What’s new at Philip Chasen Antiques?

Posted on March 14, 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.

From time to time I like to post an update on what’s new at Philip Chasen Antiques. First I’ve hired my daughter, Lauren, to develop my online presence. We now have a Facebook page (please like it), an Instagram page (please follow us), and a presence on eBay. We’re working on starting a 1st Dibs account and other platforms. Hopefully that will lead to additional online sales, as more shows seem to be failing. Now we only exhibit at a handful of shows, when we used to exhibit at over 20 per year.

The new merchandise is mostly fine French cameo glass, especially Daum Nancy, but also includes reverse-painted lamps by Handel and Pairpoint and KPM plaques.

Rare Daum Nancy Bleeding Hearts lamp

First up is the killer of all killers, a stupendous 13½” tall Daum Nancy acid-etched and enameled Bleeding Hearts boudoir table lamp. In over 40 years, I haven’t seen or owned a Daum Nancy lamp with this subject matter. The gorgeous color and detail make it one of the most special items I’ve had for sale in quite some time. Common Daum lamps are acid-etched only and are usually plain Jane.

Killer Daum Nancy French Alps scenic vase

Recently I’ve had the good fortune of being able to purchase several fine Daum Nancy scenic vases. The finest of the group is a truly outstanding 9½” tall vase depicting a village and river in the French Alps. I don’t like to be repetitive, but in this case I must. It’s killer!

Rare Handel 18″ Bird lamp

A beautiful and rare 18″ diameter Handel table lamps with exotic birds on a black background is one of the new lamps just in. It’s special and priced right.

I listed several new items last week and I’ll be listing many more this coming week, so please check my site often.

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!

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.

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.

Collector hits the jackpot at Bonham’s London auction, February 24, 2016

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Philip Chasen

16th century oak door panel of King John

How’s this for a story? A collector in England buys an item on eBay for a few thousand pounds, then consigns it to Bonham’s auction, where it sells for £184,900 ($263,033)? Knowledge is king (pun intended). For the rest of the story click on the following links. Oak panel from King Henry VIII era sells for £185k and SURVIVING TUDOR TURMOIL: HISTORIC HENRY VIII PANEL LEADS BONHAMS’ FIRST OAK INTERIOR SALE AT NEW BOND STREET. For the actual result from Bonham’s auction, click here.

Click on this image to buy tickets

Our next show is not until April 15th, when we’ll be at the Chicago Botanic Garden, in Glencoe, IL, for the Garden, Antique & Design Show. 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!

A Belle Epoque Paris apartment was opened for the first time since WWII

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Madame de Florian’s vanity

If you’ve ever wanted to go back in time, this story will bring you as close as you can get. A turn-of-the-century Paris apartment was opened for the first time in 2010, after the death of its owner. The apartment was completely untouched after being abandoned sometime between 1939 and 1942 (details are conflicting), to escape the invading Nazis. The owner, Madame de Florian, had paid rent on the apartment until her death in 2010. It was a time capsule of life during the Belle Epoque.

Giovanni Boldini painting of Madame de Florian’s mother Marthe de Florian

The most fabulous object discovered in the apartment was a painting of Madame de Florian’s mother, Marthe, painted by Giovanni Boldini, her lover. The painting was sold at auction for $3.4 million, helped by its provenance and juicy history.

There’s more to the amazing story, so click on the following three links for more details and photos. The Parisian Belle Epoque Time Capsule and This lavish apartment was discovered untouched for 70 years and Auctioneers Open Up A Paris Apartment Abandoned Since 1939 And Find Priceless Art

Click on this image to buy tickets

Anything French was on fire at Sotheby’s Design sale, March 2, 2016

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Sotheby’s New York held their Design sale yesterday, March 2, 2016, with total sales of $3,495,188. Anything French — glass, bronze, wood, was hot.

