Philip Chasen Antiques » Philip Chasen

Results of the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show, September 2-5, 2010

Philip Chasen — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:00:00 +0000

On vacation for a week, so no new posts for a little while.

The show started off on the right foot with good sales and interest on the first day, Thursday. It looked like the show was going to be a really good one. Then came Friday and Saturday.

The view from my booth at the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show, Sunday afternoon, September 5, 2010

The Palm Beach Show Group bought the show a few years ago and made a few changes. One was to expand the show to four days, from three. That’s supposed to give the dealers more selling time, but for the most part, it doesn’t work. After all, who comes on the Friday of a four-day show? If you’re a dealer or very interested collector, you come on opening day, Thursday. If you’re busy during the week, you come on the weekend. So it appears that most of the people who come on Friday are just out for a stroll, like going to a museum, except everything is for sale, and you don’t have to buy a thing. And that’s exactly what happened. Nobody bought a thing on Friday.

Saturday looked like it was going to be a better day. Lots of people, lots of questions, and serious interest. Based on the serious interest, I should have had a great day, but unfortunately, not one single person returned and the day was a complete bust.

Fine Galle vase with red fuchsia on a flattened triangular shape

Sunday is a funny day. Some are wonderful and others awful. Never know who’s going to show up. Interest was good and sales picked up considerably, with special interest in French glass.

All in all, a decent show for me. I spoke to several other dealers. Most of them didn’t lose money, a few did very well, and the rest were satisfied, but with lowered expectations.

Also on the bright side, the Hilton hotel was wonderful, with an incredible view of Camden Yards from the balcony. Lots of comfortable chairs. It’s as close as you can get to being at the game, without being at the game. The Orioles lost to Tampa Bay, 8-4 — good for the Yankees.

The view of Camden Yards from the Hilton Hotel, September 4, 2010

I recently added over 10 Galle vases to my website, 7 Tiffany lamps, 1 Grueby vase, 1 Newcomb vase, Daum Nancy glass and a fabulous Burgun & Schverer internally decorated vase. This coming week, I’ll be adding many new items. Please take a look. Click on this link chasenantiques.com.

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

The Baltimore Summer Antiques Show is open until Sunday, September 5, 2010

Philip Chasen — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:54:34 +0000

The Baltimore Summer Antiques Show is now open to the public and will end on Sunday, September 5, 2010, at 6 PM. Tuesday and Wednesday was orchestrated chaos with dealers busy hauling in their treasures and setting up the show. In the end, it all got done. Packout on Sunday night is usually a nightmare as everyone is ready to leave at approximately the same time. The logistics of the building make that impossible, so Sunday night is usually a frustrating experience. Most dealers are ready to leave between 8 and 9 PM and many don’t get out until midnight or later.

Late afternoon Thursday at the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show, September 2, 2010

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The show looks beautiful. There are more than a few high-powered dealers who exhibit at very few shows, including M.S. Rau, from New Orleans. When do you go to an antiques show and have the opportunity to buy an original Claude Monet or Norman Rockwell? You can at M.S. Rau.

Original Norman Rockwell oil painting available in the booth of M.S. Rau Antiques

I’ve brought an incredible selection of lamps, glass, ceramics and artwork. Make the time to visit me and see the summer’s best antique show.

Rare Galle water lily blownout vase

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Business on the first day was lively, with sales in many different areas from French cameo glass to 19th century porcelain plaques to paintings. If business continues at this pace for the entire show, it will be good evidence that the market is back — a welcome event.

On Monday or Tuesday, I’ll report about the results of the show.

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

Results of the Chicago Summer Antiques Show, August 27-29, 2010

Philip Chasen — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:00:39 +0000

This year, Dolphin Promotions held its annual summer Chicago Antiques Show at the Rosemont Convention Center. It had been held there for many years, but was moved to a downtown location last year in an effort to reinvigorate the show. This year, Rosemary Krieger, the owner of Dolphin Promotions, decided that the show was better off back in its original location. To give the show a boost, she upped the advertising budget and offered incentives to the public, including free parking for a paid admission.

