The brilliant color, fanciful form, exuberant pattern and inventive inlay of southeastern Pennsylvania furniture owe their very existence to the tolerance and religious freedom introduced to America⁳ shores by William Penn when he arrived from England in 1682. Penn⁳ embrace of the tenets of Quakerism put down long roots and attracted settlers of a previously unseen degree of cultural diversity. Each immigrant group brought with it distinctive traditions and techniques, which its members were free to practice in Penn⁳ Woods. The furniture and highly decorative utilitarian items created by those individual immigrant groups in southeastern Pennsylvania are the subject of the new exhibit, ⁐aint, Pattern and People: Furniture of Southeastern Pennsylvania 1725-1850†on view at Winterthur through January 8, 2012.

The Wolfsonian⁆lorida International University will present ⁁rt For All: British Posters For Transport,†an exhibition that explores the evolution of transport posters in Twentieth Century Britain and features examples executed for both the London Underground and the British railways.

When the Arts of Pacific Asia show opened Wednesday, March 23, at 7 West 34th Street, international preview-goers arrived eager to build their collections. Fifty-five international dealers met their desires with strictly vetted treasures from China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, India and Southeast Asia.

⁔hinking Outside the Box: European Cabinets, Caskets and Cases from the Permanent Collection (1500‱900)††on view through the summer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art †features 100 works selected from the museum⁳ department of European sculpture and decorative arts.

As auctioneer Rosie DeStories climbed the podium to begin Fairfield Auction⁳ annual March sale, she warmly welcomed the standing-room-only crowd and then asked, ⁓o what do you think?†The question, in regard to Fairfield Auction⁳ new building and auction gallery, was met with a warm round of applause and overwhelming approval.

Just as spring⁳ arrival marks the calendar at the end of every March and crocuses emerge from the recently frozen tundra, the first week of April traditionally marks the opening of the Elephant⁳ Trunk flea market.

⁓et in Style: The Jewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels,†on view at Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, examines the renowned jewelry firm⁳ significant historical contributions to jewelry design and design innovation, particularly during the Twentieth Century.

The oversized $20,000 check from energy utility PECO to the Chester County Historical Society on display at the entrance to the Chester County Antiques Show during preview March 18 was certainly eye-catching, but the real eye candy was on the show floor, tucked into and around each aisle.

Excited and enthusiastic, Pennsylvania collector Neil Rosner, who rose that morning well before the sun did, scurried into the Convention Center at 6:45 am to secure his spot in line for the opening of the Atlantic City Antiques Show. Rosner was the first of more than 500 that would form a long line of shoppers awaiting the 9 am early buyer⁳ opening for the show.

The Asia Week auctions in New York City set a few records and boasted solid results.