The 2020 ADA Online Show will run for four days from April 24-27 at adadealers.com.
The idea is a reboot of an event first held by the association in 2013.
ADA president Steven S Powers said: “Several years ago, when the ADA launched the first online antiques show, it was an innovative and novel alternative to more traditional art and antiques shows. Now it is a necessity. Our members are small businesses and mostly self-employed dealers who have been profoundly impacted by this.”
All major spring antiques shows across the US have been cancelled or postponed, leaving dealers with inventory for sale and hopes of a captive online audience.
The swiftly arranged online show will feature more than 50 dealers from California to Connecticut (51 had signed up at the time of writing).
Each one is paying a small fee to participate and will be permitted up to 40 objects. All pieces, many of them fresh to the market, will be clearly priced and can be purchased directly through the website.
Among the highlights will be an embroidered silk purse c.1660 depicting the English admiral Sir William Penn (1621-70), his dog Port, the family coat of arms and the initials WP.
Penn, whose son founded the province of Pennsylvania, was the man charged with bringing Charles II back to England after the Interregnum and Connecticut dealers Stephen and Carol Huber speculate that the 8½ x 6in (21 x 15cm) purse was among the ‘great deal of needlework finery’ he wore for the occasion. There is a reference to his 15-year-old daughter Margaret (Pegg) making the purse in 1660.
It is priced at $225,000.
