Last week was Antiques Week in New York City. Antiques shows were everywhere!
So, being a fan of such things, I thought I would take a day off from my work as the historian at Green-Wood to check out the shows.
My first stop was the Armory Show at the 69th Regiment Armory–26th Street and Lexington Avenue. And, as soon as I made it into the first booth there, I knew it was not going to be all that much of a day off–almost immediately I spotted a cigar store Indian, by Thomas Brooks, who is interred at Green-Wood. I explained to the dealer that I am the historian at Green-Wood and Brooks is interred there–would it be okay if I took a photograph of his work and put it on my blog? No problem, said the dealer.
Cigar store Indian, by Thomas Brooks.
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And so it went–this would be the first of about 50 terrific items I would spot that day that were created by artists interred at Green-Wood or that depicted one of Green-Wood’s permanent residents. The photographs that appear below are of art by Green-Wood’s artists.
A little farther down the row, I came to a booth with Currier and Ives prints, some of them featuring the art of Frances (Fanny) Flora Bond Palmer. Nathaniel Currier, James Ives, and Palmer are all interred at Green-Wood. I asked for permission to take photographs and explained that they were for Green-Wood’s blog–the dealer, who was from Pennsylvania, told me that he had family interred at Green-Wood.
Currier and Ives prints. The print on the left is by Fanny Palmer.
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This painting, in another booth, was attributed to Frances Flora Bond Palmer, Currier and Ives's most prolific artist. I have seen many prints by Palmer; this is the first painting that I have seen attributed to her.
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This mirror was created by immigrant cabinetmaker Alexander Roux.
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After touring the Armory Show, I was off to the Winter Antiques Show at the Park Avenue Armory. This is the high end of all high end antique shows in America. Once again, the dealers were wonderful–some of them very excited to know why I wanted to take a photograph of their items. Only one dealer the entire day didn’t give me permission to take a photograph of an item–and he was very nice about it.
Cordial set of Favrile glass, by Tiffany Studios (run by Louis Comfort Tiffany). Collection of The Preservation Society of Newport County. This item was part of a special display by that organization; it was not for sale.
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Chair by Joseph Meeks and Sons. Collection of The Preservation Society of Newport County. This item was not for sale.
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Silver tea and coffee set, circa 1890, by Tiffany & Co. (run by Charles Tiffany).
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This print, by John Audobon (who is NOT interred at Green-Wood), shows Carolina Parakeets. They are extinct, but their South American cousins, Monk Parakeets, have lived atop Green-Wood's gates for about 30 years.
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This great painting is by George Bellows--whose work is now the subject of a grand exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum.
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Painting by Alfred Mauer.
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Strawberries, painted by Joseph Decker.
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Tiffany Studios' (Louis Comfort Tiffany) fire screen of Favrile glass and wrought iron.
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"An Afternoon At Home," dated 1870, by Lemuel Wilmarth. Wilmarth and his wife owned Gypsy, a Newfoundland dog who rescued Mrs. Wilmarth from drowning. Gypsy was interred at Green-Wood in the same lot where the Wilmarths now lie; after a complaint followed from a lot owner about the burial of this dog, Green-Wood's trustees barred any additional pets from being buried there.
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A fine selection of lamps by Louis Comfort Tiffany.
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This great wooden carving of Thomas Dartmouth Rice, "The Father of Minstrelsy," circa 1835, appeared in the booth of dealer Allan Katz. I have long been a fan of his eye for great Americana. When I explained that I wanted a photograph for the Green-Wood Discovery Blog because Rice is interred at Green-Wood, Allan kindly gave me a copy of his catalogue and suggested that I to use his photograph. So, here it is.
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Gilt bronze-mounted rosewood secretaire a abbatant, circa 1820, attributed to Duncan Phyfe.
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And there was much more: paintings by William Hart, John Kensett, and Mauritz de Haas, as well as prints of American Indians by Thomas McKinney. Our Green-Wood permanent residents were quite the productive, and talented, artists!
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January 30th, 2013at 12:07 pm(#)
Hi Jeff, I enjoyed reading about your trip to the antiques shows. Will you one day do a book of the work of all the artists at Green-Wood? Best regards, Marian Betancourt
January 30th, 2013at 12:23 pm(#)
Jeff,
While I always enjoy your blog, this is outstanding – a bit of detective work and great photos. I enjoyed the dog story.
Cheers from London,
Jim
January 30th, 2013at 12:37 pm(#)
Thank you!! I enjoyed this blog with a cup of tea….So many beautiful objects….
Made my day!!
January 30th, 2013at 7:46 pm(#)
Glad you enjoyed it. That would be quite a book–we could probably do several volumues–perhaps some day
January 30th, 2013at 8:33 pm(#)
Looks like great material for an exhibit at the chapel like the one you curated for the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.