The Philadelphia Antiques & Arts Show is in full swing this weekend through April 22 at the Navy Yard, giving attendees the chance to peruse the area’s finest examples of colonial through mid-century furniture, silver, textiles, porcelain, jewelry, books and prints.
This year’s show features some changes, including the addition of the Philadelphia Museum of Art as a beneficiary, more contemporary works presented by participating dealers and efforts to connect with emerging collectors.
Out Philadelphia antiques expert Christopher Rebollo of Christopher T. Rebollo Antiques has been exhibiting at the Antiques show for more than 10 years. The shows are becoming more accessible to beginning and novice antique collectors, he said.
“People can come and be a total novice and learn a lot, or you can be an advanced collector and find a needle in the haystack,” Rebollo said. “This is a high-end show, but you can still come and find something really interesting and unique that does not cost a lot of money.”
This year, Martha Stewart is making a special appearance. Stewart, who recently released her latest book “Martha’s Flowers: A Practical Guide to Growing, Gathering, and Enjoying,” will be on-hand with co-author Kevin Sharkey April 20 to discuss plants and gardening.
Stewart’s appearance fits right in with the show, said Rebollo. “We have two very high-end garden dealers participating at the show.”
We asked Rebollo what is hot right now in the world of antiques. Collectors of all levels of experience are interested in combining pieces from different periods according to their own personal tastes, he said.
“Mostly it’s centered on mixing styles,” Rebollo said. “Mid-century modern (Mid Mod) has been really big for a while, but we’re seeing more people mixing styles. You’ll have in a room a piece from the 1700s and another piece from 1965. It’s about what speaks to the individual. The dealers who do the show are experts in their field, so you can trust them with good guidance.”
The Philadelphia Antiques & Arts Show runs through April 22 at The Navy Yard, 4747 S. Broad St. For more information or tickets, visit http://philadelphiaantiquesandartshow.com. For more information about Christopher T. Rebollo Antiques, visit www.facebook.com/ChrisRebolloAntiques.