Setting up at the Original Miami Beach Antique Show, January 28-29, 2014

Posted on January 30, 2014 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. Tune in next Tuesday for the results of the Original Miami Beach Antique Show. There will be no Monday blog because the show ends on Monday.

This huge boom barely fits down the aisle

I wish I could say set-up was uneventful, but unfortunately it wasn’t. A dealer in my aisle needed a chandelier hung when setup for the show was almost complete. To accomplish that, EXPO, the company responsible for everything physical at the show, decided to move their gigantic boom down our aisle. In the process, they hit my Tiffany glass case with their tire and broke a vase worth at least $2,500. It could have been much worse. What I don’t understand it why they would accommodate such a request so late in the set-up. They could have broken hundreds of thousands of dollars of merchandise in the attempt. Makes no sense to me. Now I have to deal with an insurance claim. Ugh!! I’m lucky my neighbor across the aisle recorded the entire event, so EXPO can’t deny they were the cause of the damage.

I just purchased this beautiful Tiffany Favrile vase with applications the day before

To make things worse, the management did not turn on the air conditioning for the entire set-up. It was dreadfully hot and humid in the hall, with many people sweating bullets. I know this may fall on deaf ears to those experiencing -5°, but it wasn’t pleasant.

It may look disorganized, but it will look great when the show opens

The show opens today at noon and continues until Monday at 6 PM. I always look forward to it as one of the two best and most important shows of the year. I’ve got a lot riding on the results, so I’m going into the show with butterflies in my stomach. Wish me luck!

We’ll have this great Tiffany Studios candlestick lamp at the show

Next week we’ll check out the Naples Art, Antique and Jewelry Show after this show ends. If we like what we see, we’ll exhibit there next year. Then we’ll exhibit at the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show the following week, starting on February 15. We’ll end our southern swing with the wonderful Grove Park Inn Arts & Crafts Conference, February 21 – 23, 2014. We last exhibited there a few years ago and couldn’t exhibit again because of scheduling conflicts. This year there were no conflicts, so we’re happy to return.

Andre Gisson painting with rare balloon subject matter

Click here to view my new website and look around. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps

The results of the Miami National Antiques Show, January 22-24, 2014

Posted on January 27, 2014 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. Tune in this Thursday for news from the Original Miami Beach Antique Show.
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My aisle, Saturday afternoon at 4:30 PM

It’s Saturday afternoon at 3:45 PM as I start to write this blog. Half the Miami National Antiques Show is over, with reasonably good results to this point, far exceeding last year’s results. Attendance was fairly good yesterday, with some real buyers in the crowd. Attendance today is much weaker, so boredom is setting in. I’ve got some clients considering major purchases, but I can’t take that to the bank.

Attendance was a little better on Sunday at 2:30 PM

UPDATE: Sunday, 2:45 PM. Attendance is a little better today, but not sales. Made one sale early on Saturday, but none today. Some people arrived early to catch the last day of the Miami National Antiques Show before going on to the big Miami Beach show later this week. It looks like this show will finish with a whimper, not a bang, but it’s still been a good show. The de facto end to our show was Saturday at 1 PM, but there was no way to know that in advance.

FINAL UPDATE: Sunday, 5:00 PM. WRONG! I’m happy to report that the show ended with a bang, not a whimper. We made three significant sales in the last two hours — a nice way to finish a show that was a bust last year.

One of the fine Daum Nancy vases sold at the show

The excitement will begin this Tuesday, when we start setting up the Original Miami Beach Antique Show. All the big shot collectors and dealers will be there, creating a totally different ambiance. The show opens to the public this Thursday at noon and will continue until Monday, at 6 PM. You still have time to make plans to come to Miami this week. According to the weather report, the daytime temperature will range from 67° to 82° for the next 10 days. Last I checked, the temperature was 26° in New York City, 19° in Detroit, and 5° in Minneapolis. This is a great time to visit Miami. You’ll be able to see the best antique show of the year, enjoy the weather and eat at many great restaurants.

We’ll have this great Tiffany Studios candlestick lamp at the show

We’ll end our southern swing with the wonderful Grove Park Inn Arts & Crafts Conference, February 21 – 23, 2014. We last exhibited there a few years ago and couldn’t exhibit again because of scheduling conflicts. This year there were no conflicts, so we’re happy to return. It will immediately follow the important Palm Beach Antiques Show.

Andre Gisson painting with rare balloon subject matter

Setting up at the Miami National Antiques Show, January 22, 2014

Posted on January 23, 2014 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. Tune in next Monday for the results of the Miami National Antiques Show.

Lia is busy setting up

Yesterday was the first day of set-up at the Miami National Antiques Show. Set-up went smoothly, but there’s still a full day’s work left before the booth will be ready for the public. The show opens this Friday at noon and ends on Sunday at 5 PM.

