Steinitz books sea fair

Grand Luxe moors at wealth hotspots to make it easy for up-market clients to pop in from home

USA - SEAFAIR is a very up-market antique fair on a ship that roams the US coastline parking up where the nobs hang out. It was the brainchild of David and Lee Ann Lester, former owners of IFAE, who have staged fairs in New York, Chicago, Palm Beach (where he is exhibiting this week), Miami Beach, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Hong Kong. SeaFair takes place aboard a purpose built exhibiton ship named Grand Luxe, 231ft long, 46ft beam, with a crew of 7 seamen, plus some serious security staff. It is due to commence operations later this year starting at the Hamptons.

Of interest to the architectural trade is the appearance of Steinitz amongst the list of SeaFair exhibitors. Bernard Steinitz is the grand old chineur de Paris, whose stands of gilded panelled rooms and decorative exotica were pitched last year at Grosvenor House, Maastricht, New York and Palm Beach. It will be interesting to see if others follow where Steinitz leads.

Expoships.com