A Computer Paints A Rembrandt, And It Looks Just Like The Real Thing

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Philip Chasen

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.

A computer-generated “Rembrandt” painting

Advances in computer science and 3-D printing have led to the creation of a new painting that Rembrandt could have painted. For the complete story, click here. Then make sure you click here to watch the impressive video.

Denver, July 15-17, 2016

No shows until July, when we’ll be in Denver for the Denver World Wide Antique Show, July 15-17, 2016. In the meantime, we’re very much in business, so call or email me with your wants or items for sale. If you have what I’m looking for, I’m paying the highest prices. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email it to me.

I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. I will continue to list more as often as possible. Please click here to take a look.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 the Chicago Botanic Garden Antiques and Garden Fair, April 15-17, 2016

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Philip Chasen

One of the delicious food stations at the preview party

If you read my blog regularly, you know I’m not a fan of preview parties. I still haven’t figured out who gains by having them, but certainly not most of the dealers and specifically not me. I can’t remember the last time I made a sale at any preview party, including this one. At least if I have to suffer through one, let it be like this. The party was classy, with unlimited wine, alcohol and delicious food. All the dealers and guests were treated the same, unlike some preview parties where the dealers are treated like second-class citizens. Kudos to the planners and the chefs.

Our booth was busy on Friday morning

The show started off strongly with good attendance and good sales on Friday morning. Things slowed down after that, with an occasional sale. Attendance was good on Saturday, but sales were non-existent until one of our loyal, best clients showed up. Sunday was decent with a couple of sales. French glass, and Daum in particular, sold best. Overall our results were off from last year (which was exceptional), partly because our best clients couldn’t attend.

We sold this gorgeous piece of internally decorated Burgun & Schverer glass at the show

In asking around, I received the following comments from fellow dealers. Zane Moss, Zane Moss Antiques, Sharon, CT, dealers in period English furniture, told me “Very good. We sold seven pieces of furniture and did better than last year.” Robin and Ron Greenwald, Greenwald Antiques, Cleveland, OH, decorative arts dealers, were a little disappointed, as were others I spoke to. “There was a terrific crowd, sometimes 3-4 deep. Business was a little down from last year. Jewelry sales were good.” Virgil Rogers, Only Authentics, New York, NY, vintage handbags dealer, had a similar opinion. “We had a fair to medium show. Business was a little down from last year.” Still another dealer had a similar opinion. Marty Shapiro and Kay Gregg, Finnegan Gallery, Chicago, IL, period garden and architectural antiques dealers, told me “We did fair, not as well as last year, but last year was stellar.” Finally, neighbors from Oyster Bay, NY, T.J. Antorino, T.J. Antorino Antiques & Design, decorative objects and jewelry dealers, shared a similar fate. “We had a mediocre show at best, especially compared to years past.”

Denver, July 15-17, 2016

Setting up at The Chicago Botanic Garden Antiques and Garden Fair, April 12-14, 2016

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Click on the image above to buy tickets

Setup for the Chicago Botanic Garden Antiques and Garden Fair started this past Tuesday, April 12, 2016, and continues today until the preview party tonight. It couldn’t have gone more smoothly. Our booth is large enough that we weren’t stepping all over each other. Now that it’s finished, it looks great.

Lia and Bill were hard at work

We’re in one of the permanent buildings, while a huge tent has been set up for many of the other antiques dealers. The show is classy, with seriously fine dealers displaying quality merchandise. This is no flea market. The show opens to the public tomorrow, Friday, at 10 AM, and continues until Sunday, at 5 PM. It’s a fun show you’ll be glad you attended, with a great variety of plants, garden items and antiques. The forecast for all three days is sunny, with temperatures in the 50s and 60s. You couldn’t ask for nicer weather for a day at the show.

