Author Archives: Philip Chasen

The results of the Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show, May 18-20, 2018

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For the foreseeable future I will publish once a week on Mondays.

The Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show ended yesterday after a three-day run from May 18-20, 2018. We had a decent show. Explanation to follow.

Following is a contemporaneous account of the show events.

Preview party attendees were all gathered in the aisles, having no interest in purchasing anything from anybody.

Thursday, 8:30PM The preview party is in full swing and absolutely nothing is going on in our booth. There are more people this year than last, but that doesn’t make a difference. The attendees are here for a social event and the dealers are the decorations. There has been very little interest and, of course, no sales. The only thing better this year was the open bar. The food was a disaster of hummus, carrot sticks, and a few hors d’oeuvres, with raw artichokes and raw Brussels sprouts for decoration. To top it off, one of our best clients canceled on us because of an injury.

Friday afternoon in our booth

Friday, 2 PM The show opened to the public this morning at 11 AM. There were only a few people on line. Attendance has been relatively light to this point, as well as interest. No sales yet. To make things worse, I cannot connect my computer to the wifi. My phone connects, but my computer refuses.

Friday, 6:30 PM The Merchandise Mart sent a tech to help with my computer connection. She diagnosed and solved the problem fairly quickly. Thank you!

Business was basically non-existent for the day until our long-term clients showed up near the end of the day. They made a nice purchase, so we’re off to a decent start, however we have not yet met our expenses.

Saturday afternoon in our booth

Saturday, 4:00 PM Attendance was a little better today, but business was still quite slow. We made one nice sale to a new client (which is always gratifying). We’re waiting for one of our best clients to arrive later this afternoon.

We sold this important red Tiffany Favrile Tel el Amarna vase at the show

Saturday, 6:30 PM Our good clients arrived late in the day and made a significant purchase. Thanks to them we had a good show.

Sunday afternoon in our booth

Sunday, 1:30 PM Attendance is noticeably better today, partly because the weather is unpleasant. (Bad weather is good for attendance.) A few people seem genuinely interested in some items. We’ll see if that translates to sales later in the day.

Sunday, 5:00 PM The show is over and we’re satisfied. All of today’s talk and potential ended with a decent sale and a small sale. It’s about all we could ask for a Sunday.

We did about the same business and profit as last year. Expenses were high for this show, so it ate into our net. We’ll take a smaller booth next year to trim expenses. Overall I’d say the show was a success, not unconditional, but nevertheless a success.

I’m looking forward to the Baltimore Art, Antique & Jewelry Show show, August 30 – September 2, 2018. There’s always good attendance and action. Unfortunately the Baltimore show promoter has moved the show one week later than usual, to the Labor Day weekend. The show used to be held over the Labor Day weekend, but that was many years ago. The show is wonderful, so we’ll continue to exhibit there regardless of the change of dates.

We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I recently listed some of the new items on my website and will list more every week. Click Philip Chasen Antiques to take a look. I will make every effort to actively list new items as often as time permits. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

The Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart opens to the public this Friday, May 18, 2018

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For the foreseeable future I will publish once a week on Mondays.

The second edition of the resurrected Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show will open to the public this Friday, May 18th, at 11 AM, and continue until Sunday at 5 PM, with a preview party on Thursday night.

Saturday afternoon in our booth last year

We were excited to return to the Merchandise Mart last year, after an absence of four years. Business was good, but our expenses were high, so our net results weren’t what they should have been. Our expenses won’t be much better this year, but hopefully we’ll do more business. Tune in next week for the results of the show.

The show at the Merchandise Mart is not your usual run-of-the-mill antique show. The  exhibitors and their exhibitions will be extraordinary, in a fabulous venue. You will be hard pressed to find a finer show anywhere in the entire United States. Elegance will be the operating theme! There aren’t many antique shows left in the entire country and even fewer of this quality, so make your plans now to attend. You’ll thank me.

