I will publish a new blog once in a blue moon, which as you know is not very often.
What was my motivation for writing a blog? Well, what is anyone’s motivation? It’s got to be self-serving. I wanted people to know that I was very active in the antiques business and that I was an expert in my field. I wrote about new items for sale, items I’d sold, antiques news, lessons, etc. And it worked.
I remember an incident at an antique show many years ago. I told a client that a lamp I was selling was authentic. So I referred her to another dealer on the floor of the show to verify what I was saying. In fact, he wasn’t knowledgeable enough to verify what I had said. So the client returned to my booth and asked me “How do I know what you’re telling me is correct?” I was put in the position of having to defend my knowledge. There was no good answer. I didn’t have a degree in lamps or art history or anything of the sort. No gray hair at the time. I was right, but I couldn’t prove it.
Fast forward to today. That rarely ever happens anymore. People know that I’m the expert and don’t question my credentials (which I earned from the school of hard knocks and experience). Many auction houses use my services to authenticate and evaluate consignments of glass and lamps. Part of the credit goes to my blog, which people have been reading for the last 12 years.
So why would I stop now (or slow down tremendously)? 1. It takes a lot of time and effort to write. 2. Readership is down considerably to about 1/3 of what it was at the peak. (If readership were stable or going up, I would continue to write.) 3. I don’t get much feedback from my blog. 4. I shot myself in the foot more than once. Let me explain.
I write honestly and sometimes too bluntly. I’ve heard from many readers that that’s one of the reasons they like to read my blog. Some of the blogs I’ve written have been critical of auction houses or dealers. I wrote the blogs from my point of view and didn’t realize in some cases that I was offending or demeaning the subjects of the blog. Some of the subjects of my blogs took great offense, when none was intended. So at this point in my career, my blog is causing me more harm than good. So I may write a blog from time to time, but for the most part, my blog is finished. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it and maybe learned a thing or two, but for now it’s adios.
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.
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.
