Monthly Archives: September 2009

Celebrity encounters in the antiques business, part VIII

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Barbara Streisand

Barbara Streisand

In approximately 1987, I had a shop on the street level of the Manhattan Arts & Antiques Center on Second Ave. in New York City. It was small, but nicely appointed, with a window to the street. Barbara Streisand came into the shop one day and expressed interest in several of the lamps that I had for sale. She requested that I take photos and mail them to her, with descriptions and prices. If you’ll remember, back then it was much more difficult to do that than it is today. No digital images nor computers nor email nor Internet. I’ve always taken pride in my photographs, so I took the time to make them good. First to the 60-minute photo shop, then again to modify them to make them better. Then I composed the letter, went to FedEx and shipped off the packet. So what happened? Absolutely nothing. No answer, no nothing.

My reaction? No comment. And you were hoping this would be a better story? Sorry, except to quote the character Sgt. Joe Friday from Dragnet. “All we want are the facts, ma’am.”

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 entry.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

Some treasures I’ve owned, part I, French Cameo Glass

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I received two similar requests. Matt Long wrote. “Just a thought, what about writing about some of the most amazing pieces you have seen or dealt with over the years on your blog? The pieces that pop into your head. As much info about them as you have would be interesting to me and others I would think, as they would be great eye candy! And informative too.” And almost the same request from Joe Mollica. “Over the years I am sure you have seen some spectacular objects. Would you share some of the stories surrounding the objects and what made them significant?”

Thanks, Matt and Joe. Here are a couple of my favorite French cameo objects that I’ve handled over the years.

Burgun & Schverer vase

Burgun & Schverer vase

Burgun & Schverer is famous for their fantastic internally decorated vases. The work is technically complicated and the workmanship superb. This example has it all with extraordinary color that I haven’t seen in any other example. Every time I look at the photo, I go wow!

Rare and unusual Daum Nancy footed bowl

Rare and unusual Daum Nancy footed bowl

I’ve bought and sold countless numbers of Daum Nancy objects, but this is one of the most unusual and beautiful. The technique is acid-etching, followed by hand-painting with enamel and gilding, and finally firing. This technique is what most collectors are looking for. What makes this object so unusual is the great shape. Daum produced lots of bowls, but most of them were square with rounded corners and pinched sides. Until I bought this bowl, I’d never seen this shape before — a bowl raised on three curved legs that look like furniture. How cool is that? The decoration is the very desirable violets flower, with exceptional color and detail. The combination of the wonderful shape, subject matter, color and workmanship make this a superb Daum Nancy rarity.

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 entry.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

Thank you, Baltimore

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My booth with a great new Tiffany floor lamp addition

My booth with a great new Tiffany floor lamp addition

I say thank you now, but for most of the weekend, I didn’t think I would say that. The show started off well on Thursday with good attendance, good interest, and moderate sales. Attendance stayed good throughout the four days of the show, but that was partly due to the promoter’s generous distribution of complimentary tickets.

I’ve got mixed emotions about that. On the one hand, you can’t make a sale to someone who’s not there, so good attendance is important. On the other hand, there are a tremendous number of people who attend shows because it’s great entertainment, either free or low cost. That’s great for the attendees, but surely not for the dealers. You can understand that, right? Shows are better than museums. You can hold and touch the objects and ask questions of experts. Try touching something at a museum and see what happens. Off with your head!#&*%

Sunday afternoon at the show

Sunday afternoon at the show

Business was much slower on Friday (to be expected) and non-existent on Saturday (not to be expected). Sunday is the day when I never know what to expect. Most of the time, Sunday attendees are out for a good time, so sales usually suffer. Occasionally, serious clients can only make it on Sunday, or clients who were in earlier return, so it can be a good day. This particular Sunday was the latter. So the result for me was a decent show, off from previous years, but good for today’s economic climate.

