One result a stunner, at McInnis auction of John F. Kennedy memorabilia, February 17, 2013

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.

John McInnis Auctioneers held an auction of John F. Kennedy memorabilia on February 17, 2013, with some great results and one stunner. The collection was from the estate of David F. Powers, a friend, aide and advisor to the president.

JFK's personal leather bomber jacket, McInnis lot #327

JFK’s personal leather bomber jacket, McInnis lot #327

JFK’s personal leather bomber jacket, with the Presidential seal, sold for an incredible $655,550, against a pre-sale estimate of $20,000 – $40,000. The bidding opened at $40,000, then flew past an Internet bid of $300,000 to finally end at $570,000 (excluding the buyer’s premium).

Because of the extreme interest in all of the items, the auction plodded along, lasting 18 hours, 31 minutes, finally ending at 5:31 AM, the next day. That’s approximately 1½ minutes for each of the 723 lots — too many lots for a one-day auction. It should have been a two-day auction, but that’s water under the bridge.

David Powers itinerary, page 1, McInnis lot #483

David Powers itinerary, page 1, McInnis lot #483

Lot #483 was an important, historical, 4-page, typewritten itinerary of the two days leading up to the assassination of President Kennedy. It flew past the pre-sale estimate of $2,500 – $5,000, to realize $76,050, including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link. McInnis JFK memorabilia results.

Incredible Tiffany Favrile Cypriote vase, for sale at the show

Incredible Tiffany Favrile Cypriote vase, for sale at the show

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

Fabulous, rare, Tiffany Favrile lamp with intaglio-carved insect

Fabulous, rare, Tiffany Favrile lamp with intaglio-carved insect

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.

Christie’s South Kensington Interiors sale breathes new life into works by Louis Icart, February 19, 2013

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 South Kensington held an Interiors sale on February 19, 2013, with good results for works by Louis Icart. The auction house sold a diverse group of 33 items, including original works on canvas and paper, as well as etchings.

Louis Icart oil painting of Fanny, Christie's lot #465

Louis Icart oil painting of Fanny, Christie’s lot #465

Top lot of the group was #465, an original 1919 oil painting on canvas of Icart’s wife, Fanny. Even though the canvas was unstretched and in fairly poor condition, it tripled its pre-sale estimate of £3,000 – £5,000, to sell for £15,000 ($23,205) — an impressive result.

This Icart drawing was one of two in Christie's lot #479

This Icart drawing was one of two in Christie’s lot #479

Original, one-of-a-kind, works by Icart, including quick charcoal sketches, did very well at the sale. Three separate lots, that each included 2-3 drawings, all sold for the identical price of £6,875 ($10,636), for a range of $3,500 – $4,000 each. In each case, the result was many times the pre-sale estimate of £700 – £900.

Icart Femme Voilée, Christie's lot #473

Icart Femme Voilée, Christie’s lot #473

One of the most interesting lots of the sale was a signed, 17″ x 12″, pastel, charcoal and pencil drawing on paper, entitled Femme Voilée (Veiled Woman). The model is Icart’s wife, Fanny. To the best of my knowledge, this image was never made into an etching or a painting. Selling as lot #473, it realized £2,375 ($3,674), against a pre-sale estimate of £500 – £700.

Icart oil painting of the Flatiron Building in New York, Christie's lot #464

Icart oil painting of the Flatiron Building in New York, Christie’s lot #464

Another fascinating lot was #464, a Red Period, oil on canvas from 1923, depicting the famous Flatiron Building in New York. This would have been a great lot for any New Yorker who collected Icart. The canvas was unstretched and in only fair condition, but it still did OK, selling within the estimate of £3,000 – £5,000, realizing a final price of £3,250 ($5,028). It’s likely the painting would have fared much better if it had a pretty woman in the foreground.

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

Incredible Tiffany Favrile Cypriote vase, for sale at the show

Incredible Tiffany Favrile Cypriote vase, for sale at the show

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

Fabulous, rare, Tiffany Favrile lamp with intaglio-carved insect

Fabulous, rare, Tiffany Favrile lamp with intaglio-carved insect

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.

The results of the Palm Springs Modernism show, February 16-18, 2013

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. There won’t be a Thursday blog this week, as the Palm Beach Modernism show ended on Monday.

Some of the crowd in front of my booth at the preview party

Some of the crowd in front of my booth at the preview party

This week’s blog will be a contemporaneous, day by day, accounting of the show. It’s Friday night, 7:15 PM, as I write the first chapter. The preview party is going on now. There’s a nice crowd milling about, having a good time, conversing, eating, drinking. There have been a few questions, but no sales. The odds I’ll sell anything tonight are slim to none. The crowd is younger than at most antique shows. It’s wonderful, but often young people don’t have the means to buy what they like.

The booth looked great

The booth looked great

Saturday, 10:05 AM. The show is just opening to the public. I have to eat my hat. I made a major sale during the preview party. Even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while. I still hate preview parties, but I wouldn’t mind having a few key sales change my mind.

