NEW YORK.- Nowhere is the fusion of art and design seen to more compelling effect than at the Haughton International Art +Design Fair, which ran from October 6-11 at the Seventh Regiment Armory, Park Avenue at 67th Street. Extraordinary 20th century classic and vintage pieces were offered, alongside contemporary design and works of art, to connoisseurs, collectors, curators, decorators and members of the visiting public, including celebrity collectors like Steve Martin, Bette Midler and Barbara Streisand.

The fair is a platform for some of the hottest international galleries on the scene today, many of them at the vanguard of the explosion of interest in “design as art.” “We felt that there was an upbeat energy and that people are excited to buy art again in a way we have not felt for several years,” commented Jason Jacques, the fair’s foremost specialist in European art pottery, especially from the French studio. “These are exciting times to be an art dealer.”

Outstanding sales and vigorous interest from an extremely savvy and well-educated collecting public made the fair a gratifying experience for the 53 top dealers who traveled from as far away as Australia, Belgium, France and Germany to exhibit. The fair now features some of the very top European galleries of 20th Century Decorative Arts, including Olivier Watelet, Yves Gastou, Galerie 146 Autegarden – Rapin, Pierre Passebon-Galerie du Passage, Nilufar Gallery and Philippe Denys.

This much anticipated modern and contemporary fair launched in 1999, is the most recent to come from the stable of the highly successful London-based show organizers Anna and Brian Haughton. Hugely experienced in the art and antiques fair scene, the Haughtons were credited with bringing “internationalism” to America, with their first US fair (The International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show) which they launched back in 1989 and which has been running successfully ever since. Known for redefining art and antique fairs in New York, Haughton International Fairs are “collectors fairs” of quality and distinction. The same guiding principles have been applied to their International Art + Design Fair, where the best of modern and contemporary design are taken out of the “trade” arena and into the realm of rarified and sophisticated collector’s pieces. All items for sale have been strictly vetted for authenticity and quality by teams of specialists, thus giving an important measure of consumer protection to prospective buyers. The International Art + Design Fair has become the venue of choice for highly discerning collectors who demand the very best.

The Opening Night Gala Benefit for Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design and Culture kicked-off the fair on Thursday evening, October 5th. A crowd of over 800 collectors and supporters of BGC, under the auspices of BGC Director Dr. Susan Weber Soros, enjoyed the first eye-popping glimpse of the show, which yielded many significant sales among the dealers. The monies raised at the Opening Night Gala benefit the Scholarships Fund at BGC.

Bard Graduate Center organized the stunning loan exhibition celebrating the 100th birthday of Eva Zeisel, the pre-eminent modern ceramics designer. The Exhibition entitled Eva Zeisel: My Century was curated by Ronald T. Labaco and highlighted the extraordinary international career of this living legend. A Lecture by Eva Zeisel and Ronald Labaco was also a highlight of the fair on Wednesday, October 11th.

A Sampling of Highlights Sold At The Fair:

Antik (NY): Specialists in works from Scandinavia 1930-60 commented that they could have sold their magnificent Eva Hill sculpture 20 times over, and also sold a major dining room table and floral motif chests. They sold to old clients and new alike, to decorators and private clients.

Camilla Dietz Bergeron, Ltd. (NY) enjoyed strong sales of “70’s” gold and stone jewelry especially David Webb and Van Cleef & Arpels and noticed a trend toward “chunky” pieces.

Calderwood Gallery (Philadelphia, PA): sold several major pieces of furniture including a dining room cabinet, French c. 1935 by Jacques Adnet with original parchment and lacquer to an architect buying for private clients, and a sofa and armchairs by Jacques Adnet, circa 1930 to a different buyer.

Demish-Danant (NY): Experts in the field of Maria Pergay, Demish Danant exhibited never before seen works by Pergay, exclusively in silver. The collection was well-received and business extremely good.

Philippe Denys: Sold a Paul Kjaerholm set of table and chairs from the 1950’s, and a variety of objects in ceramic and silver.

Geoffrey Diner Gallery, Inc. (Washington, DC): sold a major painting entitled “Bistro” by Patrick Caulfield, R.A. (1936-2005) oil on canvas, 108 x 72 inches; a set of Eileen Gray chairs from the 1920’s and a George Nakashima desk, 1970’s.

Donzella 20th Century Gallery (NY) sold two pairs of important pairs of chairs designed by Paul Laszlo: One pair was designed En Suite with a Second Matching Pair for the Laszlo Home in Brentwood, CA. The pair was acquired directly from the Laszlo Family (asking price $22,500) The second pair of Laszlo chairs, also by Paul Laszlo, circa 1952 was sold shortly thereafter for around $55,000. Donzella sold a number of other pieces including a 1951 floor lamp designed by Stilnovo, Italy and a Bronze Hall Mirror, c. 1968 designed by Phillip and Kelvin LaVerne, USA in the range of $13,000.

Galerie Dumonteil (Paris) sold a contemporary Bull Bench in bronze, by Jean Marie Fiori, Candide Foundry; two monkey stools, and two whale chairs by Hubert Le Gall.

California-based Lalique dealer The Elegant Set: Nicholas Dawes of The Elegant Set commented, “we have truly enjoyed presenting the art of René Lalique to New York City. Fair attendees have been so receptive, sophisticated, well-informed and plentiful! Our pieces have been bought by seasoned and entirely new collectors alike. We were especially pleased our advertised “Pine Cone” chalice (René Lalique, c. 1903 in silver metal and opalescent glass) found a new home.”

Galerie Yves Gastou (Paris) a new exhibitor at the fair celebrated the 1970’s on his eye-popping stand. Monsieur Gastou sold a desk designed by Fabio Lenci and made by Berneni, 1970; a Desk designed by André Mott in rosewood and steel, from the 1970’s; two tables by Hiquily: with a gold leaf stand with petrified wood top; 3 black leather armchairs dsigned by Vico Magistrati and made by Casino; a Game table in pink Perspex designed by Jean-Claude Farhi, 1970’s and an “American Flag” low table in Perspex marquetry designed by Jean-Claude Farhi, also from the 1970’s.

New York’s Bernd Goeckler Antiques, Inc. a new exhibitor at this year’s fair sold a number of star pieces including a spectacular Glass Chandelier, Venini, Italy, ca. 1950 (asking price $45,000) a pair of Carlo Bugatti Side Chairs, ca. 1910, (asking price $47,000) and a Pair of Maison Jansen Consoles (France), ca. 1940 in the range of $40,000.

Historical Design (NY): 12 Finger Clock, c. 1968 by Pedro Friedenberg (b. 1937-Florence, Italy); and String Painting by David Roth.

Jason Jacques Inc. (NY): Sold a major piece at the Opening: A unique prototype lava glazed Zsolnay landscape vase designed by Tade
Sikorski, circa 1904. Pecs, Hungary. The piece sold to an important private
collector through his art curator and Mr. Jacques further commented that “there is tremendous institutional interest in many of the vases that were
on display and we expect follow through on most of these objects.”

Leslie Kehoe (Australia) who specializes in the work of Maio Motoko sold extremely well and sold a pair of Gold Z-fold scr