We’ll have this special Tiffany Mesh lamp at the show

As usual, we’re bringing a fabulous inventory of French and American glass and lamps, including a fabulous Tiffany Studios 20″ diameter Dragonfly table lamp that we got last week. I know you’ll enjoy the show and my display in particular. Please stop into my booth and say hello.

We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I recently listed some of the new items on my website and will list more every week. Click Philip Chasen Antiques to take a look. I will make every effort to actively list new items as often as time permits. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

Works by Patrick Nagel led Heritage Auctions’ Illustration Art sale, April 24, 2018

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Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas, held an Illustration Art sale on April 24, 2018, with total sales of $1,357,487 for the 451 lots offered. Works by Patrick Nagel led the sale, taking the first and fourth places.

Patrick Nagel acrylic on canvas painting Nude on Back with Black Stockings, Heritage lot #71150

The top lot of the sale was #71150, a 1983 acrylic on canvas painting by Patrick Nagel entitled Nude on Back with Black Stockings. It sold for $106,250, including buyer’s premium — approximately double its low estimate of $50,000. I don’t understand Nagel’s work or why it’s so desirable, but someone does.

Alberto Vargas, Martini Time, Heritage lot #71202

I do understand the appeal of Alberto Vargas. His paintings scored the second, seventh and eleventh highest prices of the sale, $87,500, $27,500, and $18,750, respectively. Lot #71202, Martini Time, a watercolor and pencil on paper from 1935, sold for $87,500, including buyer’s premium, well above its high estimate of $50,000.

Gil Elvgren Perfection, Heritage lot #71058

Gil Elvgren has scored the top slots in other illustration art sales, but had to settle for the fifth and eighth ones in this sale. His 1948 painting Perfection sold for $57,500, below its pre-sale estimate of $60,000 – $80,000. Recent results for Elvgren’s works have weakened.

For the complete results of the sale, click here. You will have to sign in for the prices (free).

The Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart will open next week, May 18-20, 2018. We’re pretty excited about it and you should be too. Please make your plans to attend!

We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I recently listed some of the new items on my website and will list more every week. Click Philip Chasen Antiques to take a look. I will make every effort to actively list new items as often as time permits. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

Freeman’s sold The Collection of Dorrance “Dodo” H. Hamilton at auction, April 29, 2018

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Paul Cézanne La Vie des Champs, Freeman’s lot #7

Freeman’s, Philadelphia, PA, sold The Collection of Dorrance “Dodo” H. Hamilton at auction, yesterday, April 29, 2018. The sale included some fabulous art, including a Paul Cézanne painting La Vie Des Champs, which sold for $1,450,000, including buyer’s premium. Other artists selling very well included Henri Fantin-Latour, Childe Hassam and Maurice Prendergast. Also included in the sale was Dodo Hamilton’s small, but nice collection of Newcomb College scenic pottery (Newcomb also produced floral designs). That will be today’s topic.

Newcomb College scenic vase, Freeman’s lot #89


Newcomb College transitional scenic vase, Freeman’s lot #90

Of the group of 10 lots of Newcomb pottery offered for sale, #s 89 and 90 tied for the best price of $7,500, including buyer’s premium. Lot #89 was shorter and more bulbous (6″ tall x 6½” diameter), while #90 was taller and slimmer (8¾” tall x 3¾” diameter). #89 was in perfect condition, while #90 had a short hairline crack to the interior rim. #89 was later (1930), while #90 was transitional (1917). Each had a moon.

Newcomb College transitional scenic vase, Freeman’s lot #88

Lot #88 was one of two lots selling for the second highest price of $5,000. It too was transitional from 1917, meaning that it was produced during the time period when the pottery was switching from the earlier high glaze to the later matte glaze. Transitional vases tend to have paler color than later vases and a bit more sheen. Lot #88 measured 5½” tall x 3¼” diameter. It did not have a moon.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

Our next show is now only two weeks away, May 18-20, 2018, when we’ll exhibit at the 2nd edition of the resurrected Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. It’s a wonderful venue for a show that deserved to be restored from purgatory.

