Loetz vase quintuples its estimate at Quinn’s Auction Galleries, May 17, 2014

Posted on May 22, 2014 by Philip Chasen

Beautiful Loetz decorated vase, Quinn lot #156

Quinn’s Auction Galleries held a Fine & Decorative Arts auction on May 17, 2014. Included in the sale was a lovely unsigned, decorated, Loetz vase with silver overlay decoration. It was sold as lot #156 of 575. Interest was high, allowing it to fly past its estimate of $800 – $1,200 to sell for $10,030, including buyer’s premium. The pretty, Art Nouveau, silver overlay only added to its appeal.

A closeup of the initials EHW

Loetz was one of the companies that wasn’t careful about signing its pieces. Tiffany Studios signed most everything (but not all), while I approximate that Loetz signed about 50% of its wares. There’s no mistaking a high quality unsigned Loetz vase, so lack of a signature usually has little effect on its value. This was evident with the sale of this vase.

For the complete catalog, click here. As of the writing of this blog, the results haven’t yet been uploaded.

This wonderful Zsolnay centerpiece is just in

It’s spring, so there are no shows, but we’re still very much in business. Click here to view my new website and look around. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps.

The August 7-9, 2014 Chicago Summer Antiques Show in Rosemont, IL may close

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Philip Chasen

The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center on River Road, in Rosemont, IL

The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, used to be the location of a three-times-a-year antique show sponsored by Dolphin Promotions. At one point the show was huge, with a really outstanding group of dealers. But as the years have gone by, the show got smaller and smaller. It was reduced to twice a year and now maybe once a year.

Saturday afternoon in my booth, last year

There’s a general problem in the industry, which I believe started with eBay. Some dealers dropped out of shows to devote themselves to selling full-time on eBay. Then the problem was compounded by the graying of the dealers, with very few younger dealers coming up to take the places of the older ones as they retired or died. Additionally younger buyers don’t seem very interested in antiques — they’d rather buy electronics. The results are fewer and smaller antique shows, in general. Dealers have to work harder to do the same business, but it’s there. Send postcards and emails to your clients. Call them and encourage them to visit the shows.

Now to the Chicago Summer Antiques Show, in particular. The future of the show has been put in jeopardy because not enough dealers have signed to exhibit this summer, August 7-9, 2014. Rosemary Krieger, the owner of Dolphin Promotions, told me that unless more dealers sign up for the show, she’ll have no choice but to shut it down. That would be a great shame. There are solid, bona fide clients in the greater Chicago area that visit the show and buy. Rosemary changed the days of the show to 1. coincide with the powerful ANA World’s Fair of Money show (in an adjacent hall) and 2. end on Saturday, instead of Sunday, to give the dealers extra time to get to Baltimore for the big Baltimore Summer Antiques Show. Many coin dealers are wealthy and collect antiques. Additionally, many clients of the coin show also collect antiques. These same coin dealers and collectors visit the antiques show and buy. I know. I’ve sold to them. Rosemary has also arranged for the public to park free at the lot across the street. That used to be a complaint, but is no longer valid.

Call or write to Rosemary and tell her you want to exhibit at the show and call your fellow dealers and encourage them to exhibit. rosemary@dolphinfairs.com. 708-366-2710. Do it now, before it’s too late.

This wonderful Daum Nancy fall scenic vase is just in

The results of Heritage’s American Art Auction, May 10, 2014

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Philip Chasen

Heritage Auction held their American Art Auction on May 10, 2014, with some good results. Included in the sale were Western, California, & Golden Age Illustration paintings. Milton Avery led the pack, with Leroy Neiman second and Frank Xavier Leyendecker (brother of the more famous Joseph Christian Leyendecker) third. Sold lots totaled $3,975,744, for an average of $15,714.

Milton Avery From the Studio, Heritage lot #70159

Top lot of the sale was #70159, a large, 1954, Milton Avery painting entitled From the Studio. It sold near its low estimate of $800,000, realizing $875,000, including buyer’s premium.

Leroy Neiman Roulette II, Heritage lot #70176

There were several offerings of Leroy Neiman’s works, and all did well. Top lot of the group was #70176, a large, 1970, oil on masonite painting, entitled Roulette II. It sold near its high estimate of $150,000, realizing $161,000. The other smaller works by Neiman, for Playboy magazine, also did well and exceeded their high estimates.

