The spring edition of the East Side Jewelry & Decorative Arts Fair and Sale on April 1″ that was held at Lighthouse International’s conference center on East 59th Street was a gem of an event. A small boutique-style show, offerings were choice and attractive, and the booths spread across two rooms were well-spaced. The show benefits Lighthouse’s work in fighting vision loss.
Under the management of Marty Ellis’s Art International OSAT Co., the show, which debuted last October, drew high praise from dealers and visitors as evidenced by the gate and dealer feedback, most of whom have already returned contracts for this October’s show.
“I was very pleased with the sales and the turnout,” Ellis said after the show, noting that most dealers did well and even those who did not have already committed to doing the fall show. “It was one of the better shows” for the company among recent shows, he noted.
Having launched the show last fall, Ellis is building the show as a viable venue where dealers can have affordable booth rents, but is taking care not to grow the show too big. The facility can comfortably accommodate about 25 booths. “We want boutique events&t’s better for everyone,” he said.
Among dealers pleased with the show was The Emporium Ltd, New York City, noting buyer interest was keen in eye-catching, heavy gold bracelets with a modern design. “I was impressed by the intensity of the people who were buying. They all seemed well-informed and very passionate in their selections,” said dealer Leo Mavrovitis, who was pleased with both the size of the show and its attendance.
Rhoma Young Antiques, San Francisco, found that shoppers seemed more interested in contemporary pieces than antique jewelry, the latter being what she mostly offered in her booth. Still, she was happy with the show and vowed to return this fall.
“The clean lines of Art Deco and Modernism&†They seemed to want the more dramatic pieces,” Young said, noting buyers were drawn to rings and necklaces, especially unusual pearl necklaces in the baroque style. She was pleased to sell a small Palais Royale notebook with ivory †”an exceptional piece.”
In the booth of Jacob’s Diamond & Estate Jewelry, Los Angeles dealer Jacob Gipsman noted robust attendance, saying “customers loved the show.” The dealers did well with their selection of vintage bracelets encompassing the Deco to retro periods, and including some modern vintage bracelets. “Signed pieces did well and we sold large vintage diamond rings,” he said.
The show was a delight for the senses with luxury and color all around. Colorful standouts ranged from a 1960s 18K gold strawberry pin by Moba with diamonds and enamel from Gem de la Gem, Teaneck, N.J., to Sardinian coral necklaces at REA International Design, LLC, Miami Beach, Fla., and a contemporary emerald and diamond ring at Todd And Company, Encino, Calif.
While the bulk of the offerings were jewelry, several New York City-based dealers bucked the trend. Alastair Crawford filled several cases with a variety of contemporary silver pieces, both large and small, while Only Authentic offered vintage Chanel and Hermes handbags, and just in time for proms and weddings, Pauline Ginnane-Gasbarro hung a trio of fine 1950s‱960s dresses in her booth.
This show will return here October 20′3. Ellis’s next show will be the San Francisco Jewelry, Decorative & Fine Arts Show on May 13‱5, and he excitedly announced the launch of the Fine Art Fair in New York on March 1‴ during “Art Week.”
For more information, www.artinternationalfair.com or 310-287-1896.