I spoke to several other dealers and asked how they did. One dealer was ecstatic and said it was his best show in Baltimore. Another one did very well and was quite pleased. The majority of dealers I spoke with described their results as mediocre. No big surprise there.

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 entry.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

Tiffany candle lamps lesson

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Electric, kerosene and candle versions of Tiffany Studios candle lamps

Electric, kerosene and candle versions of Tiffany Studios candle lamps

You would think that all Tiffany candle lamps use candles, but not all do. There are actually three versions — electric, kerosene and candle. All candle lamps have three basic components, the base, the insert and the shade. They may differ in the height of the base, the decoration on the insert and the decoration on the shade. The typical shade is undecorated iridescent gold with beautiful stretch glass.

Candle insert with pulled feather decoration

Candle insert with pulled feather decoration

The candle version has an insert with a spring loaded candle. As the candle burns, the spring pushes it up. The example pictured has pulled feather decoration on the glass insert. This is more common than the solid gold iridescent insert.

Gold iridescent insert with electric socket and pull chain

Gold iridescent insert with electric socket and pull chain

The electric version has an electric socket for a light bulb. The wire passes down from the socket, through a hole in the bottom of the insert where it enters the base and emerges from a hole in the base. The hole in the base is original from Tiffany Studios on all electric candle lamps. The example pictured has the rarer undecorated gold iridescent glass insert.

Pulled feather insert with kerosene burner and pulled feather decorated chimney

Pulled feather insert with kerosene burner and pulled feather decorated chimney

The kerosene version has a wick and a burner. The kerosene is stored in the insert, then absorbed by the wick and burned. This version has a fourth part, the chimney. It’s the rarest of the three versions and the most desirable, especially by collectors of miniature oil lamps.

No post on Monday, Labor Day. Tuesday’s post will be about the results of the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show.

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 entry.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

Setting up at the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show

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We do get around in this business — Chicago last week, Southern California before that and Denver a few weeks ago. Now we’re in Baltimore for the biggest and best show of the summer. But since I think like the teacher I was, for me it’s not the last show of the summer, but the first show of the new season.

My booth is almost ready for the public

My booth is almost ready for the public

Setup is much more interesting when a show is large and filled with top quality dealers. Dealers spend much of the time shopping from each other. You can tell how good business is by the pace of activity. Business was good during setup, but not cutthroat, which happens when business is strong. On a personal level, I was successful in buying some very nice items, including a fantastic 14″ diameter Acorn floor lamp and some fine Galle vases. The lamp has removable accessories including a magazine rack, ashtray, and drink tray. 12″ diameter is the usual diameter for double-harp floor bases, so this one must have been special order.

The main aisle of the show, just before carpeting

The main aisle of the show, just before carpeting

The show looks fantastic, with incredible quality and diversity. If you’re coming, and I surely suggest you do, give yourself plenty of time to see everything. Fine hotels, right in the Inner Harbor, are available for $67-105/night on hotwire.com. The show opens at noon on Thursday and goes through Sunday, 6 PM. There are some special exhibitors who exhibit at very few shows, including M.S. Rau from New Orleans. The trip to this show will be worth it!

I’ll post results for the show on my Tuesday blog. Monday is Labor Day, so I won’t be writing an entry.

Derek Jeter at the plate at Camden Yards

Derek Jeter at the plate at Camden Yards

So what does a tired dealer do after setting up? He goes with his beautiful wife to see the Yankees destroy the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, right next door. How about same day seats, bought on StubHub.com, directly behind home plate, row 5, at 1/15 the price of the same tickets at Yankee Stadium? It’s a tough business, but somebody has to do it.

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 entry.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

French Cameo Glass excels at Christie’s Interior sale

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The economic recovery is in full swing at Christie’s, as evidenced by the results of the French cameo glass that was sold today at their Interiors sale in New York. Much of the French glass was from the estate of Simon Pinhas. The estimates were low and the quality good. That’s usually the formula for good results, but these results were considerably better. Most items exceeded the high estimate, usually double or triple and in one case, eleven times. Following are some examples.