We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I recently listed some of the new items on my website and will list more every week. Click Philip Chasen Antiques to take a look. I will make every effort to actively list new items as often as time permits. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

Tiffany lamps sold well at Sotheby’s, New York Luxe: Art of Design sale, April 22, 2018

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Sotheby’s New York, held a Luxe: Art of Design sale this past weekend with total sales of $4,991,877. The 584 lots were sold over two days, April 20 and 22, 2018 (which was unusual because most multi-part sales are held on consecutive days). Included in the sale was a small selection of Tiffany lamps and glass — today’s topic.

It’s a good thing I went to preview the auction in person. The two best lamps, that looked wonderful in the photos, didn’t look quite as wonderful in person. Both lot #1367, an Allamanda, and lot #1368, a Tulip, had extensive cracking and restoration.

Tiffany 16″ diameter Tulip table lamp, Sotheby’s lot #1368

Regardless, lot #1368, the 16″ diameter Tulip lamp, sold well above its high estimate of $30,000, realizing $47,500, including buyer’s premium, for the highest price of the Tiffany selection.

Tiffany Allamanda lamp, Sotheby’s lot #1367

Lot #1367, an 18″ diameter Allamanda, sold near its high estimate of $35,000, realizing $42,500, including buyer’s premium — the second highest price of the Tiffany selection. That’s a pretty good price considering the lamp had damage, restoration and a simple base. If the buyer wants to upgrade to a library base, it will cost about $7,500 additional, if someone is willing to take the existing base in a trade.

Tiffany gold doré 10-light lily table lamp, lot #1372

A decent 10-light lily lamp, lot #1372, sold above its high estimate of $20,000, realizing $27,500, including buyer’s premium. The shades were fairly well matched, but the gold doré base had some wear and corrosion.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

Our next show is now only three weeks away, May 18-20, 2018, when we’ll exhibit at the 2nd edition of the resurrected Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. It’s a wonderful venue for a show that deserved to be restored from purgatory.

We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I recently listed some of the new items on my website and will list more every week. Click Philip Chasen Antiques to take a look. I will make every effort to actively list new items as often as time permits. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

The results of Heritage Auctions’ The Estate of Zsa Zsa Gabor auction, April 13, 2018

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Heritage Auctions, Dallas, TX, sold The Estate of Zsa Zsa Gabor at auction on April 13, 2018. Sales totaled $909,209 for the 480 lots offered. Interestingly, there were no estimates because the sale was totally unreserved. That meant that every item sold with no minimum price. Conceivably an item could have sold for $1 + buyer’s premium, but in actuality the lowest price paid was for lot #65328, three letters written to Zsa Zsa, which sold for $175, including buyer’s premium.

The estate was consigned to Heritage Auctions by her ninth husband, Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt. He became her sole remaining heir after the deaths of her sisters and daughter. Zsa Zsa Gabor died on December 18, 2016, at the age of 99. Click on Zsa Zsa Gabor’s name for a link to her very interesting Wikipedia page. Click on von Anhalt’s name for a link to his Wikipedia page. His is quite the story, starting with the purchase of his title.

Margaret Keane Portrait of Zsa Zsa Gabor, Heritage lot #65140

The top lot of the sale was #65140, an oil on canvas painting by Margaret Keane, Portrait of Zsa Zsa Gabor, which sold for $45,000, including buyer’s premium.

Pal Fried portrait of Zsa Zsa and her daughter, Francesca, Heritage lot #65047

Zsa Zsa possessed many paintings by her fellow Hungarian compatriot, Pal Fried, all of which were included in the sale. Lot #65047 was a beautiful, oversize portrait of Zsa Zsa and her daughter, Francesca. It was sold for $7,500, including buyer’s premium, purchased by yours truly.

Heritage lot #65191

In a creepy, ghoulish section of the sale, someone paid $1,187.50 for each of two lots of Zsa Zsa’s pill containers, #s 65212 and 65192. I’m sorry, but that’s nuts. Can’t we leave the woman with a little dignity?

