Monthly Archives: May 2013

Wow! If you love Gustav Klimt, you must visit the Belvedere Palace & Museum in Vienna, Austria

Posted on by
Reply
That's me and my lovely wife, Lia, blocking the view of the Belvedere Palace

That’s me and my lovely wife, Lia, blocking the view of the Belvedere Palace

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.

One of the magnificent rooms of the Belvedere

One of the magnificent rooms of the Belvedere

If you like great museums, Vienna is the place for you. We visited a few, but were really blown away by the Upper Belvedere, one of two summer palaces of General Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663-1736). The palace itself is a gorgeous Baroque building, designed by the architect Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt (1668-1745), and built between 1712 and 1715. Today it’s a wonderful museum, with a great collection of paintings.

Gustav Klimt painting, The Kiss

Gustav Klimt painting, The Kiss

Foremost is the museum’s wonderful collection of 22 Gustav Klimt works, including the truly fabulous painting, The Kiss. It’s really impressive in person and much larger than I imagined, almost 6′ square. According to the museum’s curator, Dr. Alfred Weidinger, the Belvedere purchased The Kiss for 25,000 crowns on the first day it was exhibited in 1908. That is today’s equivalent of approximately $250,000. Also according to Dr. Weidinger, no painting had been sold prior in Austria for more than 500 crowns. Klimt was certainly no starving artist.

Gustav Klimt painting, Portrait of Adele Block-Bauer

Gustav Klimt painting, Portrait of Adele Block-Bauer

In 2006, Ronald Lauder (of Estee Lauder fame and fortune), paid $135 million for a 1907 Klimt portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, that was previously on display in the same room as The Kiss, at the Belvedere. Lauder purchased the painting from Mrs. Bloch-Bauer’s niece, Maria Altmann, who successfully sued the Austrian government to recover five Klimt paintings stolen by the Nazis from her aunt and uncle during WWII. The price Lauder paid suggests that The Kiss is one of the most valuable works of art on the planet. We’ll never know for sure as the Belvedere will never sell it.

That's a Renoir on the right and a Monet next to it

That’s a Renoir on the right and a Monet next to it

Other great artists are well-represented in the museum’s collection, including Claude Monet, Egon Schiele, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Oskar Kokoschka, to name a few. The museum is not too large and not too small, just like Goldilocks porridge, but the collection reveals the Midas touch.

One wall with three Klimt floral paintings

One wall with three Klimt floral paintings

No shows until late July, but we’re still very much in business. Please don’t hesitate to call or write. We’re always interested in buying, selling or trading.

Rare Argy-Rousseau elephant paperweight, just in

Rare Argy-Rousseau elephant paperweight, just in

Click here to view French cameo glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

A rare blue Tiffany Favrile salt, just in

A rare blue Tiffany Favrile salt, just in

Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps.

There’s some great Loetz glass at the Glasmuseum in Passau, Germany

Posted on by
1

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. We’ll be on vacation for most of May, so I may not be able to post anything until early June, but I’ll try.

A view of Passau, Germany, from our boat on the Danube

A view of Passau, Germany, from our boat on the Danube

Guess what? I was able to write today’s blog from a riverboat on the Danube River in Austria. It’s a little late, but better late than never. We spent a lovely morning in Passau, Germany, where we visited a very nice glass museum, called simply Glasmuseum Passau. Georg Höltl assembled the collection, starting in 1959, when he bought his first piece. The collection contains a tremendous number of items, mainly from Bohemia and Silesia, from 1650 to 1950.

The entrance to the Glasmuseum Passau

The entrance to the Glasmuseum Passau

The tour started on the fourth floor, and then proceeded floor by floor to the first floor. We didn’t know it, but the Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) glass was at the end of the tour, on the first floor. The best Jugendstil glass is by Loetz, of which there were many outstanding examples on display.

A selection of rare Loetz black bottom vases

A selection of rare Loetz black bottom vases

Loetz black bottom vases are rare and very desirable. There were quite a few examples in different shapes on display. The examples pictured above are a small part.

