The 2016 San Francisco Fall Art & Antiques Show will take place from Thursday, October 27 through Sunday, October 30 at Fort Mason’s Festival Pavilion with the theme “Animalia – Animals in Art & Antiques”, exploring our fascination with the beauty and mystery of the animal kingdom, as well as its symbolism throughout the ages.

Animal images have been metaphors in art from ancient times to today. Birds, dogs, cats, rabbits, pigs, serpents and butterflies have been used to portray wisdom, fidelity, shrewdness, fertility, self-indulgence, evil, and reincarnation. Chances are, if an animal appears in a painting, a piece of furniture, a decorative object or jewelry, it has meaning. The Latin word Animalis literally means “Having Soul”, and at the heart of all art, antiques and decorative objects is a boundless, collective soul—that of the artist, the collector, the observer and the history of the piece.

The 35th edition of the Show will feature sixty dealers from around the world, offering for sale an extraordinary range of fine and decorative arts representing all styles and periods including American, English, Continental and Asian furniture and decorative objects, paintings, prints, photographs, books, gold, silver and precious metals, jewelry, rugs, textiles and ceramics. This year, dealers were invited to bring pieces from antiquity to present day. Walking the aisles of the show, guests will be in awe of the beauty and splendor of the finest art and antiques throughout time and be able to view pieces from many centuries back, as well as from the 20th and even 21st centuries.

As always, 100% of net proceeds benefit Enterprise for High School Students, the San Francisco nonprofit that prepares and empowers a diverse group of Bay Area youth to pursue life after school with passion and purpose. Enterprise offers students everything they need to get and keep their first job, including intensive workshops, pragmatic skills and career exploration training, a network of advisors and peers, a broad database of paid internships, and college and career counseling.

A few additional facts about the show:

• Aerin Lauder will be the honorary chair of the 2016 San Francisco Fall Art & Antiques Show 
• The entry to the show will be designed by San Francisco architect Andrew Skurman 

There will also be 4 “designer vignettes” at the show’s entrance, each incorporating a few choice antiques as well as a custom-designed wall covering exclusively developed in collaboration with De Gournay and the vignettes' designers. The designers of the 4 vignettes are Ann Getty, Catherine Kwong, Antonio Martins and Jonathan Rachman.

The 4-day show offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of great art and antiques with programming each day, including The Lecture Series, featuring 6 prominent speakers over 3 days, show tours, talks, designer events and the Young Collectors Evening. 

The Fall Art & Antiques Show opening night Preview Gala has been called “the highlight of the San Francisco Social Season” and opens the show with live music, caviar and vodka bars, flowing champagne, sumptuous buffets and the first glimpse of the best art and antiques from around the world, all available for purchase. Tickets and info.