Art Deco screen, Sotheby’s lot #140

An Art Deco screen, with inlaid bronze panels, lot #140, estimated to sell for $5,000 – $7,000, had multiple bidders until the dust finally settled at an amazing $187,500, including buyer’s premium. Don’t get me wrong. My wife and I admired it, so it’s conceivable we would have tried to buy it within the estimated range, but $187,500??

Gallé bat lamp, Sotheby’s lot #59

French glass did very well, with lot #59 performing second best (to a Daum lamp with an applied dragonfly, lot #83). This bat flew away for $31,250, against a pre-sale estimate of $6,000 – $8,000. The Gallé shade with bats was rare and bats are very desirable subject matter, but the problem was the fair workmanship and the boring color. Then consider the shade was made around 1900 and the Art Deco base around 1925, so they weren’t born together. I assume the bidders had a lot of money and not much knowledge – in other words, more cents than sense.

Daum pâte-de-verre Owl vide poche, Sotheby’s lot #86

Pâte-de-verre sold very well, with a rare Daum Owl vide poche, lot #86, selling for almost four times its high estimate of $6,000. It reached $27,500, including buyer’s premium.

Fernand Grange Art Deco floor vase, Sotheby’s lot #147

A beautiful French Art Deco floor vase, 55¾” tall, by Fernand Grange, was another standout. It soared to $112,500, against a pre-sale estimate of $10,000 – $15,000.

Pairpoint Orange Tree puffy lamp, Sotheby’s lot #45

You wouldn’t know the Pairpoint puffy lamp market has been soft for a while from the result of lot #45, a rare Orange Tree. It zoomed past its pre-sale estimate of $12,000 – $18,000, to realize $47,500, including buyer’s premium. Even a healthy chip on the inside lower rim and many light leaks (from missed spots in the original paint) didn’t stop the determined bidders.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

Click on this image to buy tickets

Some good results at Rago Auctions, February 26-27, 2016

Posted on February 29, 2016 by Philip Chasen

David Rago Auctions held several sales this past weekend, including some that were single-owner. Some interesting results for glass and lamps were achieved (the only areas that I cover).

Tiffany Dragonfly chandelier, Rago lot #1

One single-owner sale from New Jersey was entitled Una Buona Vita. It began with Tiffany lamps, including the cover lot, a 28″ diameter Dragonfly chandelier. It sold within its pre-sale estimated range of $75,000 – $100,000, realizing $100,000, including buyer’s premium.

Argy-Rousseau pâte-de-verre Papyrus vase, Rago lot #48

In the same sale, an Argy-Rousseau pâte-de-verre Papyrus vase sold well beyond its pre-sale estimate of $2,000 – $3,000, realizing $15,000, including buyer’s premium. The estimate was intentionally low because the vase had a restored drill hole in the base. There’s going to be one unhappy buyer if they didn’t know.

Jacquemard vase, Rago lot #468

The most interesting result of the Saturday Early 20th Century Design sale was lot #468, a beautifully wheel-carved vase with a grasshopper and fancy engraving underneath, including “Emile Gallé fct 1895”. I haven’t been able to figure out exactly who made this vase, nor if it was actually made at the Gallé factory. Rago attributed the vase to J. Jacquemard, who possibly did it while working at Gallé. Regardless of my lack of knowledge, the bidding was very active, allowing this grasshopper to jump to a final price of $37,500, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $9,000 – $12,000.

For the results of the various sales, click here.

Click on this image to buy tickets

Some interesting auction results for French cameo glass

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Philip Chasen

French cameo glass was sold at a couple of auction houses recently with opposite results. Here’s a rundown of them both.

Gallé Rhododendron blownout vase, Cowan’s lot #330

Cowan’s Auction, Cincinnati, OH, sold a moderately rare Gallé blownout Rhododendron vase at their Decorative Art: Live Salesroom auction on February 13, 2016. Estimated to sell for $3,000 – $5,000, it soared to $18,600 including buyer’s premium.

