Monthly Archives: December 2016

Sotheby’s Paris held their Emile Gallé sale on November 22, 2016

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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.

Sotheby’s Paris held their Emile Gallé sale on November 22, 2016, with total sales of €1,458,063 ($1,545,547) for the 51 lots offered, of which 9 lots failed to sell. Since the overall quality of the offerings was high, the average was a strong $36,798 for each of the 42 sold lots.

Gallé Coupe La Nature, Sotheby’s lot #128

A huge 17½” diameter, marquetry bowl entitled Coupe La Nature was the top lot of the sale. It sold close to its low estimate of €200,000, realizing €247,500 ($262,350), including buyer’s premium.

Gallé vase Parlant La Giroflée De Muraille, Sotheby’s lot #135

The second highest lot of the sale, #135, also brought just below its low estimate of €200,000, realizing €235,500 ($249,630), including buyer’s premium. The vase was technically very sophisticated, with internal decoration and an inscribed poem, but not very pretty. I believe both items would have done better had they been offered with less aggressive estimates.

Gallé vase, Les Ephémères, Sotheby’s lot #125

I loved lot #125, a gorgeous vase with wheel-carved and internally decorated butterflies, but it sold beyond my budget, realizing €60,000 ($63,600), including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of €30,000 — €50,000. If I had my way, this vase would have sold for more and others would have for less, but once again I wasn’t consulted. What is wrong with those people?

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

I just listed this killer Daum Prairie pitcher for sale on my website

I’ve been listing on my website many of the new items I’ve recently purchased and I’ll be listing more in the near future. Please check my site as often as you can.

Our next show will be the NYC Big Flea, the weekend of January 21, at the Lexington Avenue Armory. After that we’ll be in Miami for the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show, February 3 – 5, 2017. This is the airport show, which will be new and improved, with many additional exhibitors. The changes are happening because the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show will no longer be in Miami Beach, instead changing its name to The Original Miami Antique Show and moving to a new location in southwest Miami. It will all make for an interesting winter season.

Click here to check my website for the latest items and to look around. I will update it as often as time permits. We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

Martin Brothers birds sell well at Heritage Auctions’ 20th Century Design sale, November 18, 2016

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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.

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate and Happy Chanukah to those who celebrate.

Heritage Auctions held their 20th Century Design sale on November 18, 2016, with total sales of $1,368,204. Included in the sale were eight lots of Martinware, including several bird tobacco jars, which continued to sell well.

Martin Brothers bird, Heritage lot #79001

Top lot of this group was #79001, a grotesque bird with long beak. Collectors prize those birds with the most “expression” and this one fit the bill (pun intended). Its height of 14″ was also a big plus. It soared to $81,250, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $25,000 – $35,000.

Martin Brothers bird, Heritage lot #79004

I particularly liked lot #79004, another Martin bird with a great expression and a hat, 11¾” tall. It sold within its pre-sale estimate of $20,000 – $30,000, realizing $30,000, including buyer’s premium. I would have loved to have bought this bird, but the price was a bit too strong for a dealer.

Martin Brothers triple bird, Heritage lot #79005

Lot #79005 was a rare Martin triple bird, 7¾” tall. It sold above its high estimate of $30,000, realizing $40,000, including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, which included Tiffany, Handel, Gallé, Lalique, etc., click here. You will have to sign in (free) to obtain prices.

I recently bought this killer Martin Brother 11½-inch bird.

I recently bought this killer Martin Brother 11½-inch bird.

I’ve been listing on my website many of the new items I’ve recently purchased and I’ll be listing more in the near future, including a couple of fabulous Martin Brothers birds and a great face jug. Please check my site as often as you can.

No more shows in 2016. Our next show will be the NYC Big Flea, the weekend of January 21, at the Lexington Avenue Armory. After that we’ll be in Miami for the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show, February 3 – 5, 2017. This is the airport show, which will be new and improved, with many additional exhibitors. The changes are happening because the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show will no longer be in Miami Beach, instead changing its name to The Original Miami Antique Show and moving to a new location in southwest Miami. It will all make for an interesting winter season.

