The Philadelphia Experience
Join Fine Objects Society for an unforgettable weekend of excursions, discussions, and exclusive events organized in tandem with the 2025 Philadelphia Show! This is our inaugural multi-day program outside of New York City, and we are thrilled to immerse FOS within the vibrant culture and history of Philly. This getaway promises immersive, behind-the-scenes experiences, private tours, and engaging conversations with designers, decorative arts specialists, and visual artists. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or antiques enthusiast, this experience will be a celebration of culture, creativity, and connection. Join us!
Registration is available for the full weekend experience, or for the Philadelphia Show panel and reception only. View the Schedule of Events and register below.
Schedule of Events
Friday, April 25 | 6 - 8 PM
Fine Objects Society Welcome Party sponsored by Freeman’s | Hindman
2400 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
The Fine Objects Society weekend in Philadelphia kicks off at Freeman’s | Hindman with a reception and preview of their upcoming auction, American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts. With festive beverages in hand, FOS members and friends will be joined by Andrew Taggart, specialist in furniture, folk, and decorative arts, who will point out some of his personal highlights–including a piece by enslaved potter David Drake.
Saturday, April 26 | 10 AM
Behind-the-Scenes excursion to the Clay Studio
1425 N American Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122
The Clay Studio in Philadelphia is one of the nation’s largest and most respected centers for ceramics. Drawing together students, artists, and an engaged public into a welcoming community, the Clay Studio inspires curiosity and discovery around the art and craft of clay. Jennifer Zwilling, curator and director of artistic programs, will lead Fine Objects Society on a behind-the-scenes tour of The Clay Studio to introduce us to current Artists-in-Residence in their studios and highlight works from current exhibitions, Small Favors, Jeanne Blisset Robertson, and Michael Biello: holy.body, and introduce us to current Artists-in-Residence. We will also have a tour of their new Digital Fabrication Studio, where we’ll see clay 3D printers and other technology some artists use to augment their traditional techniques.
Saturday, April 26 | 12 PM
Break for box lunch catered by Di Bruno Brothers Market
Saturday, April 26 | 1:30 PM
Tour of Mount Pleasant Mansion with Alexandra Kirtley
3800 Mt Pleasant Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19121
Mount Pleasant in East Fairmount Park is one of the grandest houses ever built along the Schuylkill River. Called “the most elegant seat in Pennsylvania” by the patriot John Adams, the estate was built as a grand country seat in the mid 1760s by the Scottish-born sea captain and privateer (aka pirate) John Macpherson (1726-1792) and his wife Margaret. Philadelphia’s finest artisans worked on the house, under the leadership of master builder Thomas Nevell, who was an apprentice of Edmund Woolley, the architect of Independence Hall. The interior boasts remarkable carved ornament executed by Philadelphia’s cadre of London émigré carvers. Organized exclusively for Fine Objects Society, Alexandra Kirtley, the Montgomery-Garvan Curator of American Decorative Arts at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, will lead us on a tour of this stately house. Currently, Mount Pleasant is closed to the public, so this opportunity is not to be missed!
Saturday, April 26 | 3 PM
Fine Objects Society in collaboration with The Philadelphia Show presents Antiques Unveiled: Object Stories
The Philadelphia Show, East Terrace, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
Organized by Fine Objects Society in collaboration with The Philadelphia Show, this program invites three professionals— a museum director, architect, and artist— to offer unique and insightful perspectives on their relationship with historic objects, highlighting the ways the material world influences their work and informs their lives. Moderated by Ben Miller, host of the Curious Objects podcast, this conversation will be an engaging look at antiques and the stories they tell.
Presenters: Amber Cowan, artist; Peter S. Seibert, president and chief executive officer of the Independence Seaport Museum; Steven W. Spandle, founding principal of Steven W. Spandle Architects. Moderator: Ben Miller, host of Curious Objects podcast by The Magazine Antiques.
Saturday, April 26 | 4 PM
Fine Objects Society Sendoff Soiree hosted by The Philadelphia Show
The Philadelphia Show, East Terrace, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
The Fine Objects Society weekend will culminate with a reception at the Philadelphia Show! Participants will have the opportunity to mix and mingle, conversing with dealers and specialists about the exceptional material on view. Be prepared to participate in some speculative collection building that may, someday, become a reality.
March Members Mixer: Hirschl & Adler
Join us for our March monthly meetup at Hirschl & Adler for a tour of Self-Taught Artists at the Crossroads of Fact and Fiction, an exhibition featuring works by a distinguished group of self-taught artists, including Bill Traylor, James Castle, Willard Watson (The Texas Kid), Purvis Young, Lonnie Holley, Jeanne Brousseau, James Edward Deeds, and George Widener, who will be making his Hirschl & Adler debut. This compelling show brings together works that explore the fluidity of truth and imagination, celebrating the unique ways these artists craft their own realities through art. Their ability to create outside the confines of formal education has led to a rich body of work that challenges accepted definitions of art and artists. Each piece in the exhibition offers a fresh, intimate view of the world, blending fact, myth, and fantasy into a captivating visual dialogue.
FOS members only
Object Encounters at Nameless Art Show
Join Fine Objects Society at NAMELESS Art Show for Object Encounters, a unique, hands-on experience that will explore the show's exclusive selection of works by anonymous outsider and folk artists.
Admission to the show is complimentary and space is limited. Please RSVP to info@fineobjectssociety.org as soon as possible.
Private Reception and Walkthrough: Bonhams Americana Sale
Join us for New Americana, an evening reception and walkthrough with Fine Objects Society and the Young Georgians.
FOS members only
Monthly Member Mixer
Join us on December 12 for our monthly member mixer. December's mixer will be hosted at James Robinson's Park Avenue Showroom. Meet fellow FOS members and enjoy James Robinson's beautiful collection of fine jewelry, silver, glass, and objets. Drinks will be served.
Private Tour of Objects: USA 2024
James Zemaitis, Director of Museum Relations, Kellie Riggs, curator, and Fine Objects Society invite you to a private tour of the landmark design triennial, Objects: USA 2024. Joining this tour will be exhibiting artists Francesca DiMattio and Roxanne Jackson. Followed by cocktails.
Please Touch Exhibition Walkthrough
Join FOS members for a guided walkthrough of our Please Touch exhibition. Attendees will be invited to handle historic objects while learning about their histories, who might have used them, and how.
Please Touch Exhibition
Exhibition hours: October 4, 5, 6, 12pm-6pm daily
Please Touch is Fine Object Society’s inaugural exhibition featuring exceptional historic objects from member gallerists. We invite you to explore these pieces intimately: feel free to touch, pick up, turn over, and use!
Fine Objects Society Launch Party
You're invited to the public launch of Fine Objects Society, a new community focused on the future of the decorative arts.
Hosted by the quality home design firm Henrybuilt, this is not your usual museum show. Our exhibition features exceptional handcrafted and historic objects from Fine Objects Society members, presented for you to look at, touch, pick up and turn over.