Some good results at Rago Auctions, February 26-27, 2016

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.


David Rago Auctions held several sales this past weekend, including some that were single-owner. Some interesting results for glass and lamps were achieved (the only areas that I cover).

Tiffany Dragonfly chandelier, Rago lot #1

Tiffany Dragonfly chandelier, Rago lot #1

One single-owner sale from New Jersey was entitled Una Buona Vita. It began with Tiffany lamps, including the cover lot, a 28″ diameter Dragonfly chandelier. It sold within its pre-sale estimated range of $75,000 – $100,000, realizing $100,000, including buyer’s premium.

Argy-Rousseau pâte-de-verre Papyrus vase, Rago lot #48

Argy-Rousseau pâte-de-verre Papyrus vase, Rago lot #48

In the same sale, an Argy-Rousseau pâte-de-verre Papyrus vase sold well beyond its pre-sale estimate of $2,000 – $3,000, realizing $15,000, including buyer’s premium. The estimate was intentionally low because the vase had a restored drill hole in the base. There’s going to be one unhappy buyer if they didn’t know.

Jacquemard vase, Rago lot #468

Jacquemard vase, Rago lot #468

The most interesting result of the Saturday Early 20th Century Design sale was lot #468, a beautifully wheel-carved vase with a grasshopper and fancy engraving underneath, including “Emile Gallé fct 1895”. I haven’t been able to figure out exactly who made this vase, nor if it was actually made at the Gallé factory. Rago attributed the vase to J. Jacquemard, who possibly did it while working at Gallé. Regardless of my lack of knowledge, the bidding was very active, allowing this grasshopper to jump to a final price of $37,500, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $9,000 – $12,000.

For the results of the various sales, click here.


Click on this image to buy tickets

Click on this image to buy tickets

Our next show is not until April 15th, when we’ll be at the Chicago Botanic Garden, in Glencoe, IL, for the Garden, Antique & Design Show. It’s a beautiful show with both antiques and gardening, that you’ll absolutely enjoy. We only have two remaining shows in the greater Chicago area, so come and say hi!

If you’re selling, please let me know. If you have what I’m looking for, I’m paying the highest prices. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email it to me.

I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. I will continue to list more as often as possible. Please click here to take a look.There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

Some interesting auction results for French cameo glass

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.


French cameo glass was sold at a couple of auction houses recently with opposite results. Here’s a rundown of them both.

Gallé Rhododendron blownout vase, Cowan's lot #330

Gallé Rhododendron blownout vase, Cowan’s lot #330

Cowan’s Auction, Cincinnati, OH, sold a moderately rare Gallé blownout Rhododendron vase at their Decorative Art: Live Salesroom auction on February 13, 2016. Estimated to sell for $3,000 – $5,000, it soared to $18,600 including buyer’s premium.

Daum Blackbird tray, Heritage lot #65767

Daum Blackbird tray, Heritage lot #65767

Heritage Auction, Dallas, TX, sold a rare Daum Blackbird tray for only $1,062.50, against a pre-sale estimate of $700 – $900. The condition report stated “Lightly polished chips to the exterior and interior of the lip rim, light scuffing to the underside.”, which probably hurt its sale. The lot was hidden in the back of the catalog of the Fine & Decorative Arts Including Estates Signature Auction sale of February 20-22, 2016. I knew about the lot, and was going to bid on it, but didn’t. I missed it because I was too busy at my shows. Too bad for me, kudos to the winner.


Our next show is not until April 15th, when we’ll be at the Chicago Botanic Garden, in Glencoe, IL, for the Garden, Antique & Design Show. It’s one of our two remaining shows in the greater Chicago area. We really like exhibiting in Chicago and look forward to seeing all of our old friends.

If you’re selling, please let me know. If you have what I’m looking for, I’m paying the highest prices. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email it to me.

I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. I will continue to list more as often as possible. Please click here to take a look.There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

The results of the National Arts & Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC, February 19-21, 2016

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.


The historic Grove Park Inn

The historic Grove Park Inn

The National Arts & Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC, closed yesterday, after a three-day run from February 19-21. The show was very well attended with enthusiastic, knowledgeable collectors.

Part of the huge line of attendees at the opening on Friday

Part of the huge line of attendees at the opening on Friday

It’s an event, not just a show. The audience is captive while staying at the resort and spends more than the usual amount of time participating in the show and associated lectures and tours on the Arts & Crafts movement in the United States. The show is different than most others in that it’s divided into an antiques section and a crafts section. There’s no mixing of the two, so attendees are clear who’s who.

