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.
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.
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.
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.