We have a fabulous display of bronzes by Kauba, Barrias and Boucher

We have a fabulous display of bronzes by Kauba, Barrias, Boucher, and others

We’re displaying some of our best antiques ever, with great French and American glass and lamps and many more bronzes than we usually have. We’ll have everything for sale at the show, including Daum, Gallé and Tiffany glass; many nice Tiffany lamps, including a rare Nasturtium and lots of other items, too numerous to mention.

Village Braider, Plymouth, MA has a beautiful display

If you’re in the greater Chicago area, this is one show that’s worth the trip. Please stop in, say hi, and take a look at our great items, all for sale!

Make sure you tune in on Monday for the results of the show.

If you’re selling, please let me know. If you have what I’m looking for, I’m paying the highest prices. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email it to me.

The Chicago Botanic Garden Antiques and Garden Fair opens this Friday, April 15, 2016

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Click on the image above to buy tickets

The Chicago Botanic Garden Antiques and Garden Fair in Glencoe opens this Friday, April 15, 2016, at 10 AM, and continues until Sunday, April 17, 2016, at 5 PM. It’s a fun show you’ll be glad you attended, with a great variety of plants, garden items and antiques. The forecast for this coming weekend is sunny, with temperatures in the 50s and 60s — perfect for a day at the show.

We’ll have this fantastic Daum Nancy Bleeding Hearts lamp at the show

We’re loaded for bear with some great French and American glass and lamps and many more bronzes than we usually have. We’ll have everything for sale at the show, including Daum, Gallé and Tiffany glass; many nice Tiffany lamps, a really rare and desirable Daum lamp and lots of other items, too numerous to mention.

The aisles were packed last year in front of our booth

Last year we had a fabulous show, which will be hard to top this year. Our best clients won’t be there because they’re taking a trip to Japan. Hopefully a good percentage of our many clients in the greater Chicago area will attend. After all, we’ve been exhibiting there for over 30 years. We’re in one of the permanent buildings, in a large booth, so we have plenty of room to display our fabulous inventory. If you’re in the greater Chicago area, this is one show that’s worth the trip. Please stop in, say hi, and take a look at our great items, all for sale!

A look at the garden section of the show

Make sure you tune into this Thursday’s blog, direct from the Botanic Garden. Next Monday I’ll post the results of the show.

The results of Christie’s New York sale, FRENCH ART GLASS: AN IMPORTANT NEW YORK PRIVATE COLLECTION, March 23, 2016

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Christie’s New York held a sale of important French glass, entitled FRENCH ART GLASS: AN IMPORTANT NEW YORK PRIVATE COLLECTION, on March 23, 2016. Sales totaled $1,948,375 for the 176 lots offered. Only three lots failed to sell, for an average of $11,262 per sold lot. I expected good results because this was a really fine collection and the market in French glass is buoyant. The collection consisted of mostly pâte-de-verre items, but included some cameo glass by Gallé, Daum Nancy and Muller.

Gallé Calla Lily vase, Christie’s lot #29

The top lot of the sale was #29, a huge Gallé blownout Calla Lily vase, in a rare color combination of white flowers and green leaves on a blue background. It easily exceeded its high estimate of $70,000, realizing $106,250, including buyer’s premium, even with open bubbles on the interior of the vase.

Argy-Rousseu Bird of Paradise table lamp, Christie’s lot #69

A beautiful and rare pâte-de-verre table lamp by Argy-Rousseau, lot #69, was second best. Entitled OISEAUX DE PARADIS (Bird of Paradise), circa 1928, it sold for $81,250, against a pre-sale estimate of $35,000 – $55,000.

Argy-Rousseau Singes vase, Christie’s lot #111

I loved lot #111, a very rare Argy-Rousseau pâte-de-verre vase entitled Singes, with monkeys, on a gorgeous blue and purple background. It sold above its high estimate of $20,000, realizing $27,500, including buyer’s premium, but I thought it would sell for even more.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

Click on this image to buy tickets

Can you believe our next show is next week! We’ll be in Glencoe, IL, for the Garden, Antique & Design Show, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, starting April 15th. It’s a beautiful show, with both antiques and gardening, that you’ll absolutely enjoy. We only have two remaining shows in the greater Chicago area, so come and say hi!

