This past week saw the major New York auction houses hold their 20th Century Decorative Arts sales, which included a significant number of Tiffany Studios items. What became clear is that the upper end of the market is sizzling, while the lower end of the market is fizzling. (My mother would have liked that one.) Today, I’ll discuss the Christie’s sale and on Thursday, the Sotheby’s sale.

Tiffany Studios Peony window, Christie's lot 252

Christie’s held their Important Tiffany sale first, on December 15, 2010. The sale included several important lamps and a gorgeous window, lot 252. The estimate of $100,000-150,000 gave no clue that it would become the star of the sale, realizing the incredible price of $962,500, including buyer’s premium. In retrospect, it shouldn’t have been that much of a surprise — first, it was gorgeous and second, it had impeccable provenance. It was installed in the Darius Goff House in Pawtucket, Rhode Island in 1893 and remained there until early in 2010.

Also in the sale were a Wisteria lamp ($842,500), a Snowball (Hydrangea) floor lamp ($482,500), another Wisteria lamp ($482,500) and ten more lamps selling over $100,000 each. Another nine lamps sold in the range of $40,000 to $86,500.

Rare Tiffany Studios table, Christie's lot 227

One of the more unusual Tiffany offerings was an early 1881 cherry table with brass inlays, from Tiffany’s own home at the Bella Apartment House in New York City. Estimated to sell for $150,000 – $200,000, it sold within the estimate for $182,500.

Tiffany Studios Lemon Leaf table lamp, Christie's lot 204

Simple Tiffany floral lamps and geometric lamps were under-appreciated at the Christie’s sale. There were some serious bargains, especially for Arts & Crafts buyers. An 18″ yellow Lemon Leaf table lamp with a matching Grueby base, with Jordan-Volpe Gallery provenance, sold for only $15,000, including the buyer’s premium. Kudos to the buyer for picking off this one.

For the complete Tiffany results from Christie’s, click on the following link: Christie’s Important Tiffany results.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Tiffany, Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve recently listed many of them on my website, including Daum blackbirds, swans, rain, and more to come in the next few days, plus a killer red Tiffany Favrile vase. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com