Freeman’s sold The Collection of Dorrance “Dodo” H. Hamilton at auction, April 29, 2018

For the foreseeable future I will publish once a week on Mondays.


Paul Cézanne La Vie des Champs, Freeman’s lot #7

Freeman’s, Philadelphia, PA, sold The Collection of Dorrance “Dodo” H. Hamilton at auction, yesterday, April 29, 2018. The sale included some fabulous art, including a Paul Cézanne painting La Vie Des Champs, which sold for $1,450,000, including buyer’s premium. Other artists selling very well included Henri Fantin-Latour, Childe Hassam and Maurice Prendergast. Also included in the sale was Dodo Hamilton’s small, but nice collection of Newcomb College scenic pottery (Newcomb also produced floral designs). That will be today’s topic.

Newcomb College scenic vase, Freeman’s lot #89


Newcomb College transitional scenic vase, Freeman’s lot #90

Of the group of 10 lots of Newcomb pottery offered for sale, #s 89 and 90 tied for the best price of $7,500, including buyer’s premium. Lot #89 was shorter and more bulbous (6″ tall x 6½” diameter), while #90 was taller and slimmer (8¾” tall x 3¾” diameter). #89 was in perfect condition, while #90 had a short hairline crack to the interior rim. #89 was later (1930), while #90 was transitional (1917). Each had a moon.

Newcomb College transitional scenic vase, Freeman’s lot #88

Lot #88 was one of two lots selling for the second highest price of $5,000. It too was transitional from 1917, meaning that it was produced during the time period when the pottery was switching from the earlier high glaze to the later matte glaze. Transitional vases tend to have paler color than later vases and a bit more sheen. Lot #88 measured 5½” tall x 3¼” diameter. It did not have a moon.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.


Our next show is now only two weeks away, May 18-20, 2018, when we’ll exhibit at the 2nd edition of the resurrected Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. It’s a wonderful venue for a show that deserved to be restored from purgatory.

We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I recently listed some of the new items on my website and will list more every week. Click Philip Chasen Antiques to take a look. I will make every effort to actively list new items as often as time permits. 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.

Tiffany lamps sold well at Sotheby’s, New York Luxe: Art of Design sale, April 22, 2018

For the foreseeable future I will publish once a week on Mondays.


Sotheby’s New York, held a Luxe: Art of Design sale this past weekend with total sales of $4,991,877. The 584 lots were sold over two days, April 20 and 22, 2018 (which was unusual because most multi-part sales are held on consecutive days). Included in the sale was a small selection of Tiffany lamps and glass — today’s topic.

It’s a good thing I went to preview the auction in person. The two best lamps, that looked wonderful in the photos, didn’t look quite as wonderful in person. Both lot #1367, an Allamanda, and lot #1368, a Tulip, had extensive cracking and restoration.

Tiffany 16″ diameter Tulip table lamp, Sotheby’s lot #1368

Regardless, lot #1368, the 16″ diameter Tulip lamp, sold well above its high estimate of $30,000, realizing $47,500, including buyer’s premium, for the highest price of the Tiffany selection.

Tiffany Allamanda lamp, Sotheby’s lot #1367

Lot #1367, an 18″ diameter Allamanda, sold near its high estimate of $35,000, realizing $42,500, including buyer’s premium — the second highest price of the Tiffany selection. That’s a pretty good price considering the lamp had damage, restoration and a simple base. If the buyer wants to upgrade to a library base, it will cost about $7,500 additional, if someone is willing to take the existing base in a trade.

Tiffany gold doré 10-light lily table lamp, lot #1372

A decent 10-light lily lamp, lot #1372, sold above its high estimate of $20,000, realizing $27,500, including buyer’s premium. The shades were fairly well matched, but the gold doré base had some wear and corrosion.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.


Our next show is now only three weeks away, May 18-20, 2018, when we’ll exhibit at the 2nd edition of the resurrected Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. It’s a wonderful venue for a show that deserved to be restored from purgatory.

We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I recently listed some of the new items on my website and will list more every week. Click Philip Chasen Antiques to take a look. I will make every effort to actively list new items as often as time permits. 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.

The results of Heritage Auctions’ The Estate of Zsa Zsa Gabor auction, April 13, 2018

For the foreseeable future I will publish once a week on Mondays.


Heritage Auctions, Dallas, TX, sold The Estate of Zsa Zsa Gabor at auction on April 13, 2018. Sales totaled $909,209 for the 480 lots offered. Interestingly, there were no estimates because the sale was totally unreserved. That meant that every item sold with no minimum price. Conceivably an item could have sold for $1 + buyer’s premium, but in actuality the lowest price paid was for lot #65328, three letters written to Zsa Zsa, which sold for $175, including buyer’s premium.

The estate was consigned to Heritage Auctions by her ninth husband, Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt. He became her sole remaining heir after the deaths of her sisters and daughter. Zsa Zsa Gabor died on December 18, 2016, at the age of 99. Click on Zsa Zsa Gabor’s name for a link to her very interesting Wikipedia page. Click on von Anhalt’s name for a link to his Wikipedia page. His is quite the story, starting with the purchase of his title.

