Inaugural Art, Antique & Jewelry Show Wows Top Collectors and Art Enthusiasts Over 5-Day Debut.

 The Inaugural Chicago International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show took place last week and closed with strong attendance and impressive sales. Many of the pieces sold to established as well as new collectors, plus museums, cultural foundations, art advisors and designers. More than 12,000 attendees visited the Chicago International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show throughout the extended weekend with more than 2,000 patrons attending the exclusive Opening Night Preview Party on Thursday, April 24, which benefited the Women’s Board of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC).

Known as an industry leader, the Palm Beach Show Group debuted the newest addition to its roster of signature events at Chicago’s illustrious Navy Pier. Under the leadership of President and CEO, Scott Diament, the show featured more than 120 exhibitors, including the following, who expressed their sentiments about the Chicago International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show:

“Many Chicagoans have not seen a show of this quality it quite some time; it is a Show for true collectors,” stated Lee Thinnes of north suburban Chicago-based Lee’s Antiques.

“It is always a pleasure to participate in shows produced by the Palm Beach Show Group, and the inaugural Chicago Show was no exception. We enjoyed a great turnout and sold from a variety of categories, including jewelry, canes and objets d’art,” stated Bill Rau, M.S. Rau Antiques. (New Orleans, LA)

“This is the best antique show that I have ever participated in,” raved John Dinan of UK-based, Dinan & Chighine.

Beginning with the Opening Night Preview Party, patrons were queued up in anticipation of the evening, anxious to view the collections of dealers from around the world. Event committee co-chairs Kitty Freidheim and Leslie Kennedy welcomed RIC patrons throughout the spirited evening that raised over $250,000. More than 2,000 Guests were greeted with champagne and hors d’oeuvres, while they received a first look at the international collections of fine art, antiques and stunning jewels.

“The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) was delighted to premier the Palm Beach Show Group’s debut in Chicago,” stated co-chairs Freidheim & Kennedy. “Scott Diament and his staff were a delight to work with and the show looked exquisite. Our RIC guests truly enjoyed their evening and it was a most successful RIC venture both financially and socially.”

Local attendees were mesmerized by Navy Pier’s transformation into one of the most luxurious exhibition centers ever seen in Chicago. More than 100,000 square feet of beautiful, white carpet covered floors lined with lush floral arrangements and European-felted booths, filled with exhibitors offering the finest art, antiques and jewels in the world.

A highlight of the Chicago International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show was the Designer Showcase, created in partnership with the Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID – IL). The Designer Showcase offered visitors the opportunity to view fully-decorated room vignettes incorporating a mix of art, antiques and jewelry from the participating exhibitors, providing inspiration for integrating fine items into everyday living. The four featured designers and ASID-IL members included Basically Bedrooms & Interiors, Fredman Design Group, Interiors by Mary Susan, and NM Design House.

Among the 120 participating galleries, sales were strong and were reported from across the board, spanning old European Masters to contemporary works. Jewelry, silver, maps and lithographs seemed to be in high demand. Exhibitors noted that while guests were more thoughtful and conscious of quality versus price, they were still making sound purchases.

Sales highlights include:

Long-Sharp Gallery (Indianapolis, IN) sold a large scale hand- crafted marine-grade stainless      steel sculpture by Santa Fe sculptor Gino Miles to important South Florida      collectors; a set of three "Want/need" biscuits by British      artist Wayne Warren to a noted New York collector; a Miro Aquatint      etching; and Russell Young’s "Crying Marilyn" to a California      collector and art dealer.

Arader      Galleries (NY)      sold a map of Illinois territory (circa 1818) by John Gardiner on opening      night to a major local collector of maps relating to the Great Lakes.

Silver Art by D&R (Marseilles, France) sold a “confiturier” (French sugar holder, circa 1819) by Jean Nicholas Boulanger to an Indiana collector for “four figures.” Also sold to one buyer were a trio of 19th century silver kitchen accoutrements: a pair of grape scissors by Odiot; a set of rare Chimera asparagus tongs by Alphonse Debain; and an olive spoon by Laurent Labbe.

Floyd      Braswell (Chicago) sold a Josef Albers “Tuscany” screen print (1966) to a Fine Art      museum in Florida while Spencer      Marks (Southampton, MA) sold two pieces of American silver to a      Chicago museum. 