We sold this fine Tiffany Favrile counterbalance floor lamp with intaglio-carved dragonfly at the show

We sold this fine Tiffany Favrile counterbalance floor lamp with intaglio-carved dragonfly at the show

We sold in three days almost exactly what we sold last week at the impossibly long, 6-day, Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show, but this time we made a profit because of our expenses were much lower. It’s a fun show, in a glorious, historic hotel. Put it on your calendar for a visit next year. You’ll thank me.


Our next show is not until April 15th, when we’ll be at the Chicago Botanic Garden, in Glencoe, IL, for the Garden, Antique & Design Show. It’s one of our two remaining shows in the greater Chicago area. We really like exhibiting in Chicago and look forward to seeing all of our old friends.

If you’re selling, please let me know. If you have what I’m looking for, I’m paying the highest prices. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email it to me.

I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. I will continue to list more as often as possible. Please click here to take a look.There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

The results of the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show, February 11-16, 2016

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.


grove-park-2-2016Hello from the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC, where we’ll be opening the National Arts & Crafts Conference tomorrow.

The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show finished Tuesday with a whimper, not a bang. We made a couple of small sales the last two days, but we still finished with a loss. Lots of time, effort and money, with no reward.

A billboard on the main road, Okeechobee Blvd., advertising the show

A billboard on the main road, Okeechobee Blvd., advertising the show

The show attracted many attendees partly because the PBSG gave out thousands of free tickets, but also because they did a good job of advertising. The problem was the show attracted thousands of the wrong people. The purpose of spending a lot of money to exhibit at a fancy show in a wealthy neighborhood is to attract qualified buyers, but that didn’t happen. This is the second year in a row that we either failed to make expenses or barely eked out a profit. Extending the show to six days made the problem worse. I can think of much better ways to spend my time and money.

Unfortunately the expenses killed my show. Remember I took a smaller booth to trim my expenses. Good thing I did or I would have had an even larger loss.

The business of exhibiting at shows has become really tough. As a result, we will not be exhibiting in Palm Beach next year. Many shows have failed, or will fail soon, leaving very few where we can make a profit. I’ll be beefing up my Internet presence in the hope of attracting new clients. If that works out well, there will be even less incentive to travel to marginal shows.

Mondays blog will have the results of the National Arts & Crafts Conference in Asheville, NC.


Our next show is not until April 15th, when we’ll be at the Chicago Botanic Garden, in Glencoe, IL, for the Garden, Antique & Design Show. It’s one of our two remaining shows in the greater Chicago area. We really like exhibiting in Chicago and look forward to seeing all of our old friends.

If you’re selling, please let me know. If you have what I’m looking for, I’m paying the highest prices. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email it to me.

I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. I will continue to list more as often as possible. Please click here to take a look.There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

A progress report on the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show

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.


The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show has been open to the public since last Thursday and will remain open until tomorrow, Tuesday, at 6 PM. Following is a contemporaneous account of the show.

Thursday, opening day, 2:15 PM
The show started with very few people, probably because there were so many attendees the previous night at the preview party. It got more crowded as the day progressed, but the quality of the inquiries has been poor. No sales. One potential sale.

Thursday, 7 PM
The first day is over and it’s been quite disappointing. Only one small sale. Attendance petered out later in the day. Hopefully things will improve or this show will result in a loss of both time and money.

Friday, 2:30 PM, in my booth

Friday, 2:30 PM, in my booth

Friday, 2 PM
Surprisingly, attendance seems better today than opening day. The quality of the inquiries has been better and there’s hope for some sales later in the day, but none as of now.

We sold this important Daum Nancy Impressionist vase at the show

We sold this important Daum Nancy Impressionist vase at the show

Friday, 7 PM
Strange day. Didn’t work out at all the way I thought it would. None of the early clients returned to make a purchase. However, one of my clients who hasn’t purchased anything in a few years made a special trip to visit the show and made a major purchase. So the day ended well. It’s still scary that we’ve made only two total sales.

4 PM Saturday. That's my booth on the left.

4 PM Saturday. That’s my booth on the left.

Saturday, 3:30 PM
Attendance has been good, but not with the right people. Too many people are looking to appraise their own items and are not interested in purchasing. A man who spent 30 minutes with us yesterday because he was “interested” in a bronze, came in today to tell me he disagrees with my attribution of the artist and showed me photos of his identical bronze. Give me a break! Some people are clueless.

Saturday, 7 PM
What a depressing day. Lots of people walking by, but nobody serious. PBSG gives out thousands and thousands of free tickets, so why not come and visit a prestigious antique show if you don’t have to pay? Great for the public. Awful for the exhibitors.

Sunday, 1:30 PM
Attendance is better today than any previous day. We’ve had some good early interest, but so far everyone is a “be back”. Hopefully this day will end better.

