U.S. Antiques Shows, which produces well-attended antique, watch and jewelry shows at venues across the country, has for the past few years also conducted a conference two days prior to the Original Miami Antiques Show that offers insights into the history and culture of jewelry.
Elyse Korn Karlin and Gail Brett Levine choose the topics for the Jewelry History Series and oversee its operation. It runs just before the world’s biggest antiques show opens at the Miami Beach Convention Center. This will be the third year of the conference, which runs Jan. 27 and 28, 2016, and it will feature new content as well as popular features from previous seminars.
Both U.S. Antiques Shows and Karlin, the co-director of the Association for the Study of Jewelry and Related Arts, value continuing education in the field, which is reflected in the program.
The list of speakers include Patricia Faber discussing “The Next Wave: Collecting Studio Art Jewelry, 1970-1990”; Michael Goldstein speaking on the “History of Diamonds in Jewelry”; and Gail Brett Levine lecturing on “Precious Stone Wannabes.” Karlin will present a talk on the lives and passions of famous jewelry-loving courtesans.
For the second year the conference will showcase a panel discussion designed by Karlin and Levine that features items recently sold at auction around the country. As a photo of a piece is shown on a large screen, Karlin will discuss it from a historian’s point of view, panel member Yvonne Markowitz, curator at the emerita Museum of Fine Arts of Boston, will discuss how if the piece would fit into a museum collection, Levine will discuss the item from an appraiser’s point of view, and others will discuss it from the dealer and auction house perspectives.
“Sometimes we totally disagreed,” Karlin said of last year’s presentation, “but when we ended, everybody was saying, ‘Don’t stop. Don’t stop.’ It was a fun addition to the program.”
The program includes a field trip to the Wolfsonian Museum as well as an opportunity to walk the floor of the antiques show before the general public is admitted, followed by a closing reception. Cost is $350 for full participation on both days of the series. One-day admission is $200 and exhibitors may select the “Mornings Only” option for $200. Registration packages include admission to The Original Miami Beach Antique Show for all five days.