A new antiques fair in Genoa: Genova Antiquaria, zero edition

From Feb. 21-26, 2025, Genoa will host a new fine antiques fair with the “zero” edition of Genova Antiquaria, an event organized by theAssociazione Amici di Sundial Palace APS under the patronage of the Region of Liguria, the City of Genoa and the Chamber of Commerce. For six days, the Sundial Palace, an authentic jewel of Genoese architecture and a symbol of the city’s history, will host a selection of works of art and collectibles spanning centuries of history, from the 16th century to the 1950s.

The event will offer the public the chance to admire (as well as purchase) fine works: paintings, sculptures, furniture, ceramics, jewelry and rare objects that tell the story of Italian and international artistic and cultural evolution. The exhibition will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with free admission and a minimum contribution of 5 euros. The entire proceeds will be donated to the non-profit organization Arkè, Un Dentista per Amico, an organization, active since 2000 throughout the country, committed to providing free dental care to children in need thanks to a network of 2,500 volunteers (to date Arkè has treated more than 16,500 children and young people). For collectors and art lovers who want an exclusive preview, an invitation-only event will be held on Thursday, Feb. 20 from 5 to 8 p.m. to officially open the exhibition.

“A first edition that we are sure will be a success, not only because of the artistic jewelry on display in the wonderful location of Sundial Palace, but above all because of the social purpose that will allow young patients to benefit from free dental care thanks to the donation of the entire proceeds to the non-profit organization ’Arkè, Un Dentista per Amico,’” comments Lorenza Rosso, Councillor for Culture and Social Policies of the City of Genoa. “From the moment I took on the delegation for Culture, I have tried to get the message across that this area should go hand in hand with the social aspect, and having been alderman for Social Policies for almost three years I think it is essential to insist on the importance of this combination. On the purely cultural side, the visitor will have the opportunity to go through more than four centuries, admiring the artistic evolution over time. Genova Antiquaria, therefore, in addition to representing an event full of charm, history and art, is proposed as a concrete response to the needs of the community.”

“The inauguration of this exhibition testifies to the great vitality of the Ligurian antiques world, which is once again capable of enhancing, through novelty, objects and places full of history and charm,” comments Simona Ferro, Councillor for Culture of Regione Liguria. “I am referring to the works of art that will be on display, but also to the Sundial Palace itself, an architectural jewel that is always ready to welcome new initiatives and reviews, thus allowing our fellow citizens to discover, or more likely rediscover, one of the most important palaces in Genoa’s historic center. Today’s event is just the beginning of a successful path that will lead Genova Antiquaria to become more and more a point of reference for the Ligurian antiquarian sector.”

“Hosting the ’zero’ edition of Genova Antiquaria at the Sundial Palace,” says Davide Viziano, president of the Associazione Amici di Sundial Palace APS, “is a source of great satisfaction for me. As president of the Associazione Amici di Sundial Palace, I am happy to see the Palazzo become the center of an event that is not limited to its commercial dimension, but that contributes to promoting culture and enhancing the artistic heritage of our city. Art and history are not just reminders of the past, but tools to create deep connections with the territory and those who live it. I am particularly proud to read that this initiative has a solidarity purpose, allocating the proceeds to the Arkè Association, demonstrating that culture and social commitment can walk together for the good of the community.”

“In thinking about this event, together with Alberto Capozzi and Tito Pelizza, owners of Capozzi Antichità and Galleria Arte Casa,” emphasizes Luca Vivioli, owner of Vivioli Arte Antica, “we were inspired by cities like Milan and Turin, where antiques exhibitions are organized by trade associations in prestigious venues such as the Museo della Permanente in Milan and the Palazzo della Promotrice delle Belle Arti in Turin’s Valentino Park. The idea of bringing the excellence of antique art to the heart of Genoa stems from the desire to create a space where beauty and history can meet and arouse unique emotions. The Sundial Palace, with its great elegance, is therefore confirmed as the ideal venue to host priceless works that tell centuries of art and culture. In terms of duration, too, we decided to follow the most recent trends: TEFAF in Maastricht itself, the world’s most prestigious art and antiques fair, has for the past three years reduced its opening from 11 to 7 days including the first two by invitation only. I would like to thank all those who contributed to this project and, in particular, the eight other antique dealers who decided to share this idea with us. We hope that this exhibition will be enjoyed by a diverse audience, ranging from experienced collectors to enthusiasts and anyone in search of beauty and history.”

