On vacation for a week, so no new posts for a little while.
The show started off on the right foot with good sales and interest on the first day, Thursday. It looked like the show was going to be a really good one. Then came Friday and Saturday.
The view from my booth at the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show, Sunday afternoon, September 5, 2010
The Palm Beach Show Group bought the show a few years ago and made a few changes. One was to expand the show to four days, from three. That’s supposed to give the dealers more selling time, but for the most part, it doesn’t work. After all, who comes on the Friday of a four-day show? If you’re a dealer or very interested collector, you come on opening day, Thursday. If you’re busy during the week, you come on the weekend. So it appears that most of the people who come on Friday are just out for a stroll, like going to a museum, except everything is for sale, and you don’t have to buy a thing. And that’s exactly what happened. Nobody bought a thing on Friday.
Saturday looked like it was going to be a better day. Lots of people, lots of questions, and serious interest. Based on the serious interest, I should have had a great day, but unfortunately, not one single person returned and the day was a complete bust.
Fine Galle vase with red fuchsia on a flattened triangular shape
Sunday is a funny day. Some are wonderful and others awful. Never know who’s going to show up. Interest was good and sales picked up considerably, with special interest in French glass.
All in all, a decent show for me. I spoke to several other dealers. Most of them didn’t lose money, a few did very well, and the rest were satisfied, but with lowered expectations.
Also on the bright side, the Hilton hotel was wonderful, with an incredible view of Camden Yards from the balcony. Lots of comfortable chairs. It’s as close as you can get to being at the game, without being at the game. The Orioles lost to Tampa Bay, 8-4 — good for the Yankees.
The view of Camden Yards from the Hilton Hotel, September 4, 2010
I recently added over 10 Galle vases to my website, 7 Tiffany lamps, 1 Grueby vase, 1 Newcomb vase, Daum Nancy glass and a fabulous Burgun & Schverer internally decorated vase. This coming week, I’ll be adding many new items. Please take a look. Click on this link chasenantiques.com.
Please send me your comments or questions about art glass, lamps, Louis Icart, shows, auctions, etc. If it’s interesting, I’ll answer you in a future blog.