Sunday at the Chicago Summer Antiques Show, August 29, 2010

Show attendance was light to moderate for most of the show, but many of the attendees were serious buyers, so a decent percentage of the dealers reported that their shows were fair to good. Personally, my show was decent, with good interest in Tiffany and Loetz glass and Tiffany desk set items. Sales were decent on Friday and Saturday. Sunday was a bust, with the usual cast of tire-kickers. If only I knew which Sundays to stay in my hotel room and watch TV!

Tiffany Studios Pine Needle magnifying glass

There are so many interested, knowledgeable buyers in the greater Chicago area, that I would love for the show to succeed and grow again. As the economy strengthens in the coming months and years, the show will have a decent chance.

This coming week, we’re off to Baltimore for the biggest show of the summer and probably one of the biggest shows of the year. The Baltimore Summer Antiques Show is held every year over the Labor Day weekend, ending on Sunday. This year’s dates are Thursday, September 2, to Sunday, September 5. The show was expanded to four days after the previous promoter, Frank Farbenbloom, sold it to the Palm Beach Show Group. This is one show that you should get on a plane, get in your car, or get on a train, and ATTEND. The show is not only huge, but top-notch quality, with some fantastic dealers who exhibit at very few shows, including some from abroad. Buyers fly in from all over the world, including Europe, Japan, and South America. The Baltimore Inner Harbor is a fun location in the summer, so for the price of one trip, you get the antiques show, wonderful local entertainment and great restaurants.

The Baltimore Summer Antiques Show will be held September 2-5, 2010

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

Setting up at the Chicago Summer Antiques Show, August 26, 2010

Philip Chasen — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:35:07 +0000

Set up went smoothly at the Chicago Summer Antiques Show. My booth was large enough that we weren’t stepping over each other.

The booth is almost all set up, August 26, 2010

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The show is small, but good quality, with several high-end dealers. There’s a nice, diverse selection of furniture, paintings, silver, glass and lighting. Rosemary Krieger, the promoter of the show, is determined to restore the show to its former glory. She hopes that her advertising and other incentives, like free parking, will bring in the buyers. If the exhibitors do well, word will get around and more dealers will want to exhibit there the following year. It’s the beginning of an upward cycle. It’s not easy to accomplish, especially when the economic news is not ebullient. But I’m a firm supporter of the show and of Rosemary Krieger, so I’m wishing her the best.

Fabulous Kauba bronze 'How Kola' that I'm exhibiting for the first time

The show hours were changed to make it very favorable for both exhibitors and the public. The new hours are noon – 7 pm, Friday and Saturday, and noon – 5 pm on Sunday. That’s more than enough time for the public to shop and very fair to the dealers. Kudos to Rosemary and a request to other promoters to do the same. The public are the clients of the dealers and the dealers are the clients of the promoters. You hear that, promoters? Treat your dealers well, or you’ll lose them, and have nothing in the end.

A rare and beautiful Galle blownout water lily vase, on display in my booth at the show

Please take the time to visit the show and buy from your favorite dealers. Everyone wins. You go home with a beautiful purchase and the dealer goes home pleased with his sales. The show gets better the next year and everyone is happy.

On Monday or Tuesday, I’ll report on the results of the show. I’m cautiously optimistic.

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

Mixed results at Heritage’s Illustration Art Auction, August 17-18, 2010

Philip Chasen — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:00:02 +0000

Heritage Auctions of Dallas, TX, held an Illustration Art Auction on August 17-18, 2010, with mixed results. Prices were strong for the best known artists and fairly weak for lesser known artists.

HUGH JOSEPH WARD, The Evil Flame, Spicy Mystery Stories pulp cover, August, 1936, Heritage lot 78330, 8/17/2010

The top lot of the sale was #78330, a wonderful pulp fiction oil on canvas illustration by Hugh Joseph Ward, for the cover of Spicy Mystery Stories in August 1936, entitled
The Evil Flame. It nearly tripled its pre-sale estimate of $30-50,000, realizing $143,400.

Gil Elvgren, A Fast Takeoff (A Speedy Takeoff), 1954, Heritage lot 78097, August 17, 2010

Gil Elvgren was well represented in the sale, with superb results for many of the thirteen items. Prices ranged from $1,314.50 for a portrait of a dog to $95,600 for a painting of a sexy woman in a motorboat (lot 78097). Five of the thirteen paintings of beautiful, sexy women sold in the $47,800 – $95,600 price range.

