Stella Show Management Company

Pier Show Raves from Exhibitor Victor Weinblatt

March 17. 2009
To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the death of New York City retail have been greatly exaggerated, and Stella’s Pier Show this week-end was living proof. Manhattan is still the place to be, period. A younger, very sophisticated, well-informed and self-confident buyer has emerged, one spoiled only in the sense that it expects all of the worlds treasure to appear at its doorstep within Manhattan. And, boy were they ever hungry for country treasure last week-end at Stella’s Pier Show. Pre-show was surprisingly strong, Saturday was good, and Sunday afternoon was an absolute blow-out.
Among our many sales was a sand-painted and gilded 19thc century Boston provenance HOME BAKERY sign, an early 20thc life-size Amish farmer farm stand trade sign (ex. Fred Hansen), a set of 8 large Pennsylvania Academy drawing studies of the male physique,, a 5 foot diameter sand cast industrial mold mustard & red mirror, a 7 foot apple green farm stand produce table, a large circular Kentucky crotched bulls eye motif rug, a polychrome country Art Deco stool, a Midwestern SANDWICH sign, a New York KIDDIE MATINEE sign, a 19thc gilded on canvas window shade DRUG STORE trade sign, two mid 19thc weaver’s skarns, a six color child’s parchesi, several hooked rugs, and a healthy selection of smalls.
The panic that threatens the marketplace is simply the other side of the same coin of greed that brought the world to its knees in the past year. Would it be heresy to suggest that value and fair pricing might clean up an antiques and art world soured by hype and an emperor’s new clothes mentality? Or, that some good may be in the process of emerging from all this pain? I vote to put Michelle Oswald and Irene Stella in charge of the antiques business stimulus plan. Only they can perform the herculean task of whisking five hundred dealers in and out of a New York facility with efficiency, grace, speed and good humor. And boy do they deliver the buyers: from a who’s who of the political, entertainment and art worlds to the affluent, perpetually youthful New York demographic.
One economist writing in the Atlantic Monthly describes what I witnessed first hand in my own booth as “compensatory consumption”. Perhaps our clients are not buying new beach houses or fancy cars, but the pent up demand for satisfaction makes them all the more eager to buy wonderful objects. As one antique dealer wag put it years ago, ‘there is no tail like retail’.
-Victor Weinblatt
Right back at you VW for presenting a great looking booth with attractive, desirable, well priced merchandise. We are nothing without great dealers like you.
-Michele & Irene

Statement Jewelry

There is no better source for statement jewelry than the PIER SHOW, Nov. 13-14. Affordable and exceptional jewelry abounds at this NYC event. Pictured above is a designer piece from the 60's that was shown at a past Pier Show by Pauline Ginnane Gasbarro, she'll have tons of must-have pieces this time too. Pictured below, to be shown by Gloria Karp/Glorious Antique Jewelry, is a silver and amethyst Margot Necklace, Mexico c.1940-1950's. The necklace converts to a large butterfly brooch as well as to two separate brooches and was made for a competition. In addition to jewelry like this there'll be Native American & Southwestern, Georgian, pearls, engagement rings, bakelite, couture costume, jewelry designed for the runway and jewelry by known 20th century artists.

Winners Wear Vintage

Get Yours at The Pier!