Recently I’ve had more time to write about the interesting things happening in the antiques world. When there’s no one in my booth at a show, I keep busy by writing blog posts. So for the next few weeks, I will 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.
An extensive selection of Tiffany Studios Grapevine and Pine Needle desk accessories
It’s 5:45 PM on Friday, as I begin to write this blog post. Lots can change by the end of the show (and I hope it will), but here’s a bit of contemporaneous thought. The preview party last night was a party success and a business failure. The attendees were all friendly, curious and dressed to the nines. The staff did a great job. Nobody went hungry or thirsty with a plentiful supply of delicious food and drink. Sales were another story. As with most preview parties, most attendees were there for a good time. The antiques were just wallpaper.
Friday afternoon’s attendance was decent, but no serious buyers at all, except for two of my clients who had seen me the previous week at the Arlington Park Racetrack Antiques Show. Compliment after compliment with no sales. Very nice, but man cannot live on compliments alone (a little chopped liver…maybe). Compliments + sales = good show.
Saturday afternoon in my booth
UPDATE: Saturday afternoon, 3:10 PM. Attendance has been decent so far today, but less than I thought it would be. Last night resulted in a few small sales, but none today. The operative phrase of the day was “just looking”. I can’t tell you how many people said that to me.
Sunday afternoon, 2:30 PM
UPDATE: Sunday afternoon, 2:30 PM. Started the day off with a nice sale from a client who came in yesterday. Then made another small sale later in the day. Attendance has been light to moderate. At this point, I’ve sold enough to probably try the show one more time. I would prefer a much more definitive answer — either I sell less and never come back, or sell more and definitely come back. Tune in later for the final update.
UPDATE: Sunday evening, 11:10 PM. Made another sale, so total sales wound up in a gray area. I’ve decided to try the Winnetka show one more time. Sales were in surprising areas — Louis Icart etchings, a Tiffany desk piece, a Quezal vase, and a couple of assorted areas. No sales in French glass or Tiffany glass and lamps. In asking around a bit, I didn’t hear of any dealer having an exceptional show. I did hear a few complaints.
Thursday’s blog post will be about the continuing problem with reproduction French cameo glass. Make sure you tune in.
A fine Martin Bros. grotesque vase from 1903
In the meantime, check the listings on my website, which I will update as often as I can. I’ll be photographing all my new Gallé and Daum purchases and listing them on my website. Recently I listed quite a few Tiffany, Handel and Pairpoint lamps and a very rare Louis Icart etching, Mardi Gras. There are also several fine Daum vases; a Daum lamp; several Galle vases; and several more Tiffany Favrile vases. Coming soon will be several wonderful European ceramic items by Clement Massier, Zsolnay and Amphora. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com