I will do my best to publish a new post every Monday.
I made some very nice sales recently of French glass, especially good pâte-de-verre by Argy-Rousseau and Amalric Walter.
Amalric Walter Turtle pendant
The pâte-de-verre Turtle pendant by Amalric Walter, pictured above, is quite rare and equally beautiful. I’d never seen one before. I bought it from a client who bought most of his pâte-de-verre from Minna Rosenblatt in the 1980s. Minna was an important NYC Madison Ave. dealer. I sold it to the first person I offered it to.
Gallé Beetle and Oak Leaves vase
The Gallé vase pictured above is desirable because of the rare subject matter of a beetle. It went to a collector in Belgium.
Pair of Tiffany Studios candlesticks
Tiffany Studios lamps, glass and miscellaneous items have been selling well. The candlesticks pictured above are not that rare, but their condition is exemplary. They have amazing original patinas, which unfortunately don’t show well in the photo. Take my word for it. They’re great.
I’m actively buying good pâte-de-verre by Argy-Rousseau and Walter. I’d love it if you would offer me something.
Let me know what interests you, even if you don’t see it on my website. I’ve got lots of items that I haven’t listed yet and I know how to locate what you desire.
I 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 will do my best to publish a new post every Monday.
Tiffany 17″ diameter Poppy table lamp, Fairfield lot #14
Fairfield Auctions, Monroe, CT, held a general auction on September 29, 2021. Included in the sale was a beautiful, but badly damaged, 17″ diameter Tiffany Studios Poppy table lamp. Interestingly, the lamp was discovered by a cleanout crew whose job was to dispose of the contents of a house. It had been treated very poorly on the mistaken belief that it had no value.
Besides the missing glass in one section and several missing tiles in the border, there were multiple severely damaged tiles that needed replacement. I counted at least 35-40 damaged or missing tiles. That’s quite a lot of damage.
I wanted to buy the lamp because the undamaged parts of the lamp were really beautiful. If properly restored, the lamp would be gorgeous. I guessed the restoration would cost about $15,000 and the lamp would be worth approximately $60,000 after restoration. But besides the cost of the restoration, the lamp needed a better base. The simple stick base it came with was good for a geometric shade like an Acorn, but not for an important Poppy shade. So I figured the upgrade in the base would cost another $7,500 – $10,000. Then the lamp would be worth $70,000 – $80,000 in my estimation.
Prior to the auction, I figured I could pay up to $20,000, including the buyer’s premium. That way my total cost for the lamp after paying for the restoration and upgrading the base would be approximately $45,000, leaving some room for a profit. I don’t know who bought it, but it wasn’t me. It sold for $40,800, including buyer’s premium. Doesn’t make sense to me. Only a collector or dealer with knowledge of how and where to restore this lamp would have any interest in it. And that means the total cost of the restored lamp would be approximately $65,000. Sounds nuts to me.
Let me know what interests you, even if you don’t see it on my website. I’ve got lots of items that I haven’t listed yet and I know how to locate what you desire.
I 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 will do my best to publish a new post every Monday.
Fontaine’s Auction, Pittsfield, MA, held a Fine & Decorative Arts sale on September 25, 2021. Following are a few of the results that I found most interesting.
Loetz black bottom vase, Fontaine’s lot #26
As the glass and lamps expert for several major auction houses, including Fontaine’s, I get called on to authenticate and evaluate many items. Lot #26 was particularly amusing. It was presented to me as possibly Tiffany, since it had a Tiffany signature. It was obvious, without looking at the signature, that it was an important piece of Austrian glass by Loetz, commonly referred to as a black bottom vase. Frequently authentic Loetz vases were unsigned (as opposed to Tiffany who signed almost everything). So what almost surely happened, probably sometime within the last 50 years, is that some unscrupulous dummy thought a Tiffany signature would enhance its value and saleability. So Fontaine’s sold it as they found it; an authentic Loetz vase with a spurious signature. That didn’t stop the buyers. It sold for $11,495, including buyer’s premium, against an estimate of $3,000 – $5,000.
Tiffany 20″ diameter geometric table lamp, Fontaine’s lot #51
I don’t buy many Tiffany geometric table lamps, as there are fewer buyers for them than for floral table lamps. But lot #51, a 20″ diameter geometric table lamp, was an exception. It was clean as a whistle, just like the day it was bought. The condition was remarkable; only one hairline crack, a gorgeous patina on the shade and base, original sockets, original cap. The owners took fantastic care of this lamp over the last century or so. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that it was boxed for decades. Not only that, but the lamp had great glass; a rich apple green with heavy mottling. It was estimated to sell for $10,000 – $15,000, but realized $21,780, including buyer’s premium. I bid strongly, but couldn’t compete with the retail buyers.
Tiffany window, Gabriel Blowing His Horn, Fontaine’s lot #103
I’ve never personally dealt in Tiffany windows as they’re too difficult to handle, display, transport, ship, etc. But I do follow the market. Rule #1, don’t buy religious windows. They’re very difficult to sell. Rule #2, don’t buy religious windows. You get the point. However, the quality of many of them is amazing, so there is a market for them, including lot #103, Gabriel Blowing His Horn. It measured 51½” x 49″, including the frame, and was signed and dated Tiffany Studios, New York, 1916. The glass was fantastic; drapery glass in Gabriel’s robe, fracture glass in the leaves (especially in the upper left and upper right), mottled glass, striated glass, the works. It was really a great window. It sold near the high end of its estimate of $70,000 – $90,000, realizing $102,850, including buyer’s premium. It might have brought $500,000 if it weren’t religious.
There were lots of other interesting results in the sale, but only time to write about a few. For the complete results of the sale, click here.
Let me know what interests you, even if you don’t see it on my website. I’ve got lots of items that I haven’t listed yet and I know how to locate what you desire.
I 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.
