Every spring, Asia Week New York captivates collectors, curators and design enthusiasts from around the world. The 10-day festival is like like the ultimate (shoppable) fusion of history, culture and conviviality. PAGODA RED founder Betsy Nathan made the quick jaunt to New York to connect with friends, see the sales and check out the exhibitions.  From unexpected run-ins to a must-stop for lunch, she shares her highlights from the week—providing some Instagrammable gems along the way.

The first stop after I landed was Xian Fast Foods, where I had incredibly delicious hand-cut Sichuan lamb noodles for lunch and heard some cool tunes. 

This was a wonderful vignette by Christie’s. I loved the Andy Warhol, the Alexander Calder fixture and the traditional Zitan Chinese partners desk. To me, this is the environment of a true collector who finds beauty in different genres and moments and understands how to put it all together.

I loved the very unusual overall composition of this scroll by the Qing Dynasty Chinese painter Shen Quan, offered at Christies in the monumental sale of Fujita Museum works.

Another amazing pleasure was this Snowplum scroll from the 1300s. It’s a 10-feet long scroll and as I was admiring it, there was a swath of students and professors studying it. Hand scrolls range from 4 inches to under a foot in height.  They were never intended to be hung; instead, they were meant to be enjoyed intimately by two people, unfurled on long painting tables. This one has a fascinating history with 14 collector seals, meaning that it’s been passed from emperor to emperor, expert to expert and artist to artist, validated with their marks of approval along the way, over the course of its 700 year history.

I am such an appreciator of stone and the natural world, so to see a proud stone in the spotlight, lights my fire.

This burled vessel is the meeting of nature and fine art. It’s poetry realized.

This juxtaposition of the bronze in front of the Tibetan thangkas was fantastic.

Lastly, I was excited by this work of Nine Ruyi Sceptors. These motifs were auspicious offerings of honor–in this case, such wonderful color and so modern!