Winter Antiques Show Celebrates its 54th Year with New Exhibitors and a Loan Exhibition from the Shaker Museum and Library of Old Chatham, New York

NEW YORK, Jan. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The Winter Antiques Show celebrates its 54th year in January as America's most prestigious antiques show showcased by 75 exhibitors specializing in American, English, European and Asian fine and decorative arts. This fully vetted show, held January 18-27, is the standard of excellence by which all other antiques shows in America are measured. Further, this is the only major antiques show in New York from which all net proceeds from ticket sales support a charity, East Side House Settlement, a non-profit in the South Bronx providing social services to community residents.

In honor of their long-standing, continued support of the Winter Antiques Show and East Side House Settlement, Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Chilton, Jr. have been selected as the Honorary Chairs for 2008. Bank of America premiers as the proud Show sponsor for 2008, with Alan Rappaport, New York President, Bank of America, and Pamela Fiori, Editor in Chief of Town & Country as Co-Chairs of the Opening Night Party on Thursday, January 17th.

The 2008 loan exhibition, An Eye Toward Perfection: The Shaker Museum and Library, showcases nearly 100 Shaker objects, including quintessential Shaker chairs, buckets and boxes, as well as three rare hand-knit wool rugs. Based in Old Chatham, New York, the Shaker Museum and Library holds the world's largest and best-documented collection of Shaker materials. The loan exhibition is designed by Stephen Saitas and sponsored by Chubb Personal Insurance for a twelfth consecutive year.

Complementing the loan exhibition, the Shaker Museum and Library will present a lecture series at the Winter Antiques Show; highlights include collecting Shaker boxes and a preview of the museum's future home at the historic Mt. Lebanon site.

Bank of America is the Show's proud sponsor. As part of the Bank's major commitment in underwriting the Show, the company will donate three classic photographs by Ansel Adams to East Side House Settlement, to be auctioned in April 2008 with all proceeds to benefit the charity.

"Bank of America is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the 54th annual Winter Antiques Show," said Alan Rappaport, New York President, Bank of America. "Committed to playing a vital role in all the markets we serve, we understand and believe in the importance of developing and pursuing opportunities that strengthen our communities. Our support of this event, and of East Side House Settlement, is an example of that conviction."

New exhibitors include Elliott & Grace Snyder Antiques, dealing primarily in 17th, 18th, and early 19th century material, with an emphasis on American vernacular furniture, textiles, and metalwork, particularly early lighting; Daniel Katz Limited, a specialist in European sculpture since 1968; Aronson of Amsterdam, founded in 1881, offers some of the earliest and rarest ceramics objects produced by the Delft factories in the 17th and 18th centuries; and John Alexander Ltd., specializing in Reformed Gothic, Aesthetic Movement, Arts and Crafts design, and 20th century British handcrafted furniture and decorative arts.

The popular Young Collectors' Night will be held Thursday, January 24th and will feature cocktails, jazz and a silent auction. The evening is being sponsored by Badgley Mischka.

Highlights, including images and captions, from this year's exhibitors are available in the image gallery at: http://www.winterantiquesshow.com/press/. These highlights include:

     -- Portrait of a Girl in a Red Dress, American, c. 1840, oil on canvas.
        An exceptional portrait of a young girl in a red dress, seated before
        a red curtain open to a view of rolling hills. Frank & Barbara
        American Antiques & Art
     -- Herter Brothers writing desk, c. 1880-1884.  Mahogany with carved,
        reeded and turned detailing, cast brass hardware, locks and four
        original keys.  Associated Artists
     -- Portrait Miniature of Sarah Bernhardt, by Edith Karuth.  c. 1900.  Set
        on ivory.  Depicts Sarah Bernhardt in the role of Duke of Reichstadt,
        Napoleon's 17-year-old son.  Elle Shushan
     -- Granville Chair, by Edward Welby Pugin, c. 1870. Walnut, with a
        klismos-style back with exposed pegs, shaped seat and base with
        exposed mortise and tenon joinery. Historical Design, Inc.
     -- Art Deco Bracelet, French, c. 1930, Signed R. Boivin. Gold cuff
        bracelet of swirled design, terminating in two cabochon emeralds with
        Old European pave set diamond crescents in 18k. Kentshire Galleries,
        Ltd.
     -- Three Weathervanes -- a hound, a standing Indian and a wooden Indian,
        all c. 1880.  Old Hope Antiques, Inc.
     -- Portrait of Mrs. James Claypoole Cooper, by Rembrandt Peale.  c. 1815.
        Oil on canvas.  The piece remains in its original frame. Schwarz
        Gallery
     -- Letter from Jesse James, c. March 2, 1882. One month after writing
        this letter in his home, Jesse James was killed at home by a member of
        his own gang.  Kenneth W. Rendell Gallery

The 54th annual Winter Antiques Show will be held from January 18-27, 2008 at the Park Avenue Armory, 67th Street and Park Avenue, New York City. Show hours are from 12 Noon to 8 p.m. daily, except Sundays and Thursday, 12 Noon to 6 p.m. To purchase tickets for the Opening Night Party on Thursday, January 17th or the Young Collectors' Night on Thursday, January 24th, call (718) 292-7392 or visit www.winterantiquesshow.com. General admission to the Show is $20.