1/23 Update: Note that some of the photos below are slide shows. Click on the arrow top right of the photo to see more. And I have added a picture of John Howard, found on my phone!
Going to NY this January was, to put it mildly, an ordeal. The weather caused havoc with my flights. Manhattan was as gloomy, gray and wet as you could imagine. My sun-drenched South African soul was wretched! Walking consisted of choosing between dipping into a puddle, sinking in snow, or skating on ice. Are human beings meant to live thus? As the third week in January is the coldest in the year in NY, why would anyone in their right senses designate it as Antiques Week for the city?
The Ceramics Fair had a new location this year. Its former grand home on 5th Avenue is being renovated--although I thought it quite charming and perfect as it was. The bland, cramped new location leaves a lot to be desired, but once I got through the doors all that was forgotten. The buzz of the crowd coupled with the display of ceramics was dizzying. Sadly, there was less pottery this year. Some of the smaller dealers had not reappeared--it seems space was tight for the fair this year, and the economy is not booming. Their wares were missed because there wasn't that general sprinkling of figures that I have enjoyed in prior years. On the other hand, there were new faces at the fair. Martyn Edgell was over from the UK for the first time with a lovely array of early ceramics, including figures. Too much fun poking through his stock. Philip Carrol was back for the second year in a row with an impressive selection of important, carefully chosen items that really took my breath away. Nice surprise. Philip has just gotten his web site up and running and he tells me that he will be adding figures to it when he returns from NY. Yay, Philip and Martin! Way to go. We love seeing the trade expand.
Simon Westman's stand looked great. Beautiful bits but nothing figural this time. Simon has a great eye and I know he will be adding figures to his stock in time. Alan Kaplan's wares were magnificent. Nothing enamel-painted this time though because space was tight--but visit the Kaplan's NY gallery for enamel-painted wares. Last but certainly not least: John Howard hauled over the usual huge array of wares of all sorts to pack his cases. Browsing and buying could not have been more fun.
I didn't linger in NY for any of the other shows. I had seen what I wanted to see. I got out despite a fresh five inches of snow. Temperatures this weekend are going to plummet to the singe digits (in Fahrenheit!) so I am pleased to be home. I hope the 2012 Ceramics Fair is at another venue. And can anyone explain to me why a security man had to search my handbag as I ENTERED the fair?