Click here to check my website for the latest items and to look around. I will update it as often as time permits. We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

French glass sold well at Sotheby’s Important Design sale, December 14, 2016

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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.

Sotheby’s New York held their Important Design sale on December 14, 2016, with total sales of $8,993,250 for the 168 lots offered. 40 lots failed to sell, for a strong average of $70,260 for each sold lot. Included in the sale were 17 lots of important French glass, from a Midwest collection, by Emile Gallé, Daum Nancy, Burgun & Schverer and Argy-Rousseau. Also included were one Tiffany Studios lamp, two Loetz vases and an assortment of very high-end jewelry, furniture and assorted items.

Gallé Crystallerie Sauterelle et Chrysanthèmes vase, Sotheby’s lot #239

Two French glass vases tied for the highest price at the sale, $75,000, including buyer’s premium. Lot #239 was an early Gallé Crystallerie vase from the 1880-1885 period, entitled Sauterelle et Chrysanthèmes (Grasshopper and Chrysanthemums). The techniques were wheel-carving and gilding for the grasshopper and enameling for the flowers and leaves. Its final price of $75,000 was triple its low estimate of $20,000.

Gallé marquetry vase, Sotheby’s lot #245

Lot #245 was a gorgeous Emile Gallé marquetry Crocus vase with a wonderful applied foot. It realized the same price as the early Gallé vase above, but only doubled its low estimate of $30,000.

4 of the 17 lots of French glass failed to sell, for an impressive average of $30,866 for each of the 13 sold lots.

Tiffany Studios Fishscale lamp, Sotheby’s lot #215

The only Tiffany Studios lamp in the sale, lot #215, was a Fishscale design on a Grueby pottery base. This rare lamp probably sold to an Arts & Crafts buyer. It realized $150,000, including buyer’s premium, equal to the low estimate of $120,000.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

I just bought this killer Martin Brother 11½-inch bird.

I just bought this killer Martin Brother 11½-inch bird.

I’ve been listing on my website many of the new items I’ve recently purchased and I’ll be listing more in the near future, including a couple of fabulous Martin Brothers birds and a great face jug. Please check my site as often as you can.

No more shows in 2016. Our next show will be the NYC Big Flea, the weekend of January 21, at the Lexington Avenue Armory. After that we’ll be in Miami for the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show, February 3 – 5, 2017. This is the airport show, which will be new and improved, with many additional exhibitors. The changes are happening because the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show will no longer be in Miami Beach, instead changing its name to The Original Miami Antique Show and moving to a new location in southwest Miami. It will all make for an interesting winter season.

Click here to check my website for the latest items and to look around. I will update it as often as time permits. We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

$2,652,500 Tiffany window leads the way at Sotheby’s Tiffany Dreaming in Glass sale, December 14, 2016

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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.

Sotheby’s New York held their Tiffany Dreaming in Glass sale on December 14, 2016, with total sales of $5,460,500 for the 67 lots offered. 13 lots failed to sell, yielding a very strong, but skewed, average of $101,120 per sold lot, because of the very strong result of one lot.

Tiffany Studios’ window The Stream of Life, Sotheby’s lot #437

Lot #437 was a gorgeous, large, 3-panel, scenic, 1914 Tiffany Studios window from the First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, Erie, Pennsylvania, entitled The Stream of Life. It sold for an astonishing $2,652,500, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $250,000 – $350,000. It was a good week for Tiffany Studios’ windows, with the top lot at Christie’s also being a Tiffany Studios’ window.

Tiffany Studios’ Pebble lamp, Sotheby’s lot #404

The results for lamps were mixed, with several beautiful lamps failing to sell. One lamp that did very well was a rare Pebble lamp. Instead of the usual glass, the lamp was mostly composed of quartz pebbles. It’s certainly not my taste, but the bidders loved it. It sold for $312,500, including buyer’s premium, almost double the estimate of $100,000 — $150,000.

