Greenwich, Connecticut
August 2003
Please view our Greenwich, Connecticut checklist at the end of the article...
Art is intrinsic to daily life in Greenwich, the premier Connecticut Gold Coast community about 30 miles northeast of Manhattan. Here sculpture gardens enhance public parks, private buildings and residential compounds. Pedestrians, drivers on I-95 and commuters on the Metro-North rail line are familiar with Mark di Suvero’s bright-red “Borealis,” a 29-foot welded contemporary sculpture at the Ashforth Company’s Greenwich Plaza building. At Pickwick Plaza, passersby enjoy “The Gossips,” a life-like Harry Marinsky sculpture installed by Cavalier Galleries. And children play on Shay Rieger’s “Yak,” outside the Greenwich Library; romp among Brian Cooley’s “Pachyrhinosaurus,” three sculptures on the grounds of the Bruce Museum; and frolic around Deborah Butterfield’s horse figures at Bruce Park. This is Greenwich, where there are so many local collectors that the Bruce Museum had to feature two “Pleasure of Collecting” exhibits. It’s also where Rodin’s “Monument to the Burghers of Calais” used to greet visitors at Joseph Hirshhorn’s former estate. (Now, it’s part of the vast collection at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.)
Such an atmosphere bodes well for collectors in search of fine art and antiques. Greenwich’s top-notch art galleries and prestigious antiques dealers are mainly located on two major arteries that form a T-shaped shopping corridor: Putnam Avenue (a.k.a. U.S. Route 1 and “Boston” Post Road) is the top of the “T” and Greenwich Avenue--the chic store-lined street that flows one-way south--is the perpendicular leg. Start your tour at their juncture, where the numbers are lowest, at The Greenwich Gallery, 2 Greenwich Avenue. Partners Abby Taylor and Vincent Vallarino offer works by 19th- and 20th-century American and European painters as well as a remarkable collection of museum-quality sculpture. (The gallery recently sold a Rodin bust to the National Gallery.) You would recognize many names in their stable of artists, including Severin Roesen (1815-72), a leading 19th-century American still-life painter, whose opulent oil-on-canvas “Still Life with Fruit,” is priced at $265,000. Another is Jasper Francis Cropsey (1823–1900), one of the artists central to the Hudson River School. Notable 20th-century American artists include Milton Avery, Alexander Calder and Wolf Kahn. Prices range from $1,500 for drawings and watercolors on paper, to $265,000 for Chagall’s “Peintre au Roi David,” a circa 1979 tempera on Masonite.
Francophiles should take note of Provinces de France at 22 West Putnam, where owners Jenny Berry and Paul Kechejian offer an array of French 18th-, 19th- and 20th-century furnishings and accessories. In abundance are gilded mirrors, Louis XV style buffets and fauteuils (upholstered armchairs). One pair—in 19th-century Louis XV–style with graceful, wooden arms—features a stunning floral fabric and is priced at $5,900. Also in the gallery, a 19th-century walnut buffet from Burgundy is $14,750. While here, look for a selection of French plates, antique pottery and a pair of circa 1870 matching opaline vases.
Just steps away, Michael Kessler of Michael Kessler Antiques, at No. 44, is a third-generation dealer who arrived on West Putnam about two years ago. The shop specializes in finely detailed tables, chairs and distinctive 19th-century chandeliers ($2,000–25,000). Furnishings include signed pieces by French cabinetmakers Schmidt, Duvivier and Zwiener. Among the other offerings are a circa 1900 oval satinwood inlaid table ($2,850) and a carved mahogany Chippendale demilune ($5,000).
Across Putnam is Donald A. Rich Interiors & Antiques at No. 23, which features English and French furnishings as well as a notable collection of 18th- and 19th-century American pieces, such as a circa 1790–1800 American mahogany card table ($6,500) with a folded top and a circa 1810–20 Federal inlaid mahogany sideboard ($16,500). Another temptation is a 19th-century Japanese lacquered bookcase ($9,800).
Return to the corner and cross to Greenwich Oriental Art, 7 East Putnam. This unique gallery deals primarily in Chinese antiquities, including original silk tapestries and hand-embroidered textiles; it specializes in furniture, pottery figures and accessories. Before their marriage, owners Stephanie and Jeff Liang were familiar with antiques; both sets of parents were in the antiques business in China. They continue to travel there searching for rare collectibles, such as gray 17-inch pottery horses from the early T’ang dynasty (618–907) tagged at $19,000 and an exotic, 18th-century ink painting on silk titled “A Spectacular Fine Painting of Various Exotic Birds and Flowers” ($14,000).
Farther east you’ll find a sumptuous inventory at B&D Johnson Antiques, 122 East Putnam. Co-owners Brent and Derek Johnson grew up as sons of antiques dealers; they buy privately and sell to a distinguished clientele. Their shop is a mecca for enthusiasts of dining-room tables and unusual items. Of interest is an intricately carved rosewood wall-mantel that was rescued before demolition from Rockwood Hall, William Rockefeller’s former country estate. Another gem is a rare pair of 18th-century English Chippendale window benches with a provenance from the Vanderlip family (founders of Citicorp).
