My generation is obsessed with collecting, and I believe these collectors are the future of antiques. That’s why I am thrilled to guest edit this issue of The Magazine ANTIQUES. Many of the collections you’ll read about in these pages are filled with objects from the twentieth century, which doesn’t seem that long ago. But, as the hundredth anniversary of the 1925 Paris “art deco” exhibition is upon us, we must acknowledge that twentieth-century collectibles are rapidly becoming “antiques.” Now seems like a great time to highlight a few astounding collections from the period.
At the same time, this guest editorship is a unique opportunity to highlight some of the most fantastic collectors I’ve met. I have known Kathy Hausman for many years, through her hair accessories boutique Medusa’s Heirlooms. But I only recently learned about her collection of Goldscheider art deco figurines. What took my breath away is the sheer volume of her collection and how it’s displayed. You will get to see just that in this magazine.
Norma Kamali has also been a friend and idol of mine for many years, and here we highlight her extensive and incredibly well-curated collection of Old Hollywood jewelry. Readers will also get a glimpse into Michael
Jardine’s incredible collection of Italian eyewear—and the overlooked story of one of Europe’s most prolific
designers of eyeglasses.
Finally, I am excited to highlight the hidden history behind a trend from the 1960s: paper dresses. I had no idea that this fad was so pervasive and extensive until I walked through the 2023 Generation Paper: Fast Fashion in the 1960s exhibition at the Museum of Art and Design in New York, organized originally by Helen Jean at the Phoenix Art Museum. It also brought to mind an exhibition I had seen of Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave’s historical dresses re-created entirely in paper at the Fortuny Museum in Venice in 2008. Her dresses were displayed throughout the palace in such a way that it made it feel as if Spanish artist Mariano Fortuny were still living there.
I hope this issue will inspire and encourage collectors, and everyone interested in what is now called vintage, to continue to accumulate objects that interest and fascinate them—and to learn as much about them as they can.
Today’s obsessions become tomorrow’s antiques.
– Anna Sui
