(Press Release)
MIAMI – U.S. Antique Shows recently concluded the 55th year of The Original Miami Beach Antique Show with a 3 percent increase in attendance for all days of the event. The five-day show was held at the Miami Beach Convention Center, Jan. 28 – Feb. 1.
The Miami Beach show featured nearly 1,000 dealers from 30 countries and 35 states, with exhibitors traveling from as far away as Thailand, Uruguay, Hong Kong and Dubai. Attendees had access to historical collections from the Renaissance to Art Deco eras including fine art, American and European silver, antique jewelry, 17th-19th century furniture, porcelain and more. Additionally, the convention center’s Flamingo Ballroom presented an array of antique, estate and vintage pieces.
“For more than five decades, The Original Miami Beach Antique Show has been a premiere event in the antiques marketplace. We’re excited to report for 2016 not only an increased number of dealers from other countries, but also increased attendance over last year,” says Dan Darby, Emerald Expositions vice president and U.S. Antique Shows general manager. “We’re also pleased to welcome three of our Antique Young Guns into the show this year Margaret Schwartz of The Summer House, Brad Ketelhut of Alpen Art & Antiques and Sarah McMillan of McMillan Fine Prints. And we will certainly build upon these successes next year as the show moves to the Fair-Expo Center while the Miami Beach Convention Center undergoes renovations.”
U.S. Antique Shows reported that 80 percent of exhibiting dealers renewed their booths for the 2017 show, which will be held at the Miami-Dade County Fair Expo Center, Feb. 10-13.
Many distinctive pieces on the show floor attracted the eye of both attendees and dealers alike. This included a spectacular copper eagle statue from the Bank of Boston building in Buenos Aires, valued at $450,000, from Eduardo Cohen as well as a sailboat illustration drawn by the first President of the United States George Washington at 10 years old from Tom Lingenfelter of One of a Kind Collectibles. Among the jewelry dealers, Gallery 118 showcased a necklace and earring set adorn with 73 carats of alexandrite and 21 carats of diamonds in an 18k gold setting.
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“This year’s Miami Beach show was one of my busiest shows ever,” says Doug Liebman of Douglas M. Liebman Estate Jeweler. “I will always remember attendees commenting that they couldn’t even speak with me because of the amount of people at my booth. I made both large and small sales on many extraordinary and desirable items. Big diamonds, signed jewelry and dramatic statement pieces set the standard for 2016.”
Appraisal Day, which is sponsored by Skinner Auctioneers & Appraisers, was the highest attended in its seven year history. The Third Annual Jewelry History Series also reported a record number of attendees.
In 2017, the Original Miami Beach Antique Show will be relocating to the Miami-Dade County Fair Expo Center due to the impending closure of the Miami Beach Convention Center for planned renovations. For more information, visit www.MiamiBeachAntique.com.
The next show on U.S. Antique Shows’ calendar is LUEUR Spring, March 13-15 at the Javits Convention Center in New York City.