Daum Blackbird tray, Heritage lot #65767

Heritage Auction, Dallas, TX, sold a rare Daum Blackbird tray for only $1,062.50, against a pre-sale estimate of $700 – $900. The condition report stated “Lightly polished chips to the exterior and interior of the lip rim, light scuffing to the underside.”, which probably hurt its sale. The lot was hidden in the back of the catalog of the Fine & Decorative Arts Including Estates Signature Auction sale of February 20-22, 2016. I knew about the lot, and was going to bid on it, but didn’t. I missed it because I was too busy at my shows. Too bad for me, kudos to the winner.

Our next show is not until April 15th, when we’ll be at the Chicago Botanic Garden, in Glencoe, IL, for the Garden, Antique & Design Show. It’s one of our two remaining shows in the greater Chicago area. We really like exhibiting in Chicago and look forward to seeing all of our old friends.

The results of the National Arts & Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC, February 19-21, 2016

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Philip Chasen

The historic Grove Park Inn

The National Arts & Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC, closed yesterday, after a three-day run from February 19-21. The show was very well attended with enthusiastic, knowledgeable collectors.

Part of the huge line of attendees at the opening on Friday

It’s an event, not just a show. The audience is captive while staying at the resort and spends more than the usual amount of time participating in the show and associated lectures and tours on the Arts & Crafts movement in the United States. The show is different than most others in that it’s divided into an antiques section and a crafts section. There’s no mixing of the two, so attendees are clear who’s who.

We sold this fine Tiffany Favrile counterbalance floor lamp with intaglio-carved dragonfly at the show

We sold in three days almost exactly what we sold last week at the impossibly long, 6-day, Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show, but this time we made a profit because of our expenses were much lower. It’s a fun show, in a glorious, historic hotel. Put it on your calendar for a visit next year. You’ll thank me.

The results of the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show, February 11-16, 2016

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Philip Chasen

grove-park-2-2016 Hello from the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC, where we’ll be opening the National Arts & Crafts Conference tomorrow.

The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show finished Tuesday with a whimper, not a bang. We made a couple of small sales the last two days, but we still finished with a loss. Lots of time, effort and money, with no reward.

A billboard on the main road, Okeechobee Blvd., advertising the show

The show attracted many attendees partly because the PBSG gave out thousands of free tickets, but also because they did a good job of advertising. The problem was the show attracted thousands of the wrong people. The purpose of spending a lot of money to exhibit at a fancy show in a wealthy neighborhood is to attract qualified buyers, but that didn’t happen. This is the second year in a row that we either failed to make expenses or barely eked out a profit. Extending the show to six days made the problem worse. I can think of much better ways to spend my time and money.

Unfortunately the expenses killed my show. Remember I took a smaller booth to trim my expenses. Good thing I did or I would have had an even larger loss.

The business of exhibiting at shows has become really tough. As a result, we will not be exhibiting in Palm Beach next year. Many shows have failed, or will fail soon, leaving very few where we can make a profit. I’ll be beefing up my Internet presence in the hope of attracting new clients. If that works out well, there will be even less incentive to travel to marginal shows.

Mondays blog will have the results of the National Arts & Crafts Conference in Asheville, NC.

A progress report on the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Philip Chasen

The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show has been open to the public since last Thursday and will remain open until tomorrow, Tuesday, at 6 PM. Following is a contemporaneous account of the show.

Thursday, opening day, 2:15 PM
The show started with very few people, probably because there were so many attendees the previous night at the preview party. It got more crowded as the day progressed, but the quality of the inquiries has been poor. No sales. One potential sale.

Thursday, 7 PM
The first day is over and it’s been quite disappointing. Only one small sale. Attendance petered out later in the day. Hopefully things will improve or this show will result in a loss of both time and money.

Friday, 2:30 PM, in my booth

Friday, 2 PM
Surprisingly, attendance seems better today than opening day. The quality of the inquiries has been better and there’s hope for some sales later in the day, but none as of now.

