This year marks the 48th Philadelphia Antiques Show, from April 18 through 21 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, featuring fifty exhibitors and a loan exhibition, Patriots and Presidents: Philadelphia Portrait Miniatures, 1760-1860. To get an expert’s view, The Magazine ANTIQUES asked Chris Jussel, Senior Vice President at Freeman’s Auction House in Philadelphia (and the original host of PBS’s Antiques Roadshow) to visit some of the dealers’ booths and pick some highlights. The slideshow below features many great finds and gives our web visitors a virtual tour of the show:
The loan exhibition of portrait miniatures included a rare George Washington.
Stephen Huber of Stephen & Carol Huber in Old Saybrook, Conn., showed me a wonderful Philadelphia silk embroidery from the leopard and lion group, circa 1750. Stephen joked that the lion needs an orthodonist.
Here’s Peter Pap of Peter Pap Oriental Rugs. Pap did twelve-foot high walls with carpets arranged in the 19th-century salon style—it’s really quite exciting. I thought this particular pictorial carpet was fascinating and in magnificent condition.
Here I’m giving some advice to Elizabeth Pochoda, the editor of The Magazine ANTIQUES.
This Pennsylvania German schrank with original paint (probably from Berks County) is one of the most spectacular pieces we saw. It was at Philip H. Bradley Co. of Downington, Penn.
Robin Kaplan of Arthur Guy Kaplan Antique Jewelry is displaying a rare 18-karat-gold Indian bridal ornament (called a jhumar or chapka) with emeralds, rubies, and pearls.
Wonderful Chinese watercolors at London’s Martyn Gregory Gallery. A whole wall of these would be a fraction of what an Old Master painting would cost.
A pair of cast bronze dogs at Allan Katz Americana that were originally architectural elements. They are beautifully modeled and sculpted and have wonderful patination—I love them.
This Pennsylvania German dower chest from Old Hope Antiques has a mate at the Philadelphia Museum. The rarity of the finish and marvelous condition makes it really spectacular.
Dorothy (1893) by Julian Alden Weir at Hirschl & Adler Galleries. I have a weakness for portraits—she was charming and is beautifully painted.
Jim McConnaughy at S.J. Shrubsole is showing me a necklace by Carlo & Arthur Giuliano with a large array of semiprecious stones. Jewelry is all about condition and originality and it is rare to see a good necklace with semiprecious stones from the Victorian era that hasn’t had something done to it.
Todd Prickett of C.L Prickett is showing me a rare Pennsylvania miniature chest (height 25 ½, width 22 inches). It has its original ogee bracket feet and brasses.
A rare and monumental plaque from the Volunteer Fire Department of Elizabeth, New Jersey—probably meant for a meeting room—at Kelly Kinzle Antiques.
A selection of Philadelphia long rifles at Joe Kindig Antiques, his great specialty.
Ricky Goytizolo of Georgian Manor Antiques is showing me a Regency Davenport.
Here’s Skip Chalfant in the H.L. Chalfant Antiques booth with a remarkable Chippendale clock in the background.
Arthur Liverant of Nathan Liverant and Sons talking with a customer about a portrait of young girl attributed to Joseph Goodhue Chandler.