Francis Xavier Leyendecker cover painting for Vanity Fair Magazine, Heritage lot #70287

Francis Xavier Leyendecker’s cover illustration for Vanity Fair magazine, lot #70287, brought the third highest price of the auction, $118,750 — many times the pre-sale estimate of $20,000 – $30,000. The June, 1915, oil on board, measuring 23½” x 16½”, depicted Pierrot and Columbine, from the 17th century Comédie-Italienne.

For the complete results of the sale, click here to begin. You will have to sign in (free) to get the results.

This wonderful Daum Nancy fall scenic vase is just in

$33 million lost Fabergé egg discovered by Midwest scrap-metal dealer

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Philip Chasen

Fabergé Third Imperial Egg, circa 1887

A Midwest scrap-metal dealer bought a golden egg with a clock inside for approximately $13,000, hoping to flip it quickly for a $500 profit. As luck would have it, he overestimated its melt value and wasn’t able to sell it quickly, giving him time to do a little Internet detective work. He typed “egg” and “Vacheron Constantin”, the name engraved on the clock, into Google and hit the jackpot. The information in a 2011 article in Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper indicated that the egg might be a lost Fabergé Imperial Egg.

The dealer hopped on a plane to London to meet with Kieran McCarthy, the author of the article in the Daily Telegraph. McCarthy is the Director of Wartski, a firm specializing in Russian works of art, especially Carl Fabergé. The dealer had no appointment, but just casually walked into the shop, wearing jeans, with a portfolio of photos. McCarthy was so excited by the photos, he flew to the US to authenticate the egg. He determined it to be the Third Imperial Egg, made in 1887, for Tsar Alexander III, as an Easter gift to his wife, Tsarina Maria Feodorovna. It had made its way to the West when the post-Russian Revolution Soviets sold their treasures in a policy known as turning “treasures into tractors”.

With the Midwest dealer’s blessing, Wartski then sold the egg to a private collector, for an undisclosed amount, possibly up to $33 million. It was displayed to the public at Wartski from April 14 to 17, for only the second time in its history. The first was at a 1964 auction. Now it’s back to privacy for the egg. Who knows the next time it will be available for view by the public? In the meantime, the Midwest dealer is basking in the sunshine of his good fortune.

This wonderful Daum Nancy fall scenic vase is just in

What is Photo Republic?

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Philip Chasen

Billy Chasen

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. Thursday’s post will cover the amazing story of the discovery of a lost $33 million Fabergé egg.

Take a photo of something unexpected

Many of you may know of my son, Billy Chasen, and his work on the Internet. His last creation, turntable.fm, looked like it was going to be the next big thing, but unfortunately after the initial hubbub died down, the site ultimately was forced to shut down. The initial publicity put him on the cover of Inc. magazine and had him written about in Forbes magazine, The New York Times, techcrunch.com and every business and tech publication that mattered. Billy has also created other websites including chartbeat.com, and stickybits; was the co-founder of betaworks, and is the creator of another fun app called ketchup (also available as a free app).

Take a photo of what’s in your pocket

Billy’s fertile mind never stops working, so he’s ever creating. One of his latest ideas is just great fun. It’s an app called Photo Republic that’s available for download free for both iPhone and Android. Once a day at a different time, you’ll receive a message to take a photo within the next 15 minutes. Some past requests have been “Take a photo of your shoes” or “Take a photo of what’s in front of you”. As the photos come in, they’re displayed in a grid, with the city and country of origin. The message goes out to the entire world simultaneously, so you’ll see a montage of worldwide photos. It takes a few seconds and it’s really fun to see the results coming in from Valparaiso, Chile, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Vienna, Austria, Auckland, New Zealand and all over the US and Canada.

I suggest you download the app and tell your friends in close and distant locations to download it too. You’ll enjoy it!

This wonderful Daum Nancy fall scenic vase is just in

Philip Chasen Antiques

The blog for chasenantiques.com

Monthly Archives: May 2014

Loetz vase quintuples its estimate at Quinn’s Auction Galleries, May 17, 2014

The August 7-9, 2014 Chicago Summer Antiques Show in Rosemont, IL may close

The results of Heritage’s American Art Auction, May 10, 2014

$33 million lost Fabergé egg discovered by Midwest scrap-metal dealer

What is Photo Republic?