Freeman’s Auction sold three Martin Bros. birds at their Art + Design auction, March 20, 2016

Posted on April 4, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Three Martin Brothers bird tobacco jars came up for sale at Freeman’s Art + Design auction on March 20, 2016. Two of the birds sold well, near or exceeding their high estimates.

Martin Brothers bird tobacco jar, Freeman’s lot #98

Lot #98 was the top lot of the three birds. With its big beak, great personality and nice size of 11½”, it sold for $46,875, against an estimate of $20,000 – $30,000.

Martin Brothers bird tobacco jar, lot #97

Lot #97 also did well. It sold near its high estimate of $25,000, realizing $27,500, including buyer’s premium. It was slightly smaller than lot #98, but also had plenty of personality.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

Click on this image to buy tickets

Our next show is less than two weeks away. We’ll be in Glencoe, IL, for the Garden, Antique & Design Show, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, starting April 15th. It’s a beautiful show, with both antiques and gardening, that you’ll absolutely enjoy. We only have two remaining shows in the greater Chicago area, so come and say hi!

Cottone Auctions offered Tiffany Studios lamps for sale on March 19, 2016

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Cottone Auctions held a 30 Year Anniversary Fine Art & Antique Auction on Mar 19, 2016. Included in the sale were four Tiffany Studios leaded lamps.

Tiffany geometric and ball table lamp, Cottone lot #265

Top lot of the group was #265, a rare 22″ diameter geometric and ball lamp. It sold within its estimated range of $50,000 – $75,000, realizing $72,450, including buyer’s premium.

Tiffany Studios 20″ diameter Daffodil table lamp, Cottone lot #260

The second best result was a 20″ diameter Daffodil table lamp. It sold toward the lower end of its estimated range of $30,000 – $50,000, realizing $35,650, including buyer’s premium.

Lot #271 was a 16″ Acorn table lamp with a few condition problems, described as “Shade slightly out of round and several cracked panels. Base has original patina, some wear, small dent.” It also sold at the low end of its estimate of $7,000 – $10,000, realizing $8,625, including buyer’s premium. Lot #267 was a 24″ diameter Curtain Border floor lamp. It failed to sell with an estimate of $50,000 – $75,000.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

Click on this image to buy tickets

Our next show is only two weeks away. We’ll be in Glencoe, IL, for the Garden, Antique & Design Show, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, starting April 15th. It’s a beautiful show, with both antiques and gardening, that you’ll absolutely enjoy. We only have two remaining shows in the greater Chicago area, so come and say hi!

French cameo glass sells well at Brunk Auctions, March 18, 2016

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Brunk Auctions, Asheville, NC, held a diverse auction on March 18-19, 2016. Included in the sale were eight lots of French cameo glass.

Two Daum Nancy vases, Brunk lot #139

Lot #139 included two small, but very nice, 4″ Daum Nancy vases. They soared past their pre-sale estimate of $1,000 – $2,000, realizing $8,850, including buyer’s premium.

Brunk lot #144 consisted of two Daum vases

Two Daum vases were sold together as lot #144. The vase on the left was very nice, with dandelions, gilding, and a verse in French (called Verrerie Parlante or Talking Glass). They sold above their high estimate of $1,200, realizing $2,360, including buyer’s premium.

Gallé Crystallerie vase and Daum Nancy vase, Brunk lot #145

Brunk combined an early Gallé vase and a Daum vase together for lot #145. The very low estimate of $1,200 – $1,800 was easily exceeded with a final price of $7,080, including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, click here and Search by Date for the March 18-19, 2016 sale and click submit.

Click on this image to buy tickets

Our next show is approaching quickly. We’ll be in Glencoe, IL, for the Garden, Antique & Design Show, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, starting April 15th. It’s a beautiful show, with both antiques and gardening, that you’ll absolutely enjoy. We only have two remaining shows in the greater Chicago area, so come and say hi!

