My goal is to publish new posts twice a week — Mondays and Thursdays. However, if you don’t see a new post on Thursday, it’s because I was too busy, so please look for a new one the following Monday. There won’t be a Thursday blog this week, as the Palm Beach Modernism show ended on Monday.
Some of the crowd in front of my booth at the preview party
This week’s blog will be a contemporaneous, day by day, accounting of the show. It’s Friday night, 7:15 PM, as I write the first chapter. The preview party is going on now. There’s a nice crowd milling about, having a good time, conversing, eating, drinking. There have been a few questions, but no sales. The odds I’ll sell anything tonight are slim to none. The crowd is younger than at most antique shows. It’s wonderful, but often young people don’t have the means to buy what they like.
The booth looked great
Saturday, 10:05 AM. The show is just opening to the public. I have to eat my hat. I made a major sale during the preview party. Even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while. I still hate preview parties, but I wouldn’t mind having a few key sales change my mind.
Saturday, 2:30 PM. Lots of people, lots of questions, little action. Made one sale, but not much else is happening. Hope some of the “be-backs” come back.
It was fairly busy on Saturday afternoon
Saturday, 5:10 PM. Overall, it’s been a disappointing day. First of all there was only one sale. Second of all, I had a handshake agreement to purchase a Tiffany Studios lamp base from a person who came to the show. He slunk out of the show without a word, never completing the sale. No honor.
Sunday, 12:00 PM. As of this moment, attendance is much lighter. Nothing is going on. How many games of Spider Solitaire can I play? Hope it gets better later in the day.
Fabulous, large Galle Lake Como vase, for sale at the show
Sunday, 2:30 PM. Attendance picked up some. Made one small sale to a gentleman visiting from Indiana. Some people showed genuine interest and were very complimentary, but unfortunately I can’t take that to the bank.
Sunday, 4:15 PM. The show closes today at 5 PM. One small sale for the whole day. Doesn’t look like we’ll return to California for any shows. It’s too risky to exhibit in California when the expenses to cross the country are high and going up. Too bad. I wanted this show to work for us. The show is lovely and the town is pleasant, but that doesn’t compensate for insufficient business. Maybe something dramatic will happen tomorrow, but it’s highly unlikely.
Monday, 11:15 AM. Attendance is very light, as to be expected on a Monday morning. Wish the show had closed yesterday, like most antique shows. It will be nothing short of a miracle if we sell something of significance today. Very much looking forward to going home after a month on the road.
Attendance was fairly light at 1:40 PM on Monday
Monday, 2 PM. Attendance has been light most of the day, with an occasional surge. There have been a few questions, but no business. Unfortunately, it’s what I expected.
Monday, 4 PM. The show is over. We didn’t sell anything today. The show wasn’t a disaster, as one of the three sales we made for the entire show was a good one. The results would have been fine if the show were local. So, goodbye California. We’ll come to visit, but not to exhibit at antique shows.
I will be posting videos on YouTube of my lecture on French Cameo Glass to the Metropolitan Glass Club. I need some time to edit the videos. When they’re ready, I’ll put the link on my website and here in my blog.
Incredible Tiffany Favrile Cypriote vase, for sale at the show
Click this link to view some of the new objects I recently purchased and listed. Tiffany glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.
Fabulous, rare, Tiffany Favrile lamp with intaglio-carved insect
Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. I regularly add Tiffany vases, lamps and desk accessories, as well as French cameo glass by Galle and Daum Nancy and etchings by Louis Icart. Here’s the link. Philip Chasen Antiques.