The legendary show’s fortieth-annual iteration benefits the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Words by DIANE DORRANS SAEKS
Photography by DREW ALTIZER PHOTOGRAPHY
The San Francisco Fall Show—the longest running art, antiques and design fair on the West Coast—opened on Wednesday, October 12, in the history-filled Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason. The preview party celebrated the show’s Ruby Jubilee and the return of the show after a two-year hiatus.
Allison Speer, Alix Papachristidis and Mary Beth Shimmon.
This international gathering of top antique and art dealers has always been an essential draw for the San Francisco Bay Area’s art and design communities. “The response to this newly invented show has been magnificent, and we had to cut off the preview party guest list at 1,500, strictly regulated by the city fire marshal,” said chair Suzanne Tucker. Funds from the popular gala benefit the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
The Alix Papachristidis Interiors booth.
Notable in the lineup of dealers is Benjamin Steinitz, the Paris antique dealer who had exhibited in the first antique show forty years ago. Guests admiring his gilded rarities included Dede Wilsey, Catherine Kwong, director of the Fine Arts Museums Thomas Campbell, Paul Wiseman, Brenda Mickel, David Regé, Martin Muller, Kendall Wilkinson, Alexis and Trevor Traina, Yurie Pascarella, David Jimenez, Marta Benson and Rachel Cecil Gurney.
“We’ve kept the traditional spirit of the show, and offer a robust gathering of international specialist dealers,” noted Susan Engel, the show’s director. “And I ordered extra caviar. I wanted this evening to feel very special, truly celebratory.”
Suzanne Tucker, Jonathan Rachman and Emma Manners.
Benjamin Steinitz has been supporting the show for 40 years.
The Show’s honorary co-chairs for 2022 are Hamish Bowles, editor-in-chief of The World of Interiors, and the Duchess of Rutland, Emma Manners, of Belvoir Castle, UK, a noted antiques expert.
London-based hand-painted wallpaper specialist de Gournay returned as sponsor of designer vignettes, which this year include San Francisco’s ODADA, New York designer Alex Papachristidis and London designers Colefax & Fowler. “We are tremendously delighted with the diversity and styles of this year’s designer vignettes, “ said Jemma Cave, creative director of de Gournay. “These designers offer so much inspiration and originality to the show.”
From left: Tina McCutcheon and Kendall Wilkinson. David Régé of Ike Kligerman Barkley.
Noz Nozawa.
Also antique-gazing was artist Carrie Ann Plank, who admired the juxtaposition of contemporary art at the Modernism Gallery, with fine antiques and ancient arts. Danielle Beaulieu, director of Modernism gallery, had sold several significant works of art, including wire sculptures by Kristine Mays, a portrait by Gottfried Helnwein and ethereal acrylic paintings by Edith Baumann.
The Show, which includes a lecture series, will take place through Sunday, October 16, at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture’s Festival Pavilion.
Hand-painted wallpaper by de Gournay is seen throughout the show, including here at the Benjamin Steinitz booth.
Feature image: The Colefax & Fowler booth.
October 14, 2022
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