Think your unsigned vase is Tiffany Favrile? Think twice. It might be Trevaise.

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Trevaise glass from the collection of Frank W. Ford

Vases exist that look an awful lot like Tiffany Favrile glass, with good reason. Here’s the story.

This Tiffany Favrile vase has a button pontil

The Alton Mfg. Co. of New York bought the old Sandwich Glassworks, which had closed in 1888. They hired a talented gaffer, James H. Grady, who had worked at Tiffany Studios in Corona, NY, to come to Sandwich, MA, to head a team to produce “High Class Glassware”, to be called Trevaise. Production began sometime in May 1907, but stopped by the end of the year when the glassworks was closed for extensive repairs. Work was supposed to resume after the holidays, but never did. In February, 1908, C.F. King, the president of Alton Mfg. Co. disappeared with the proceeds of the company. He was later arrested and convicted of 27 counts of larceny. The Alton Mfg. Co. permanently closed. Therefore Trevaise glass was only made for a few months, from mid-May, 1907, to the end of the year.

Another Trevaise vase from the collection of Frank W. Ford

Here are some characteristics of Trevaise glass. Mostly vases were produced without handles. The vases always have button pontils and they are never signed. Of course, there have been unscrupulous people over the years who’ve decided it was easier to sell these vases with Tiffany signatures, so some of them are found today with spurious signatures. The glass is usually thicker than authentic Tiffany Favrile vases, so they’re often heavier than similar examples from Tiffany.

Many thanks to Frank W. Ford for his assistance in the preparation of this post.

Click on this image to buy tickets

Some interesting results at Bonham’s Los Angeles The Elegant Home sale of March 7, 2016

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Bonham’s Los Angeles held a diverse sale, The Elegant Home, on March 7, 2016, with some interesting results. Following are a few.

Spelter Art Nouveau inkwell of Sarah Bernhardt, Bonham’s lot #249

Lot #249 was an amusing early 20th century French, Art Nouveau, spelter, figural inkwell of Sarah Bernhardt with devil’s wings. Helped by her wings, she flew to a final price of $20,000, the highest price of the sale, against a pre-sale estimate of $2,000 – $4,000. I could understand this result if it were bronze, but white metal? I’m sure it was a nice surprise for the consignor.

Lee Lash painting of New York, Bonham’s lot #201

I liked lot #201, an oil on canvas illustration of New York in the ’30s, by Lee Lash. Although it wasn’t Norman Rockwell quality, it had a nice look. The public agreed, pushing the price past its high estimate of $6,000, to realize $8,125, including buyer’s premium.

Pairpoint puffy Azalea table lamp, Bonham’s lot #50

Several reverse-painted and puffy lamps were sold from the collection of Jane Fonda. The top lot of this group was a very pretty Pairpoint Azalea puffy table lamp, lot #50. It easily exceeded its high estimate of $6,000, realizing $10,250, including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

Click on this image to buy tickets

Philip Chasen Antiques

The blog for chasenantiques.com

Author Archives: Philip Chasen

A Computer Paints A Rembrandt, And It Looks Just Like The Real Thing

The results of the Chicago Botanic Garden Antiques and Garden Fair, April 15-17, 2016

Setting up at The Chicago Botanic Garden Antiques and Garden Fair, April 12-14, 2016

The Chicago Botanic Garden Antiques and Garden Fair opens this Friday, April 15, 2016

The results of Christie’s New York sale, FRENCH ART GLASS: AN IMPORTANT NEW YORK PRIVATE COLLECTION, March 23, 2016

Freeman’s Auction sold three Martin Bros. birds at their Art + Design auction, March 20, 2016

Cottone Auctions offered Tiffany Studios lamps for sale on March 19, 2016

French cameo glass sells well at Brunk Auctions, March 18, 2016

Think your unsigned vase is Tiffany Favrile? Think twice. It might be Trevaise.

Some interesting results at Bonham’s Los Angeles The Elegant Home sale of March 7, 2016