Monthly Archives: May 2010

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

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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.

Picasso painting sells for $106.5 million, a world record

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Picasso 'Nude, Green Leaves and Bust', Christie's New York, lot 6, May 4. 2010

Picasso 'Nude, Green Leaves and Bust', Christie's New York, lot 6, May 4. 2010

Christie’s New York held several Impressionist and Modern Art sales, May 4-5, 2010. The PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF MRS. SIDNEY F. BRODY sale included lot 6, a Pablo Picasso painting entitled “Nude, Green Leaves and Bust”. It sold for $106,482,500, becoming the most expensive single work of art ever sold at auction. It eclipsed the recent record of $101,426,070, set by a bronze sculpture by Alberto Giacometti entitled “Walking Man I”, that was sold at Sotheby’s in London on February 3, 2010.

Alberto Giacometti bronze 'Walking Man I', lot Sotheby's London, February 3, 2010

Alberto Giacometti bronze 'Walking Man I', lot Sotheby's London, February 3, 2010

The painting was purchased in 1950 from the art dealer Paul Rosenberg for $17,000. It was painted in 1932 and depicts the model Marie-Thérèse Walter. The painting has only been exhibited once in public, in 1961, at an exhibition sponsored by the UCLA Art Council.

Interestingly enough, the ladies of The View discussed the sale of the painting on their show, but were forced by the network’s attorneys to blur out the breasts of the nude. What??? Scantily clad women can dance on Dancing With the Stars, soap operas have blatant sexual topics and near nudity, but The View can’t show two single line breasts? Just plain nuts.

The Brody sale also eclipsed another record, the highest gross for any single owner collection sold at auction — $224,177,500. Click on this link for the entire sale results. The Brody Collection 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.

Why buy Maxfield Parrish prints when you can buy the originals?

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Maxfield Parrish 'Daybreak', Christie's lot 24, May 20, 2010

Maxfield Parrish 'Daybreak', Christie's lot 24, May 20, 2010

Have you been wasting your time buying Maxfield Parrish prints, when you could have been buying the originals? Christie’s New York held their Important American Paintings sale on Thursday, May 20, 2010, with 11 originals by Maxfield Parrish.

If you had a spare $5.2 million, you could have bought the original, penultimate Maxfield Parrish painting “Daybreak”. Mel Gibson and his wife, Robyn, bought it at Christie’s in 2006 for $7.6 million. Now that they’re divorcing, the new buyer got a bargain. The pre-sale estimate was $4-7 million.

In 1922, Daybreak was the first painting commissioned by The House of Art, specifically to be reproduced as a print. It was an instant success. Parrish became so famous in the 1920s that it’s estimated that 1 in 4 households in the United States had a Parrish print on display in their homes. He became the highest paid artist in the country.

Maxfield Parrish 'Sing a Song of Sixpence', Christie's lot 28, May 20, 2010

Maxfield Parrish 'Sing a Song of Sixpence', Christie's lot 28, May 20, 2010

The second highest Parrish painting of Christie’s sale was lot 27, “Sing a Song of Sixpence”. The huge painting, over 13′ wide, was originally commissioned as a mural for the Sherman House Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. It sold for $2,210,500, below the pre-sale estimate of $2.5-3.5 million.

Maxfield Parrish 'End Papers for The Arabian Nights', Christie's lot 106, May 20, 2010

Maxfield Parrish 'End Papers for The Arabian Nights', Christie's lot 106, May 20, 2010

You didn’t have to be a millionaire to buy an original Parrish at this auction. Lot 106 was the end papers for “The Arabian Nights”. Done in ink, gouache and pencil on paper, and measuring 10″ x 14¼”, they sold for $6,250, against an estimate of $6-8,000.

For the complete results to the Christie’s Important American Paintings sale, click on this link. Christie’s 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.

Christie’s New York sells the Michael Crichton collection of contemporary art for over $100 million

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Jasper Johns "Flag", Christie's New York, lot 7, May 11, 2010

Jasper Johns 'Flag', Christie's New York, lot 7, May 11, 2010

Recent art auctions at Christie’s New York brought some extraordinary results. Tuesday, May 11, 2010, was the day that Christie’s sold the art collection of Michael Crichton, of Jurassic Park fame. The highlight of the sale was the iconic image of the American flag, painted by Jasper Johns in the period from 1960-1966. As Mr. Crichton and Mr. Johns were personal friends, he was able to purchase the painting directly from the artist. It was sold as lot 7 and carried a pre-sale estimate of $10-15 million. The result was a new world record for the artist, $28,642,500, including buyer’s premium.

Robert Rauschenberg 'Studio Painting';, Christie's New York, lot 24, May 11, 2010

Robert Rauschenberg 'Studio Painting', Christie's New York, lot 24, May 11, 2010

The Michael Crichton collection was 100% sold — an unusual feat for a collection of this magnitude. The sale grossed $103.3 million, a record for a single owner sale of contemporary art. Works by other artists also performed well, with 17 of the 31 lots offered selling for over $1 million each. The second best lot of the sale went to a mixed media painting by Robert Rauschenberg entitled “Studio Painting”. It sold for $11,058,500.

Picasso 'Femme et fillettes', Christie's New York lot 13, May 11, 2010

Picasso 'Femme et fillettes', Christie's New York lot 13, May 11, 2010

Three Picasso paintings in the sale sold well, with lot 13, “Femme et fillettes”, selling for the most at $6,578,500.

For a complete listing of the sale results, click this link. Christie’s Michael Crichton sale 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.