Saturday, 2:30 PM. Lots of people, lots of questions, little action. Made one sale, but not much else is happening. Hope some of the “be-backs” come back.

It was fairly busy on Saturday afternoon

It was fairly busy on Saturday afternoon

Saturday, 5:10 PM. Overall, it’s been a disappointing day. First of all there was only one sale. Second of all, I had a handshake agreement to purchase a Tiffany Studios lamp base from a person who came to the show. He slunk out of the show without a word, never completing the sale. No honor.

Sunday, 12:00 PM. As of this moment, attendance is much lighter. Nothing is going on. How many games of Spider Solitaire can I play? Hope it gets better later in the day.

Fabulous, large Galle Lake Como vase, for sale at the show

Fabulous, large Galle Lake Como vase, for sale at the show

Sunday, 2:30 PM. Attendance picked up some. Made one small sale to a gentleman visiting from Indiana. Some people showed genuine interest and were very complimentary, but unfortunately I can’t take that to the bank.

Sunday, 4:15 PM. The show closes today at 5 PM. One small sale for the whole day. Doesn’t look like we’ll return to California for any shows. It’s too risky to exhibit in California when the expenses to cross the country are high and going up. Too bad. I wanted this show to work for us. The show is lovely and the town is pleasant, but that doesn’t compensate for insufficient business. Maybe something dramatic will happen tomorrow, but it’s highly unlikely.

Monday, 11:15 AM. Attendance is very light, as to be expected on a Monday morning. Wish the show had closed yesterday, like most antique shows. It will be nothing short of a miracle if we sell something of significance today. Very much looking forward to going home after a month on the road.

Attendance was fairly light at 1:40 PM on Monday

Attendance was fairly light at 1:40 PM on Monday

Monday, 2 PM. Attendance has been light most of the day, with an occasional surge. There have been a few questions, but no business. Unfortunately, it’s what I expected.

Monday, 4 PM. The show is over. We didn’t sell anything today. The show wasn’t a disaster, as one of the three sales we made for the entire show was a good one. The results would have been fine if the show were local. So, goodbye California. We’ll come to visit, but not to exhibit at antique shows.

I will be posting videos on YouTube of my lecture on French Cameo Glass to the Metropolitan Glass Club. I need some time to edit the videos. When they’re ready, I’ll put the link on my website and here in my blog.

Incredible Tiffany Favrile Cypriote vase, for sale at the show

Incredible Tiffany Favrile Cypriote vase, for sale at the show

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

Fabulous, rare, Tiffany Favrile lamp with intaglio-carved insect

Fabulous, rare, Tiffany Favrile lamp with intaglio-carved insect

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.

The Palm Springs Modernism Show opens to the public this Saturday, February 16, 2013

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. This Monday’s blog will be postponed until Tuesday, as the Palm Beach Modernism show ends on Monday.

The Palm Springs Modernism Show will run from February 16-18, 2013

The Palm Springs Modernism Show will run from February 16-18, 2013

The Palm Springs Modernism Show opens to the public this Saturday, February 16, 2013, at 10 AM and continues until Monday at 4 PM. Don’t understand why the show ends on a Monday, but it is what it is. I prefer a show to end on a Sunday, but I don’t have much say in the matter.

The Palm Springs Convention Center is a beautiful building

The Palm Springs Convention Center is a beautiful building

We decided to exhibit in Palm Springs, CA, this year. We had a choice of three shows that run the same week — one in Palm Beach, FL, one in Asheville, NC, and the one we chose, in Palm Springs, CA. We exhibited previously in Palm Beach and Asheville, both with mixed results. So we gambled that a show in Palm Springs might be the right choice. Don’t have a clue if it will go well or not, so tune in on Tuesday for the results. If the results are fair to moderate, we won’t be back, as the expenses to cross the country are considerable. If the show goes really well, we’ll be back. If you’re from Southern California, you can directly affect our decision. Please visit the show and consider a purchase. I’d much prefer to write a glowing review, than not.

This Tiffany Dragonfly lamp is sold, but I'll have three others at the show

This Tiffany Dragonfly lamp is sold, but I’ll have three others at the show

I’m bringing a fantastic selection of Tiffany lamps and glass, French cameo glass by Gallé and Daum, and a great selection of original Louis Icart etchings. My large selection of original Tiffany Studios lamps includes three Dragonfly lamps.

I will be posting videos on YouTube of my lecture on French Cameo Glass to the Metropolitan Glass Club. I need some time to edit the videos. When they’re ready, I’ll put the link on my website and here in my blog.

Incredible Tiffany Favrile Cypriote vase, for sale at the show

Incredible Tiffany Favrile Cypriote vase, for sale at the show

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

Fabulous, rare, Tiffany Favrile lamp with intaglio-carved insect

Fabulous, rare, Tiffany Favrile lamp with intaglio-carved insect

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.

Doyle’s Belle Epoque auction exceeds $2 million, February 6, 2013

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.

Doyle New York held a Belle Epoque sale on February 6, 2013, with generally excellent results. Total sales of $2,036,819 surpassed the pre-sale high estimate of $1,870,750, with 84% sold by lot and 93% sold by value.