Toulouse Antiques has a beautiful display

There are some very high quality dealers at the show, so the displays are top-notch. You can get first crack at this wonderful merchandise by visiting the show before next week’s Original Miami Beach Antiques Show.

The Grodskys have brought an impressive selection of Handel and Pairpoint lamps

You still have time to make plans to come to Miami this week to see the Miami National Antiques Show and then the Original Miami Beach Antique Show the following week. According to the weather report, the daytime temperature will range from 66° to 80° for the next 10 days. Last I checked, the temperature was 7° in Long Island, 10° in Detroit, and 0° in Minneapolis. This is a great time to visit Miami. You’ll be able to see two great antique shows, enjoy the weather and eat at many great restaurants.

We’ll have this great Tiffany Studios candlestick lamp at the show

Andre Gisson painting with rare balloon subject matter

The Miami National Antiques Show begins this Friday, January 24, 2014

Posted on January 20, 2014 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. This Thursday’s blog will be from Miami, after we’ve finished setting up the show.

It’s hard to believe, but the Miami shows are about to begin. It seemed they were so far away and now they’re here. The Miami National Antiques Show is first, beginning this Friday, January 24th, at noon and continuing until Sunday, January 26th, at 5 PM. The show is located at the Doubletree Expo Centre, Miami Merchandise Mart, near the southwest corner of Miami International Airport.

My booth last year at the Miami National Antique Show

This is the warm-up show for the big Original Miami Beach Antique Show to be held the following week at the Miami Beach Convention Center. However, this year the show is under new management — U.S. Antique Shows, the same management as next week’s Original Miami Beach Antique Show. New show promoters generally mean a show will be better because of increased advertising, new dealers and better attendance. Here’s hoping it will be true this time.

Fantastic Tiffany Favrile black decorated vase, just in

We’ve been buying for the last several weeks, with great success. We’re bringing wonderful Tiffany Studios glass, lamps and candlesticks we’ve purchased from fantastic private collections. We’ll have it all on display at our four shows down south, starting with the Miami National Antiques Show.

This killer Tiffany Favrile student lamp will be at the show

You still have time to make plans to come to Miami early to see the Miami National Antiques Show and then the Original Miami Beach Antique Show the following week. According to the weather report, the temperature will be in the 60s and 70s every day for the next 10 days. With another polar vortex coming to the center of the country and moving east, this is a great time to visit Miami. You’ll be able to see two great antique shows, enjoy the weather and eat at many great restaurants.

We’ll have this great Tiffany Studios candlestick lamp at the show

Andre Gisson painting with rare balloon subject matter

The Chicago Merchandise Mart has canceled their 2014 spring antiques show

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Philip Chasen

The aisles were jammed at the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antiques Show. Let’s hope we can see the same crowds in Chicago.

The Chicago Merchandise Mart has decided to cancel their 16-year-old spring antiques show, at least for 2014, and likely for good. The news is so new that the 2014 dates are still listed on their website as of this writing, merchandisemartantiques.com. What a shame! This was one of my favorite shows of the year — elegant, personal, easy, productive.

So what happened? In one word, competition. The Palm Beach Show Group decided to hold a major antiques show in Chicago the same week as the Merchandise Mart. There aren’t enough good show dealers to fill both shows the same week, so something had to give. I couldn’t understand why the Palm Beach Show Group decided to hold their show the same week. I sent emails, I asked questions, but basically got the runaround. It wasn’t until the Merchandise Mart canceled their show that I probably got closer to the truth. Apparently the Palm Beach Show Group tried to buy the Merchandise Mart Antiques Show, but was unable, for whatever reason(s). It looks like they intentionally chose the same week to drive the Merchandise Mart out, and they succeeded. Too bad, because I think the Merchandise Mart would have been better off with the Palm Beach Show Group in charge. It would have been the best of both worlds — the Merchandise Mart is a great location and the Palm Beach Show Group are great promoters. Additionally the Mart may have soured on all art and antiques fairs. In early 2012 they shut down their annual modern art fair.

An aerial view of Chicago’s Navy Pier

Now that the winner of the duel has been decided, we wish the Palm Beach Show Group success with their new Chicago International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show at the Navy Pier, April 24-28, 2014. I’ve signed up, chosen a booth and listed the show on my website calendar. I’ve heard complaints about the facility — it’s hard to park, etc., etc. But now there’s only one good game in town, so buyers will somehow find their way. If history is any indication, attendance will surely pick up because of good promotion. We have to hope that there will be real buyers in the large crowds, which will make the dealers happy and the show succeed.

