly sold taxidermy mounts and the most interesting objects seemed to be the big sellers, including an antique bear skull and a Coney Island shooting game target, as well as Nineteenth Century prints and a charter.

Modern design was also well represented at the Pier. Among its purveyors were Linda and Dennis Elmore, Westfield, N.J., who seemed to have little in the way of merchandise to pack up by the show's end Sunday afternoon. "We had a great Pier Show," said Linda Elmore. "Among the things we sold was a pair of signed Danish chests, a Lucite-based center table, a pair of Bruno Mathsson webbed arm chairs [very popular with the attendees], a pair of 1950s Italian calla lily-shaped lamps and numerous decorative small items. Also, a nice set of zebrawood Italian bar stools. Essentially a clean, timeless, Modern design was our focus."

The industrial look was elegantly captured in the booth of Strawser & Smith, Brooklyn, N.Y., which featured a fetching pair of wooden chairs with their seats upholstered in an aviation-themed fabric, while oversized artworks of machines hung on the booth walls.

A great showing was also had by Nancy Steinbock Posters, Chestnut Hill, Mass.; Steinbock reported this was her best Pier Show since 2007. The vintage poster dealer only does the November edition of this show and said while many people were still price-conscious, it was a healthy sign that more people seemed to be buying again. Sales ran the gamut from posters relating to fashion, American literary, military, travel, bicycling and expositions.