Albert Frey Tribute, Dolphin Show & Sale Kick off 10-day celebration

Palm Springs Modernism Week 2010 is being kicked off by a Walk of Fame Star Dedication and Reception in honor of Architect Albert Frey at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 11th. Later that day, the Palm Springs Modernism Show will host its gala and preview from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; the show will continue throughout the weekend.Albert Frey, the Flamingo of Palm Springs Modernism, was born in Zurich, Switzerland and was influenced by the Dutch De Stijl movement, the German Bauhaus school and movement, and the modernism movement developing in Brussels.In 1928, Frey secured a position in the Paris atelier of the noted International Style architect Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret. During his period of working for Le Corbusier, Frey worked on the Villa Savoye project and other significant projects. That same year, he left the atelier to take up work in the United States, but continued to maintain a friendship with Le Corbusier for many years.In September 1930, Frey returned to New York from another visit to France. Frey, the first architect in America to have worked directly with Le Corbusier, now began working with the American architect A. Lawrence Kocher. The pair worked on four collaborations through 1935, and reunited briefly in 1938. From 1935 to 1937 Frey worked with John Porter Clark, a Cornell-educated architect.Significant buildings by Frey during this period include his private residences, Frey house I and II, the Loewy House, built for industrial designer Raymond Loewy, the 1952 Palm Springs City Hall, the Cree House II, the now abandoned North Shore Yacht Club on the northeastern shore of the Salton Sea, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Valley Station and the iconic “flying wedge” canopy of the Tramway Gas Station at the foot of the entrance to the tramway on the northern edge of Palm Springs, now used as a visitor’s center.In addition to the architect tribute, there will be a home tour, a vintage fashion show, an architecture and design film series, an exhibition of vintage travel trailers, a slide show of retro Americana by Charles Phoenix, and a silent auction during the Modernism Show.This is the official kick-off of the Modernism season which culminates in December with the Art Deco to Modernism Show in San Francisco.The Palm Springs Modernism Show will feature 75 dealers from featuring items from every design movement of the 20th century from early 1900s to 1970s.The showstopper at last year’s Palm Springs Modernism Show was a giant bug-eyed jungle gym in the space of Neptina’s Lianne Gold.The weekend show hours are Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Palm Springs Convention Center is located at 277 N. Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Show admission is $15 per person for Saturday and Sunday; good for return entry all weekend.For more information, call Dolphin Promotions at (708) 366-2710.

Shopper hopes her fancy lorgnettes Spy big money

A Rose Bowl shopper hoped her circa 1900 Art Nouveau opera glasses were worth around $2,000. The fully collapsable lorgnettes feature a beautiful Alfonse Mucha-style woman on the organically-shaped handle.”It has an inscription in Russian that we haven’t figured out yet,” she said. A lorgnette is a pair of spectacle with a handle, used to hold them in place, rather than fitting over the ears. They were invented by an Englishman George Adams. The lorgnette was usually used as a piece of jewelry, rather than to enhance vision. Fashionable ladies preferred them to spectacles. These were popular at 19th century masquerade parties and were often used at the opera (becoming the model for today’s fancier opera glasses).

Brings Greene & Greene lights into Memory Lanes

Legendary dealer Randy Schoonover will be moving some of his showstopping antiques into Memory Lanes Antique Mall in Carson in January.”I will be moving some of my personal collection,” said Schoonover.Although his 1890s wooden barber pole sold at the December Long Beach Show, he will be bringing his rare Greene & Greene hanging lights to Memory Lanes.Memory Lanes, which opened its doors in 1978, was the second antique mall established in Southern California, coming just one year after the Treasure Mart on Waterman in San Bernardino, which was founded in 1977 by Rod Smith.Although Memory Lanes founder John Townsend was admittedly inspired by Smith’s Treasure Mart, he took Memory Lanes to another level. Townsend was no another empassioned dealer, but an engineer who turned Memory Lanes into a well-run machine. It was the first industrial strength antique mall.Townsend established Memory Lanes Antique Mall, which in turn kicked off an antique mall craze. Skip Petersen, inventor of the showcase concept, opened Westchester Faire the following year.Memory Lanes is now the oldest existing antique mall in Southern California.Schoonover, too, is a Southern California fixture. He has been in the business for decades and occupies a huge corner space filled with phenomenal items at every Long Beach Show. If its big, showy and interesting than he’ll carry it whether its late Victorian or mid-century Modern.Schoonover is also famous for his guitar fumble. He paid $100 for a Les Paul guitar at the Rodium and a few weeks later sold the late 1950s Gibson Sunburst instrument for $12,000

