The 65th annual Winter Antiques Show is at the Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan’s Upper East Side for ten days, Friday through Sunday, from January 18-27, 2019. $25
The Winter Show (as they are calling it this year) is America’s leading antique fair. This year seventy dealers are offering 5,000 years of art, antiques and design. Objects on sale are vetted by a committee so you have reasonable assurance that you are getting what you pay for.
The first time I visited the show many years ago, I was struck by what was on sale. You could buy the personal possessions of kings and queens of Europe. Along with the usual swords, chests and thrones, one object sticks in my mind. It was a chastity belt from medieval Spain. Who knew such a thing even existed? The iron underwear literally had jagged metal teeth around its main opening. Anyone who wore it would most likely hurt themselves. You can find things from the mundane to the unbelievable at The Winter Show.
This year’s show exhibition is Collecting Nantucket / Connecting the World. It’s from the collection of the Nantucket Historical Association and includes many artifacts of whaling.
The Opening Night Party benefit is on Thursday, January 17 from 5-9pm. From $300. Many collectors know each other so it is quite a social event. Dress to be seen.
Young Collectors Night is Thursday, January 24 from 7-9pm. From $200. It’s an opportunity to engage with other young collectors.
Connoisseurs Night is Friday, January 25 from 5:30-8pm. $25. It’s an evening of booth talks, wine tastings and conversations about collecting.
East Side House Settlement
Entry and the parties benefit East Side House Settlement which provides educational programs to about 10,000 people a year in the South Bronx and Northern Manhattan.
If you think The Winter Show is for fancy folks in the Upper East Side, it is, but it supports programs that really help people get ahead in New York City’s Latin communities. It took me a long time to understand it, but this is real.
Latin Culture at the Winter Antiques Show
In general there are Italian, French and Spanish antiques sprinkled throughout the show.
Browse & Darby (London) is showing French late 19th-20th century paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture in Booth A7.
Daniel Crouch Rare Books (London) is showing antique atlases, maps, plans, sea charts from the 15th to the 19th centuries in Booth E14.
Didier Ltd (London) is showing artistic post-war jewelry by painters, sculptors, architects and designers from Europe and South America.
Donzella (New York) is showing post-war and contemporary design from Europe in Booth B10.
Charles Ede, Ltd. (London) is showing exceptional objects from Rome in Booth C8.
Peter Finer (London) is showing antique arms and armor in Booth A3.
Hirschl & Adler (New York) is showing European paintings, watercolors, drawings and sculpture from the 18th century to the present in Booth B9.
Lebreton (San Francisco) is showing major post-war French and European artists in Booth D16.
Les Enluminures (New York) is showing medieval and renaissance illuminated manuscripts, miniatures, rings and jewelry in Booth A6.
Lobel Modern (New York) is showing a framed Basquiat screen print authenticated by his estate in Booth A10.
Macklowe Gallery, LTD (New York) is showing French Art Nouveau furniture in Booth C9.
Maison Gerard (New York) is showing French Art Deco furniture, lighting and objects d’art in Booth C7.
Robert Simon Fine Art (New York) is showing Italian Renaissance and Baroque paintings and sculpture.
Tambaran (New York) is showing museum-quality tribal art in Booth B3.
Throckmorton Fine Art (New York) is showing pre-Columbian sculpture and textiles, tribal art and vintage photography, including Mexican Olmec, Mayan and Colima figures and masks in Booth B12.
Winter Antiques Show Hours
Daily: 12pm – 8pm (4:30pm Tuesday and 6pm Sundays & Thursday)
Winter Antiques Show Tickets
Tickets are $25. They are available at the door or online.
Park Avenue Armory
643 Park Avenue, New York, NY
(between 66th & 67th St)
Upper East Side, Manhattan
Subway
(6) to 68th St – Hunter College. Walk one block west.
Bus
On Lexington St, take the M101, M102 or M103 to 68th St.
For more information, visit thewintershow.org