RONALD PHILLIPS LTD (www.ronaldphillipsantiques.com) is coming to New York’s International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show (haughtonfairs.com) October 21 – 27 with what Director Simon Phillips says is, “An exceptional selection of furniture of particular interest to discerning collectors of iconic English furniture makers and forms.”         

“We have been incredibly fortunate this year to acquire several truly rare and important English masterpieces to offer at this year’s International Show - allowing our American clients their first opportunity to see many of these very special pieces,” says Phillips.

Among the highlights at the Ronald Phillips Ltd stand at the International Fine Art and Antique Dealers Show – being staged again this year at the Park Avenue Armory at 67th Street – will be an extremely rare and important mid-18th century Chippendale period carved giltwood chimney piece attributed to Matthias Lock. 

According to Simon Phillips, the enormous overmantel mirror, towering to over 10 feet and 86 inches wide, “Is the only known realization of a Matthias Lock design depicted in a drawing published in 1752 that is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. This extraordinary work of art corresponds in almost every detail to the Lock drawing. It comes from Stedcombe Manor, Axmouth Devon.”

Another prized mirror being featured by Ronald Phillips Ltd at the show is an eight foot high Irish George II Giltwood mirror circa 1750 attributed to John and Francis Booker and retains much of its original gilding.

A George II showstopper is the “Grimsthorpe Castle Settee” which is a documented mid-18th century carved mahogany and parcel gilt settee. It was part of a suite of six armchairs and two settees originally commissioned by the Third Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven for his seat at Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire.  Phillips says, “This is a real trophy acquisition for whoever buys it.  The other settee and four of the armchairs form part of the English furniture collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.”

From the mid-19th century, Ronald Phillips Ltd is presenting a Victorian Mahogany Circular Dining Table with a Union Jack pattern by Johnstone and Jeanes.  Phillips says, “This is a very interesting model, in that the Union Jack design was incorporated into the patented radially extending rotating mechanism that allows extra leaves to be inserted and increases the diameter from six feet to over eight feet.  The design was originated by Robert Jupe, Johnstone’s onetime partner, in 1835.  This table has a cabinet for storing the leaves when they are not in use.”

From Powderham Castle Ronald Phillips Ltd is showing a George II Library Table over seven feet in length by Otho Channon, whose bill for creating the table in 1751 is preserved at Powderham Castle.  Simon Phillips says, “Collectors will respond to the four boldly carved cabriole legs with acanthus clasps to the knees terminating in enormous hairy paw and ball feet as well as the generous size of the table with its rectangular top with gadrooned edge above a frieze with Greek key pattern decoration concealing two drawers either end.”

“With the extreme weather suffered by our New York area clients recently, we thought they might be interested in acquiring an extremely rare and important mid-18th century Walnut Barometer by John Hallifax of Barnsley.  Only a small number of barometers by Hallifax have survived and are generally in the distinguished collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum, Noel Terry, Irwin Untermyer, or the former collection of Percival Griffiths, to name but a few.”

“This is a particularly wonderful example in a long case clock shape with brass finials, glazed arch dial with a silvered chapter ring and brass spandrels and engraved dial centre with typical pierced steel hands.  A silver disc is signed ‘Jno Hallifax, Barnsley, Invt & Fecit” flanked by turned columns and having a circular central recording dial of patinated silvered brass terminating in a stepped moulded base. It dates from 1740 and is in outstanding condition.”

Other exhibition pieces for sale include a William and Mary Strong Box from Hinton House, a Queen Anne wing chair probably retaining original English needlework, a George II mahogany card table formally in the celebrated Percival Griffiths collection, a pair of George III torcheres to a design by Thomas Chippendale, and a George II mahogany tripod table attributed to Frederick Hintz.

Ronald Phillips Ltd is one of the world’s finest antique dealers specializing in English furniture ranging from Queen Anne, George I, George II, George III, George IV and the Victorian period. The company was founded in 1952 by Ronald Phillips Ltd and is well known to decorators, collectors and museums from around the world at its 26 Bruton Street galleries in London.

Its constantly changing stock is featured in stunning hard cover annual catalogues that cover styles from Rococo and Neo-Classicism to Regency and have included pieces by famous 18th century craftsmen such as Thomas Chippendale, William Linnell, John Linnell, Robert Adam, Matthew Boulton and Thomas Sheraton, Gillows of Lancaster, and John Mclean.

Simon Phillips adds, “Our recent catalogues also focus on a specialty of the firm as we are known for having the largest collection of 18th century mirrors and also specialize in 18th century glass chandeliers, wall lights and decanters - items unmatched in our field.“

Simon Phillips took over the business from his father 15 years ago. He has served as the Chairman at the Grosvenor House Art and Antiques Fair and is one of the founders of Masterpiece London, the luxury art and antiques fair held for the second year this summer. 

The International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show is the firm’s premier showcase in the United States. Established in 1989, the show attracts some of the world’s top dealers showing exceptional quality works of art from antiquity to the present day including sculpture, bronzes, furniture, carpets and textiles, jewellery, pictures, ceramics and glass. All works are for sale under the strictest vetting conditions.