SHOPTALK with Susanna Salk
Photography by Jogn Gruen

KENTSHIRE

"We are so lucky to be in a business where we get to buy and sell beautiful things every day and share our professional lives with our families.” So says Robert Israel of the over 40 year partnership he and his brother-in-law Fred Imberman have shared in shaping Kentshire Galleries into one of America’s leading antique furniture and jewelry businesses. The unique collaboration is shared with their wives Ellen Israel and Marcie Imberman, who have built and manage Kentshire’s jewelry collection. Most recently, they were joined in the business by a third generation – Carrie and Mathew Imberman and Matthew, children of Marcie and Fred.

Kentshire Galleries was founded in 1940 by Fred’s father, Benson Imberman, as The United States Silver Company, with showrooms on West 47th Street. His son and son-in-law joined him in 1968 and together, they built a world-class inventory of Queen Anne, Georgian, and Regency furniture and objects. “We look for pieces that harmonize exceptional design and superior workmanship using the very best materials,” explains Robert. “For every article we buy, we've probably looked at many hundreds more.”

When Kentshire moved to their current eight-story loft building in Greenwich Village in the Seventies, Fred and Robert wanted to create an environment that was as unique as the antiques they sold. By renovating each floor, using architectural details such as paneled rooms and carved moldings, wall coverings and special paint finishes on the walls and floors, they ultimately created tantalizing room-like settings where clients felt as if they had entered an exquisite home – but where everything just happened to be for sale. To this day “We want to give our clients a special sense of discovery,” explains Fred.

Prior to coming to Kentshire, Marcie was working in publishing and Ellen in education, when the idea of joining Kentshire’s alluring world became more and more tempting. They had both collected jewelry for a number of years and whenever they showed their friends what they had bought in Europe, they were urged to sell their new-found treasures. “We began by appointment only, with our inventory hidden in an armoire on one of Kentshire’s floors,” remembers Marcie. “But it quickly became apparent that we were onto something good.” It wasn’t long before Fred and Robert made them an offer to join the business. “After a lot of begging, we agreed,” smiles Ellen. The women were determined to bring the same exacting standards to the jewelry collection as their husbands had with the furniture.

Within a few months, an entire floor was renovated, turning it into an intimate old world jewelry salon to show Kentshire’s wide-ranging collection dating from the Georgian era and going all the way up to the 1970’s. Marcie and Ellen traveled frequently to visit dealers, sales, and private estates to keep up with the demand.

In 1988, Kentshire opened a free-standing boutique at Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth Avenue, featuring their antique and estate jewelry collection. They were pace setters in adding vintage costume jewelry and handbags to their offerings, a trend that soon caught the eye of the fashion community and the burgeoning collectors market for vintage fashion accessories.

The family had always longed for a more private space up-town where they could receive designers and collectors. “One day, out of the blue, we got a phone call from an agent, offering us this dream location with beautiful spaces for each of our strengths – we felt we just couldn't let the opportunity pass,” says Fred. And so in 2007, Kentshire debuted a 3,500 square-foot space for antiques and jewelry at 700 Madison Avenue. The gallery was designed adhering to green certification requirements and features many decorative details created by talented artisans.

"It's a good thing good shopping runs in the family. We are still excited by possibility of finding new treasures. The “hunt” is still thrilling,” says Robert. “Basically, we are out there every day of the year. We visit often our extensive network of dealer-friends, view every major sale and most minor ones both here and in Europe. We’ve learned to distinguish between good, better, best, and extraordinary.”

With the jewelry and furniture branches thriving, the Kentshire family tree has not only deep roots, but extends out towards the future with continued excitement. “We're an old-fashioned business in a fashionable business,” says Fred. “We hope to continuing improving and refining our act.” The women gracefully concur. Adds Ellen: “We all couldn't imagine doing something we’d enjoy more.”

KENTSHIRE
37 East 12th Street
New York, New York 10003
Telephone: 212. 673. 6644
Fax: 212. 979. 0923

KENTSHIRE
700 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10065
Telephone: 212. 421. 1100
Fax: 212. 421. 1180