For antiques dealer Jeff Myer, it was a small piece of René Lalique that sparked a lifelong passion. This gift from his commanding officer while he was serving as a nurse in the United States Navy led him to begin researching the French glass artisan and, back at home in New York City, he started spending weekends scouring flea markets to add pieces to his collection. Jeff’s “hobby” eventually turned into an occupation when he took a job at Regis Auction Gallery authenticating works of art by Lalique and continuing to deepen his knowledge of this renowned glass artist.
Today, in addition to maintaining his reputation as a resource for galleries and collectors across the globe with a need to authenticate Lalique, he has a small shop in Chickaloon, Alaska specializing in Lalique, 20th Century decorative arts, Murano glass by the great masters and other unique items from all periods. An exhibitor of the Original Miami Beach Antique Show (OMBAS) for 33 years, Jeff is passionate about advocating for the next generation of antiques dealers and is committed to promoting and fostering their success.
In the small community in which he lives in central Alaska, Jeff and his beloved husband keep dogs, cats and chickens and they raise the one and only Chickaloon honey boasting 12 beehives. He also has served on the Chickaloon Community Council as co-president for seven years. His shop is located next to the only other major business in town, the U.S. Post Office. After the long hiatus in shows, he was delighted to return to Miami to reunite with old friends from around the world to see all that they brought to the show, and to see customers who travelled from afar to shop the 2022 event. “There are no limits to the potential of the Original Miami Beach Antique Show in terms of the scope and availability of what can be sold or bought,” he explains. “There is no other show in the United States like this; it’s the only event of its kind.”