Some of the works on display

Genova Antiquaria brings together some of the most important realities of the Italian antiquarian scene, offering an itinerary that ranges from Renaissance art to the splendor of the Baroque, from the elegant lines of the Rococo to the design of the 20th century. Among the participants, Franco Tisi’s Antichità La Pieve will bring works such as theAllegory of Charity by Domenico Piola (Genoa, 1628 - 1703), a leading figure in 17th-century Genoese painting, a scene After the Battle by Cornelis de Wael (Antwerp, 1592 - Rome, 1667) and a gilded wooden panel from the Genoese area depicting a mythological scene dating back to the 17th-18th centuries.

Galleria Arte Casa, on the other hand, will present a significant contribution to 20th-century Ligurian and Italian painting, exhibiting masterpieces such as Rubaldo Merello’s San Fruttuoso di Camogli , Sexto Canegallo’s La gioia, Angelo Costa’s Dalle Grazie , and works by famous artists such as Ernesto Rayper and Eugenio Baroni. At the same time, Bonanomi Antiques will offer the public the opportunity to admire rare pieces, including a Genoese inlaid rosewood and ivory cabinet, a Louis XV inlaid four-leaf clover cabinet and large paintings, including a gallant scene by Francesco Vinea and a Hercules and Onphale attributed to Nicolò Bambini, an exponent of Venetian painting.

Borgobooks by Gianni Pietrasanta will further enrich the exhibition with a selection of historic and rare works, including the volume De vita, & rebus gestis Andreae Auriae Melphiae Principis, by Carlo Sigonio, published in Genoa in 1586, a pencil drawing by Mario Sironi(Nude of a Woman) and a bronze sculpture, Madonna and Child, by Leonardo Bistolfi, as well as an inkwell by Gio Ponti.

Capozzi Antiquities will also contribute a fine selection of 18th-century Savona majolica and Flemish paintings, including the works St. Jerome in the Desert by Gregorio De Ferrari and the oils July, The Cutting of the Hay and Caravan of Wayfarers by Jan Wildens (Antwerp, 1586 - 1653). Creatini&Landriani, Sestri Levante gallery, carries two etchings by Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione known as Il Grechetto (Genoa, 1609 - Mantua, 1664): the Old Man with a Large Beard and Head of Man with Fur Hat.

Goldfinch Fine Arts, a gallery specializing in Italian European paintings from the 16th to 18th centuries, will present an important painting by Grechetto, The Entry of the Animals into the Ark, an excellent example of 17th-century Genoese painting. Among the participating galleries, Line-A Gallery of Chiavari will stand out for its homage to historic 20th-century design, exhibiting iconic pieces such as a bar cabinet designed by Paolo Buffa and the famous Chiavari light chairs, a masterpiece of Ligurian craftsmanship. Again, MR Antiquities brings majolica and paintings from 17th-century Liguria including a work attributed to Bartolomeo Biscaino and a pair of 17th-century flower vases. Signorina Maccabei Déco and Rétro will offer a fine selection of Art Deco furniture and lighting, including a Sirène table lamp by Eileen Gray from 1940 and a Font-Romeu vase signed R. Lalique, from 1936.

Completing the panorama will be Vivioli Arte Antica, with a proposal that includes Genoese and French furniture from the 18th century, oriental rugs and rare objects. Significant pieces include a pair of oils on canvas depicting scenes of Sun King battles signed Johannes Jan Maas Le Jeune (Haarlem, 1655 - 1690) and a Louis XVI secrétaire à abattant in citronnier, with Japanese lacquer panels, made in Holland in the late 18th century.

The initiative will not be limited to a simple exhibition, but will be accompanied by a multichannel promotional campaign involving the website and social media of Sundial Palace and the exhibitors, as well as advertisements in the press, radio, and local TV. To reach an even wider audience, the communication will be reinforced by back-publicity on 25 buses of the main city lines and banners placed along the streets of downtown Genoa.

Detailed information and updates can be found on the event’s official website: www.palazzodellameridiana.it/genova-antiquaria-2025.

A new antiques fair in Genoa: Genova Antiquaria, zero edition

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