Variations in Tiffany Studios Favrile lily lamps and shades

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Tiffany Favrile lily shade with wavy rim

Tiffany Favrile lily shade with wavy rim


Tiffany Favrile lily shade with ruffled rim

Tiffany Favrile lily shade with ruffled rim

Tiffany Studios produced lily lamps in many sizes from 3-light to 18-light, as well as custom-order. Over the course of decades, the models were tweaked with subtle improvements, like thicker tubing, bronze leaf switches, better patina, etc. Early on, Tiffany spent little time matching shades, as can be seen in period photographs in books like Tiffany at Auction by Alistair Duncan. Later examples have better matched shades, which today’s collectors prefer.

Tiffany Favrile lily shade with straight rim

Tiffany Favrile lily shade with straight rim


Tiffany Favrile lily shade (damaged) with 10-point rim

Tiffany Favrile lily shade (damaged) with 10-point rim

Most Tiffany lily lamps have gold iridescent shades, but the shapes vary. For the most part, they fall into four categories — straight, 10-point, wavy and ruffled.

Many of you may recall Minna Rosenblatt, a NYC dealer who had a shop on Madison Ave. For many years, she specialized in the works of Tiffany Studios, especially lamps.

Looking into the mouth of a Tiffany Favrile 10-point lily shade

Looking into the mouth of a Tiffany Favrile 10-point lily shade

She was a master salesperson, who could sell ice in the winter. She was the first person who I heard use the term “10-point” to describe a lily shape. The 10 points can easily be seen by looking into the mouth of the shade.

No need to look into the mouths of the other shapes to verify their shapes — they’re easy to tell. Besides the shape, other variations include color, iridescence, ribbing and size.

Occasionally I’m asked to find a replacement lily shade for a missing or damaged one. When matching them, I look first to the shape, then to the color, and then to the other characteristics. There are no perfect matches, only good ones. In today’s market, an individual lily shade is likely to cost $3-4,000. As most dealers are unwilling to sell individual lily shades, it’s best to buy good quality, complete lamps.

I’m taking a lot of time to add new items to my website. In the last few days I’ve added to the Gallé glass and Icart etchings listings. Please take a look, as every day I’m adding more. 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.

Some treasures I’ve owned, part VI, art glass shades

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This is installment VI of my “Some treasures I’ve owned” series. The topic was suggested to me by several collectors, but first by Matt Long.

I have a long history dealing in art glass shades, which includes one interesting story. I was exhibiting at a show on Long Island about 25 years ago, when I met a lovely older lady who saw I was interested in art glass shades. She told me she had some for sale and invited me to her home. When I walked in, she had about 125 mostly Quezal and Steuben shades displayed on several tables. At the time, she wanted $50 each for the gold ones and $75 each for the decorated ones — good prices even then.

Quezal blue pulled feather shade

Quezal blue pulled feather shade

I bought them all and then she invited me back for more. By the time she was finished with the shades, I had purchased about 500. I asked her how she had accumulated so many. She told me that when she was much younger, she would go to wealthy neighborhoods on trash day and find them for the taking. That was the beginning of a wonderful relationship that lasted about 10 years. I probably bought 10,000 objects from her, from $1 up, at great prices that she set. She was very knowledgeable but always priced her items so I could make money. She’s gone now, but she left me and my wife with fond memories of her.

One great shade I owned was a blue decorated Quezal, an extreme rarity and a real beauty (pictured above). This may be my favorite shade of all time.

Quezal dark green wave decorated and floral decorated shades

Quezal dark green wave decorated and floral decorated shades

Dark green shades are also rare and floral shades even rarer. Pictured at right are examples of both of them.

The ones that got away are also interesting. About 20 years ago, a dealer told me about a set of Quezal red shades with zipper decoration that was in a house. This is one shade I have never owned and never seen. I tried hard to get them, but the dealer was so low key, he let them get away. I heard they had made their way into some great collections.

I’m taking a lot of time to add new items to my website. In the last few days I’ve added to the Gallé glass and Icart etchings listings. Please take a look, as every day I’m adding more. 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.

Results for the Chicago Merchandise Mart Antique Show, April 30-May 3, 2010

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My booth at the Merchandise Mart Antiques Show

My booth at the Merchandise Mart Antiques Show

The Chicago Merchandise Mart Antique Show was held this past weekend, April 30-May 3, 2010. Attendance was very good, but appeared to be down a bit from previous years. Dealer results were mixed, after having spoken to more than a few dealers. Many dealers did well, but more than a few had less than favorable results. One dealer was more upset that he had lost two weeks of his time than with his poor sales. Several dealers did not cover their expenses. One major dealer said that he had an important painting in a client’s home on approval. If the client buys the painting, he will turn a profit. Otherwise, he will probably break even.

Rare Gallé anemone floral vase on green background

Rare Gallé anemone floral vase on green background

On a personal note, my show was good, with interest strongest in French glass. I wish to thank all of my clients who buy from me year after year. Without their loyal support, this would have been a rough show, as sales to new clients were few and far between.

No shows until mid-July, when I kick off the summer season in Denver. This will be my third (and hopefully not last) time there, if business is good. I’ve had mixed results there, so we’ll see if the locals come out and support me. Then on to Redondo Beach, CA, Pasadena, CA, Chicago O’Hare and finally Baltimore over the Labor Day weekend. I will still be actively buying and selling during this break, mostly from my website, so email or call and let’s do some business!

I’m taking a lot of time to add new items to my website. In the last few days I’ve added to the Gallé glass and Icart etchings listings. Please take a look, as every day I’m adding more. 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.