We sold this fine Tiffany Studios inkwell on Sunday

We sold this fine Tiffany Studios inkwell on Sunday

Sunday, 7 PM
The show clouds parted and the sun shone. Thank goodness we finally had a decent day. We still haven’t made our expenses, but at least it’s not a disaster.

You still have until tomorrow to visit the show. Please accept two free tickets by clicking on the image below.

Click on this image for two free tickets to the show

Click on this image for two free tickets to the show

Tune in Thursday for the final results.


grove-park-2-2016The National Arts & Crafts Conference will run from February 19-21. It’s a beautiful show in an amazing 1910 historic hotel. The focus is Arts & Crafts, both antique and new. It’s a very pleasant show that we enjoy doing. Attendees fly in from all over the US.


I’ve been quite busy buying and selling recently, partly because I’ve listed many new items on my website. I need to buy more, so if you have something great, please offer it to me. I am paying the highest prices of any dealer. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email me a jpeg.

I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. I will continue to list more as often as possible. Please click here to take a look.There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show opens today, Thursday, February 11, 2016

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.


In front of my booth at the preview party last night

In front of my booth at the preview party last night

The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show will open to the public today, Thursday, February 11, 2016, at 11 AM and close on Tuesday at 6 PM, for a total of six days. I’m writing to you now from the preview party on Wednesday night.

8:45 PM at the preview parts

8:45 PM at the preview party

It’s 7:30 PM and the show is crowded. There have been a few inquiries, but no sales. It’s possible some of the inquiries were serious, but it’s too soon to tell. We’re jammed into a small booth because I wanted to trim my expenses. Not sure if that was smart or dumb. There’s no room to move and the booth is very crowded with merchandise. I’ll let you know later if I did the right thing.

I have to hand it to the Palm Beach Show Group. The show is really fantastic, with some of the most beautiful displays you’ll ever see. The exhibitors are the best of the best, with museum-quality displays. The whole look of the show is a cut above most shows you’ll see anywhere.

The show runs a day longer this year, so you have six full days to visit. It’s worth a trip from anywhere. Please accept two free tickets to the show by clicking on the image below.

Click on this image for two free tickets to the show

Click on this image for two free tickets to the show

9:30 PM update No sales. What else is new for a preview party? Hope the rest of the show is good. Tune in Monday for an update on the show’s progress (which I hope will be a good report). The final results will be published next Thursday when we’ll already be in Asheville, NC, setting up at the National Arts & Crafts Conference.


grove-park-2-2016The National Arts & Crafts Conference will run from February 19-21. It’s a beautiful show in an amazing 1910 historic hotel. The focus is Arts & Crafts, both antique and new. It’s a very pleasant show that we enjoy doing. Attendees fly in from all over the US.


I’ve been quite busy buying and selling recently, partly because I’ve listed many new items on my website. I need to buy more, so if you have something great, please offer it to me. I am paying the highest prices of any dealer. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email me a jpeg.

I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. I will continue to list more as often as possible. Please click here to take a look.There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show opens this Thursday, February 11, 2016

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.


Last year in front of my booth

Last year in front of my booth

The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show will open to the public this Thursday at 11 AM and close on Tuesday at 6 PM, for a total of six days. Personally I think the extra day is a mistake, but I hope to eat my words when I give you the results of the show next week.

M.S. Rau of New Orleans will be one of the high end dealers at the show

M.S. Rau of New Orleans will be one of the high end dealers at the show

If you’ve never visited this show, it’s stunning. The exhibitors are the best of the best, with truly impressive, museum-quality displays. It’s smaller than the Original Miami Beach Antique Show, but higher quality. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not small, just smaller than the huge Miami Beach Show.

It’s worth a trip from anywhere. As a small incentive, please accept two free tickets to the show by clicking on the image below.

Click on this image for two free tickets to the show

Click on this image for two free tickets to the show

This Thursday’s blog will follow the preview party on Wednesday night, while next Monday’s blog will be an update on the show’s progress. The final results will be published next Thursday when we’ll already be in Asheville, NC, setting up at the National Arts & Crafts Conference.


grove-park-2-2016The National Arts & Crafts Conference will run from February 19-21. It’s a beautiful show in an amazing 1910 historic hotel. The focus is Arts & Crafts, both antique and new. It’s a very pleasant show that we enjoy doing. Attendees fly in from all over the US.


I’ve been quite busy buying and selling recently, partly because I’ve listed many new items on my website. I need to buy more, so if you have something great, please offer it to me. I am paying the highest prices of any dealer. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email me a jpeg.