Galle vase, Christie's lot 267

Galle vase, Christie's lot 267

Lot 267 was a Galle vase, good quality with wheel-carving, but ordinary color and small at 4½”. I valued it at $2,000. The estimate on this particular vase was strong at $3-4,000, but the result was even better at $6,875, including the buyer’s premium.

Galle vase, Christie's lot 270

Galle vase, Christie's lot 270

Lot 270 was a nice Galle floral vase with a good shape and decent, but not exceptional color. The size was good at 11″. The estimate was low at $1,800-2,200. It sold for $8,750, including buyer’s premium, four times the high estimate.

Galle vase, Christie's lot 272

Galle vase, Christie's lot 272

Lot 272 was a beautiful Galle vase. The flowers, shape, color and size at 8¾” were wonderful. It was estimated fairly at $3-4,000. It realized $10,000, including buyer’s premium, 2½ times the high estimate.

Daum also did quite well, with lot 282, doing exceptionally well. It was acid-etched and enameled, which is what most people like about Daum. The subject matter was good with a winter scene of a village. The shape was plain cylindrical, with a football shaped opening. The estimate was very low at $800-1,000. A more realistic estimate would have been $2-3,000. It soared to $11,250, including buyer’s premium, eleven times the high estimate.

Daum scenic vase, Christie's lot 282

Daum scenic vase, Christie's lot 282

These are just a few examples. For more results, you can use this link. Christie’s Interiors sale, French cameo results, 9/1/09.

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 entry.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

An interview with George Honchar about collecting Wain cats

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George Honchar (gbhbah@aol.com) has been a collector of Wain cats since 1997. I sent him a few written questions regarding his collection.

Wain cats

Wain cats

Q. How did you get interested in Wain cats to begin?
A. Our interest in Louis Wain began in the mid 90’s…. The house is full of cats and the library full of cat books….so…..An acquaintance told us about Louis Wain and a book By Rodney Dale entitled “Louis Wain, The Man Who Drew Cats”. It’s an excellent primer on Wain, but now there is a wealth of information on Google about Wain, if anyone is further interested. Suffice it to say, in his 20s, nearing the turn of the century, his cat art simply swept England. One of his patrons and supporters, H.G.Wells said…”He invented a cat style, a cat society, a whole cat world. English cats that do not look like Louis Wain cats are ashamed of themselves.”

Q. What is special about them?
A. The ceramic cats are quite special and unique in their design, considering that they were produced in 1914. Know of anything else quite this avant and cubist from this era..? Keep in mind..nearly 100 years old. Think of these next to other objects of similar age….Amphora, Galle, etc. Quite revolutionary. Once you hold one in your hands, you’re hooked.

Wain Futurist cats

Wain Futurist cats

Q. Tell me about your collection. Is one unique?
A. Our collection of cats began by chance in November of 1997 at the New York Pier show. We had set our sights on finding a ceramic, and …totally unexpectedly ran into our first, the large Futurist cat (shown with the small Futurist cat), in the first 5 minutes of the Pier show opening. My hand landed on it a mere second before another buyer. We paid an astounding $1000 for it, but were quite pleased. Our collection grew to 10 cats, each quite unique in color and design. Current interest and the market has accelerated for both the large (12-14 inch) and the small (6-8 inch) ceramics since then. Several of the rarer small cats have gone at auction in England recently for as high as $8000 and a larger one in excess of 5 figures, although most recently some softening of prices has been seen. As a direct result of the escalation of prices, a copy has recently been found and pulled from an auction at a well-known British auction house.

In the U.S. there is a small but motivated body of Wain collectors, for his ceramics, art and other objects…cards, period calendars,etc… so items that do come up for sale are aggressively pursued.

Wain designs

Wain designs

Q. I hear that a book is being written about Wain cats. What information can you give me?
A. Cork Marcheski, a west coast collector is finalizing a definitive book on the ceramic cats, to be published soon.

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 entry.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com