This is the time of year when everyone feels cheerier and happier. Let's not allow the slow economy to impact our Holidays. The true gifts during the Holidays are time and thoughtfulness. It's not how much you spend, but rather how you spend. How you spend your time. Get together with friends and family, look through old photos and tell stories, the memories will last you the whole year through. Throw a pot luck party and invite friends over, everybody can bring a dish or a decoration. So, Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Today was windy and cold in NYC. The right weather to be indoors! So keeping that in mind, we bundled up and went to the Pier Show. After speaking with about 100 dealer friends, the reviews were mixed. Of course! Well over half of the dealers let me know that sales were slow and they didn't know what to buy anymore. Are clients looking for a great look at a good deal? Or an important signed piece? Are buyers looking for the right fit for today? Or the right name for the future? Our friends reported their clients were wanting both, but were unsure of what to buy. My feeling is that clients are looking for the right piece by the right designer. The things that I saw that were sold, were signed pieces that had a great presence. Even with those sales, a lot of the dealers said that sales were s - l - o - w. In order for our economy to get better, we all need to take part in the recovery. BUY SOMETHING TODAY. Yes. Today. This is the time to develop a new relationship with a dealer or to strengthen an already established relationship. Dealers have sources for the rare and hard to find pieces, but probably have been holding off buying anything because they're not sure if they'll be able to sell it. Now is the time to ask your dealer if they know of anything for you. Ask if they have any leads on pieces that may be appropriate for your collection. Take advantage of the situation and enhance your collection. By buying, you'll be leading the recovery and getting a great deal in the process!

It's Fall and it's show season. Each weekend, you can be sure that there is a show happening. A couple weekends ago, I was at the International show at the uptown armory in NYC. This was certainly a sight to see. Amazing booths with well curated items. And this past weekend had me running! The Modern show at the downtown armory, the other International show at the uptown armory and the Atlantique City show. More great booths with terrific items. And not be left out, this weekend plays host to the Grammercy show at the downtown armory. Are you as tired as I am? With this many shows it's hard to focus on what you're looking for. Dealers who are in town one weekend and then set up at another show the next, are running hard. And you're running hard to keep up with them. This is a time for change. It's time to have a personal relationship with a dealer who can help to round out your collection or introduce you to a new passion. The antiques business should be one on one. HKFA & A is your personal resource. Call or email today!

Researching an unsigned work of art is a challenge. Where to begin when there's no signature? Well, I started with the support - the paper! There's a watermark on the paper... there's a watermark archive on the web... here's what I found. This watermark was found on paper that dates to 1805! Wow. The archive is a letter written by a Baltimore dealer to his customer, Thomas Jefferson! More details to come as they are uncovered...

Antique lovers, get yourselves ready for one of the biggest fairs in the Northeast. Brimfield is an absolute wonder to behold, thousands of dealers selling millions of items, almost mind boggling. We're getting ready for the big event next week. Check back for all of the awesome finds!

Another day of estate sales turned up a nice Paul Klee print that's signed in the plate. It's an abstract with a strong Modernist look.

It was a beautifully sunny day to go antiquing. The estate sales were in full swing and we visited many. When I came upon the home on the cul-de-sac, I felt there was something special there for me. Turned out, there were a few things there... a pair of 19th Century red chalk drawings, a signed Jacques Villon watercolor and an aluminum gilt, 1940's, Arts & Crafts style picture frame.