Tiffany Favrile Egyptian Onion vase, Sotheby’s lot #413

Top lot of the Tiffany Favrile glass was #413, an Egyptian Onion floriform vase. It sold just below its pre-sale estimate of $30,000 — $50,000, realizing $35,000, including buyer’s premium.

For the complete and very interesting results of the sale, click here.

I just bought this killer Martin Brother 11½-inch bird.

I just bought this killer Martin Brother 11½-inch bird.

I’ve been listing on my website many of the new items I’ve recently purchased and I’ll be listing more in the near future, including a couple of fabulous Martin Brothers birds and a great face jug. Please check my site as often as you can.

No more shows in 2016. Our next show will be the NYC Big Flea, the weekend of January 21, at the Lexington Avenue Armory. After that we’ll be in Miami for the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show, February 3 – 5, 2017. This is the airport show, which will be new and improved, with many additional exhibitors. The changes are happening because the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show will no longer be in Miami Beach, instead changing its name to The Original Miami Antique Show and moving to a new location in southwest Miami. It will all make for an interesting winter season.

Click here to check my website for the latest items and to look around. I will update it as often as time permits. We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

Strong price for a Tiffany Studios window at Christie’s New York Design sale, December 12, 2016

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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 New York held their Design sale on December 12, 2016, with total sales of $3,572,625 for the 154 lots offered.

Tiffany Studios Snowball and Wisteria window, Christie’s lot #103

I was only interested in the 11 lots of Tiffany Studios’ objects. Of that small group, lot #103, a Snowball and Wisteria window, did best. It sold for $499,500, including buyer’s premium, well above its pre-sale estimate of $200,000 – $300,000, and was the top lot of the sale.

Tiffany Studios Laburnum table lamp, Christie’s lot #107

Of the Tiffany group, a large Laburnum table lamp performed second best. It sold within its estimated range of $150,000 – $200,000, realizing $211,500, including buyer’s premium.

Rembrandt Bugatti bronze sculpture Jeunesse, Christie’s lot #116

The second best-performing lot of the entire sale was a 1906 bronze by Rembrandt Bugatti, entitled Jeunesse (Youth). It sold below its estimate of $400,000 – $600,000, realizing $391,500, including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

I just bought this killer Martin Brother 11½-inch bird.

I just bought this killer Martin Brother 11½-inch bird.

I’ve been listing on my website many of the new items I’ve recently purchased and I’ll be listing more in the near future, including a couple of fabulous Martin Brothers birds and a great face jug. Please check my site as often as you can.

No more shows in 2016. Our next show will be the NYC Big Flea, the weekend of January 21, at the Lexington Avenue Armory. After that we’ll be in Miami for the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show, February 3 – 5, 2017. This is the airport show, which will be new and improved, with many additional exhibitors. The changes are happening because the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show will no longer be in Miami Beach, instead changing its name to The Original Miami Antique Show and moving to a new location in southwest Miami. It will all make for an interesting winter season.

Click here to check my website for the latest items and to look around. I will update it as often as time permits. We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. 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 superb items were sold at Rago Auctions The Jerome Shaw Collection, October 14, 2016

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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.

Sorry for the delayed coverage of the Rago Auctions in October. I meant to write about them earlier, but life got in the way. I covered Rago’s October 15, 2016 Mid-Mod sale last week. Today I’m covering the high end, eclectic Jerome Shaw Collection, which Rago sold on October 14, 2016, with mixed results. I think the aggressive estimates on the best lots held back some of the interest.

Carabin sculpture, Rago lot #13

The top lot of the sale was a hand-sculpted wooden sculpture entitled Femme et Grenouille (Woman and Frog), exhibited in 1907 at the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. It sold below its low estimate of $150,000, realizing $150,000 with buyer’s premium. Carabin was a sculpting genius, whose work is on display in many museums, including the Musée D’Orsay. (See my post of 1/17/12)

Loetz black-bottom vase, Rago lot #49

Two important Loetz vases, lots #48 and #49, sold for prices near their low, but strong, estimates. Lot #49 was a monumental, 18″, Phänomen vase, model no. 387, usually referred to as a black-bottom vase. It sold just below its low estimate of $50,000, realizing $53,125, with buyer’s premium.

