Best in Show: Ben Pentreath & Studio Giancarlo Valle share Favorite Objects from The Winter Show 2026

BEST IN SHOW | HAPPENINGS | WORLD OF CABANA

As The Winter Show 2026 draws to a close – with antique lovers undeterred by New York's heavy snow – leading designers, including Ben Pentreath and Studio Giancarlo Valle, share some of their favorite objects and presentations from this year's edition. They also explain what impressed them most about the two recipients of the 'Best Booth' accolade: Rose Uniacke and Thomsen Gallery.

BY CAMILLA FRANCES | HAPPENINGS | 31 JANUARY 2026 

Pine cabinets and chairs by Swedish architect Axel Einar Hjorth (1888-1959), presented by Rose Uniacke at The Winter Show 2026, New York.

The 2026 edition of The Winter Show at New York’s Park Avenue Armory – blanketed by one of the city's most significant snow falls – reaffirmed its place as a cornerstone of the international antiques and design calendar, presenting over 70 dealers with works spanning 5,000 years of art, furniture, and decorative history.

Among the highlights, collectors and designers buzzed about several standout booths —with Rose Uniacke and Thomsen Gallery winning 'Best Booth' while the meticulously curated installation by Galerie Cahn, and others in the 'Study of a Young Collector', drew praise from visitors who were given an unparalleled chance to encounter museum-quality objects alongside intimate design narratives, underscoring the enduring importance of the antique market in shaping interior imagination and collecting.

Cabana asked the co-chairs of the show's Design Committee for their highlights.

Thomsen Gallery: Joint winner of 'Best Booth', The Winter Show 2026.

Ben Pentreath, Architectural Designer, 

Founder Ben Pentreath Studio

"Choosing highlights was incredibly difficult, but I was particularly drawn to Levy Galleries, Cove Landing, and Graf, Kaplan & Zemaitis. I also loved Milord Antiquités, Rose Uniacke, and Daniel Crouch, who were equally outstanding. 

"There was so much to admire overall, with a special shout-out to the young dealers’ stall, which was truly inspiring."

A North German Rococo Beadwork and Stained Walnut Games Table by Johann Michael van Selow, presented by Cove Landing, one of Ben Pentreath's highlights. 

Christine Gachot, Interior Designer

Co-Founder Gachot Studio

"What immediately stood out for me about Rose Uniacke’s booth was the sense of immersion. The deep, ochre-toned walls and carefully calibrated lighting created a quiet intensity that felt both intimate and transportive — as though you were stepping into a lived-in interior rather than a fair presentation.

"Each object felt considered, grounded, and given space to breathe. The overall effect was deeply warm and approachable, which is not easy to achieve at a fair of this scale.” The Gio Ponti writing desk from 1946 was a particular highlight.

A 1946 writing desk by Gio Ponti, presented by Rose Uniacke – one of Christine Gachot's favorite pieces from The Winter Show 2026.

"It beautifully captures Ponti’s ability to balance elegance with ingenuity, architectural in its structure and light and expressive in its detailing. It’s a piece meant to support daily rituals while quietly elevating them.

"Meanwhile, Eric Thomsen’s booth was compelling for its nuanced interplay of texture, material, and form. The super-fine woven rattan and bamboo elements introduced delicacy and tactility, while the geometric metal boxes brought a sense of structure and precision. Together, they created a layered presentation that felt visually dynamic, anchored by the striking large-scale landscape backdrop.

"The metal boxes were a standout! Restrained in form, yet rich in surface and texture, they felt timeless and beautifully balanced within the booth's broader composition."

Thomsen Gallery: Joint winner of 'Best Booth'. Eric Thomsen's presentation featured a luminous six-panel Japanese screen, one of Noz Nozawa's favorite pieces.

Noz Nozawa, Interior Designer

Founder, Noz Design

I chose Thomsen Gallery [for 'best booth'] as it was one of my top three, and they had an object that is now on my personal list. I truly admired their presentation. The main rear wall featured a luminous six-panel Japanese screen depicting a landscape so modern in feel that I was delighted to learn it could date as far back as the 17th-century. 

This grand, antique screen was beautifully contrasted in the booth with delicate lacquer tea boxes, intricate woven baskets, and contemporary bronze eight-sided boxes by artist Koji Hatakeyama (one of the verdigris boxes is now on my personal list!). 

I also appreciated their styling: matte white table surfaces on slender bookcases casually display objects close to the floor, creating a sense of accessibility and intimacy. Thomsen Gallery’s thoughtful juxtaposition of scale, material, and era results in a mood that is intentional, cohesive, and welcoming. Truly impressive—bravo.

An elegant vignette from Rose Uniacke's booth at The Winter Show 2026

Jane Keltner de Valle & Giancarlo Valle, Interior Designers

Co-Founders, Studio Valle de Valle

We have long been fans of Axel Einar Hjorth’s pine furniture, and collect the work at our gallery, Casa Valle. There is a humble simplicity to it that, in addition to being timeless, allows it to pair beautifully alongside both vintage and contemporary works.

This was illustrated so well at the Rose Uniacke booth. The space was filled with incredible treasures against a theatrical backdrop—it was our favorite.

Axel Einar Hjorth’s pine furniture, presented by Rose Uniacke and one of Studio Giancarlo Valle's highlights from The Winter Show 2026.