Devoted ceramic and glass aficionados turned out amply for the 18th edition of The New York Ceramics & Glass Fair when it opened its doors on the preview evening of January 18 at the Bohemian National Hall.

Said Liz Lees, co-producer of the fair with Meg Wendy, “We had a steady flow of attendees this year, which I might add was the first time in several years where we had five consecutive selling days without a drop of snow!” "And we were particularly pleased with the large turn-out of museum curators," added Meg Wendy.

The New York Ceramics & Glass Fair is a magnet that attracts curators from prominent museums across the country, including The Arkansas Art Center, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Brooklyn Museum of Art, The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, The Chipstone Foundation, Ceramic Research Center, Arizona State University, The Chicago Institute of Art, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Rhode Island School of Design Art Museum, the Historic New Orleans Collection, Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Chrysler Museum, Daum Museum, Dunbarton Oaks, Drayton Hall, Hood Museum, The Mount Vernon Museum, The Neustadt Museum, The Newark Museum, The Peabody-Essex Museum, The Detroit Institute of Art, The Corning Museum, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, The New-York Historical Society, The Saint Louis Museum, Winterthur Museum, Historic Deerfield Museum, Yale University Art Museum, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum, Washington & Lee Museum, Colonial Williamsburg and Museum of Art & Design in New York.

This year, the fair also showcased a major ceramic discovery unearthed by archeologists from the Commonwealth Heritage Group, under the site of the new Museum of the American Revolution. First thought to be stoneware, the bowl underwent material analysis that determined it was made of hard-paste porcelain. While the Chinese perfected this technique in the 7th century A.D., most Western potters were still trying to replicate the process in the 18th century. This small bowl was most likely manufactured in Philadelphia.

Among the reported sales were:

Robert Prescott Walker, of Polka Dot Antiques based in Waccabuc, N.Y., said: “I had my best fair yet so far.” He reported that Historic Deerfield, Deerfield, Massachusetts, purchased two of his rarest items, including a triple colored transfer printed salt glazed stoneware plate, 1756/60, (one of only five known to exist), but more importantly they bought the unique hand drawn estate plan of Thomas Whieldon’s estate dated 1794.  Only discovered a few months ago from the sale of a solicitors office that closed, the older contents being sold at auction.  I could have sold this to several other museums but Deerfield got there first.  “I’m delighted that these are both going to a local museum. I have also sold, lead glazed ‘Landskip’ wares; salt-glazed agate animals, early English Delft wares and Moorcroft pottery.”

Jill Fenichell, Inc./Bespoke Porcelain Company in Brooklyn N.Y., was pleased to report that the Corning Museum has acquired a pair of Imperial Russian Art Nouveau glass vases.

Leslie Ferrin of the North Adams-based Ferrin Contemporary reported three museums were interested in the Peter Pincus Trio of Vessels while The Newark Museum acquired Vase with Dragon by StevenYoung Lee.

New York-based Leo Kaplan, Ltd. sold English pottery from the 1740-1780, priced from $1,000 to mid-six figure range.

Vetro Vero of West Grove, Penn., Selection of hand-blown glass pitchers, bottles, opaline bottles, and goblets and Mark West, from Surrey, England reported a good opening night with interest from the Corning Museum and Winterthur and numerous sales of glass pieces snapped up by collectors.

Cliff Lee/Lee Gallery & Studio in Stevens, Penn., sold to private collectors and museums with new people coming through his stand.

“This was one of my best years yet,” said Mr. Lee. Among the pieces sold were a carved celadon lotus vase, prickly yellow pears, and lava pots.

Hideaki Miyamura, whose studio is based in Kensington, N.H., sold a number of vases and bottles in Blue Hare's Fur glaze, gold glaze and Starry night glaze.

First-time participant Lucy Lacoste of her namesake gallery in Concord Mass., sold a Vertex, by Heidi Hentze, Playing Fields, 1980 by Don Reitz, Cylinder #5 Bodil Manz Porcelain and 2 Warren McKenzie Button Boxes

Maria and Peter Warren Antiques of Sandy Hook, Conn. reported business was excellent and among the objects sold were a very large Famille vert punch bowl and a rare Chinese export tea service, English creamware and a chintz teapot.

A selection of Belgian Art Deco ceramics by Charles Cattreaux were snapped up at TOJ Gallery, while assorted porcelain ceramics with a large selection of candle snuffers, and many smalls found buyers at Moylan Smelkinson, The Spare Room, in Baltimore, Md.

Newcomer Michael Wainwright, of Great Barrington Mass., was positive about his first experience at the fair, having sold his signature crystal slabs and reactive glaze bowls, while Antoinette's Heirlooms, a first-time exhibitor from Warwickshire, England was delighted with her first time at the fair.

Martine Boston Antiques of Limerick, Ireland reported steady stream of buyers and good sales and Earle D. Vandekar of Knightsbridge from Maryknoll, New York sold seventeen Fornesetti plates on opening night.

The New York Ceramics & Glass Fair is co-produced by Meg Wendy of MCG Events LLC and Liz Lees. Next year's fair will open with an early evening preview on January 17 and run through January 21.

For more information visit, www.nyceramicsandglass.com or phone 929-265-2850.