We sold this important Daum Nancy Impressionist vase at the show

Friday, 7 PM
Strange day. Didn’t work out at all the way I thought it would. None of the early clients returned to make a purchase. However, one of my clients who hasn’t purchased anything in a few years made a special trip to visit the show and made a major purchase. So the day ended well. It’s still scary that we’ve made only two total sales.

4 PM Saturday. That’s my booth on the left.

Saturday, 3:30 PM
Attendance has been good, but not with the right people. Too many people are looking to appraise their own items and are not interested in purchasing. A man who spent 30 minutes with us yesterday because he was “interested” in a bronze, came in today to tell me he disagrees with my attribution of the artist and showed me photos of his identical bronze. Give me a break! Some people are clueless.

Saturday, 7 PM
What a depressing day. Lots of people walking by, but nobody serious. PBSG gives out thousands and thousands of free tickets, so why not come and visit a prestigious antique show if you don’t have to pay? Great for the public. Awful for the exhibitors.

Sunday, 1:30 PM
Attendance is better today than any previous day. We’ve had some good early interest, but so far everyone is a “be back”. Hopefully this day will end better.

We sold this fine Tiffany Studios inkwell on Sunday

Sunday, 7 PM
The show clouds parted and the sun shone. Thank goodness we finally had a decent day. We still haven’t made our expenses, but at least it’s not a disaster.

You still have until tomorrow to visit the show. Please accept two free tickets by clicking on the image below.

Click on this image for two free tickets to the show

Tune in Thursday for the final results.

grove-park-2-2016 The National Arts & Crafts Conference will run from February 19-21. It’s a beautiful show in an amazing 1910 historic hotel. The focus is Arts & Crafts, both antique and new. It’s a very pleasant show that we enjoy doing. Attendees fly in from all over the US.

I’ve been quite busy buying and selling recently, partly because I’ve listed many new items on my website. I need to buy more, so if you have something great, please offer it to me. I am paying the highest prices of any dealer. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email me a jpeg.

The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show opens today, Thursday, February 11, 2016

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Philip Chasen

In front of my booth at the preview party last night

The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show will open to the public today, Thursday, February 11, 2016, at 11 AM and close on Tuesday at 6 PM, for a total of six days. I’m writing to you now from the preview party on Wednesday night.

8:45 PM at the preview party

It’s 7:30 PM and the show is crowded. There have been a few inquiries, but no sales. It’s possible some of the inquiries were serious, but it’s too soon to tell. We’re jammed into a small booth because I wanted to trim my expenses. Not sure if that was smart or dumb. There’s no room to move and the booth is very crowded with merchandise. I’ll let you know later if I did the right thing.

I have to hand it to the Palm Beach Show Group. The show is really fantastic, with some of the most beautiful displays you’ll ever see. The exhibitors are the best of the best, with museum-quality displays. The whole look of the show is a cut above most shows you’ll see anywhere.

The show runs a day longer this year, so you have six full days to visit. It’s worth a trip from anywhere. Please accept two free tickets to the show by clicking on the image below.

Click on this image for two free tickets to the show

9:30 PM update No sales. What else is new for a preview party? Hope the rest of the show is good. Tune in Monday for an update on the show’s progress (which I hope will be a good report). The final results will be published next Thursday when we’ll already be in Asheville, NC, setting up at the National Arts & Crafts Conference.

Philip Chasen Antiques

The blog for chasenantiques.com

Author Archives: Philip Chasen

What’s new at Philip Chasen Antiques?

Collector hits the jackpot at Bonham’s London auction, February 24, 2016

A Belle Epoque Paris apartment was opened for the first time since WWII

Anything French was on fire at Sotheby’s Design sale, March 2, 2016

Some good results at Rago Auctions, February 26-27, 2016

Some interesting auction results for French cameo glass

The results of the National Arts & Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC, February 19-21, 2016

The results of the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show, February 11-16, 2016

A progress report on the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show

The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show opens today, Thursday, February 11, 2016