Art, Antique & Jewelry Show brings rare collectibles to Naples
All that glitters is not gold, unless you find yourself at the Naples Art, Antique & Jewelry Show later this month. Palm Beach Show Group brings together over 40 dealers in rare and beautiful treasures to the Naples Exhibition Center Feb. 22-26, so sophisticated Neapolitans can add anything from Renaissance paintings to World War II binoculars to their collections.
Among the millions of dollars of baubles, art and rare collectibles will be exhibitor M.S. Rau Antiques, an internationally recognized dealer of antiques, fine art and jewelry. Founded in 1912 in New Orleans, the family company is run by third-generation owner and expert Bill Rau and will be bringing some of its most prized pieces to Naples. According to director of strategic development, Rebecca Rau, the company has had a local presence for a while and Neapolitan’s tastes differ a bit from collectors in other locales.
“We bring things we know will interest our collectors in Naples and we do tailor our selection to the area,” she said. “Some shows have a preference for fine art and contemporary works, but what we like about our Florida clients is there’s still an appreciation for decorative art and collectibles.”
Among the many treasures to be found at the show and most particularly at the M.S. Antiques booth are some very special items from the dealer’s collection. Ms. Rau described a few of highlights from their upcoming booth, which in addition to the treasures below will include works by Monet, Rockwell, Tiffany, Chippendale and others.
“Cleopatra” by Julius Kronberg
“Cleopatra” by Julius Kronberg
Oil on Canvas Measuring at over 13 feet high, this masterpiece by Swedish Academic painter Julius Kronberg only just left its refuge at the country’s Tistad Castle to join other notable works in M.S. Rau’s collection. To achieve the painting’s stunning detail and artistry in depicting Cleopatra’s death, Kronberg produced two three-dimensional studies of the queen and her handmaidens to properly execute the exact proportions of their postures.
“It’s been in a private collection since it was painted and is coming to market for the first time,” Ms. Rau said. “It’s the most important piece of Academic art that’s not in a museum collection and it’s stunning. It really immerses you into the scene at that scale.”
Portrait of Frederick the Wise by Lucas Cranach the Elder
Portrait of Frederick the Wise by Lucas Cranach the Elder
Oil on Panel Specifically commissioned by Frederick the Wise’s nephew John Frederick the Magnanimous, this painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder was part of what Rau suspects was a public relations campaign to promote John Frederick’s legitimacy as ruler of Saxony. Cranach was the court painter for Frederick the Wise before he painted several likenesses for his nephew to display in government offices throughout Saxony.
“Lucas the Elder is one of the most important figures in German art and was working at the same time as Hans Holbein,” Ms. Rau said. “This painting is amazing for a few reasons, and one is just that it’s in stunning condition."
Considering the size and level of detail, she suggests that John Frederick kept this particular painting to himself or gave it as a gift. Because Cranach was close to John Frederick’s uncle and served as his court painter, the painting is more lifelike than could normally be accomplished when painting a deceased subject from a sitter.
Paul Revere Coffee Pot
Paul Revere Coffee Pot
Silver collectors and admirers of the American patriot Paul Revere will be happy to see a coffee pot that a prominent Boston family commissioned from him before the American Revolution. His work is found in some of the world’s most prestigious museums and this item is one of only three armorial coffeepots he made before the war, making it an extraordinarily rare and exciting find. Inscribed with the Dudley family armorial with the motto “Frangas non flectes” (broken, not bowed), the pot was created when Revere was most active in the efforts toward American’s independence.
Fancy Blue Diamond Ring
Clocking in at a massive 10.06 carats, this stunner showcases a very rare, practically flawless fancy blue diamond that is surrounded by 1.96 total carats of fancy pink diamonds, all encased in an 18K rose gold setting. “It’s giant, and finding a 10-carat blue diamond of this color and clarity is super unusual,” Ms. Rau said. “What’s exciting is that we consider it wearable, but it’s also a major investment piece because the color diamond market continues to grow. I would venture to say it will be the best stone in the show.”
Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond Dragonfly Brooch
Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond Dragonfly Brooch
Created for a multimedia mogul’s wife by Fred Leighton and Carvin French, this brooch features an unbelievable 60.26 carats of fancy vivid yellow diamonds and 5.4 carats of rubies to create a stunning and wearable piece of art. The uniformity of color among the yellow diamonds is incredibly difficult to attain, Rau said, and with wings crafted en tremblante, it is sure to set a new owner’s heart aflutter.
“The diamonds match amazingly and in addition to the scale and design, it was a labor of love to put together a collection of diamonds in this way,” she continued. “The wings themselves are hinged in such a way that they flutter to make the piece a lot more lifelike and the stones really catch your eye.”
The Naples Art, Antique & Jewelry Show kicks off with an invitation-only preview party, for which VIP tickets also grant access, from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22. Tickets are limited and interested parties can make requests at the Palm Beach Show Group’s website.
From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday through Monday, Feb. 23-25, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, the show is open to the general public. Tickets are $20 and can be obtained from the website. For more information about the Naples Art, Antique & Jewelry Show, to purchase tickets or to view the event’s catalogue, visit www.naplesshow.com. ¦