Tiffany Studios turtleback inkwell, Rago lot #143

I’ve been following the travels of lot #143 for a few years. Originally it sold to a dealer at Nadeau’s Auction in Windsor, Connecticut on October 30, 2010 for $37,500. That dealer sold it to a collector (who I now assume was Jerome Shaw) for $75,000. At this sale it sold within its pre-sale estimate of $40,000 – $60,000, realizing $53,125, including buyer’s premium, a loss for Shaw. I’ve always loved this item for both its beauty and rarity. If I were just a collector, I would have tried to buy it.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

I just bought this killer Martin Brother 11½-inch bird.

I just bought this killer Martin Brother 11½-inch bird.

I’ve been listing on my website many of the new items I’ve recently purchased and I’ll be listing more in the near future, including a couple of fabulous Martin Brothers birds and a great face jug. Please check my site as often as you can.

No more shows in 2016. Our next show will be the NYC Big Flea, the weekend of January 21, at the Lexington Avenue Armory. After that we’ll be in Miami for the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show, February 3 – 5, 2017. This is the airport show, which will be new and improved, with many additional exhibitors. The changes are happening because the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show will no longer be in Miami Beach, instead changing its name to The Original Miami Antique Show and moving to a new location in southwest Miami. It will all make for an interesting winter season.

Click here to check my website for the latest items and to look around. I will update it as often as time permits. We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

Exceptional results for two Emile Gallé lamps at Rago’s Mid-Mod sale, October 15, 2016

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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.

I meant to write about this sale earlier, but life got in the way. So here goes. Rago Auctions held their Mid-Mod sale on October 15, 2016. Included in the sale was a small collection of Gallé lamps and vases. The two lamps sold very well, while the rest of the Gallé basically flopped.

Gallé floor lamp, Rago lot #532

Gallé floor lamp, Rago lot #532

Lot #532 was a Gallé floor lamp with allium floral decoration. Other than the rarity, I thought the glass was unexceptional, with only one technique (acid-etching) and uninspiring brown and green colors. On the other hand, the metalwork was fine and floor lamps are really rare. The bidders did not consult me and pushed the final price to $310,000, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $150,000 – $200,000. The air gets kinda thin at that altitude.

Gallé Allium table lamp, Rago lot #533

Gallé Allium table lamp, Rago lot #533

The next lot, #533, appeared to be a companion table lamp, which in my opinion was finer and more graceful than the floor lamp. It didn’t do as well, realizing $43,750, including buyer’s premium, against an estimate of $40,000 – $60,000.

Most of the other Gallé offered for sale did not sell, with a few exceptions. It was a mixed day for French glass at Rago’s.

I just bought this killer Martin Brother 11½-inch bird.

I just bought this killer Martin Brother 11½-inch bird.

I’ve been listing on my website many of the new items I’ve recently purchased and I’ll be listing more in the near future, including a couple of fabulous Martin Brothers birds and a great face jug. Please check my site as often as you can.

No more shows in 2016. Our next show will be the NYC Big Flea, the weekend of January 21, at the Lexington Avenue Armory. After that we’ll be in Miami for the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show, February 3 – 5, 2017. This is the airport show, which will be new and improved, with many additional exhibitors. The changes are happening because the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show will no longer be in Miami Beach, instead changing its name to The Original Miami Antique Show and moving to a new location in southwest Miami. It will all make for an interesting winter season.

Click here to check my website for the latest items and to look around. I will update it as often as time permits. We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

Astonishing price paid for a Martin Brothers bird tobacco jar at A.H. Wilkins Auction, Toronto, Canada, November 30, 2016

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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.

A.H. Wilkins Auctions, Toronto, Canada, held a Fine & Decorative Art auction on November 30, 2016. Included in the sale was a very large Martin Brothers bird tobacco jar. As many of you know already, the Martinware market has been strong for decades and the sale of this bird is proof that it’s still going gangbusters.

