The 10 Standout Works to See at The Winter Show 2026 

The Winter Show has returned to the historic Park Avenue Armory for its annual presentation of museum-caliber art, antiques, and collectible works. Founded in 1954, the fair serves as a major benefit for the East Side House Settlement, the nonprofit organization that supports educational and workforce programs for residents of the Bronx and Northern Manhattan. From January 23 to February 1, treasure seekers will encounter more than 70 leading international dealers presenting works that span nearly 5,000 years of human creativity, from Old Master paintings and sculpture to fine furniture, jewelry, silver, rare books, and contemporary ceramics and glass.

The fair’s reputation rests on one of the most rigorous vetting processes in the art market. More than 120 specialists across 30 disciplines examine every object for authenticity, condition, provenance, and historical importance, reinforcing confidence for collectors and institutions alike. From this exacting review, the vetting panel selected the following works as the top 10 highlights of the show.

1. Folk Art Butcher’s Shop Diorama (c. 1880–90)

“This is one of about 20 examples known to have been made by the same hand, although the maker remains unknown. They were almost certainly created for butcher shops and placed in the window in the evening, functioning as a kind of trade sign. A small piece of paper found inside, dated 1887, suggests it was made for Queen Victoria’s Jubilee, which is the closest we have come to firmly dating them. The level of detail is extraordinary. The London Butchers’ Company has confirmed that the joints shown are specific English cuts, all rendered correctly. This example is particularly large and is the only one known to depict a single butcher. Much of the original paint remains untouched, preserved because it was only displayed in the evenings and removed at night.” —Robert Young

2. Nicholas Hilliard, Lady Arbella Stuart (1592)

“This newly identified cabinet miniature by Nicholas Hilliard is the only known completed example by the artist depicting a female sitter. Painted in 1592, it portrays Lady Arbella Stuart at a pivotal moment when she was regarded as a potential successor to Elizabeth I. Combining exceptional rarity, pristine condition, and extraordinary historical resonance, the work offers a compelling insight into courtly portraiture, dynastic ambition, and late Elizabethan politics.” —Wartski

3. Eugène Ehrmann, Glacial Seas (late 19th–early 20th century)

“This panel is a modern rendition of an Arctic scene within a very classic scene, and at the time, mid-19th century, it was considered too modern and therefore not printed as often. It is all the more rare because it was one of the last renditions wood-block printed by hand before the blocks were destroyed in the early 20th century.” —Carolle Thibaut-Pomerantz

4. Tiffany Studios, Crib Vault Component from the Farwell Building, Detroit (c. 1914–15)

“Tiffany Studios architectural Favrile Glass mosaics became highly sought-after after award-winning displays at international exhibitions and World’s Fairs. In 1914, Tiffany Studios was hired to decorate the interior of the Farwell Building.” —Dealer

5. Charles K. Warren, George Augustus Butler (1887)

Research has established that this recently rediscovered drawing depicts George Augustus Butler, who was born enslaved in Washington in 1835 and later rose to become a prominent political and commercial figure in 19th-century China. Drawn during a brief period when Butler was in London, this sensitive portrait opens up an extraordinary world of potential research into his remarkable life.” —Jonny Yarker

6. Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Wrapped Horse (1989)

“Christo and Jean-Claude are so well-known for monumental outdoor projects, and it is very rare to find an early wrapped work on an intimate scale. This is a terrific example of their early Neo-Dada practice of wrapping found objects. The toy horse was actually their son’s toy. Christo and Jeanne-Claude gave this work to Jan van der Marck, an early supporter who later gave them their first American project when they wrapped the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago in 1968.” —Jonathan Boos

7. Attributed to William Bewick, After Michelangelo Buonarroti, The Persian Sibyl (c. 1820s)

“If you love Michelangelo but can’t get a piece of it, this is one you can have. It’s really unique—originally drawn to teach Royal Academy students. The scale and impact of Michelangelo’s fresco are captured in a way that works spectacularly in a contemporary home.” —Robert Simon

8. Designed by Edmund Dulac and Woven by Leo Belmonte, Danaë (c. 1917)

“I was looking for an important work of art to put up on my back wall, and I was so fortunate to find this amazing tapestry with a magical, poetic subject. The story of Danaë, illustrated by Edmund Dulac, brought everything together for my booth.”—Francis Lord

9. Simone Prouvé, Triptyque Panneau 011093 (1993)

“Simone Prouvé’s rare triptych is the centerpiece of our booth. Made from hyper-modern synthetic materials which are difficult to weave, the abstract work blurs the line between art and craft, typifying the exciting and experimental works of 20th-century designers.” —Christopher Johnstone, Rose Uniacke

10. Johann Michael van Selow, North German Rococo Games Table (c. 1755)

“A colorful example of mid-18th-century German Rococo furniture, this rare stained walnut games table features a fanciful glass bead top whose jewel-like surface shimmers. Thought to have been owned by George II and later by the Princes of Hanover, it retains an elegance and exuberance fit for a king.” —Angus Wilkie, Cove Landing