NEW YORK—Art and antique season is underway in the city and dealers are showing a bounty of treasures. The Metro Show, a new fair at the Metropolitan Pavilion, opened to the public yesterday. Billed as an art and design show, the event features an eclectic mix of fine memorabilia, folk art, historic furniture, 20th century decorative arts, ceramics, glass, textiles, paintings and photography, and Native American, African and Asian art.
Several galleries are showcasing highly collectible works by Bill Traylor (1854-1959), a self-taught African American artist. An emancipated slave from Alabama, Traylor first began to draw in his early 80s and completed more than 1,200 works before his death. Other standout objects include a tin man from a Massachusetts hardware store and a collection of more than 3,000 antique dice.
The Metro Show is runs from Jan. 19 to 22, 2012.
All photos by Arts Observer
Above, “Let the Dice Fall Where They May,” a collection of 3,326 American, British and Continental hand-made dice, circa late 18th to late 19th century (bone) at Steve S. Powers of Brooklyn, N.Y.
“Man in Blue Suit,” circa 1940 (poster paint, pencil, cardboard) at Hill Gallery of Birmingham, Mich.
“Red Dog,” circa 1940 (poster paint, pencil, cardboard) at Hill Gallery of Birmingham, Mich.
Foreground, “Dance Mask,” circa second quarter 20th century from Bobo, Burkina Faso; with 19th century “Mancala Board” from Côte d’Ivoire (wood) and “Bedja Shield” in background.
“Bedja Shield,” 19th century from Sudan (hide) at Jaracanda Tribal of New York City.
A trio of Bill Traylors at Carl Hammer Gallery of Chicago: Clockwise from top, “Untitled Black Male Boar with Curly Tail,” circa 1939-43; “Untitled Black Spotted Male Dog,” 1939-43; “Untitled Male Dog with Red Tongue and Eye,” circa 1940-43 (all poster paint and pencil on found cardboard).
“Bird Perched on Top of House,” circa 1939 (gouache and pencil on cardboard) by Bill Traylor at Hill Gallery of Birmingham, Mich.
“Topsy Turvy Doll,” late 19th to early 20th century by unidentified maker (carved wood with polychrome and fabric) with a series of Bill Traylor works in the background, at Just Folk of Summerland, Calif.
Cast iron molds, circa 1920-1949, at Stephen Score of Boston.
“Tin Man,” figure from Pearl Hardware Store in West Medford, Mass., circa 1940 (assorted materials: sheet metal, glass, bristles) at Stephen Score of Boston.