Bernard Steinitz, from Paris, set up a great exhibit in a fully walled room

The Los Angeles Antiques Show is a small, but very upscale show, with a high percentage of European dealers, some of whom were really impacted by the travel ban caused by the smoke from the Icelandic volcano. A couple of the dealers set up fantastic booths, that had to cost tens of thousands of dollars, especially coming from Europe. I wish I knew how they fared.

My booth at the Los Angeles Antiques Show, 4/25/10

The show started off slowly on Wednesday night, with the usual preview party — many guests, very few sales. Opening day attendance on Thursday was poor, which was surprising. Friday was quite slow too, but that’s usual for a four-day show. I was told that attendance and business would pick up on the weekend and it did. Saturday was a decent day, but far from a barnburner. Attendance on Sunday was moderate, with commensurate sales. Overall, the show was decent, with interest across the board from Tiffany to Icart to Grueby pottery. As the show is a big investment in resources and time, I’m not sure I’m willing to try it again. I’ll make that decision later.

Icart Eve

Icart Venus

A little humorous aside. Louis Icart produced an etching called “Eve”. As everyone familiar with Icart knows, the mate to “Eve” is “Venus”. A decorator, who was not familiar with Icart, came into my booth and admired Eve. I told her that I had the mate to Eve, so she asked if it was “Adam”. I haven’t had that good a laugh at an antique show in a long time. (Now that I read it, I think this joke is only funny to devotees of Icart. The rest of you will just have to take my word it’s funny.)

I’m taking a lot of time to add new items to my website. In the last few days I’ve added to the Gallé glass and Icart etchings listings. Please take a look, as every day I’m adding more. Click on this link chasenantiques.com.

Please send me your suggestions or questions about art glass, lamps, Louis Icart, shows, auctions, etc. If it’s interesting, I’ll answer your question in a future blog.