Some very rare decorated Loetz vases

Some very rare decorated Loetz vases

The vases pictured above are wonderful, especially the front ones on the left and right. People would pay a lot of money at auction if vases of this quality were to come to the auction block.

All of the vases in this cabinet are examples of Titania glass

All of the vases in this cabinet are examples of Titania glass

Loetz Titania vases have metallic designs under a layer of clear glass, which makes them paperweight vases. They’re very attractive, desirable and collectible. The cabinet pictured above was full of Titania vases and only part of the full selection of them.

More great decorated Loetz, especially the vase in the front, on the left

More great decorated Loetz, especially the vase in the front, on the left

No shows until late July, but we’re still very much in business. Please don’t hesitate to call or write. We’re always interested in buying, selling or trading.

Rare Argy-Rousseau elephant paperweight, just in

Rare Argy-Rousseau elephant paperweight, just in

Click here to view French cameo glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

A rare blue Tiffany Favrile salt, just in

A rare blue Tiffany Favrile salt, just in

Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps.

A look at a few special Tiffany Studios items

Posted on by
Reply

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. We’ll be on vacation for most of May, so I may not be able to post anything until early June, but I’ll try.

Tiffany Studios was in business for many years and manufactured thousands upon thousands of items, ranging from common to unique. As a dealer, I get to see many of the same items over and over again, so it’s a kick when I come across something new and exciting. Here are a few that come to mind.

Very rare Tiffany Studios turtleback inkwell

Very rare Tiffany Studios turtleback inkwell

A very rare Tiffany Studios turtleback inkwell was sold at Nadeau’s Auction in Windsor, Connecticut on October 30, 2010 for $37,500, including buyer’s premium. I bid strongly for it, but was outbid by another dealer. I found out later which dealer, when I saw the inkwell for sale in another booth at the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show. My understanding was that it sold quickly at the show for approximately $75,000. That doesn’t surprise me, because it was AMAZING, with different colored turtleback tile lids on each of the three inkwells, and a fabulous patina. I hope the present owner is enjoying it.

Fabulous 10" blue Tiffany Favrile intaglio-carved shade

Fabulous 10″ blue Tiffany Favrile intaglio-carved shade

Blue Tiffany Favrile shades are much rarer than green or gold ones. The example pictured above was the single best example I have ever owned. It had really great blue color and was covered with a plethora of beautifully carved insects — killer!

Superb Tiffany Studios scarab stamp box

Superb Tiffany Studios scarab stamp box

I would loved to have owned the stamp box pictured above, but unfortunately I never did. It’s a real rarity, with Favrile glass scarabs on the lid and mosaic tiles all around. What a beauty!

Tiffany Pond Lily desk set, the rarest of them all

Tiffany Pond Lily desk set, the rarest of them all

The Pond Lily pattern, with dragonflies, is the rarest of all Tiffany Studios desk sets. It almost never comes up for sale, so when it does, fireworks go off. The set pictured above was sold at Brunk Auctions on November 4, 2006, for over $200K, including the buyer’s premium. Wow!

No shows until late July, but we’re still very much in business. Please don’t hesitate to call or write. We’re always interested in buying, selling or trading.

Rare Argy-Rousseau elephant paperweight, just in

Rare Argy-Rousseau elephant paperweight, just in

Click here to view French cameo glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

A rare blue Tiffany Favrile salt, just in

A rare blue Tiffany Favrile salt, just in

Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps.

J.C. Leyendecker leads Heritage’s Illustration Art Auction, April 11-12, 2013

Posted on by
Reply

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.

Heritage Auction held an Illustration Art Auction on April 11-12, 2013, with some exceptional results. 859 lots were offered, with sales totaling $2,852,875.

J.C. Leyendecker painting Honeymoon, July 17, 1926, Heritage lot #78299

J.C. Leyendecker painting Honeymoon, July 17, 1926, Heritage lot #78299

Top lot of the auction was one of the two cover lots, #78299, Honeymoon, a Saturday Evening Post cover from July 17, 1926. It easily exceeded its high estimate of $120,000, to sell for $194,500, including buyer’s premium.

