Antiques: Extraordinary objects at New York's Winter Show
No ordinary table, no ordinary chair, no ordinary fair. The Winter Show, now in full swing in New York, offers an array of extraordinary objects distinguished not only by quality and rarity but by depth of scholarly research and provenance.A console table on display at the stand of venerable London antique furniture specialists Ronald Phillips, for instance, is from the bedchamber of Queen Mary II, who jointly reigned with her husband William from 1689 to 1702 as England's first and only co-monarchs. A 1699 English console table from the bedchamber of Queen Mary II at The Winter Show.The table made in England in 1699 retains much of its original gilding. It was carved and decorated on the reverse side at a later stage to create a centre table. The finial at the centre of the stretcher is original. Bills for carving by Robert Derignee and gilding by Jean Pelletier, two notable Huguenot craftsmen, have been preserved in the Lord Chamberlain's accounts from the royal wardrobe of 1696-1699.Maison Gerard of New York offers a lounge chair designed by Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret in 1928. It was manufactured as a series by Thonet France from 1930-1937 and sold under reference B306. The original owner is unknown, but Yves Saint Laurent bought it in the 1970s for his private studio on Avenue de Breteuil in Paris. In the early 1980s, the photographer Duane Michals captured Saint Laurent seated on the chaise in his studio. It remained in his apartment until his death in 2008. Afterwards, it was sent by his partner, Pierre Bergé, to furnish their New York rooms at the Hotel Pierre, while most of the other possessions went to auction.Delft vase at New York's Winter Show.A highlight at Aronson Antiquairs, Amsterdam, is a blue and white Delft c1710 flower vase marked by Lambertus van Eenhoorn, owner of The Metal Pot factory, or his widow Margaretha Teckmann. The spade-shaped body is painted on the front and reverse with a rooster among a profusion of blossoms, and there are S-scroll handles. Early 18th-century Delftware vases with intricate hand-painted decoration and unusual forms are rare.The Louis XVI mantel clock at Galerie Léage is a pre-revolutionary French piece with a movement signed by Gille l'Aine. It is complete with a c1775 chased and gilt bronze mount and a celadon vase from the late Ming Dynasty.A Louis XVI mantel clock at The Winter Show.The show brings together more than 70 leading international dealers with an extraordinary range of works from paintings, sculpture and works on paper to fine furniture, jewellery, silver, rare books and contemporary ceramics and glass. Every object offered is vetted by over 120 specialists across 30 disciplines for authenticity, condition, provenance and significance.Among many rarities are a Wisteria lamp by Tiffany at Lillian Nassau, a Decanter print by Man Ray at Boccara Gallery, a 1902 Carlo Bugatti chair at Milord, a Georg Jensen six light silver chandelier at Greg Pepin, an Aesthetic Movement wall mirror by Herter Brothers of New York at Rose Uniacke, a pair of baguette diamond earrings by Cartier London in their original case at A La Vieille Russie, a collection of contemporary jewellery by the Greek artist Theodorus at Symbolic and Chase, one of the earliest printings of the Declaration of Independence at Peter Harrington, Murano masterpieces at Glass Past, a marble statue of Dionysos at Galerie Cahn once in the collection of William Randolph Hearst and High Aspirations by Ernie Barnes from the collection of Harry Belafonte featuring a basketball player. The Winter Show runs until February 1.
