The Winter Show, celebrating its 71st edition, returns with a dazzling array of artistic treasures spanning 5,000 years. This annual benefit event supports the East Side House Settlement’s mission to provide critical services and resources to over 14,000 residents.
The Winter Show Returns With a Dazzling Array of Artistic Treasures
Celebrating its 71st edition this year, The Winter Show remains one of the oldest and most distinguished fairs in the art world. Staged in the opulent Park Avenue Armory, the fair offers an unparalleled experience with an encyclopedic range of artistic treasures spanning 5,000 years.
A Timeless Flair That Transcends Trends
Beyond its spectacular presentation, The Winter Show serves a greater purpose: it is owned by East Side House Settlement, which has transformed it into an annual benefit event supporting its mission to provide critical services and resources to over 14,000 residents of the Bronx and Northern Manhattan.
A Diverse Range of Artistic Treasures
This year’s edition features 70 exhibitors from around nine countries presenting an extraordinary array of cultural artifacts, artworks, books, jewelry, and other objects. The fair showcases a breathtaking selection of rare and precious items, with objects surfacing on the market for the first time in years.
Antiquities and Ancient Art
One of this year’s standout highlights is a gilt wood mummy mask from the Late Dynastic Period (circa 664–32 B.C.), presented by Hixenbaugh Ancient Art. This striking artifact is accompanied by an impressive selection of treasures from ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
Medieval Masterpieces
Over at Blumka’s booth, two exceptional medieval pieces command attention: a beautifully crafted copper alloy Lion Aquamanile, a German-made vessel with unmistakable Middle Eastern influences, and a remarkably well-preserved limestone Medieval Baptismal Font (circa 1175–1275) from England.
Design History and Decorative Arts
Kunsthandel Nikolaus Kolhammer—a first-time exhibitor from Vienna—brings a rarity: one of only two known exemplars of a mantle clock designed by Josef Hoffmann in 1903, the founding year of the Wiener Werkstätte. Another pivotal figure of the Vienna Secession, Koloman Moser, is represented by two brass reliefs of Muses made for the Wiener Werkstätte.
Contemporary Art
Among the few contemporary art pieces at this year’s fair, an absolute highlight is a hand-painted wood sculpture of a cigarette by Tom Wesselmann. This piece, originally presented at the legendary Sidney Janis Gallery, carries an asking price of $900,000 and marks its debut at The Winter Show.
Rare Books and Manuscripts
For bibliophiles with a taste for the rare, precious manuscripts and books take center stage at the Les Enluminures booth. “In Her Hands: Women and Medieval Manuscripts” presents a meticulously curated selection of eight spectacular prayer books, shining a light on female patronage in the Middle Ages and the early Renaissance.
Sales and Attendance
The action started early at The Winter Show, with several exhibitors already putting red dots on their walls just an hour after opening. A notable Noah’s Ark model by Robert Young Antiques found a buyer in the $25,000–$30,000 range, while an impressively hyperrealistic pair of mastiffs carved in stone to scale was also snapped up.
A Diverse Crowd
One might assume that the audience at The Winter Show would skew older, but opening night told a different story. The age range was notably diverse, with plenty of attendees in their thirties and forties mingling with more seasoned collectors.
The Winter Show runs through Sunday, February 2, at the Park Avenue Armory.
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