Monday’s post is delayed as we’re on a European buying trip. I hope to have it up by 3 PM EDT.

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Cottone Auctions, Geneseo, NY, held a Fine Art & Antiques Auction on September 28, 2019. Included in the sale was a nice selection of Tiffany Studios lamps. The results were decent, but not exceptional. Following are the top three results.

Tied for the top Tiffany lamp of the sale was lot #57, a 17″ diameter Dragonfly table lamp with very attractive orange and red ripple glass. It sold for $64,900, including buyer’s premium – toward the lower end of the pre-sale estimate of $50,000 – $80,000.

Next up for sale was lot #58, a rare Tiffany 17″ diameter Geranium table lamp, with an equally rare reticulated urn base. Estimated to sell for $60,000 – $80,000, it sold just below its low estimate, realizing $64,900, including buyer’s premium – identical to the price of the previous lot, the Geranium lamp.

The third best result of the Tiffany lamps was lot #60, a very attractive 20″ diameter Poppy table lamp. It sold slightly above its low estimate of $45,000, realizing $46,000 ($54,280, including buyer’s premium). I really liked this lamp and bid accordingly. I was the underbidder at $45,000. I just couldn’t justify bidding any higher because it wouldn’t leave me with enough room for a decent profit.

For the complete results of the sale click here. You will have to sign in to log on (free).

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No shows until May when we’ll exhibit at the Chicago Antiques + Art + Design show at the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago. It’s a beautiful show in a wonderful venue. The dates are May 14-17, 2020. So put it on your calendar and make plans to visit. You’ll thank me.

Sorry, no new post this week. I’m on a treasure hunt with my son. Really.

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Fontaine’s Auction, Pittsfield, MA, held an Antiques & Fine Art Auction, September 14, 2019. Included in the sale was a collection of Tiffany Favrile glass from a 90+-year-old woman from the suburbs of New York City. The results were strong because the selection was fresh-to-the-market, high-quality, and sold without reserve, attracting the interest of major collectors and dealers.

The top lot of the Tiffany Favrile collection was #3, a rare inkwell with gold Favrile applications and an iridescent Favrile insert. Estimated to sell for $3,000 – $5,000, it realized $21,780, including buyer’s premium. I was hoping to buy it, but soon realized that I didn’t have a chance when I looked around the audience and saw a major California collector sitting in the back. He wound up buying quite a few items.

Fontaine also sold a selection of Tiffany Studios lamps. There was no doubt that lot #100 would be the star of the sale. It was a very rare Fish lamp, estimated to sell for $80,000 – $100,000. I don’t find this design to be very attractive, so I wouldn’t have bid regardless of the price. But guess what? I wasn’t consulted. (Can you believe that??) It doubled its low estimate, realizing $217,800, including buyer’s premium.

Also in the sale was a rare Picasso, limited-edition, ceramic Taureau pitcher which sold within its pre-sale estimate of $30,000 – $50,000, realizing $54,450, including buyer’s premium. The surprise was that this pitcher was found in a clean-out of a Brooklyn, NY apartment. The consignors had no idea there was anything valuable. With their luck, it’s time for them to take some of the proceeds and buy a few lottery tickets.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

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No shows until May when we’ll exhibit at the Chicago Antiques + Art + Design show at the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago. It’s a beautiful show in a wonderful venue. The dates are May 14-17, 2020. So put it on your calendar and make plans to visit. You’ll thank me.

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Now that the Baltimore Summer Antiques show is history, I’m looking forward to our next show in November. In the meantime, I’m not resting on my laurels. I’ve been buying some great items and will be buying more as opportunities present themselves.

One of the really great items I just acquired is a very rare Gallé Rio de Janeiro banjo vase. It’s the first time I’ve owned one, ever. I’ve seen a few in other color combinations, but this example is the best.

Daum Nancy violets are very desirable decoration. Most of the time the decoration is more important than the shape, but occasionally the shape is as important, such as this bowl with two applied handles. Add great color and superb detail, with hand-painted, gilded veins in the leaves and you get an extraordinary example.

When was the last time you saw a mermaid with two legs and two fins? Not often, I imagine. This German/Austrian, bronze, Art Nouveau, circa 1900 inkwell has one, as well as an octopus with a human-type face and teeth. It’s one of the most amusing inkwells that I’ve ever had.

Now that fall is here, I’m starting to work hard to list new items and search for new ones. We’re going soon on a European buying trip. I’ll list those items when we return and then bring them all to our next show in Winnetka, Illinois.

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No shows until May when we’ll exhibit at the Chicago Antiques + Art + Design show at the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago. It’s a beautiful show in a wonderful venue. The dates are May 14-17, 2020. So put it on your calendar and make plans to visit. You’ll thank me.

Monday’s post will be up by noon.

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There was a crowd of a few hundred people at the opening of the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show on Thursday, August 29, 2019.

Following is a contemporaneous account of the show.

Thursday, 6 PM. Opening day is almost over and business was decent. All of our sales were French glass, either Gallé or Daum. It was a good start, but far from where we need to be to reach total average sales for the last few years. However, I’m cautiously optimistic as we usually get off to a slow start.

Friday, 4 PM. It’s been pretty busy today. We made several sales, again mostly French cameo glass by Daum. We also had good interest from several clients who we hope will return.

Friday, 7 PM. Things really slowed down toward the evening. There were a few questions, but no sales. Some of the people said they’d be back, but I’ve heard that many times before. We’ll see.

Saturday, 2:30 PM. Attendance has been really good today, as well as interest and sales. We sold a Tiffany floor lamp and a clock. We have another client who is likely to buy a different floor lamp. Funny how all the action today has shifted from French glass to Tiffany.

Saturday, 7 PM. 3/4 of the show is now in the books and the show is good. We added to today’s sales with a gorgeous Rookwood vase and another Tiffany floor lamp. If tomorrow goes well, the show will go from good to excellent.

Sunday, 3:30 PM. We’re having a very nice day today with the sales of two naughty Austrian bronzes, as well as a Daum vase and a Gallé vase. My guess is we won’t sell anything else until the show ends at 6 PM tonight, but stranger things have been known to happen.

Sunday, 7 PM. The show is over and we’re very pleased. And we did make another sale of a Daum vase. Whaddya know? Total sales were slightly less than last year, but net profit was about the same and last year was one of our best. This week I’ll be discussing the sale of a Tiffany Dragonfly lamp that a client saw at the show. If that happens, the show will be our best in years, maybe ever.

Next year’s show is moving up to the week before Labor Day. I think it’s a good move that I’m looking forward to.

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No shows until May when we’ll exhibit at the Chicago Antiques + Art + Design show at the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago. It’s a beautiful show in a wonderful venue. The dates are May 14-17, 2020. So put it on your calendar and make plans to visit. You’ll thank me.