Margaret Keane Portrait of Zsa Zsa Gabor, Heritage lot #65140

The top lot of the sale was #65140, an oil on canvas painting by Margaret Keane, Portrait of Zsa Zsa Gabor, which sold for $45,000, including buyer’s premium.

Pal Fried portrait of Zsa Zsa and her daughter, Francesca, Heritage lot #65047

Zsa Zsa possessed many paintings by her fellow Hungarian compatriot, Pal Fried, all of which were included in the sale. Lot #65047 was a beautiful, oversize portrait of Zsa Zsa and her daughter, Francesca. It was sold for $7,500, including buyer’s premium, purchased by yours truly.

Heritage lot #65191

In a creepy, ghoulish section of the sale, someone paid $1,187.50 for each of two lots of Zsa Zsa’s pill containers, #s 65212 and 65192. I’m sorry, but that’s nuts. Can’t we leave the woman with a little dignity?

Much of the sale is devoted to her clothing, jewelry, furniture and personal possessions. For the complete results, click here. You will have to sign in to see the prices (free).


Our next show is now only a month away, May 18-20, 2018, when we’ll exhibit at the 2nd edition of the resurrected Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. It’s a wonderful venue for a show that deserved to be restored from purgatory.

We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I recently listed some of the new items on my website and will list more every week. Click Philip Chasen Antiques to take a look. I will make every effort to actively list new items as often as time permits. 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.

The results of Westport Auction’s Tiffany Lighting and more! sale, March 25, 2018

For the foreseeable future I will publish once a week on Mondays.


Westport Auction, Westport, CT, held a Tiffany Lighting and more! sale on March 25, 2018. The sale was mostly property from the estate of the Robinson Brothers, Arthur & Joe, of Harrison, NY. They both dealt in Tiffany Studios’ collections, as well as items removed from Laurelton Hall. The sale included Tiffany shades, parts, pieces and lamps, as well as a nice collection of Steuben and Quezal shades.

Tiffany Moorish chandelier, Westport lot #23

The top lot of the sale was #23, a Moorish chandelier with lily shades. Even though the lily shades were reproduction, it sold within its pre-sale estimate of $10,000 – $30,000, realizing $21,600, including 20% buyer’s premium.

Pair of wall sconces, Westport lot #11

The second highest result was for lot #11, a pair of 3-light wall sconces. Supposedly authentic Tiffany Studios, they were not, in my opinion, nor in the opinions of two other experts. Caveat emptor. If you buy from auction, you take your life in your own hands. They sold for $20,400, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $8,000 – $12,000. It was one of several reproduction lots in the auction.

Set of six Quezal red decorated shades, Westport lot #136

Some of the art glass shades in the auction were quite rare and desirable, including 12 red decorated Quezal shades that were sold in three lots. It’s difficult to find even one red decorated shade, so a dozen in one sale is quite cool. Lot #136 included six of them. They sold for $9,000, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $1,200 – $1,800.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.


Our next show is not until May 18-20, 2018, when we’ll exhibit at the 2nd edition of the resurrected Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. It’s a wonderful venue for a show that deserved to be restored from purgatory.

We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I recently listed some of the new items on my website and will list more every week. Click Philip Chasen Antiques to take a look. I will make every effort to actively list new items as often as time permits. 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 tried to buy a couple of interesting items at auction…

For the foreseeable future I will publish once a week on Mondays.


I recently tried to buy a couple of nice items at auction. I hoped they would fall through the cracks so I could buy them for resale. But alas, they did not. They sold for retail prices, so I wasn’t the buyer.

Tiffany Studios Pine Needle clock, Fontaine lot #2

The first item was a very nice Tiffany Studios clock in the Pine Needle pattern. It sold at Fontaine Auction Gallery’s Antiques & Fine Art auction in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on March 24, 2018 as lot #2. Against a low estimate, it realized $6,655, including buyer’s premium. That’s a fine price for a retail buyer, but not a dealer, so I wasn’t the buyer.

For the complete results of Fontaine’s sale, click here.

Quezal lily shade sconce, similar in design to Bonham’s chandelier pictured below

Quezal chandelier, Bonham’s lot #221

The second item sold as lot #221 in Bonham’s Elegant Home sale in Los Angeles on March 26, 2018. It was a wonderful original Quezal chandelier with nine matching shades. I’ve seen a similar, smaller model before, in the form of a wall sconce with lily shades, but never the matching chandelier. Bonham’s lot was an original mashup of four sconces made into one huge chandelier. How cool is that! It sold for $7,500, including buyer’s premium, against a very low estimate of $1,000 – $1,500. Again, the price was just fine for a retail buyer, but not a dealer, so I didn’t buy it.

For the complete results of Bonham’s sale, click here.


Our next show is not until May 18-20, 2018, when we’ll exhibit at the 2nd edition of the resurrected Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. It’s a wonderful venue for a show that deserved to be restored from purgatory.

We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I recently listed some of the new items on my website and will list more every week. Click Philip Chasen Antiques to take a look. I will make every effort to actively list new items as often as time permits. 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.