This year the Winter Antiques Show is celebrating its 60th anniversary, which coincides with the Salem, Massachusetts-based Peabody Essex Museum’s (PEM) 215th birthday. In honor of the two milestones, the show will present a microcosm of the PEM experience as the 2014 loan exhibition.

The exhibition is comprised of a selection of paintings, sculptures, textiles and works on paper, offering a celebration of global connection, which according to show organizers encourages discourse, evokes emotion and ignites curiosity. Key pieces on display include porcelain and silver cups circa 1570-1610, a painted side chair circa 1785, and a mid-19th century headdress.

One of the oldest and fastest growing museums in the U.S., PEM was founded in 1799 and is currently undertaking an endowment campaign. When completed, PEM will rank among the top 10 art museums in the nation in terms of gallery space and total endowment.  

The museum's collection showcases a spectrum of American art and architecture as well as Asian, Asian export, Native American, African, Oceanic, maritime and photography collections. It owns 22 historic properties including Yin Yu Tang, a 200-year-old house that is the only example of Chinese domestic architecture on display in the United States.

Various curators and experts from the museum will take part in the “2014 Loan Exhibition Lecture Series,” tackling topics from Tradition and Innovation in American Art to Indian Export Textiles and Carving American Style.

Austen Barron Bailly

Presentations will be put on by Austen Barron Bailly, The George Putnam Curator of American Art at PEM on Saturday, January 25, at 2:30 p.m.; Daniel Finamore, The Russell W. Knight Curator of Maritime Art and History at PEM on Saturday, January 25, at 4:00 p.m.; Lynda Hartigan, The James B. and Mary Lou Hawkes Chief Curator at PEM on Sunday, January 26, at 2:30 p.m.; Karina Corrigan,The H.A. Crosby Forbes Curator of Asian Export Art at PEM on Sunday, January 26, at 4:00 p.m.; and Dean Lahikainen, The Carolyn and Peter Lynch Curator of American Decorative Arts at PEM on Monday, January 27 at 2:30 p.m.

Past loan exhibitions at the show have honored the Preservation Society of Newport County, the Historic Hudson Valley, Historic New England and the Historic Charleston Foundation.

The opening night party will kick off the series of events on Thursday, January 23, from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m., featuring cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a sneak peek of the show.

Shawn Henderson

Young Collectors Night, aimed at emerging philanthropists and young art and design enthusiasts, takes place Thursday, January 30 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. The event features a private viewing of the show and an exclusive “Meet the Designers” reception with New York-based interior designers Shawn Henderson, Alexa Hampton and Nate Berkus, as well as Wendy Goodman, design editor of New York Magazine.

On Friday, January 24, 1stdibs is sponsoring Design Friday including a book signing by Aerin Lauder at 12:30 p.m.; a lecture on vision and inspiration by interior designer Sandra Nunnerley at 2:30 p.m.; and a lecture on the passion of design by co-founder of R20th Century, Zesty Meyers, at 4:00 p.m.

Zesty Meyers

The “Expert Eye Lectures and Book Signings” will present Kenneth W. Rendell, to speak about The Words of War: Fifty Iconic World War II Documents That Changed The World on Saturday, January 25, at 5:30 p.m.; Carswell Rush Berlin to speak about 'A Shadow of A Magnitude': Thomas Cook & Richard Parkin: Philadelphia Cabinet Makers of the Classical Period on Tuesday, January 28, at 2:30 p.m.; Cory Korkow to speak about Collecting Relationships: Portrait Miniatures and the Cleveland Museum of Art on Wednesday, January 29, at 5:00 p.m.; Michael Cohen to speak about The Purple Foliage Workshop on Thursday, January 30 at 12:30 p.m.; Sandra Hindman to speak about and sign her book the Books of Hours Reconsidered on Friday, January 31, at 2:30 p.m.; Brian McCarthy to speak about and sign his book Luminous Interiors on Saturday, February 1, at 2:30 p.m.; and Paul Doros to speak about and sign his book The Art Glass of Louis Comfort Tiffany on Saturday, February 1, at 4:00 p.m.

Brian McCarthy

Show hours are Monday through Wednesday and Friday and Saturday from 12:00 – 8:00 p.m. and Sunday and Thursday from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the famed Park Avenue Armory. Admission is $25 and includes a catalogue. The special events are included in the price of the ticket except for the Opening Night Party and the Young Collectors Night.