Trailer Park Stickley

Apparently Robert Sommers got the memo that Arts & Crafts was very much alive just in time for the Hillsborough Show.He was admittedly doing a brisk Arts & Crafts business, a great birthday gift for the dealer who turned 52 on the first day of the show. His early success included selling four Stickley chairs within the first 15 minutes of the show’s opening.”There was two people who wanted them and they had a little fight right out in the aisle,” he said. “It got really nasty and I hated to see it.”The quarter sawn oak chairs with original finish were priced at $2,500. They came out of a trailer park in Escondido.”It certainly wasn’t your mother’s mobile home,” he said.Once they were sold, a clearly branded Roycroft chair was the object of attention of dozens of Arts & Crafts aficionados. This Arts & Crafts success and attention cut both ways for the Fallbrook dealer who dramatically bashed Arts & Crafts on the eve of Penelope’s Show in San Francisco, the biggest of its kind in the nation.On the blogging front, Robert Sommers, with a worldwide readership, is one of the biggest names.The blogging pioneer has 1,400 posts on his site, www.blueheronblast.com. He has thousands of loyal readers all around the world. He refers to his blog as a cerebral high colonic. His latest story is “A Handshake and a Pastrami Sandwich,” about his recent trip to the proctologist.

Dennis Boses celebrates another year

Dennise Boses, who is preparing for the Art Deco to Modernism Show in San Francisco, took some time out to celebrate his birthday on October 16th.Everyone is a twitter about what showstopper he will bring this year. Some past showstoppers include replicas of the Titanic and the Golden Gate Bridge; a WPA mural by Millard Sheets; and most recently, a table used in the original Star Trek television series.

Bushere's fancy toilet paper holder

A plastic toilet paper will never make the grade in a Spanish Revival home, so Charles Bushere has created a fancy wrought iron one to securely hold the Charmin.Charles Bushere’s hand wrought hardware line premiered at the Golden California Show. Intended to add the finishing touches to a Gothic or Spanish Revival home, the line includes bathroom combo packs because modern hardware doesn’t look the part.Each pack includes a towel rack, a toilet paper holder, clothes hook and towel ring .The Elite series (which is the most elaborate of the hardware line) features all four items and was specially priced at the show for $350. The price is now $500.The Buschere’s work can also be seen at the upcoming Del Mar Century of Style Show.To get in contact with Frank or Charles Bushere, call (909) 469-0770 or visit bushereandson.com.

Producer pleased with turn out at golden california show; lots of sales

Sandy Raulston announced that the October Golden California Show was a smashing success. Furniture was flying out the door, Spanish Revivalwas sizzling and Art & Crafts was far from dead as had claimed in the non-prophetic words of Robert Sommers.Raulston feels this may indicate an imminent turnaround in the antique industry.Although there are three partners, Raulston has emerged as the producer of the event, with the full responsibilities that come with that job including promotion, allocating dealers spaces, and handling any disputes that may arise from either the merchandise or territorial concerns (one dealer infringing on another dealers space).When not producing the Golden California Show, Raulston and his partner Birbilis set up at antique shows under their business name, Roadside America. They also have a large space on the second floor of the Pasadena Antique Show.Raulston used to travel back and forth across the country and one of his most successful shows was the famed Atlantique City Show, then produced by Norman Schaut. Schaut, who founded the New Jersey show as a vintage toy venue, approached Raulston at a Brimfield Show and asked him to be a dealer.The show was new at the time, and Raulston was hesitant.”I told him to come back to me after he had 50 dealers,” he said. Schaut came back when he had 49 dealers signed up and asked Raulston to be the 50th.He agreed and he continued selling at the show for years. Although excited at the prospect, he won’t be doing the new Atlantic City Show under Allison Kohler because traveling across the country at the age of 63 is not as desirable as it used to be. It’s not just being out on the road for days on end, but its packing and unpacking heavy furniture, securing valuable breakables, and figuring out where to stay along the way.Although he won’t be personally visiting east coast shows any longer, he has benefitted from the education he has received from observing what he considers the masters at work.He had great respect for Hillsborough Show manager Lou Lengfeld. He rigidly enforced the show rules and the dealer’s responsibilities were clearly enunciated.”Nobody ever crossed him,” said Raulston of his tough-as-nail style. He also admires Dorothy Stella, president of Stella Shows, known for her Pier Shows in New York. She is one of the most respected promoters in the whole business. Arts & Crafts auctioneer David Rago respects her the most because she runs a tight ship.Both Hillsborough and the Pier Antiques Show are taking place in November.

shades help determine periods of design

From burgundy as rich as the blood that is pumped through veins to green as dense as the moss that covers the trunks of giant oaks trees, colors in the world of antiques are significant for more reasons than purely aesthetic. Whether a drapery will complement a sofa is important to decorators, however, by analyzing the color down to its very hue, one may be able to determine the period in which it was created.Colors can be helpful, and when analyzed along with the motif and material, it increases the likelihood of being able to estimate the age of a piece of pottery, a chair, or a painting.The Victorians were one of the groups most willing to recklessly abandon simplicity in styles and colors and embrace royalty, not only in richly-carved woods and plush upholsteries, but in the bold hues that filled their elaborate homes.Cranberry and scarlet velvets or satin as well as emerald green were combined with shiny gold to create a dazzling effect. The regal look of 14 karat gold preferred by the Victorians was often achieved by gilding bronze or other metals with a thin coating of gold. Since this was prior to the introduction of electroplating, the method of gilding was to mix gold with mercury, apply it to the object and heat it. The mercury evaporated, leaving a coating of gold on the lamp or candlestick. A pair of French Renaissance-style gilt bronze 24-light chandeliers swung for $18,000-$25,000 at a recent Butterfield

