2026 New York Antiques Weekend and Emerging Scholars Colloquium

EVENTS > SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Join us for Antiques Weekend, the Decorative Arts Trust’s annual foray into the hustle and bustle of New York City’s winter auctions and fairs. The exclusive small-group tours at an enticing variety of noteworthy sites in Lower Manhattan were selected to set the stage for America’s Semiquincentennial. This popular program sells out quickly, so we encourage you to register early!

FRIDAY, JANUARY 23
9:00 am–7:00 pm

St. Paul’s Chapel
An exquisite example of late Georgian architecture, St. Paul’s opened in 1766 as an outpost for Trinity Church’s expanding congregation during the Revolutionary Era. The only 18th-century church remaining in Manhattan, St. Paul’s bore witness to pivotal moments, including President George Washington’s attendance at services following his inauguration ceremony.

Trinity Church
Founded as the city’s first Anglican parish in 1697, Trinity Church at the corner of Wall Street and Broadway served as a spiritual foundation for this vital period in American history. The current church building is the third to be constructed for the parish and was designed by English architect Richard Upjohn in the Gothic Revival style.

Federal Hall
The original Federal Hall was finished in 1789 to house the first Congress, Supreme Court, and Executive Branch offices, and host Washington’s first presidential inauguration. Demolished in 1812, the current structure was developed as the Federal Customs House in 1842. Hewn from Tuckahoe marble with a dramatic domed rotunda and Doric colonnade, it stands as a Greek Revival gem by the renowned architects Ithiel Town and Alexander Jackson Davis.

Fraunces Tavern with Lunch
One of the most important meeting places of the Revolutionary era, Fraunces Tavern has welcomed statesmen, soldiers, and weary travelers since 1762. The grand three-story brick building was constructed as a residence for the De Lancey family in 1719 and was variously used as a headquarters for George Washington, a venue for peace negotiations with the British, and federal offices in the Early Republic. Following in the founders’ footsteps, we enjoy an intimate lunch on site.

South Street Seaport Museum
We dive into New York’s history as a port city for the world at the South Street Seaport Museum. The museum’s extensive collection of maritime art, navigational instruments, maps, prints, and historic vessels creates the perfect environment for discovery. Together we explore the global interaction of commerce, labor, and diverse cultures that took place at the Seaport in centuries past.

Bowne & Co. Stationers
Tucked away within the South Street Seaport Museum complex, Bowne & Co. is New York’s oldest printing firm. With a heritage stretching back to 1775, Bowne was one of hundreds of printing offices in lower Manhattan producing the documents necessary to keep goods flowing in this booming port city. Our experience is enhanced with demonstrations of the historic presses.

Evening Reception
We conclude the day with a reception hosted by our friends at the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation, where participants have the chance to unwind and socialize at the National Arts Club.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24
11:00 am–5:00 pm

The Winter Show at the Park Avenue Armory
Our knowledgeable friends in the trade treat participants to private tours at the Park Avenue Armory in advance of public hours. As the leading art, antiques, and design fair in America, the Winter Show presents over 60 international dealers showcasing a dynamic selection of decorative and fine art from antiquity through the present day. In addition to our special access to the show, we share a congenial lunch in the Armory’s stunning Board of Officers Room.

Private Collection
Following lunch, we continue our day with a rare opportunity to visit a distinguished private collection. We will share the exciting details with members once arrangements are finalized.

Registration Fee: $600

The Antiques Weekend registration form offers the option to add the Sunday, January 25 Colloquium and Brunch to your Antiques Weekend registration. (See Colloquium details below.) 

Terms and Conditions: You must be a Decorative Arts Trust member to register for this program. Members at the Dual level and above may register both household members. Members at the Benefactor level and above may register a nonmember guest. Roundtrip transportation on Friday, January 23 will be provided. All cancellations received through Friday, January 2, 2026 are subject to a full refund less a $100 administrative fee per person. Refunds will not be remitted for participants canceling after January 2, 2026. The details of this itinerary are subject to change as necessary.

The Decorative Arts Trust is excited to host our 10th Annual Colloquium featuring young scholars in the material culture field. This event at the Park Avenue Armory is generously sponsored by the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation and Mrs. Sandra S. Ayres.

Emerging Scholars Colloquium
9:00 am–12:00 pm

9:00 am Gather in the Board of Officers’ Room at the Park Avenue Armory for coffee and bagels

9:30 am

• Welcome by Benjamin Prosky, President, Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation
• Remarks by Matthew A. Thurlow, Executive Director, The Decorative Arts Trust
• Introductions by Catherine Carlisle, Manager of Educational Programs, The Decorative Arts Trust
• Highlighting the Edge: The Art of Picture Framing in Late 19th-century Toronto
  Eric Birkle, Marie Zimmermann Curatorial Fellow, European Art, Art Gallery of Ontario
• Practical Agency: Porcelain, Metalwork, and the Making of Transcultural Objects in the 16th Century
  Fosca Maddaloni-Yu, Euchlin D. Reeves Curatorial Fellow in Ceramics, Museums at Washington & Lee University
• Dressing the Miniature: Costume, Identity, and Transformation in 17th-Century Netherlandish Portraits with Mica Overlays
  Jasper Martens, PhD student, University of California, Santa Barbara
• Spelunking in Storage: From Punch Bowls to Teapots at the High
  Nia McKiever, undergraduate student, Georgia State University, and recent IDEAL Intern, High Museum of Art
• A Room With A View: Visualizing the 19th-Century Danish Caribbean Interior
  Bethany McGlyn, William Thompson Fellow, Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation, and Graduate Fellow, Center for the Study of the Age of Jefferson, Jefferson Scholars Foundation, University of Virginia

Brunch Fundraiser for the Decorative Arts Trust’s Emerging Scholars Program
12:00 pm–1:30 pm

Extend your time with a festive brunch at the nearby East Pole in celebration of our Emerging Scholars Program with the opportunity to toast our speakers and meet fellow decorative arts enthusiasts. All proceeds benefit our Emerging Scholars Program, and registration is fully tax-deductible.

Registration Fees: $30 for the Colloquium only; $150 for the Colloquium and the Brunch Fundraiser

Terms and Conditions: Decorative Arts Trust membership is not required to attend the Colloquium or the Brunch Fundraiser. All cancellations received through Friday, January 2, 2026, are subject to a full refund. Refunds will not be made for participants canceling after January 2, 2026. The details of this itinerary are subject to change as necessary.