NAPLES, Fla. – After an impressive turnout of more than 1,500 guests at the opening-night preview evening and champagne reception on Thursday, the inaugural Naples Art, Jewelry & Antique Show opened its doors on Friday, Feb. 10 to an enthusiastic crowd of art connoisseurs, private collectors and serious buyers who traveled from all over South Florida to attend the event. Today is its fifth and final day.
Taking place in the 40,000 square-foot Naples Exhibition Center — a luxury, climate-controlled tent — the show features more than 75 international exhibitors showcasing their extraordinary collections including major works of art, antique and estate jewelry, furniture, porcelain, Asian antiquities, American and European silver, glass, textiles, sculpture, contemporary art and more.
There has been a great turnout so far,” said Albert Levy of A.B. Levy Palm Beach. “The guests are showing a lot of interest in my pieces.”
“After two days, there is a lot of traffic and enthusiasm. We have made some sales and have more to come,” said Greg Kwiat of luxury jewelers Fred Leighton.
“What a great gate!” added Carol Pier of Naples-based Pier & Co. “I am very happy to be making contacts.”
Tim Stevenson of Carlson & Stevenson Antiques also commented, “We have had quite a few sales and are very happy with the turnout, facility and guests. The Show is fabulous and we are very impressed.”
Several dealers reported strong sales for the first full show day, including Antediluvian, Arader Galleries, J.S. Fearnley, Eve Stone, Only Authentics, Sherry Sheaf & Co., Fred Leighton and Eostone, among others.
Antediluvian sold two rose medallions, a covered tureen and a presentation bowl with ormolu mounts circa 1820. They also sold a Chinese lacquer turtle box circa 1900, a 19th century Irish carved bench seat with Scalamandre fabric and an Alaskan Inuit carved walrus tusk circa 1910, among other sales.
J.S. Fearnley sold an Art Deco Tiffany sapphire and diamond bracelet, a white gold and diamond bracelet by Henry Dunay, and a pair of Van Cleef & Arpels earrings. Eve Stone sold a lot of very interesting French copper. Arader Galleries’ clients have been have been very responsive to Audubons, while Only Authentics sold an Hermès Birkin bag.
Sherry Sheaf & Co. sold a limited-edition VHERNIER Pirouette charity ring. VHERNIER has joined forces with Artists for Peace and Justice, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving Haitian children and their families, to create a limited-edition Pirouette ring to support the ongoing efforts to educate the children of St. Luc Street Schools and the Academy for Peace and Justice in Haiti. Over 80% of Haitian youth drop out of school after the 6th grade due to limited educational funding. For each ring purchased, VHERNIER will pledge 100% of the proceeds to APJ to cover the cost of one child for an entire year of school including books, uniforms, food and supplies. With only 1,000 created, this exclusive ring sells for $1,370.
“All we have been hearing from the crowd is how pleased they are that you finally came to Naples,” said Christopher English of Antediluvian.
“There has been a great response to our Charles Martin original artwork and lots of interest in George Nakashima furniture and our Tiffany lamps,” said Arlie Sulka of Lillian Nassau.
Michael Teller of TK Asian Antiquities also commented, “We have met some of the most interesting people we have ever met in 30 years of doing shows. I spent nine hours with one couple and four hours with another couple. These people are knowledgeable, and the exchange of conversation and intelligence is unlike any other. Naples has proven itself in interest and intellect.”
Today’s show hours are 11 a.m. to 6 pm. Admission is $15. For additional information, visit www.naplesshow.com.
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