Patrick Nagel painting, Her Seductive Look, Heritage lot #78153

Patrick Nagel painting, Her Seductive Look, Heritage lot #78153

I understand why the Leyendecker was the top lot of the sale, but I don’t understand why a fairly modern, and not so special (in my opinion) painting by Patrick Nagel, should sell for $158,500. Entitled Her Seductive Look, the pre-sale estimate was $20,000 – $30,000. Personally I wouldn’t have paid $5,000, but my opinion didn’t matter. What mattered was that two wealthy, determined bidders butted heads and bid the price into the stratosphere. Congratulations to the lucky consignor.

Gil Elvgren painting A Near Miss (Right on Target), Heritage lot #78081

Gil Elvgren painting A Near Miss (Right on Target), Heritage lot #78081

Gil Elvgren paintings were well-represented in the sale, so it was no surprise that the third highest lot was his. Lot #78081 was entitled A Near Miss (Right On Target). The final price of $104,500 easily exceeded the high estimate of $75,000. Other Elvgren paintings did well too, with lot #78080, Let’s Go Around Together, selling for $101,500.

For the complete results of the sale, click here. You will have to sign in to see the prices.

No shows until late July, but we’re still very much in business. Please don’t hesitate to call or write. We’re always interested in buying, selling or trading.

Fine Argy-Rousseau pate-de-verre moth paperweight, for sale at the show

Fine Argy-Rousseau pate-de-verre moth paperweight, for sale at the show

Click here to view French cameo glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

Wonderful Tiffany Favrile blue decorated mini vase, for sale at the show

Wonderful Tiffany Favrile blue decorated mini vase, for sale 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.

Art Deco bronze and ivory figures lead the way at Hindman’s 20th Century Decorative Arts sale, May 1, 2013

Posted on by
Reply

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.

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, of Chicago, held a 20th Century Decorative Arts sale yesterday, May 1, 2013, with some excellent results. 507 lots crossed the block, with the pottery section of the sale scheduled for today, May 2, 2013.

F. Preiss Art Deco bronze & ivory grouping, The Bathers, Hindman lot #333

F. Preiss Art Deco bronze & ivory grouping, The Bathers, Hindman lot #333

Leading the way were Art Deco bronze & ivory figures by the likes of Preiss, Chiparus and Colinet. Two lots tied for top honors — #333, a Preiss group entitled The Bathers and #337, a Colinet figure entitled Ankara Dancer, both selling for $50,000, including buyer’s premium. Even though the prices were the same, the Preiss had a much better result, selling for almost 10 times its high estimate, while the Colinet sold below its low estimate. The market in Art Deco bronze & ivory figures has been strong for decades and has legs (no pun intended).

A fine intaglio-carved, blue Tiffany Favrile vase, Hindman lot #130

A fine intaglio-carved, blue Tiffany Favrile vase, Hindman lot #130

Top lot of the Tiffany Studios glass section of the sale went to #130, a fine-quality blue Favrile wheel-carved vase. It easily exceeded its pre-sale estimate of $2,000-4,000, to realize $11,875, including buyer’s premium — a handsome price for a 9″ vase.

Rare R. Lalique green cased Perruches vase, Hindman lot #301

Rare R. Lalique green cased Perruches vase, Hindman lot #301

There weren’t many R. Lalique lots in the sale, but a couple were special. Lot #301 was a rare, green cased Perruches vase. Estimated to sell for $10,000-15,000, it realized $27,500, including buyer’s premium. An even more rare object, an opalescent Tresor de la Mer perfume, sold for more money, $57,500, but below its low estimate.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

No shows until late July, but we’re still very much in business. Please don’t hesitate to call or write. We’re always interested in buying, selling or trading.

Fine Argy-Rousseau pate-de-verre moth paperweight, for sale at the show

Fine Argy-Rousseau pate-de-verre moth paperweight, for sale at the show

Click here to view French cameo glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

Wonderful Tiffany Favrile blue decorated mini vase, for sale at the show

Wonderful Tiffany Favrile blue decorated mini vase, for sale 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.