by Robin Cohen
The Winnetka Modernism Show, in its eighth year, was held Saturday and Sunday, November 8 and 9, 1997 at the Winnetka Community House in Winnetka, Illinois with a preview party on Friday evening, November 7th.The show was presented by the Community House in an effort to raise money for their community efforts. This is the only show in the Chicago area dedicated exclusively to the schools of design from 1890 to 1960. Superb examples from the Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts, Vienna Secessionist, Prairie School, Art Deco, Fifties, and 20th Century design movements were exhibited for sale by over 50 noted dealers from across the country. Michigan dealers Jacques Caussin of First 1/2 , Robin Cohen of Full Circle Antiques, Springdale of Hartford, and the Weiss Gallery in Birmingham participated in the show.
The Arts and Crafts movement was well represented in the show by dealers John Toomey Gallery of Oak Park, IL; Dalton’s of Syracuse, NY; and Michael Fitzsimmons Decorative Arts of Chicago, IL. Superior examples of Art Deco furnishings and accessories were displayed by Zig Zag of Chicago, Deco Deluxe of New York, Premier Designs of Naples, FL, and Modernism Gallery of Chicago to name just a few. Also represented at the show were fine examples of modernist jewelry and metal, art and photography, art glass and pottery, vintage posters, Heywood Wakefield furniture, and Bakelite jewelry and objects.
This show presents a great opportunity for Detroit area modernist enthusiasts to visit another Modernism show that’s not too far from home and a great place to spend a weekend. Jeff and Kaylee Freedman, avid collectors from West Bloomfield made it down to the show as well as a few others from the area. Dates for the 1998 Winnetka Modernism Show, in November each year, may conflict with the first week of the Triple Pier Expo Show in New York. Stay tuned for further details on dates for next year’s show; and as always, we will keep you posted in our calendar.