The results of Heritage Auctions’ Illustration Art auction, October 12, 2018

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.


Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas, held an Illustration Art sale on October 12, 2018, with total sales of $1,745,893 for the 398 lots offered. Works by Patrick Nagel and Alberto Vargas led the sale, taking the first five places.

Patrick Nagel Untitled, Heritage lot #71155

The top lot of the sale was #71155, an untitled acrylic on canvas painting by Patrick Nagel. It sold for an incredible $162,500, including buyer’s premium — approximately double its high estimate of $80,000. I continue to be befuddled by his desirability and prices. I just don’t see it.

Alberto Vargas Trick or Treat, Heritage lot #71151

On the other hand, I understand Alberto Vargas. Lot #71151, a mixed media painting on board entitled Trick or Treat, a Playboy interior illustration from the October, 1967 issue, sold for $100,000, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $40,000 – $60,000.

Gil Elvgren Vision of Beauty (Unveiling), Heritage lot #71115

While the prices of works by Patrick Nagel is on the upswing, prices for Gil Elvgren’s works are on the downswing. A beautiful 1947 painting by Elvgren, entitled Vision of Beauty (Unveiling) sold below its pre-sale estimate of $60,000 – $80,000, realizing only $45,000, including buyer’s premium.

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


No shows until January 18, 2019, when we’ll exhibit at the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC). It precedes the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show.

I’ll be listing new items soon, especially Tiffany desk set items, which make great Christmas gifts. Look for them soon.

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 Original Miami Beach Antiques Show has modified its dates for January, 2019

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.


I was unable to post a new blog last Monday as we were in Europe on a buying trip. Next week I’ll post about some of our purchases.

An artist’s rendering of the Miami Beach Convention Center

As some of you know, the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show is finally moving back into the Miami Beach Convention Center after 2½ years of construction. The show usually runs from Thursday to Sunday, but the promoters were forced to change their dates to Sunday – Wednesday. That upset some dealers who canceled their spaces in a mini-rebellion. The promoters got the message and decided to open half a day on Saturday. The latest news is that the show will open a full day on Saturday. So now the show is near-normal, with a full weekend followed by two weekdays. I hope some of the dealers who canceled will reconsider with the new dates.

Now the official new dates are Saturday, January 26, 2019 to Tuesday, January 29, 2019. The dealers will have three days to set up, Wednesday, January 23, 2019 to Friday, January 25, 2019.

Here is the announcement from the show promoters with the official hours.

Please note, our adjusted show dates and hours below:
Saturday, January 26: 11:00am – 8:00pm
Sunday, January 27: 11:00am – 7:00pm
Monday, January 28: 11:00am – 7:00pm
Tuesday, January 29: 11:00am – 5:00pm
*The show will no longer be open on January 30, 2019. The last show day is Tuesday, January 29, 2019*


No shows until January 18, 2019, when we’ll exhibit at the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC). It precedes the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show.

I’ll be listing new items soon, especially Tiffany desk set items, which make great Christmas gifts. Look for them soon.

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 the Antiques + Modernism Winnetka show, November 2-4, 2018

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.

When I have the time to write a contemporaneous account of a show, I do. Unfortunately this is one of those shows. I’ve got plenty of time to write.

That’s my booth in the front of an empty ballroom at 8:45 PM Thursday night at the preview party

Thursday 8:45 PM If you read my blog regularly, you know that I’m going to complain about the preview party. They’re always awful, but sometimes better if the food and drink are good. So this one had good food and drink, so it wasn’t as bad as some others. And I think I made a sale. A lady said she’s buying a Tiffany clock for her husband’s birthday tomorrow and she’ll be back at noon. But I don’t know her and nothing is sold until it’s paid for. We’ll see. Attendance has been lighter than usual. The party is usually packed, but at 8:45 PM our ballroom is empty. Most of the attendees are young women who are here to socialize and have no interest in making any purchases.

We sold this beautiful Daum Nancy vitrified floral and butterfly vase at the show

Friday 3:30 PM There was quite a bit of interest earlier in the day when some of my clients showed up. I made a couple of very good sales, so the show is off to a good start. I’ve got my fingers crossed that it will also end well, but it’s impossible to predict. My best clients emailed me that they’re unable to attend.

Oh and that lady who said she’s buying a Tiffany clock for her husband showed up and decided not to buy the clock. That’s beyond rude, after she told me it was sold.

Noon on Saturday outside my booth (on the left)

Saturday 12:00 PM The show was dead from midday yesterday until now. There’s no reason the show should have opened at 10 AM. 11 AM would have been kind to all concerned. Still haven’t had any serious inquiries, but attendance is picking up and we’re expecting some of our clients later in the day. Hopefully it will be a good day.

Rare Tiffany Studios 4-branch Art Nouveau table lamp

Saturday 5:00 PM After a slow start, we made a small sale in the morning and then nothing till later in the afternoon when we made a nice sale. That was followed by a very good sale to one of our best clients. So the day was a good one. Thank you. You know who you are.

We sold this rare and exceptional Gallé Apple blownout vase at the show on Sunday

Sunday 4:00 PM Sundays are frequently duds, but not this one. New clients came to show today and purchased two Gallé vases, including an important blownout Apple vase. Then we made another couple of sales, including a Tiffany counterbalance desk lamp. That makes three lamps sold at the show, which is a great result. We’re extremely pleased and look forward to both our next show (in Miami) and our next show in Chicago.


No shows until January 18, 2019, when we’ll exhibit at the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC). It precedes the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show which is finally moving back into the newly renovated Miami Beach Convention Center.

I’ll be listing new items soon, especially Tiffany desk set items, which make great Christmas gifts. Look for them soon.

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.