Despite one of New York's worst blizzards, shutting the city down on Saturday, the ever-important day for buyers, devoted ceramic and glass aficionados turned out for the 17th edition of The New York Ceramics & Glass Fair when it opened its doors on the Preview evening of January 19 at the Bohemian National Hall. Thirty international dealers transacted business at a steady pace during the opening and throughout the four-day run of the show.

As it always does, The New York Ceramics & Glass Fair is a magnet that attracts curators from prominent museums across the country, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Brooklyn Museum of Art, Ceramic Research Center, Arizona State University, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Rhode Island School of Design Art Museum, The Mount Vernon 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, Colonial Williamsburg and Museum of Art & Design in New York.

Some of the notables spotted in the crowd were design mavens Ellie Cullman, Harry Heissmann, Ronald Bricke, Christopher Spitzmiller, and Geoffrey Bradfield, Bennett Weinstock, Simon Doonan, as well as noted auction house founders Lark Mason and Leigh Keno, and collectors Janet and Larry Larose.

Says Meg Wendy, who co-produces the fair with Liz Lees: “We’re delighted that despite the storm, we had a steady stream of visitors to the fair and our lectures were standing room only.” Adds Liz Lees, “Weather in January is always a challenge, but according to the majority of our exhibitors, it did not interfere with their sales. As a matter of fact, we were pleasantly surprised by their feedback.”

Here is a survey of the sales that were made:

Robert Prescott-Walker of Polka Dot Antiques said “the fair was probably the busiest I have seen it for a while, with the exception of the snow day.” His most important piece of Staffordshire A Rare Staffordshire Pearlware Table Base Group of ‘The Death of Munroe,’circa 1820/30 is on purchase approval to a major New York Museum.

According to Prescott-Walker, he sold numerous pieces Wheldon-Type teapot and caddies wares, a Salt-Glazed Stoneware model of a cat and a teapot and Pratt Wares miniature nursery pieces, with Creamware jugs, tiles and bowls rounding out sales, with all the cow creamers are on hold for a major Manhattan interior design firm.  

Contemporary ceramic artist Michael Boroneic, a fair newcomer, reported numerous sales from his Spiral Spatial Series “I was humbled by the strong reception of my work by so many top-level collectors and designers,” he said. I depleted the inventory of work that I had on hand and was honored by several substantial commissions.” My first-time at the fair opened up a very valuable portal to the collector community and I’m gratified to receive such a strong outpouring of recognition and intense interest in adding more of my work to both private and institution collections.  Additionally, the support and promotion provided by the event organizers was first-rate and you can be sure that I will be back!”

“Although the work I showed was very different to anything else there, it was greatly appreciated by many visitors,” said the London-based Joanna Bird, who was a first-time exhibitor. “I sold numerous works by my stable of artists: Sara Dodd including, all 4 of her pieces ‘swell’ with more commissioned, Louis Thompson, Sara Moorhouse, Pippin Drysdale, Geoffrey Mann and Edmund de Waal.” Except for the blizzard, Ms. Bird thought there was good traffic and . There was good footfall except on the Blizzard loyal crowd was informed and engaged.

Leslie Ferrin of her namesake gallery reported that the fair was well-attended despite the Snowpocalyspe. “The New York Ceramics & Glass Fair is where collectors and American curators come together to learn and buy contemporary ceramics alongside historic material,” said the gallerist. “This year we saw the growing interest in the new work by international artists whose practice is inspired by history and who use this source material for commentary on social and political issues.  Paul Scott’s artwork and funded research project “American Scenery” continued to attract attention and museum purchases as he re-contextualizes transferware with prints of Indian Point, the New Jersey Turnpike and views of landmarks such as Battery Park.  The Dutch ceramicist Bouke de Vries has been commissioned by the Peabody Essex Museum for their Asia in Amsterdam opening in late February. 

U.K. dealer Martyn Edgell reported “loads of sales, including many Mocha ware pieces and English stoneware, while glass specialist Mark J. West, also from the U.K “sold more on opening night than he did in all the days combined last year. It was like the old days.” Designers and collectors were snapping up pieces from the 18th through 20th centuries. Among those sold items was a collection of Venetian Aquarium weights, a 90-piece service of Baccarat table ware, and 16 large Art Deco Vases.

Said Carrie Gustafson, a contemporary glass artist and first-time exhibitor” “For those of us exhibiting contemporary "craft" it was an extraordinary experience to have our work seen by an audience with a high appreciation for detail and an unmeasured understanding of the history of decorative arts.I repeatedly heard from attendees how "fresh" and "exciting" the contemporary work looked at the fair.” Ms. Gustafson sold numerous pieces of her signature glass “Embola” pieces and Thistle Bottles.

Martine Boston, from Limerick, Ireland was very enthusiastic about her first time at the fair and reported numerous sales of Royal Worcester vases, Christopher Dresser pieces, and a Royal Worcester moon flask. “We met many people who were genuinely interested in what we were offering.”

“I always love doing the New York Ceramics & Glass Fair, said Jill Fenichell of her eponymous gallery. “In spite of the snow, it was an exciting week. I sold a lovely and impressive pair of Bohemian ruby glass covered chalices. I am already looking forward to next year.”

Contemporary glass artists Josie Gluck and Michael Schunke of Vetro Vero were very pleased with sales of their contemporary hand-crafted pieces. “As a first-time participant, we were delighted to meet so many new people,” said Ms. Gluck. Hideaki Miyamura who also made his debut sold several of his iridescent ceramic pieces to new collectors.

The New York Ceramics & Glass Fair is produced by Meg Wendy of MCG Events LLC and Liz Lees of Caskey Lees Inc.

In addition to the New York Ceramics & Glass Fair, Caskey-Lees currently produces the San Francisco Tribal & Textile Arts Show in San Francisco.

For more information, visit www.newyorkceramicsand glassfair.com.