Dealers head to warmer climes as Miami comes alive

13 December 2012Written by ATG Reporter

While the UK art and antiques scene almost grinds to a halt over Christmas and January, Miami truly comes alive.

In December, Contemporary art rules with the myriad of fairs and exhibitions coinciding with Art Basel Miami Beach.

Then in January and February it's the turn for art, antiques and jewellery of an older vintage, as dealers from across the world and the US escape the cold for the balmy climes, not to mention wealthy inhabitants, of Palm Beach.

There is a run of fairs across Florida through January and February, attracting quite a few dealers from the UK and Europe, many of whom get the most out of their shipping costs by standing at events both in New York and Florida.

The 31st Palm Beach Winter Antiques Show starts the New Year, organised by Dolphin Promotions from January 17-20 at Embassy Suites (formerly the Crowne Plaza hotel) at West Palm Beach.

The majority of the 50 exhibitors are from the US but a few are from the UK and Canada.

Dolphin Promotions, who bought the Palm Beach Winter Antiques Show in 2011, also run the Miami National Antiques Show and Sale which follows hot on its heels from January 25-27 at the Miami Airport Convention Center.

This is a much larger affair, with 150 dealers from the US, Canada, Europe and South America, including UK dealers such as The Silver Fund, 3B Antiquesand A.A. Stem, offering a wide mix of furniture, glass, ceramics, silver and jewellery, metalwares, textiles, books and specialist fields such as Asian art, reference books, folk art and tribal art.

Impressive Scale

The month rolls on, with The Original Miami Beach Antique Show at the Miami Beach Convention Center from January 31 to February 4. This is on a scale like no other and, billed at the world's largest indoor antique show, it boasts over 800 dealers from 22 countries, including British dealers - particularly in silver, such as Koopman Rare Art and S & J Stodel, and numerous jewellers, Markovand Moira of Bond Street among them. Furniture, Asian art, textiles, works of art and paintings are also on offer.

The New York contingent includes Ariadne Galleries, Hammer Galleriesand Todd Merrill, while among the resident Floridians are A.B. Levy, Arcature Fine Artand Avant Gallery.

The fair is now in its 10th year and has around 180 exhibitors, mainly from the US but with some from Europe. Just over 20 UK dealers take part - for many of them this is their second or third stateside fair before travelling home - and they include London art galleries Chris Beetlesand Burlington Paintings, textiles dealer Marilyn Garrow, Potterton Booksand period furniture dealer William Cook.

Impressive Scale

The month rolls on, with The Original Miami Beach Antique Show at the Miami Beach Convention Center from January 31 to February 4. This is on a scale like no other and, billed at the world's largest indoor antique show, it boasts over 800 dealers from 22 countries, including British dealers - particularly in silver, such as Koopman Rare Art and S & J Stodel, and numerous jewellers, Markov and Moira of Bond Street among them. Furniture, Asian art, textiles, works of art and paintings are also on offer.

Organiser David Lester is well known as a Miami fairs mogul and his American International Fine Art Fair from February 5-10 is a top-end, international event, now in its 17th year. Held at the Palm Beach Convention Center, this event will have between 60-90 exhibitors and continues to attract big names including UK dealers Richard Green, Michael Goedhuis, Silver Fund, Mallett and Haynes Fine Art. The New York contingent includes Ariadne Galleries, Hammer Galleries and Todd Merrill, while among the resident Floridians are A.B. Levy, Arcature Fine Art and Avant Gallery.

Moving into the same venue just afterwards is the Palm Beach Jewelry Art and Antique Show from February 15-19, run by Scott Diament of The Palm Beach Show Group, who also organise the hugeBaltimore Summer Antiques Showsin August. The fair is now in its 10th year and has around 180 exhibitors, mainly from the US but with some from Europe. Just over 20 UK dealers take part - for many of them this is their second or third stateside fair before travelling home - and they include London art galleries Chris Beetles and Burlington Paintings, textiles dealer Marilyn Garrow, Potterton Books and period furniture dealer William Cook.

Calendar of Florida Fairs

Jan 17-20

Palm Beach Winter Antiques Show

Embassy Suites (formerly Crowne Plaza), 1601 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach,

www.dolphinfairs.com

Jan 24-28

Art Palm Beach

Palm Beach Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach

www.artpalmbeach.com

Jan 25-27
Miami National Antiques Show & Sale

Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC), 777 NW 72nd Avenue, Miami

www.dolphinfairs.com