The Garden Furniture & Antiques Fair

April 14th, 2019

Bronx, New York

The Garden Furniture & Antiques Fair at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), April 11-14, smelled great and looked great, and exhibitors’ booths were put together with tender, loving care.

Pretty in pink could have been the theme for the fair. Pale pink cherry blossoms were everywhere, while bright pink azaleas spilled out of cast stone planters in a multitude of sizes in dealers’ booths and throughout the tent.

The show was held a month early this year because of the holidays and construction in the NYBG’s conservatory; nevertheless, the weather cooperated on preview night, an important fund-raising event

“It’s a little early for the plants,” said show manager Karen DiSaia, who juggled three shows in a six-week period from March through April (theConnecticut Spring Show, the NYBG fair, and the Philadelphia Antiques and Art Show). The opening preview party included a plant sale and auction, and although the temperature dipped at night, the bar and the crowd warmed up the tent

“It’s a small but mighty show,” DiSaia noted, “and there are little gems in a mix of periods here. It’s about quality and character.

Planters, armillary spheres, statues, fountains, weathervanes, mirrors, and garden furniture were filled with, surrounded by, or next to thousands of plants and flowers and enormous blossoms. The fair is a sensory experience. This year it coincided with the NYBG’s annual orchid show, which added to the experience. Additionally, a farmers market was set up on Saturday and Sunday.

“The show opened the door to spring,” remarked Judith Milne in a post-show telephone interview. She and her husband, James, own At Home Antiques, Kingston, New York, and they “had a great show. It was full of energy, and there was lots of interest,” she said. They sold many planters, on and off plinths, as well as a pair of mermaids and a pair of lions, she noted.

Tim Brennan of Brennan & Mouilleseaux, Briarcliff Manor, New York, said in a post-show telephone interview, “It was the best show we’ve had in over a decade!” The duo, which includes David Mouilleseaux, is “aggressively eclectic” and brought to the fair “garden to odd things.” They sold a set of mid-century modern collages, a rare cast-iron urn with handles in the shape of elephants, a pair of lounge chairs, and much more. “Selling was consistent throughout the weekend. We brought items ranging from $150 to the low five figures,” Brennan noted, adding, “Karen DiSaia does a really good job.” He also pointed out that the preview “was filled with the usual crowd along with many new faces."

Dealer Bob Withington of Withington and Co., Portsmouth, New Hampshire, did very well. He was the last one to leave the show after it closed on Sunday, he said, close to 1 a.m. Monday. The event, which he’s done for 26 years, “has historically been good. You have to have an approachable booth, one that’s fun, interesting, and includes all price points.” He sold 75 items overall, including a set of seven totems representing the continents that came from an estate in Beverly, Massachusetts, he said in a post-show telephone interview. His merchandise ranged in price from $100 to $12,000, he said.

Bruce Emond of Village Braider Antiques, Plymouth, Massachusetts, said, “There was good energy and a big crowd” at the preview. He sold a pair of lions and a bronze fountain that night.

As is the case at many shows, there were some dealers who did not do as well as they would have liked.

Further information is available at (www.nybg.org/event/garden-furniture-antiques-fair-2019).

Manscapers, New York City, designed the preview party space, filling the tent with pink blossoms. Their designers appear on the Bravo TV show Backyard Envy.

This terra-cotta cherub, French, on a custom mount, was available from Finnegan Gallery for $7500.

Judith and James Milne of At Home Antiques, Kingston, New York, had a very good show, selling a “great pair of lions and many planters,” among other items, said Judy. A pair of cast-iron mermaids, one seen here, from a Connecticut estate, priced at $3800, also sold. The cast stone mushroom with original paint was tagged $475.

Finnegan Gallery, Chicago, offered this English tri-foot wrought-iron table base, late 19th century, with a later mirrored top, for $2800. The set of seven apothecary jars, designed by Jacob E. Bang (1899-1965), who worked for the Danish firm Holmegaard Glass Factory, was priced at $1250. The pair of English cast stone vessels, early 20th century, was tagged $3800 the pair.

This pair of cast-iron urns, marked for Adams & Storrie, Philadelphia, circa 1880, 49" high x 37" wide x 22" deep, was priced at $18,650 by Francis J. Purcell Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Bob Withington of Withington & Co., Portsmouth, New Hampshire, sold over 75 items at the fair. Seen here is a display of smalls. “You have to have an approachable booth that’s fun and interesting and offers all price points,” he said.

A pair of concrete sphinxes, one seen here, from the summer White House of William Howard Taft, circa 1910, was priced at $5400 by Bob Withington of Withington & Co. President Taft summered in Beverly, Massachusetts.

This wood and wire birdcage, with old paint, late 19th century, French or American, was available from Village Braider Antiques, Plymouth, Massachusetts. Bruce Emond asked $2900 for it.

A pair of carved limestone compotes, Italy, 19th century, was priced at $1200 by Village Braider Antiques.

This armillary sphere on a cast stone base with a fish motif, Swedish, mid-20th century, was available from Schorr & Dobinsky, Reading, Pennsylvania, for $1400. The red Haws watering can was tagged $250.

Pagoda Red, Chicago, Illinois, offered this painted pine bed canopy with birds and tree peonies, circa 1850, Guangdong, China, 50" high x 73" wide x 1½" deep, and asked $6880 for it. Some of the vessels are from Mali, and the two smaller ones are from Central America. The vessel with a face (far right) is pre-Columbian. They ranged in price from $780 to $1480. The figural nude ceramic, Just So You Know, 2018, 7" x 5½" x 5½", by Esther Shimazu (b. 1957) was priced at $2680.

This 12½" x 10" watercolor on paper, Flowers in a Decorated Pitcher by Robert Kulicke (1924-2007), circa 1960, was available from Garvey Rita Art & Antiques, Orleans, Massachusetts. Kevin Garvey Rita, who shared the booth with Village Braider Antiques, asked $2500 for the painting.

Rayon Roskar of Brooklyn, New York, exhibited for the second time at the fair and brought mostly garden ornaments and lighting from Swiss designers. Seen here, however, is a high-relief terracotta planter from Italy, circa 1900, 10" x 12¼", priced at $870.

Pink and pretty could describe the booth of Valaer Van Roÿen of Van Roÿen Antiques & Objects, New York City.

Schorr & Dobinsky asked $1495 for this faux bois birdhouse, Belgian, mid-20th century.

Flower-bed edging tiles from a historical mansion on the Hudson hang above a bench by Laura Spector of Fairfield, Connecticut, who also makes headboards, indoor stair balconies, mirrors, and much more. Made from bittersweet vines, the bench measures 61" high x 60" wide x 36" deep. It was available from Barbara Israel Garden Antiques, Katonah, New York, for $17,500. “The show was good, well attended, and there was energy all weekend,” said a gallery representative. “We sold a pair of figural statues, a pair of urns, and lots of smalls and accessories.”

Nula Thanhauser of Nula Antique Handbags, New York City, brought lots of vintage handbags and accessories to the fair, all displayed by color.

Originally published in the June 2019 issue of Maine Antique Digest. © 2019 Maine Antique Digest