I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. I will continue to list more as often as possible. Please click here to take a look.There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

 

The results of the Original Miami Beach Antique Show, January 28 – February 1, 2016

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 were several hundred people lined up at Halls C & D for the opening on Thursday

There were several hundred people lined up in Halls C & D for the opening on Thursday

The Original Miami Beach Antique Show ended yesterday, February 1, 2016, after a five-day run. The show went well for many dealers, but more than a few did poorly. The results seemed hit or miss.

Part of our selection of Gallé glass at the show

Part of our selection of Gallé glass at the show

Opening day for us was decent. We made several sales, but the total was slightly disappointing. That wasn’t unusual for opening day. We usually did better the next day, Friday, but not this time. Lots of tire kickers and only a little business. The rest of the show wasn’t substantially better for us. A few sales, but an overall disappointing result. I did make sales by doing my homework. I emailed photos of good items I found at the show to my best clients and they bought. You know who you are. Thank you!

Part of our selection of Tiffany Favrile glass

Part of our selection of Tiffany Favrile glass

In asking around to some of my friends, I got mostly positive reactions to the question “How was your show?” Curiously some dealers with negative comments refused to publicly comment. Michel Aboudara, The French Glasshouse, French glass dealer, London, UK, told me “There was much more interest from private customers this year. Our results were very similar to last year.” Robert & Rick Kaplan, early 20th Century decorative arts dealers, Palm Springs, CA, were pleased. “Business was fairly close to last year’s figures. We’re happy.” Kelly Schultz, general line dealer, Clarence, NY, was also pleased. “The show was great, as always. Lots of business, lots of people. We were very happy.” Adele & Alan Grodsky, lamps & glass dealers, Davie, FL, were more reserved. “It was OK. We sold lamps but very little glass.” Mike Hammes, Classic American, eclectic dealer, Coralville, IA, told me “I scratched and clawed my way out. I did about the same as last year. I’m pleased.” Dave Crockett, Artifacts Antiques, eclectic dealers, Palm City, FL, were a bit disappointed. “I did OK. Less than last year, but last year was great.” Steve Morrow, art glass dealer, Hedrick, IA, said “I had a good show, as I do every year.” Robin Greenwald, Greenwald Antiques, decorative arts dealers, Cleveland, Ohio, were satisfied. “The show was good — off from last year, but strong. We are excited about the show next year at the fairgrounds.” Jack Ophir, Ophir Antiques, Tiffany & Art Nouveau dealer, Englewood, NJ, were content. “We had a good show, a little bit better than last year. The main interest was Tiffany and Camille Fauré French enamel.” Jack Pap, lamp & decorative arts dealer, W. Simsbury, CT, was happy. “The show was better than I expected. The crowd on opening day came early and stayed late. The rest of the show was lightly attended and sales were sparse.” Jeff Myers, Myers-Huffman Antiques, 20th Century decorative arts dealers, Chickaloon, AK, said “It was actually very good. Every day was good, except for the last day, Monday.” Richard Bell, Richard W. Bell Antiques, fine quality smalls & jewelry dealers, CA, said “My show was surprisingly good, considering the construction and the weather.” And finally David Kozloff, Kozloff & Meaders, general line dealers, Pittsburgh, PA, was ecstatic. “It was our best show ever, anywhere, anytime.”

The construction has begun on the convention center

The construction has begun on the convention center

Now for some of the scuttlebutt on next year’s show. The construction at the Miami Beach Convention Center is underway and will take at least until mid-2018. That means the Original Miami Beach Antique Show will surely not return to the Convention Center in 2017 and 2018. After that it gets interesting. There’s no guarantee US Antique Shows will be invited back. The City of Miami Beach only wants shows they deem important to the local economy. If they don’t think the Original Miami Beach Antique Show brings in enough revenue to the city, they will not be invited back. If I were a betting man, I would bet against the invitation. If I’m correct, this was the last antique show at the Convention Center, ever. Ugh!

It looks like many dealers will be jumping ship and not exhibiting at the new location for the show, the Miami-Dade Fair Expo Center. I’ve heard that many of these dealers will instead exhibit at Dolphin Fair’s new Miami Airport Show, the week before. If you remember, that show used to be huge, with exhibitors filling two floors. Now it looks like that show is growing again and could eventually eclipse the Original Miami Beach Antique Show. What a turn of events that would be! But that story is still to be written. Tune in for updates.

There will not be a new blog this Thursday. We’re leaving for the Caribbean for a week on a well-deserved vacation. We’ll see you the following week at the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show.

Click on this image for two free tickets to the show

Click on this image for two free tickets to the show


I’ve been quite busy buying and selling recently, partly because I’ve listed many new items on my website. I need to buy more, so if you have something great, please offer it to me. I am paying the highest prices of any dealer. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email me a jpeg.

I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. I will continue to list more as often as possible. Please click here to take a look.There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.