Lois Richards Galleries, 54 Greenwich Avenue, has been in this location for six years and carries a stable of 20th-century American and European Impressionists. H. Claude Pissarro--Camille’s grandson--has works in museums in England, France and Japan and is under the patronage of Prince Rainier of Monaco. His painting “River Seine” evokes a bucolic river scene with a rowboat and swan. Look for paintings by Collette Privat, who exhibits in major European cities as well as in Palm Beach, Florida.
New on the avenue, Quester Gallery at No. 279 specializes in 19th- and 20th-century maritime art; prices start at $5,000 and can exceed $100,000. James Marenakos and daughter Ann Bilby started the business 25 years ago in Stonington, Connecticut; new partner Michael Florio helped facilitate their expansion to Greenwich. Of note is the oil-on-canvas “American Steam-Sail Ship ‘Star of the South’ Passing American Full Rigged Ship at Sea” by James E. Buttersworth, an American 19th-century master. Quester also offers superb China Trade pieces, such as a stand-up, blonde camphor-wood campaign secretary with decorative brass drawer handles ($16,500).
At Quai Voltaire Antiques, No. 378, owner Guy Flichy and general manager Jean Francois Beliste showcase sophisticated pieces, some handcrafted for 18th-century French royalty. Prime examples include a Louis XV mirror topped with a royal coat-of-arms ($35,000) and a rectangular leather-tipped desk stamped “Pierre II Migeon, Master” in 1736 ($128,000). Typical prices range from $2,500 to $8,000, but one recent piece sold for $200,000.
At Henri-Burton French Antiques, No. 382, owner Anne S. Satterthwaite specializes in French country antiques, including armoires, farm tables and 19th-century gold-leaf mirrors. Many of her ornate, plain and classic mirrors are showcased in her Madison Avenue shop in Manhattan. Among the carved-pine armoires from Normandy, one ornately hand-carved example with doves and lovebirds ($12,000) was made around 1840 as a wedding gift. On view is a mid-18th-century wild-cherry bench that originally stored salt under the seat ($2,600).
Guild Antiques, No. 384, was founded in 1978 by Regina and George Rich. This location (and its two Madison Avenue showrooms) specializes in 18th- and 19th-century English antiques, Chinese porcelain and accessories. Collectors will find a number of mahogany furnishings, including a circa 1790 chest-on-chest ($8,950) and a circa 1840 double-door bookcase with a glass top and paneled doors ($6,400). The assortment of accessories includes a circa 1860 gilt mirror ($1,495), a Chinese porcelain famille rose vase ($1,995) and occasional country pieces, like an infant’s high chair.
Ronald J. Cavalier Jr. moved his gallery to Greenwich in 1993 from Stamford, where he established the Stamford Sculpture Walk. Cavalier Galleries and Sculpture Garden, No. 405, sells paintings and representational bronze sculptures by Jane De Decker, Bruno Lucchesi, Gary Price and Karen Petersen, both here and on Nantucket. The gallery exclusively represents the major American still-life painter Ken Davies, whose oil-on-board “Pantry Cupboard” is $38,000. “Inspiration,” a show by Glenna Goodacre that displays 40 studies from the Irish Memorial (at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia) opens here on October 29, and across the street at No. 396, the new exhibition space features contemporary photography.
GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT CHECKLIST
(Area code 203 unless otherwise noted)
► B&D Johnson Antiques, L.L.C.
122 E. Putnam Ave.
618-0009
► Cavalier Galleries and Sculpture Garden
405 Greenwich Ave.
869-3664
► Church Street Antiques
77 Church St.
Eclectic collection of antiques.
661-6309
► Consignments & Antiques
189 Greenwich Ave.
Furnishings, chandeliers, accessories and art.
661-8777
► Donald A. Rich Interiors & Antiques
23 W. Putnam Ave.
661-6470
► Eggplant & Johnson
58-A William St.
Decorative furniture, pottery, china, glassware and jewelry.
661-5335
► Estate Treasures of Greenwich
1162 E. Putnam Ave.
English furnishings.
637-4200
► Flinn Gallery at Greenwich Library
101 W. Putnam Ave.
Produces six of its eight annual exhibits at the Greenwich Library.
622-7900
► French Country Living
34 E. Putnam Ave.
18th-century armoires and commodes, plus custom-made reproductions.
869-9559
► The Greenwich Gallery
2 Greenwich Ave. (6 W. Putnam Ave.).
622-4494
► Greenwich Oriental Art
7 E. Putnam Ave.
629-0500
► Guild Antiques
384 Greenwich Ave.
869-0828
► Henri-Burton French Antiques
382 Greenwich Ave.
661-8529
► Kolodny Gallery
12 Laurel Ln.
19th- and early 20th-century Russian, European and American art. By appointment only.
622-7310
► Layton Antiques
115 Mason St.
661-0066
► Lois Richards Galleries
54 Greenwich Ave.
661-4441
► Louis Louis
30 W. Putnam Ave.
Consoles, buffets and desks in Louis XV/Louis XVI styles.
629-1792
► Meserve Coale Gallery
16 Greenwich Ave.
Masters of Impressionism, post-Impressionism and modern art by artists such as Renoir, Matisse, Modigliani, Picasso and Frankenthaler.
661-9857
► Michael Kessler Antiques
44 W. Putnam Ave.
661-1212
► Provinces de France
22 W. Putnam Ave.
629-9798
► Quai Voltaire Antiques
378 Greenwich Ave.
618-9777
► Quester Gallery
279 Greenwich Ave.
629-8022