Rembrandt Bugatti Petit Elephant au Repos>, Doyle lot #450

Rembrandt Bugatti Petit Elephant au Repos, Doyle lot #450

Top lot of the sale was a Rembrandt Bugatti bronze cire perdue sculpture entitled Petit Elephant au Repos. It soared past its pre-sale estimate of $40,000 – $60,000, to sell for $218,500, including buyer’s premium. The bronze was fresh to the market, having descended in the Vanderbilt family. The result surely benefitted from its illustrious provenance.

Roycroft copper-mounted bedroom suite, Doyle lot #133

Roycroft copper-mounted bedroom suite, Doyle lot #133

A Roycroft Arts and Crafts copper-mounted oak bedroom suite, from the estate of C.W. and Marjorie Merriweather Post, sold for $68,500, approximately double the high estimate of $30,000. The suite was an important commission by Elbert Hubbard for C.W. Post, whom he knew personally.

Newcomb College vase, Doyle lot #483

Newcomb College vase, Doyle lot #483

A huge (11¾”), early (1902), high-glaze Newcomb College vase shot past its pre-sale estimate of $5,000 – $7,000, to achieve $37,500, including buyer’s premium. It was consigned from The Spanierman Gallery, LLC Collection of American Art.

For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link. Doyle Belle Epoque results.

The Palm Springs Modernism Show will run from February 16-18, 2013

The Palm Springs Modernism Show will run from February 16-18, 2013

The Palm Springs Modernism Show opens to the public this Saturday, February 16th, at 10 AM and ends on Monday at 4 PM. It will be our first time at the show. We haven’t had good luck in California in recent years, so we’re hoping the show will be good. If it isn’t, we’ll give up the entire state. That would be a shame, but we can’t afford to exhibit at shows where the buyers don’t show up. If you’d like us to continue to exhibit in the state of California, please visit the show and consider making a purchase.

I will be posting videos on YouTube of my lecture on French Cameo Glass to the Metropolitan Glass Club. I need some time to edit the videos. When they’re ready, I’ll put the link on my website and here in my blog.

Incredible Tiffany Favrile Cypriote vase, for sale at the show

Incredible Tiffany Favrile Cypriote vase, for sale at the show

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

Fabulous, rare, Tiffany Favrile lamp with intaglio-carved insect

Fabulous, rare, Tiffany Favrile lamp with intaglio-carved insect

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.

The results of the Original Miami Beach Antique Show, January 31 – February 4, 2013

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. There will not be a Thursday post this week, as we’re on vacation. Please visit again on Monday.

Attendance was good on Friday afternoon

Attendance was good on Friday afternoon

The Original Miami Beach Antique Show ended on February 4, 2013, after a fairly successful run of five days. In asking around, most dealers replied “OK”, when asked “How was your show?”. One dealer from the West Coast told me “great”, but he was the only one. The consensus of the dealers I spoke to was good, but not exceptional. The overall impression I got was the results were acceptable, but nothing to write home about.

Fabulous Daum Nancy wheel-carved poppy jar

Fabulous Daum Nancy wheel-carved poppy jar, sold at the show

Personally, business was significantly better than the last couple of years. French glass was at the forefront of sales, with Tiffany glass just behind. Lamps were soft at the entire show. There were enough Tiffany lamps to choke an elephant — just too many for the number of buyers. Anyone who came to the show looking for an authentic Tiffany Studios lamp had a bewildering selection to choose from.

Attendance was good on Saturday, but sales weren't

Attendance was good on Saturday, but sales weren’t

Attendance was good most days, with the best sales happening on opening day, as expected. After all, the most motivated buyers come the first day. Business on the second day was good too, but then tailed off as the stragglers wandered in over the weekend. Monday was hit or miss for most dealers (and a hit for me).

Next year will be interesting, because the promoters of the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show purchased the Miami National Antiques Show (The Airport Show). Next year they will be promoting both shows, back to back. We’ll exhibit at the Airport Show one more time. If the new promoters can get more buyers through the door, we’ll do it again. If not, unfortunately we’ll be finished with the show.

The Palm Springs Modernism Show will run from February 16-18, 2013

The Palm Springs Modernism Show will run from February 16-18, 2013

Now we get to rest for a week and then on to California to exhibit at the Palm Springs Modernism Show for the first time. We haven’t had good luck in California in recent years, so we’re hoping the show will be good. If it isn’t, we’ll give up the entire state. That would be a shame, but we can’t afford to exhibit at shows where the buyers don’t show up. May I suggest that you come visit us? The dates for the show are February 16-18, at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

I will be posting videos on YouTube of my lecture on French Cameo Glass to the Metropolitan Glass Club. I need some time to edit the videos. When they’re ready, I’ll put the link on my website and here in my blog.

Love this French terra cotta figure by Bouraine

Love this French terra cotta figure by Bouraine

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

You can buy this incredible 12" Schneider padded and wheel-carved Medallion vase at the show

You can buy this incredible 12″ Schneider padded and wheel-carved Medallion vase at the show

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.