Dinan      & Chighine (Surrey, UK) sold eight      John Gould (1849-87) hand colored lithographs: “A monograph of the      Trochilidae, or family of Hummingbirds”

Lee’s      Antiques      sold a 1930's Art Deco wall art made of glass with acid-etched and silver-      leafed image of Roman figurine

Zane Moss      Antiques      (New York) sold a mix of pieces including a large oil canvas of a horse in      a stall (circa 1880), Staffordshire pottery and  a large English Apothecary chest   
      
David      Brooker Fine Art      (Woodbury, CT) sold five paintings, from 17th century Italian old masters,      English painter Ernest Walbourne, German artists Anton Ebert and Carl      Heffner, and French artist Antoine Bouvard

Lucyanne      Robinson (Tarpon      Springs, Florida) sold an      important gold and enamel ring by Jaclyn Davidson; an iconic button form      bracelet by Patrick Kelly; and a massive bib neckpiece by Oscar de la      Renta

The Tolman      Collection      (New York) sold an etching that, at the time it was printed in 1999, was      one of the largest copper plate etchings ever pulled in Japan.  

DouglasRosin      Decorative Arts      (Chicago) had a fabulous collection of Chanel vintage costume jewelry and      strong sales, especially among unusual brooches

Ophir      Gallery (Englewood,      NJ) sold two Tiffany Studios      pieces

Upon the conclusion of the Chicago International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show exhibitors responded to the enthusiastic, educated crowds:

“The show attracted a great art-oriented, cultured clientele.” Jasmine Doussiere, Silver Art by D&R

Rhonda Long-Sharp of the Long-Sharp Gallery:  "The fair was beautifully appointed and well organized.  We had important conversations with curators, and seasoned and new collectors, among others.  We were especially pleased to exhibit with some of the world's best galleries including our show-neighbors Trinity House from London with whom we will exhibit again in June at Masterpiece London."

 “People are more adventurous, they like our clean and contemporary lines…they’re willing to take a risk.  In particular, customers gravitated towards colored gemstones, the earthiness of our American turquoise and rose gold pieces,” said Erin O’Donnell, Caesar’s Delight (Pittsburgh, PA)

 “Happy with how much people here know about the works.  They are very knowledgeable and have great questions,” said Kate Kelley, Tom Veilleux Gallery (Portland, Maine)

 Jeff Cohen of Chicago’s N Green & Sons:  “We made quite a number of sales in all price ranges. The crowds were huge and we could see that there was a lot of interest in antiques even from a younger age range of mid- 20-30-somethings.”

 Susan Klein Bagdade of Richard Norton Gallery (Chicago) said:  “We are very happy to be here! The show looks beautiful, and we especially appreciate the wide aisles, high ceilings and modern presentation.  It is a plus for Chicago to have a major event such as this here.” 

 “We were delighted to welcome some of the world’s leading international art collectors, influential museum curators, designers and collectors to Chicago,” stated Diament, President/CEO, Palm Beach Show Group. “The Show proved that Chicago is the leading marketplace in the Midwest for fine art, antiques and jewelry and we are excited to announce our 2015 dates, which will continue to position the Chicago International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show as one of the world’s premier events.”

The 2015 Chicago International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show will take place April 30 – May 4, 2015 at Chicago’s Navy Pier – Festival Hall.

About the Palm Beach Show Group

Recognized as the nation’s leading producer of premier jewelry, art and antique shows, the Palm Beach Show Group owns and operates 10 shows nationally including, in 2014: the recently concluded Chicago International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show (April 24-28, 2014), Baltimore Summer Antiques Show (Aug. 21-24, 2014), Art Baltimore 2014 (Aug. 21-24, 2014), New York Art, Antique & Jewelry Show (Sept. 17-21, 2014), Dallas International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show (Nov. 6-10, 2014), and the Palm Beach Jewelry & Watch Show (Nov. 13-16, 2014). In 2015: L.A. Art Show (Jan. 14-18, 2015), Los Angeles Jewelry & Antique Show (Jan. 14-18, 2015), Naples Art, Antique & Jewelry Show (Feb. 5-9, 2015), Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show (Feb. 13-17, 2015). For more information, visit www.palmbeachshowgroup.com

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Media Contact:

Beth Silverman/Liza Massingberd

The Silverman Group, Inc.

312.932.9953

beth@silvermangroupchicago.com