Kentshire Galleries
Three generations of antique jewelry and English furniture in New York, since 1940.
Kentshire Galleries — Three Generations of Antique Jewelry and English Furniture
Kentshire Galleries is one of New York's longest-running family-owned antique dealers, with a history stretching back to 1940. Over three generations and more than eight decades, the gallery has evolved from a silver and porcelain shop into one of the city's most respected sources for antique and period jewelry, English furniture, and decorative objects. It is now operated by the third generation of the Imberman family.
The Founding Story
The business was founded in 1940 by Benson Imberman under the name United States Silver Company, initially dealing in Georgian and Victorian silver, silver plate, and porcelain. In the early 1960s, the company moved downtown to New York's antique district and began importing English furniture and decorative objects. When Benson's son Fred and son-in-law Robert joined in 1969, the firm relocated to an eight-story loft building at 37 East 12th Street in Greenwich Village and adopted the name Kentshire Galleries.
The gallery's focus shifted to 18th and early 19th-century English and European furniture. A pivotal development came when Fred's wife Marcie and Robert's wife Ellen built a carefully curated jewelry department, housed in a bespoke salon on the gallery's third floor. Their frequent buying trips abroad established Kentshire as a destination for rare antique and period jewelry — a reputation that now defines the gallery as much as its furniture.
Specialties and Inventory
Kentshire's current inventory spans several categories, with its jewelry collection being perhaps the most distinctive. The gallery carries pieces from the Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco periods, along with signed pieces from major houses. The furniture side focuses on English pieces from the 18th and early 19th centuries, with selected European and American examples.
The gallery also carries artisan and vintage costume jewelry, objets d'art, and selected decorative items. Kentshire opened a location at 700 Madison Avenue, showcasing both fine period furniture and jewelry alongside costume pieces.
| Category | Period Coverage | Notable Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Fine Jewelry | Georgian through Art Deco | Rare period pieces, signed house jewelry |
| Costume Jewelry | 20th century vintage | Artisan and designer pieces |
| English Furniture | 18th–early 19th century | Georgian, Regency |
| Decorative Objects | Various periods | Objets d'art, silver |
How They Work
Kentshire operates as a traditional gallery dealer. Items are available for viewing in person at their Madison Avenue location or online. The gallery participates in major antiques shows including The Winter Show. Buying from Kentshire is a direct transaction with the gallery; they provide detailed provenance information and period attribution for their pieces. The gallery also works with interior designers and collectors on sourcing specific items.
Who Should Visit Kentshire
Kentshire is best suited for collectors of antique jewelry seeking rare period pieces with reliable attribution, interior designers sourcing English antique furniture, and anyone looking for distinctive decorative objects with genuine provenance. The gallery's long tenure and family continuity provide a level of institutional knowledge that is increasingly uncommon in the trade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kentshire is best known for its antique and period jewelry collection, which spans from the Georgian era through Art Deco, as well as its English furniture from the 18th and early 19th centuries. The jewelry department, built over decades of buying trips, is considered one of the finest in New York.
Yes. Kentshire is currently led by siblings Carrie and Matthew Imberman, the third generation of the founding family. The business has been family-operated continuously since 1940.
Kentshire has a location at 700 Madison Avenue in New York City. The gallery was originally based at 37 East 12th Street in Greenwich Village for many years before expanding to the Madison Avenue location.
Yes. Kentshire maintains an online presence through its website where pieces from the collection can be viewed and purchased. However, for significant purchases, viewing in person or contacting the gallery directly is recommended.
Yes. Kentshire is a regular exhibitor at The Winter Show and other major antiques fairs, where they present selections from their jewelry and furniture collections to a broad audience of collectors and trade professionals.
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