Although we don’t do the San Francisco Fall Antiques Show, of course we want to see it successful both in terms of attendance and at-show sales. The simple fact is, the better the attendance, the more chance for not only at-show sales but follow on business. Even for those of us on the outside, a successful show is going to have a knock-on effect, bringing buyers to town, both private and interior designer. A good gate certainly raises the profile of the art and antiques trade, and an exciting show one year will certainly be a platform for a successful show the following year.
The Fall show had some noticeable changes this year, from the vignettes in the entry, all themed with material in each vignette limited by decade- 1930’s, 1940’s and so on. The lecture series and loan exhibition likewise focused on 20th century design. The show has had over the last couple a years a heavier concentration of 20th century material, but, this year, the show seemed decidedly less glamorous. Maybe it was the overall theme, maybe the mix of dealers, but the confluence didn’t yield the sparkle and excitement that makes a great show. Mind you, it was a good show, with some decent business done by some, but by no means all, dealers. But it wasn’t a particularly well attended show, and for all of us, numbers of punters are critical.
In speaking to dealers and show goers, my sense was that the show sought, with its focus on 20th century material, to capture the attention, attendance, and, presumably the wallets, of younger collectors and interior designers. However, as a dealer who handles both period and 20th century material, I can tell you that the buyers for period and contemporary material, both designers and collectors, are in the same demographic group. In fact, they are pretty generally the same person. We recently sold to the same collector a pair of late 18th century gilt wood pier tables and, on the same invoice, a circa 1950 Jacques Adnet writing desk.
All were wonderful pieces, and I guess that is the basic message- good design is good design, whatever the period. And, both collectors and interior designers have the facility to blend both effectively. Consequently, any antiques fair that expects to achieve success needs to maintain a balance of material, because it is material from all periods that designers and collectors seek.
Finally, a great fair needs to be just that- a great fair, with excellent quality material from the best dealers, both local and international. And, it needs to be promoted that way. Quality has always cost money, and the best dealers have the best quality goods. However, show attendees need to know in the advance promotion that what’s at the show are not $500 collectibles, but material that makes it worthwhile for the best designers and the most discriminating collectors to travel not just from Los Angeles, but from Seattle, Salt Lake, and Kansas City to attend.