Pajama Party and formal ball highlight Queen Mary Festival

The Friday night film festival and 1920s pajama party in the Queen’s Salon will kick off the 5th Annual Queen Mary Art Deco Festival slated for September 4th-7th.Men will dress in smoking jackets and robes, and women will lounge around in sexy silk pajamas listening to the jazzy sounds of “Ian Whitcomb & The Bungalow Boys.”In addition to the Friday evening tomfoolery, the weekend will feature Art Deco tours of the ship, and a Long Beach walking tour led by John Thomas, co-author of “Long Beach Art Deco.”There will be six lectures included in the general admission and the Grand Passport (package). The festivities will continue with a semi-formal Saturday evening Art Deco Ball featuring “Dean Mora and his Orchestra. There will be an Art and Antique Bazaar held throughout the weekend.Hotel and festival packages are available at 2008 rollback rates. Prices range from $12.95 for general admission to an all-inclusive package for two priced at $650.For more information, call (562) 435-3511.

Several Los Angeles area dealers head north for 20th century show

There are still opportunities to be a $5,000 platinum sponsor at Dolphin Productions’ 20th Century Modernism Show & Sale which will be held September 24th-27th in San Francisco.Located in the Herbst Pavilion at Fort Mason Center, general admission is $15, but the full shebang for a party of 6 can be had for $5,000. As a platinum sponsor, you get six tickets to the preview gala and admission to the show at 6:00 p.m. Gold circle sponsors, $2,500, get four tickets to the preview gala and entry at 6:30 p.m. Silver circle sponsors who pay $1,000 get to gala tickets and admission at 6:30 p.m. Supporters must pay $150 per ticket (or $200 per couple) and are also admitted at 6:30 p.m.Preview gala guests will enjoy the decorative stylings of Stanlee Gatti, culinary creations and a martini bar sponsored by Grey Goose vodka. Guests will also be provided free admission to the show’s accompanying lectures, valet parking, show catalog, a gift bag an unlimited weekend admission.The gala benefits the San Francisco Museum of Art.Regular show admission is $15 and features the antiques and collectibles of 50 dealers. Among the dealers will be Los Angeles based Voila!, which specializes in Belgian antiques, and the Art Nouveau glass of Big City Galleries out of Malibu. Laura Friedman of Planet Glass, who is also a Glendale City Council woman, will bring her modern glass. Dennis Boses of Off The Wall will bring a host of showstoppers from his Melrose store, and Papillon Galleries will dazzle with its fine art.The show is open to the public from 11-7 on Friday and Saturday, and noon to 5 on Sunday.For more information, contact Rosemary Krieger at (708) 366-2710.ANTIK, NEW YORK NYBATTERSEA, SAN FRANCISCO CABIG CITY GALLERIES, MALIBU CABRIDGES OVER TIME, NEWBURGH, NYDENNIS CLARK FINE ARTS, CARMEL CALAWRENCE CONVERSO, CHICAGO ILCRAIG EVAN SMALL, LOS ANGELES CADECODENCE, SAN FRANCISCO CADOCANTIC, INC, LOS ANGELES CADOWNTOWN, LOS ANGELES CADRAGONETTE, LTD., LOS ANGELES CAEDENHURST GALLERY, RANCHO MIRAGE CAEUROPA, SANTA BARBARA CAPETER FETTERMAN GALLERY, SANTA MONICA CAERIC FIRESTONE GALLERY, TUCSON AZFIRST 1/2, PALM SPRINGS CAHABITE, SAN FRANCISCO CAPAUL HARRIS, TUCSON AZHEDGE, SAN FRANCISCO CAJUST FABULOUS, PALM SPRINGS CAKATY KANE VINTAGE & COUTURE CLOTHING, NEW HOPE, PALOS ANGELES MODERN AUCTIONS, LOS ANGELES CAMA(I)SONRY NAPA VALLEY, YOUNTVILLE CAMIMO MODERN AUCTIONS, PALM SPRINGS CAMONDO CANE, NEW YORK NYMONTECITO MODERN, MONTECITO, CAMONUMENT, SAN FRANCISCO, CANEXXT, DALLAS TXNOHO MODERN, LOS ANGELES CAOFF THE WALL, LOS ANGELES CAPETER PAP ORIENTAL RUGS, SAN FRANCISCO CAPAPILLON GALLERY, LOS ANGELES CAPLANET GLASS, GLENDALE CAR 20TH CENTURY, NEW YORK NYRED MODERN FURNITURE, PHOENIX AZREFORM, LOS ANGELES CARETRO GALLERY, HOUSTON TXROUTE 66 WEST, PALM SPRINGS CATHE SILVER FUND, LONDON UKVOILA! GALLERY, LOS ANGELES CAJEFFREY WINTER FINE ART, WEST HOLLYWOOD CA