There were some highs and lows at Heritage’s Tiffany, Lalique & Art Glass sale, May 14, 2019


It’s Memorial Day, but I’m not comfortable saying Happy Memorial Day, although many people do. It’s a time to honor the memory of those soldiers who lost their lives defending our liberty. So have a good holiday and remember those who came before us.

Between shows, travel and personal business, I lead a pretty busy life. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that I miss more than a few opportunities to buy good items at fair prices. Heritage’s Tiffany, Lalique & Art Glass sale, May 14, 2019, was a good example. I was interested in about 10 lots, but because we were in Chicago for a show, it totally slipped my mind.

Tiffany Linenfold floor lamp, Heritage lot #79016

Lot #79016 was a Tiffany Linenfold counterbalance floor lamp with a rare 4-legged base, estimated for a ridiculous $2,500 – $3,500. It was photographed poorly, too dark in the catalog, and with the shade in an awkward position. I would have paid in the range of $10,000, all in, but it sold for $7,500. I could have doubled my money at that price.

Pairpoint scenic table lamp, Pairpoint lot #79134

The Pairpoint lamp market has suffered for the last decade. Many lamps are selling today for less than when I started in the antiques business over 40 years ago. Take lot #79134, an 18″ diameter Pairpoint scenic table lamp, as an example. It sold for $500, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $800 – $1,200. This same lamp would have sold for approximately $1,500 in the 1970s, in inflation-adjusted dollars.

Le Verre Francais Poisson vase, Heritage lot #79192

Lot #79192, a rare Le Verre Francais Poissons vase, was another story. It carried a ridiculously low estimate of $500 – $700. At least two bidders noticed and bid it to a more realistic price of $6,875, including buyer’s premium.

Click here for the complete results of the sale. You will have to sign in (free) to see the realized prices.
No shows until October 20, 2022, when we’ll exhibit at the Baltimore Art, Antique & Jewelry Show. Two weeks later we’ll exhibit at the Antiques + Modernism Show in Winnetka, IL, starting on November 4, 2022.

The results of the Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show, May 17-19, 2019


There’s a gaggle of geese outside my booth and no one in my booth at the preview party

Thursday, 7 PM. If I have enough time, I write my blog directly from the floor of the show. It’s usually a bad sign, because I should be busy with clients. But the preview party is happening now and I’m in my usual preview-party-bad-mood. I don’t want to be here.

The crowd is 90% young women who seem to have no interest whatsoever in antiques. So why are we they here? I guess because it’s a nice social event. But why are we here? The $64,000 question. Certainly not to sell antiques.

Opening Day, Friday, 1 PM. The show has been open for two hours. Attendance is light, but there have been several serious inquiries. No sales as of this moment, but I’m cautiously optimistic.

We sold this lovely R. Lalique Chevreuse vase at the show

Friday, 7 PM. The first day is over and I’m disappointed. We made a few small sales, but are nowhere near making our expenses, let alone a profit. There’s lots of show left, so hopefully the weekend will be good.

Saturday, 1:45 PM. Attendance is light to moderate. There have been only a few inquiries. Some may be serious, but it’s hard to tell. One client is back from yesterday, so there might be a sale there.

There were a few people in my booth on Saturday afternoon

Saturday, 3:45 PM. Attendance is still light to moderate. The “be-back” from yesterday was full of hot air. We made one nice sale to one of our established clients. Still not out of the woods with respect to making our expenses. One of our best clients is due to arrive in a little while. We’ll see what happens.

Saturday, 7:00 PM. The day is over and it was a moderate success. Our late afternoon client made purchases that put us over the top, into the black. If we do some business on Sunday, it will be a good show.

Sunday, 1 PM. Attendance is again light to moderate. No sales yet, but we had some serious inquiries that I hope will turn into sales.

We sold this beautiful Tiffany 10-light lily lamp at the show

Sunday, 5 PM. The show is over and we’re satisfied. We only made one sale on Sunday, but it was a lovely Tiffany 10-light lily lamp. Overall, business was down about 15% from last year, but it was still a moderately successful show. Had some of our best clients attended, we probably would have had an even more successful show, but unfortunately they were indisposed.


No shows until October 20, 2022, when we’ll exhibit at the Baltimore Art, Antique & Jewelry Show. Two weeks later we’ll exhibit at the Antiques + Modernism Show in Winnetka, IL, starting on November 4, 2022.

The Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show will open to the public this Friday, May 17, 2019


The third edition of the resurrected Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show will open to the public this Friday, May 17th, at 11 AM, and continue until Sunday, May 19th, at 5 PM, with a preview party on Thursday night.

Last year in our booth

The show at the Merchandise Mart is select and elegant. The exhibitors and their displays will be extraordinary, in a fabulous venue. You will be hard pressed to find a finer show anywhere in the entire United States. There aren’t many antique shows left in the entire country and even fewer of this quality, so make your plans now to attend. You’ll thank me.

We just bought this intense blue Gallé clematis vase

As usual, we’re bringing a fabulous inventory of French and American glass and lamps. We just came back from a very successful buying trip to Europe, so we’re bringing our latest and greatest purchases. I know you’ll enjoy the show and my display in particular. Please stop into my booth and say hello.


No shows until October 20, 2022, when we’ll exhibit at the Baltimore Art, Antique & Jewelry Show. Two weeks later we’ll exhibit at the Antiques + Modernism Show in Winnetka, IL, starting on November 4, 2022.

I bought some lovely Daum Nancy and Gallé vases in France


We’re on the way home, as you read this blog, after a very successful trip. We bought mostly Daum Nancy rarities, but some lovely Gallé glass also.

Following are some of the wonderful items. We’ll bring them to the Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show in a couple of weeks if they are not sold prior, as they are available for immediate sale.

Daum Nancy Crane vase

Animals of any sort are rare and very desirable decoration for Daum. Cranes are exceptionally rare. The example pictured above is decorated with four cranes in flight, with heavily gilded rays of the rising or setting sun. It’s museum-quality.

Daum Nancy vase with applied berries

Daum is most famous for fabulous detail attained by the use of hand-painted enameling, after acid-etching. The example above has exquisite detail in the leaves and vines. The contrast with the mottled background is strong and beautiful. Once we add the many applied berries to the workmanship, we raise the level of this vase from excellent to awesome. Another example of museum-quality.

Daum Nancy bowl with Imperial Russia decoration

The bowl pictured above is not only beautiful, it’s historically significant. Tsar
Nicholas II started his state visit to France on September 18, 1901, by royal yacht and then by train to Compiègne, near Reims. This commemorative bowl is decorated with the Russian imperial emblem on one side with Compiègne Reims 1901 enameled below, in the gilded belt. The other side is decorated with a scene of the venue, hand-painted en grisaille, surrounded by acid-etched and hand-painted enameled flowers and leaves. This is the type of Daum item that you would want just based on its beauty. With the additional historical importance, it’s extraordinary.

There’s more, but I can’t list them all in this blog. Email me if you have interest. I’ll try to take photos and list them on my website as soon as possible.


No shows until October 20, 2022, when we’ll exhibit at the Baltimore Art, Antique & Jewelry Show. Two weeks later we’ll exhibit at the Antiques + Modernism Show in Winnetka, IL, starting on November 4, 2022.