ALBERTO VARGAS. Varga Girl, Esquire calendar illustration, February 1946. Watercolor on board. Heritage lot 78321, August 17, 2010

Another big name in American illustration is Alberto Vargas. Six original paintings were offered, with results from $10,157.50 – $77,675. The top Vargas lot was #78321, a watercolor on board Esquire calendar illustration of a Varga Girl, February, 1946. It sold for $77,675, against a pre-sale estimate of $20-30,000, 2½ times the high estimate.

There were also bargains to be had. Almost half of all the lots offered (352 out of 723) sold for less than $1,000.

For the complete results, you will have to register (free) with Heritage. You can view all of the paintings without results if you don’t register. Here is the link. Results for the Heritage Illustration Art auction, August 17-18, 2010.

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

You can buy some of Lee Marvin’s personal items at Julia’s Auction on August 27, 2010

Philip Chasen — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 03:32:41 +0000

Remember Lee Marvin, winner of the Best Actor Academy Award for Cat Ballou in 1965? Marvin was the tough guy in many movies, of which “The Dirty Dozen” is probably his most famous. His widow, Pamela Marvin, has decided to sell many of his personal items at auction, including awards, scripts, movie posters, clothing and gear from his favorite sport, fishing.

Foreign Press Association Best Actor Award to Lee Marvin for Cat Ballou, 1965. Julia's lot #3382, August 27, 2010

James D. Julia, Inc. will hold its annual summer sale in Fairfield, ME, August 25-27, 2010. The sale is very large with an eclectic mix of paintings, furniture, silver and decorative objects. On the final day, approximately sixty lots of Marvin’s items will conclude the sale. The lot with the highest estimate is the Best Actor Award from the Foreign Press Association for Cat Ballou in 1965. Marvin’s Academy award for the same film will not be sold at auction as the Academy requires modern winners (post 1950) to sign an agreement that does not permit them to sell the Oscar to anyone but the Academy, and then for $1.

One of three Lee Marvin movie posters, Julia's lot #3421, August 27, 2010

The Marvin items are a diverse grouping, with some very interesting items. Lot #3418 contains three of Marvin’s US Passports from the 1970s and 1980s ($500-1,500). Another, #3428, includes ten handwritten and typed letters from famous people, including invitations to the White House and a note from the Duke & Dutchess of Argyll ($3-500). Lot #3421 contains three movie posters from films in which he starred ($3-500). How about some of the suits and coats he wore in various movies? You can buy those too.

Many of the lots in the sale are estimated well below $1,000, so if you’re ever wanted to own a piece of Hollywood history, here’s your opportunity.

For a complete list of the Julia August 25-27, 2010 auction, starting with day 1, click this link. James D. Julia, Inc. August 25-27th auction. To view just the Lee Marvin items, click this link and scroll to lot #3381. Day 3 of the Julia August 25-27th auction.

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

Repeating designs in French cameo glass by Daum Nancy and Gallé

Philip Chasen — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:00:00 +0000

When the Daum and Galle factories chose designs that sold well, they repeated them on different shapes. It permits an interesting way to collect — buying multiple items with the same design, but different shapes. Mixing shapes with the same decoration can make for a beautiful display. Odd numbers of items are usually easier to arrange.

Daum lamp with violets decoration

Daum repeated many decorations, including scenes depicting every season of the year. Many different flowers were also used. Vases and lamps with violets are highly collectible and have been since Japanese buyers singled them out in the late 1980s.

Daum 4-inch pillow vase with blackbird decoration

Blackbird decoration is another one that Daum repeated. It is one of the rarest and most desirable decorations. It’s available in a variety of shapes, from lamps to miniatures.

A fine Daum blackbird miniature 'broken egg'

Prairie vases by Daum show a field with many tiny wildflowers, each hand-enameled. The flowers appear raised and create a gorgeous decoration. Prairie vases are especially rare and command premium prices starting at approximately $10,000.

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Galle also repeated many decorations, including a variety of flowers, as well as scenes. Dragonfly and water lily decoration was especially popular and frequently depicted. This decoration is prized by collectors.

Two lovely examples depicting Galle's dragonfly and water lily decoration

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

Remember Roy Rogers and his horse Trigger? Well, you just missed buying him!

