François-Xavier Lalanne was the star of Christie’s Paris 20th Century auction, November 21, 2012

My goal is to publish new posts twice a week — Mondays and Thursdays. However, if you don’t see a new post on Thursday, it’s because I was too busy, so please look for a new one the following Monday.

Christie’s Paris held its 20th Century auction, Arts Décoratifs Du XXe Siècle & Design on November 21, 2012. Sales were strong, with many items far exceeding their high estimates. Total sales were €7,174,525 ($9,301,876).

François-Xavier Lalanne bar, Les Autruches, Christie’s Paris lot #105

The top lot of the sale, #105, was a bar entitled Les Autruches (The Ostriches) from 1966 by François-Xavier Lalanne and the Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres. Made of biscuitware, silvered metal, steel, iron and silver, it stood 47¼” high by 76¼” long. Estimated to sell for €200,000 – €300,000, it more than quadrupled its high estimate to realize €1,465,000 ($1,869,787), including buyer’s premium.

Diego Giacometti tables, Christie’s lot #72

Sales of items by Diego Giacometti were received well, as usual. Lot #72 was a pair of bronze tables with green patina. The result of €331,000 ($422,457) doubled the high estimate of €150,000. Another table, lot #74, tripled its high estimate of €90,000 to sell for €313,000 ($399,484).

For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link. Christie’s Paris 20th Century results.

No more shows in 2012, so we’ll be spending the time buying treasures for the 2013 antiques season which begins with the Birchwood Manor Antiques Show in Whippany, New Jersey, January 5-6, 2013. (We might also find a little time for R&R.) After that we’ll be traveling south for the important Miami shows in late January and early February. In the meantime, we’re still in business, so keep the inquiries coming. Let me know what you’d like to buy, sell or trade. If you need a Christmas present, NOW is the time. I’ll be adding many new items to my website this week.

I will be posting videos on YouTube of my lecture on French Cameo Glass to the Metropolitan Glass Club. Right now my son Billy is creating the videos. When they’re ready, I’ll put the link on my website and here in my blog.

Just purchased this unbelievable Gallé seagull vase — one of the best Gallé vases I’ve ever owned

Click this link to view some of the new objects I recently purchased and listed. French glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

Wonderful Schneider controlled bubble vase with wheel-carved Art Deco handles, recently acquired

Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. I regularly add Tiffany vases, lamps and desk accessories, as well as French cameo glass by Galle and Daum Nancy and etchings by Louis Icart. Here’s the link. Philip Chasen Antiques.

Strong results for Arts & Crafts at Sotheby’s Important 20th Century Design sale, December 16, 2010

Every major and not-so-major auction house holds its 20th Century Decorative Arts sale in December. It makes for a very busy month.

Sotheby’s held three decorative arts sales on December 16th. In my previous blog, I covered the superb results of the Important Tiffany sale. Today I’ll review the results of the Important 20th Century Design sale, which grossed $6,933,688, despite the failure of the cover lot to sell, a Greene & Greene desk and chair from the Pratt House of Ojai, CA.

The first section of the sale was devoted to Arts & Crafts furniture, ceramics and lighting. The strong results probably had most of the consignors smiling.

Rare Greene & Greene lantern, Sotheby's lot #30

The top lot of this section of the auction was a Greene & Greene lantern, one of six that had been removed from the Blacker House in Pasadena, CA. It sold toward the lower end of the estimate of $400,000-600,000, realizing $470,500, including buyer’s premium. It’s curious to note that the following lot, #31, another of the six Greene & Greene lanterns, failed to reach reserve and did not sell.

Rare 17 inch Teco Calla Lily vase, Sotheby's lot #23

Rare and impressive examples of Arts & Crafts ceramics all sold well, with one Teco vase doing exceptionally well. Lot #23 was a rare 17″ Teco Calla Lily vase, estimated to sell for $80,000-120,000. It soared to three times its pre-sale estimate, to sell for $314,500.

Rare Gustav Stickley book cabinet, Sotheby's lot #38

Gustav Stickley was well represented in the sale with furniture and metalware. A rare book cabinet, lot #38, sold for $194,500, against a pre-sale estimate of $80,000-120,000.

Other superb results from the sale were a cire perdue René Lalique statuette ($602,500), a cire perdue René Lalique vase ($494,500), a pair of armchairs by Emile Ruhlmann ($410,500) and a dining suite by Claude Lalanne ($386,500). For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link: Sotheby’s Important 20th Century Design results.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Tiffany, Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve recently listed many of them on my website, including Daum blackbirds, swans, rain, and more to come in the next few days, plus a killer red Tiffany Favrile vase. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Some exceptional results at Sotheby’s 20th Century Decorative Arts & Design auction in Paris, May 26, 2010

Sotheby’s and Christie’s have been conducting sales in Paris for less than a decade, after a law was passed in July, 2000, that ended the 400-year-old monopoly of French auctioneers. Sotheby’s most recent sale in Paris, 20th Century Decorative Arts & Design, was held on May 26, 2010, with some extraordinary results.

Paul Iribe, 'NAUTILE', a carved walnut armchair, 1913, Sotheby's Paris, lot 9, May 26, 2010

Paul Iribe, 'NAUTILE', a carved walnut armchair, 1913, Sotheby's Paris, lot 9, May 26, 2010

Lot 9 was a Nautilus chair by Paul Iribe, done in 1913. It was estimated to sell for 80,000—120,000 EUR, but brought the incredible price of 492,750 EUR ($608,310), with buyer’s premium. I have to plead ignorance about Paul Iribe, so the result is a surprise to me, as I suspect it is to most of my readers. Click the following link if you want to read the Wikipedia entry about him. Paul Iribe on Wikipedia.

FRANÇOIS-XAVIER LALANNE rug, <i>Les Moutons</i>, Sotheby's Paris, lot 76, May 26, 2010

FRANÇOIS-XAVIER LALANNE rug, Les Moutons, Sotheby's Paris, lot 76, May 26, 2010

Lot 76, a 1978 rug, Les Moutons by François-Xavier Lalanne, brought the second-most surprising result of the sale. It sold for 240,750 EUR ($297,580), against a pre-sale estimate of 20,000—30,000 EUR. Look carefully at the photo and you’ll see the sheep crowded together. It’s very nice, but $300K?? Apparently it’s true that it only takes two to make an auction. On this day there were two very determined bidders.

For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link. Sotheby’s Paris 20th Century results.

In the next few days and weeks, I’ll be adding my new acquisitions to my website as they come in. Please take a look. Click on this link chasenantiques.com.

Please send me your suggestions or questions about art glass, lamps, Louis Icart, shows, auctions, etc. If it’s interesting, I’ll answer your question in a future blog.