Much of the sale is devoted to her clothing, jewelry, furniture and personal possessions. For the complete results, click here. You will have to sign in to see the prices (free).

Our next show is now only a month away, May 18-20, 2018, when we’ll exhibit at the 2nd edition of the resurrected Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. It’s a wonderful venue for a show that deserved to be restored from purgatory.

We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I recently listed some of the new items on my website and will list more every week. Click Philip Chasen Antiques to take a look. I will make every effort to actively list new items as often as time permits. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

The results of Westport Auction’s Tiffany Lighting and more! sale, March 25, 2018

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Westport Auction, Westport, CT, held a Tiffany Lighting and more! sale on March 25, 2018. The sale was mostly property from the estate of the Robinson Brothers, Arthur & Joe, of Harrison, NY. They both dealt in Tiffany Studios’ collections, as well as items removed from Laurelton Hall. The sale included Tiffany shades, parts, pieces and lamps, as well as a nice collection of Steuben and Quezal shades.

Tiffany Moorish chandelier, Westport lot #23

The top lot of the sale was #23, a Moorish chandelier with lily shades. Even though the lily shades were reproduction, it sold within its pre-sale estimate of $10,000 – $30,000, realizing $21,600, including 20% buyer’s premium.

Pair of wall sconces, Westport lot #11

The second highest result was for lot #11, a pair of 3-light wall sconces. Supposedly authentic Tiffany Studios, they were not, in my opinion, nor in the opinions of two other experts. Caveat emptor. If you buy from auction, you take your life in your own hands. They sold for $20,400, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $8,000 – $12,000. It was one of several reproduction lots in the auction.

Set of six Quezal red decorated shades, Westport lot #136

Some of the art glass shades in the auction were quite rare and desirable, including 12 red decorated Quezal shades that were sold in three lots. It’s difficult to find even one red decorated shade, so a dozen in one sale is quite cool. Lot #136 included six of them. They sold for $9,000, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $1,200 – $1,800.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

Our next show is not until May 18-20, 2018, when we’ll exhibit at the 2nd edition of the resurrected Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. It’s a wonderful venue for a show that deserved to be restored from purgatory.

We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I recently listed some of the new items on my website and will list more every week. Click Philip Chasen Antiques to take a look. I will make every effort to actively list new items as often as time permits. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

I tried to buy a couple of interesting items at auction…

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I recently tried to buy a couple of nice items at auction. I hoped they would fall through the cracks so I could buy them for resale. But alas, they did not. They sold for retail prices, so I wasn’t the buyer.

Tiffany Studios Pine Needle clock, Fontaine lot #2

The first item was a very nice Tiffany Studios clock in the Pine Needle pattern. It sold at Fontaine Auction Gallery’s Antiques & Fine Art auction in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on March 24, 2018 as lot #2. Against a low estimate, it realized $6,655, including buyer’s premium. That’s a fine price for a retail buyer, but not a dealer, so I wasn’t the buyer.

For the complete results of Fontaine’s sale, click here.

Quezal lily shade sconce, similar in design to Bonham’s chandelier pictured below

Quezal chandelier, Bonham’s lot #221

The second item sold as lot #221 in Bonham’s Elegant Home sale in Los Angeles on March 26, 2018. It was a wonderful original Quezal chandelier with nine matching shades. I’ve seen a similar, smaller model before, in the form of a wall sconce with lily shades, but never the matching chandelier. Bonham’s lot was an original mashup of four sconces made into one huge chandelier. How cool is that! It sold for $7,500, including buyer’s premium, against a very low estimate of $1,000 – $1,500. Again, the price was just fine for a retail buyer, but not a dealer, so I didn’t buy it.

For the complete results of Bonham’s sale, click here.

Our next show is not until May 18-20, 2018, when we’ll exhibit at the 2nd edition of the resurrected Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. It’s a wonderful venue for a show that deserved to be restored from purgatory.

