We were pleased to see Howard Walwyn and Nigel Raffety, arguably the world’s best dealers in period clocks, and our near neighbors along London’s Kensington Church Street. They are in New York, with a stand at the International Fine Art and Antique Dealers Show, running through October 22 at the Park Avenue Armory.
As well as supreme horologists, Howard and Nigel are about as sunny in disposition as any dealers I know, a crowd given to, shall we say, complaining (actually, the term I was going to use starts with a ‘B’, but I have no wish to offend any of my gentler readers). 
Still, their assessment of the show was on a par with the sentiments expressed late last week in the New York Times, to the extent that hard times in the antiques trade are what some must just live through. Moreover, the important thing to remember is there will be a show and it will doubtless have some very good things in it. 
Raffety and Walwyn will not be the only dealer transiting the Atlantic, with redoubtable English antiques dealer Simon Phillips also making the trip from London.
Shopping the show is always a feast for the eyes, with collectors and designers from all over the country there to shop. Despite the year, plenty of people are nosing around, including one of the powerhouses of design, Michael Smith.
What will the show bring that might reflect green shoots for all the rest of us? We will know in the fullness of time. Will there be any bargains at the show? Well, frankly, yes- any time someone can get full value for one’s money, I count that as a good bargain. And the International Show is a venue offering absolutely the finest quality. Moreover, based on the sales of English furniture at auction in New York last week, with rampant auction fever resulting in a number of lots selling hugely over their high auction estimate, it appears more and more that an art and antiques dealer is absolutely the best place to make a good-value purchase.