Monumental Martin Brothers bird tobacco jar, Wilkins lot #2109

Monumental Martin Brothers bird tobacco jar, Wilkins lot #2109

Lot #2109 was a huge, 20½” tall, Martin Brother bird tobacco jar. It had been part of the famous Harriman Judd collection before being sold at Sotheby’s on January 22, 2001 for $19,200, including buyer’s premium. What a difference a decade and a half makes.

Interestingly it wasn’t a very special bird, as it didn’t have a lot of character and it also had some restoration. That made no difference to the enthusiastic bidders. They pushed it to over double its high estimate of $60,000 CDN, to realize $163,800 CDN (US $123,229), including buyer’s premium. That’s a nice chunk of change and a heck of a return on investment. Personally I had interest in the bird, but for less than the low estimate of $40,000 CDN. Congratulations to both the buyer and the consignor.

I just bought this killer Martin Brother 11½-inch bird.

I just bought this killer Martin Brother 11½-inch bird.

I’ve been listing on my website many of the new items I’ve recently purchased and I’ll be listing more in the near future, including a couple of fabulous Martin Brothers birds and a great face jug. Please check my site as often as you can.

No more shows in 2016. Our next show will probably be the NYC Big Flea, the weekend of January 21, at the Lexington Avenue Armory. If not, we’ll be in Miami for the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show, February 3 – 5, 2017. This is the airport show, which will be new and improved, with many additional exhibitors. The changes are happening because the Miami Beach Antiques Show will no longer be in Miami Beach, instead moving to a new location in southwest Miami. It will all make for an interesting winter season.

Click here to check my website for the latest items and to look around. I will update it as often as time permits. We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

I won’t bid at Jackson’s International Auctioneers in Cedar Falls, Iowa

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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.

I won’t bid at Jackson’s International Auctioneers in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Here’s a little bit of the story.

Many years ago I tried to do business with Jackson’s and had one little incident after another. It was so long ago, I can’t even recall any specifics. What I said to myself was that I won’t do business with them any longer. And I kept to that promise until this week.

I wanted to buy this killer Tiffany Favrile vase at Jackson's

I wanted to buy this killer Tiffany Favrile vase at Jackson’s

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when I received a catalog for their World Treasures sale on November 29-30, 2016. I was impressed with many of the Tiffany Studios offerings, so I decided to give them another shot. On Monday of this week, I sent for condition reports on a number of lots to be sold on Wednesday, November 30th. Once I send an email, I assume the auction house is interested in my bids, so I forgot about it until I received an email this morning at 9:33 AM — 27 minutes before the sale was to begin. By the time I looked at the email, all of the items I was interested in were finished. There was no urgency whatsoever in the email. Just a “here are the condition reports you requested” attitude. How foolish or inept. Every extra bidder at an auction raises the prices and I’m a strong bidder. Even if I don’t buy an item, there is a good chance I will underbid it, raising the price for both the seller and the auction house.

So no more Jackson’s for me. Don’t waste your catalogs. I’ve had it with them.

UPDATE: Now I’m really ill. I just looked up the results and the items I was going to bid on sold so cheaply, I probably lost out on profit of $50,000+. For instance the vase pictured above sold for $15,000. I could have sold it for at least $35,000. Another vase sold for $2,000 that I could have sold for $7,500. A lamp sold for $22,000 that I could have sold for $45,000. Argh! I’m so angry and they’re so foolish. If I were the consignor, I would be pretty upset.

I’ve been listing on my website many of the new items I’ve recently purchased and I’ll be listing more in the near future. Please check my site as often as you can.

No more shows in 2016. Our next show will probably be the NYC Big Flea, the weekend of January 21, at the Lexington Avenue Armory. If not, we’ll be in Miami for the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show, February 3 – 5, 2017. This is the airport show, which will be new and improved, with many additional exhibitors. The changes are happening because the Miami Beach Antiques Show will no longer be in Miami Beach, instead moving to a new location in southwest Miami. It will all make for an interesting winter season.

Click here to check my website for the latest items and to look around. I will update it as often as time permits. We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.