We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I recently listed some of the new items on my website and will list more every week. Click Philip Chasen Antiques to take a look. I will make every effort to actively list new items as often as time permits. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

Tiffany Studios lamps and objects sold well at Cottone’s Fine Art, Antiques & Clocks sale, Mar 24, 2018

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Cottone Auctions held a Fine Art, Antiques & Clocks on Mar 24, 2018. Included in the sale was a nice selection of Tiffany Studios leaded lamps and objects.

Tiffany Studios Bamboo floor lamp, Cottone lot #330

The top lot of the Tiffany Studios group was #330, a Bamboo floor lamp. It sold above its estimated range of $100,000 – $150,000, realizing $241,900, including buyer’s premium.

Tiffany Moorish chain mail hall lantern, Cottone lot #331

Lot #331 was a rare and interesting Tiffany Studios Moorish hall lantern with chain mail decoration. It sold well above its estimate of $7,000 – $10,000, realizing $23,010, including buyer’s premium.

Tiffany Butterfly inkwell, Cottone lot #339

The top result for Tiffany Studios objects was lot #339, a rare Tiffany Studios Butterfly inkwell, with an original iridescent blue Favrile insert and cap. It also sold well above its estimate of $7,000 – $10,000, realizing $18,500, including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, click here. You will have to enter your email address to see the prices realized.

Our next show is not until May 18-20, 2018, when we’ll exhibit at the 2nd edition of the resurrected Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. It’s a wonderful venue for a show that deserved to be restored from purgatory.

We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I recently listed some of the new items on my website and will list more every week. Click Philip Chasen Antiques to take a look. I will make every effort to actively list new items as often as time permits. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

What’s special about this Gallé vase?

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One cabochon is the sun with acid-etched rays and the other is the center of a flower

Occasionally I sell a French cameo vase that is worthy of discussion. Today’s Gallé vase is quite interesting, incorporating a variety of techniques.

Notice the cabochons on this side of the vase are acid-etched

First notice the vase is transparent. That immediately tells you the vase is early Gallé, from the Cristallerie period in the 1880s-1890s. Then look at the giant applied cabochons, four in all, all different. One cabochon represents the sun, with acid-etched rays surrounding it. The others are the centers of flowers.

The “sun” cabochon has internal foil decoration, but no acid-etching

It’s interesting to note the presence of metal foil within the glass. How did they do that? There was only one way. As the molten vase was being formed on a punty (the metal rod  used to hold the vase), the metal foil was applied to the outside of the vase. While still hot, more transparent glass was applied over the entire vase, encasing the foil. Now it was inside.

Wait, there’s more. The vase was then rolled in powdered, colored glass on the marver (usually a flat metal table) several times and heated in the furnace between each application. This added a uniform colored layer of glass to the outside. Finally heated glass discs (the cabochons) were applied to the outside. Then the vase was ready for the annealing oven, where it cooled slowly over the course of a full day or more.

This is a fancy, acid-etched Gallé signature only found on early vases

We’re not finished as there’s no design on the vase yet. So it went to an artist who covered the vase with a resist (a waxy substance or other acid-resistant covering like bituminous paint). The vase then went into a tank of hydrofluoric acid, where the unprotected glass was eaten away. Voila, the vase then had a design, but was still unfinished.

Notice the wheel-carving in the background on the left, the internal foil and the acid-etching of the cabochon

The flaws in the background were removed by wheel-carving. (You can see the wheel marks when turning the vase in reflected light.) The very last step was to heat the outside of the vase with a broad flame. This technique is called fire-polishing and gave a shine to the exterior. The vase was finished and I’m tired just thinking about it!

I hope now you have a better understanding and appreciation of all the time and effort that went into this special vase.

Our next show is not until May 18-20, 2018, when we’ll exhibit at the 2nd edition of the resurrected Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. It’s a wonderful venue for a show that deserved to be restored from purgatory.

We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I recently listed some of the new items on my website and will list more every week. Click Philip Chasen Antiques to take a look. I will make every effort to actively list new items as often as time permits. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.