4/24/2009

Pendulm Swinging Back Toward Antiques?

Finally, some positive news for traditional antiques. This NY Times article is Music to my ears, and probably should be to all other antique dealers as well. Wendy Moonan writes in the NY Times on the annual Kips Bay decorator show house (it is actually the previous home of Salander O'Riley Galleries) and how antique furniture is starting to make a comeback with Manhattan decorators. NY usually starts the trends in decorating, so I am cautiously optimistic about the contents of the article and the potential for a renewed interest in antique "brown" furniture.

Bear in mind, the rooms are not all full of traditional antiques furniture, but are a nice mix of the old and new (Photo image - This sitting room by Donald Schermerhorn Interior Design at the 2009 Kips Bay Decorator Show House incorporates English antiques and modern art. (Photo by Charles Eckert). The blending of traditional antiques and modern decorative arts is something I wrote about for Our Town Magazine back in October in support of the Historic Alexandria Antiques show, click HERE to read.

Moonan writes “Clients are asking for antiques more than they did a year ago,” said Matthew Patrick Smyth, one of the designers. “Antiques don’t go out of date. They add freshness and spontaneity to a room.”

Moonan continues English antiques are seeing a revival, perhaps because they maintain their value. “It’s a great time to buy, and there is definitely business out there,” Mr. Howell said. “After the past three months, I am cautiously optimistic.”

Even the modernists have adopted antiques. Juan Montoya has designed a long, tufted gray modular sofa and matching day beds in a contemporary style, then added some classics of his own: a Louis XVI mahogany architect’s desk; an outsize 19th-century white-painted, carved Swedish center table, decorated with rams’ heads; and a set of green and gold Swedish armchairs from the early 20th century.

“I think of antiques as sculpture,” Mr. Montoya said. “They add a viewpoint and break the monotony of hard-edge modern furniture.”

This is definitely some good news for the antique furniture trade. I hope the interest continues and and builds some momentum. Earlier this week I posted on the RICS survey of Arts and Antiques which had some positive indicators as well. What typically can be expected is when "trend setting" NY decorators define a look, it usually picked up by the shelter magazine categories and other decorators throughout the country. Lets hope the trend continues, but some good news indeed. Perhaps antique dealers should start to approach anew and refresh some relationships with interior designers. Perhaps the pendulum is starting to swing back and decorating tastes will start to include more traditional antiques with new decorative arts. In any event, the article is enough to keep a smile on my face for a while, and who knows, maybe some change in my pockets as well.

To read the full NY Times article, click HERE. To visit the Kips Bay show house website, click HERE.

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