Philip Chasen — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:00:48 +0000

Roy Rogers' horse, Trigger, Christie's New York, lot 38, July 14, 2010

I’m old enough to remember the Roy Rogers Show on Saturday mornings in the 1950s. It was a great show for kids. I enjoyed listening to Roy and Dale (Evans) singing “Happy Trails To You” to end their show each week. And don’t forget Roy Rogers’ trusty steed, Trigger. Well, guess what? You could have bought the taxidermic remains of Trigger at Christie’s New York sale of the Roy Rogers & Dale Evans Museum Collection on July 14-15, 2010. Sounds awfully creepy to me. Do you know anyone who has had his favorite dog or cat stuffed by a taxidermist and put on display in his or her home? I certainly don’t. I’m sure it’s been done, but by nobody I want to be close friends with.

Back to the auction. Trigger was lot 38 and estimated to sell for $100,000-200,000. The final price was $266,500, exceeding the high estimate and proving that some people were not as creeped out as I was. I wouldn’t have taken him home if they gave him to me for free.

Roy Rogers' show saddle by Edward Bohlin, Christie's New York, lot 37, July 14, 2010

The top lot of the sale was the previous lot, #37, Roy Rogers’ saddle, custom-made by Edward Bohlin, at a price of almost $1,000 in the early 1940s. Roy posed with this saddle for many famous photographs, including some shots in front of the Alamo to help sell war bonds. It carried a pre-sale estimate of $100,000-150,000 and more than doubled the high estimate, realizing $386,500.

Other lots that did very well were Roy’s personal Pontiac Bonneville ($254,500) and another Bohlin saddle (for Trigger, Jr., $242,500). And to continue the creepiness, you could have also bought his dog, Bullet, for $35,000, Trigger, Jr. for $18,750, and another horse, Buttermilk, for $25,000. Close to fifty lots sold for under $1,000, starting with a group of autographed golf memorabilia that sold for $313.

For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link. Christie’s Roy Rogers’ results.

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

Results for the Pasadena Antiques Show, August 6-8, 2010

Philip Chasen — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 10:00:25 +0000

The Pasadena show is all packed up on Sunday evening, August 8, 2010

What a difference a show makes. Two weeks later, in basically the same city, Los Angeles (Redondo Beach vs. Pasadena), the tenor of the show completely changed. Attendance wasn’t significantly improved from Redondo Beach, but the show looked and felt different. There was lots of interest in different categories of items and selling was more broad-based. I can call this show a good one, not a lucky one (read my previous blogs for a more complete explanation.) Gross sales were lower, but selling more items to more people felt better.

Pairpoint rose puffy table lamp

Interest was good in French glass including R. Lalique, Pairpoint and Tiffany lamps, and pottery, including Newcomb College. Many collectors were asking intelligent questions about a whole host of collecting categories. It felt like a normal show in normal times.

Now I’m more upbeat about the upcoming shows in Chicago and Baltimore. I believe business is a bit tougher in California than it is in the rest of the United States, but I’ll be able to give a more definitive answer in a few weeks. I especially want to thank my loyal clients, who buy from me repeatedly.

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

Setting up at the Pasadena Antiques Show, August 4, 2010

Philip Chasen — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 10:00:41 +0000

The Pasadena Exhibition Hall, part of the Pasadena Convention Center

The Pasadena Antiques Show is being held at the Exhibition Hall of the Pasadena Convention Center. It underwent a multi-year, multi-million dollar renovation and is now a completely modern exhibition hall.

First day of setup at the Pasadena Antiques Show, 8/4/10

The first day of setup went smoothly. We finished most of the work and should have no problem in finishing the setup tomorrow. The display is beautiful and includes some really exceptional table and floor lamps, as well as a great selection of Tiffany glass and desk pieces, French cameo glass and various fine objects in a host of categories.

I walked around and can see that it will be a quality show. It’s not large by Miami or Baltimore standards, but it’s very good quality and worth a trip from anywhere in the greater Los Angeles area. If you missed us at the Redondo Beach Show, now is the time to pay us a visit before we leave the West Coast and head east to shows in Chicago and Baltimore. The show will be open from Friday to Sunday, August 6-8, 11 AM – 7 PM on Friday and Saturday and 11 AM – 5 PM on Sunday. You won’t be disappointed!

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