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.
Christie’s New York was the second major auction house to hold a 20th Century sale in June. They held three 20th Century sales on the same day, June 13, 2013. Today’s blog will cover only the Masterworks by Tiffany Studios: A Sutton Place Collection auction. Sales totaled $2,068,375 for the small 57-lot auction, with 40 lots selling and 17 not selling. Had the reserves been more conservative, a higher percentage would have sold.
Tiffany Studios Snowball table lamp, Christie’s lot #20
Top lot of the sale was #20, a rare Tiffany Studios Hydrangea Snowball table lamp on an important base. It sold near the low estimate of $400,000, realizing $459,750, including buyer’s premium. Had the estimate been a more conservative $300,000 – $400,000, the same result would have looked a lot better.
Tiffany Studios Maple Leaf table lamp, Christie’s lot #6
Tiffany blue Favrile counterbalance table lamp, Christie’s lot #21
The result for lot #21 was a surprise to me. It sold for $25,000, against a pre-sale estimate of $10,000 – $15,000. Blue Favrile shades are rare and desirable, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise, but it was. That’s because the shade photographed beautifully in reflected light, but turned green in transmitted light. When you turned on the lamp, you got a green lamp. They’re not worth nearly as much. My guess is the buyer never saw the lamp in person. Oops!
For the complete results of the sale, click here.
No shows until July 19-21, when we’ll be in Denver. A fellow dealer convinced me to try the show again. She said the show has new promoters, who filled the hall with buyers the last time. So we’ll give it one more shot. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to call or write if you would like to buy, sell or trade.
Just got this incredible 8½” Daum blackbird vase (dirty in this photo, but soon to be cleaned)
Click here to view French cameo glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.
Wonderful A. Walter pate-de-verre vase with lizard, just in
Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps.