Has the antiques market been affected by the recession?
”The answer is a qualified `Yes,` ” says John M. Davis, one of the dealers participating in the Winnetka Antiques Show Thursday through next Sunday.
”Across the board, business has got to be down. I don`t know any business that hasn`t been affected.
”But on the positive side, certain things are still selling and selling very well,” says Davis, who is exhibiting at the Winnetka show for the fifth year.
”I would say, regardless of the category, what`s selling are objects with a distinct design or things that are of particularly good quality. I would say the key words are quality, rarity, good condition, uniqueness, beauty and style. That`s really where one has to focus these days.
”The things that are really, really rare are not coming down. They`re still going up because there is a finite number of them. You don`t get the wonderful estate sales you used to. The auction houses seem to have a hold on most of these properties.
”There`s a segment of the market that`s never going to be affected,” he said. ”People who are quite wealthy are going to keep going regardless. The people who are furnishing their homes rather than collecting per se are forced to go for later pieces.
”The area of the market that has been hit the most is the paintings market. Prices shot up rather quickly. Chinese export porcelain and Japanese art are doing quite well. Other areas doing well are things that are exotic:
tole, tortoiseshell, painted furniture. If you will, happy things, things that bring cheer into one`s life. The hottest color is red right now because red is a happy color. That makes sense.
”When I lecture, I say beware of bargains in a market like this one. I think things of really good quality hold their value. If something is an exceptional bargain, I would be cautious. I think on the whole it will be easier for people to buy because it is going to be easier for dealers to buy. ”Prices are getting so high for really fine and distinct things; that`s what`s selling now. Late 19th Century copies of original 1720 furniture, if done well, are selling. They`re not particularly what people who consider themselves purists want to deal in.
”Prices at the top of the market for really great things are not coming down because there are too many dealers trying to buy them. But if the level right beneath that comes down, I think it will be healthy for the market. Things were simply getting too expensive.
”What was going on in the `80s wasn`t real. I think everything happened too quickly. The `90s are just not the `80s. That doesn`t mean things are not selling. We`ve just gotten down to a more normal level.
”I would say the area hurt the most is the middle, the boring brown English furniture with no particular redeeming features; even if it is 18th Century, it is another chest or another chair.
”It has become sort of a psychology in this country not to spend money. The war has a lot to do with it. People are very concerned about fuel costs.” Davis says he exhibits at two shows in London, the International Ceramics Fair and the Fine Arts Fair, both with international participants.
”The point is, I kind of understand the world economy in antiques,” he says.
Davis reports that there are still plenty of people out there buying things.
”People haven`t lost their money,” he says. ”That`s the important thing to keep in mind. They have the money. It is a question of whether they feel comfortable spending it. People don`t know what to do with their money so they put it into antiques. Old quality things always have a value.
”The Winnetka show is a wonderful show, and there should be something there in every price range. I always had several things in the $100 range for the beginning collector, and those things started to become $395, which is not exactly `introductory.` If prices can come back down to $295, that`s good. That`s by way of explaining what I mean.”
SATELLITE EVENTS
The 22nd Annual Winnetka Antiques Show, sponsored by the Women`s Board of the Winnetka Community House, will be held at the Community House, 620 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka, Friday through next Sunday.
The nationally recognized show, one of the tops in quality in the Chicago area, will feature 48 dealers from 14 states with a wide range of distinctive furniture, both formal and country, and other American and English antiques, from silver, fine art and nautical pieces to Native American artifacts, folk art and vintage clothing. Tickets are $7 for three-day admission. Call 708-446-0537.
Satellite events leading up to the show include an appraisal clinic from 1 to 5 p.m. today at the Winnetka Community House. Experts from Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will give oral appraisals at $5 an item.
Mark Hampton, internationally recognized interior designer and a favorite of President and Mrs. Bush, will speak on ”Decorating and the Personality of the Client,” at 9:30 a.m. Monday, with coffee, and at 1:30 p.m., with tea. Admission is $25 for lecture and refreshments.
A preview party will open the show from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, with cocktails and buffet. Reservations are required, and general admission is $50.