We’ve been buying for the last several weeks, and will continue to buy more, in anticipation of our four shows down south, starting with the Miami National Antiques Show on January 24, 2014 and ending with the wonderful Grove Park Inn Arts & Crafts Conference, February 21 – 23, 2014. We last exhibited there a few years ago and couldn’t exhibit again because of scheduling conflicts. This year there were no conflicts, so we’re happy to return. It will immediately follow the important Palm Beach Antiques Show.

Wonderful Tiffany Favrile vase with wheel-carved leaves, just in

The Miami National Antique Show will start on January 24, 2014

Posted on December 30, 2013 by Philip Chasen

We’ve been planning and planning for the Miami antique shows and now they’re almost upon us. First up will be the Miami National Antiques Show (The Airport Show) at the Doubletree Expo Centre, Miami Merchandise Mart, near the southwest corner of the Miami International Airport. It will open to the public on Friday, January 24th, at noon, and continue until Sunday, January 26th, at 5 PM.

Last year at the show

This will be the first year the show will be run by U.S. Antique Shows, after purchasing it from Rosemary Krieger of Dolphin Promotions. U.S. Antique Shows has been on a buying spree, buying this show as well as all the New York shows of Stella Show Management Co., which included the Pier Antique Show. Shows usually get better when new promoters take over, as they tend to increase advertising budgets, acquire new dealers and make other beneficial changes. As an example, the Pier Antique Show saw a significant increase in attendance this past November as U.S. Antique Shows ran the show for the first time. As a result, I hope to have a good report on the Miami National Antique Show. Look for that post on Monday, January 27th.

In the meantime, I strongly suggest you make plans to attend. There are always terrific dealers at the show with an incredible selection of fresh items. You can get first crack at them, before the dealers exhibit the following week at the important Original Miami Beach Antiques Show (also run by U.S. Antique Shows). The weather will be warm, the food will be great, and the antiques shopping will be fantastic! Why stay home in cold ____ (you fill in the blank), when you could be relaxing in Miami? For more information about the show, click here.

Wonderful Tiffany Favrile vase with wheel-carved leaves, just in

The results of the NYC Pier Antique Show, November 23-24, 2013

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Philip Chasen

A line of taxis was dropping off early arrivals on Saturday morning

Part of the long line to get in on Saturday morning

I didn’t know what to expect from the Pier show this time with new promoters, but I was hopeful. Shows often get better, as the promoters usually increase the advertising budget and make other beneficial changes. Personally, my show was fine — much better than last March, and about as good as last November. Saturday was a good day, with moderately strong attendance, interest, and sales. Sunday was noticeably slower, with fewer people, fewer questions, fewer sales and less energy. Not what I predicted, but not a washout.

Harvey Fierstein

Harvey Fierstein stopped in for a few minutes on Saturday to inquire about a pair of Tiffany Studios root candlesticks (which unfortunately he didn’t buy). For those who don’t know, he’s a Tony Award winning Broadway star, and a gentleman. If you don’t recognize his face, you surely would recognize his very distinctive, gravelly voice.

The aisles were crowded on Saturday

In asking around about results, I received the following comments. From a dealer in American art pottery, “Unbelievable. The best show I’ve had here in years.” A dealer in lamps and glass remarked “OK”. A dealer in Art Deco glass and objects “OK. Good. Better than last year.” A general dealer, new to the show said “Pleasantly surprised.” Another lamp dealer told me his show was “horrible”. A dealer in furniture and bronzes said he “did well, including some major pieces”, and finally a dealer in silver told me he had an awful show — not enough dealers to draw any general conclusions.

It was busy in my booth most of Saturday

The transition to the new promoters was fairly seamless, with only a few glitches. I was told that many dealers who double-parked during the night on Thursday received parking tickets, something that didn’t happen in previous years. My observations were that Andrea Canady, the show manager, and her crew, did a fine job. Setup seemed to go as smoothly as it possibly could.

We’ll be busy buying for the next couple of months in anticipation of the important Florida shows, starting with the Miami National Antiques Show on January 24, 2014. We’ll end our winter schedule with the wonderful Grove Park Inn Arts & Crafts Conference, February 21 – 23, 2014. We last exhibited there a few years ago and couldn’t do it again because of scheduling conflicts. This year there were no conflicts, so we’re happy to return. It will immediately follow the important Palm Beach Antiques Show.

Fine Tiffany Favrile vase with applied handles, just in

The NYC Pier Antique Show opens this Saturday, November 23, 2013

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Philip Chasen

The NYC Pier Antique Show will open to the public this coming Saturday, November 23, at 10 AM, and close the next day, Sunday, November 24, at 6 PM. U.S. Antique Shows recently purchased the show from Stella Show Management. New show promoters typically don’t buy shows to watch them fail, so they spend more money and make changes, mostly for the good. For example, I know the new promoters were able to sign some high-end dealers who usually don’t exhibit at this show. That will raise the quality. I also know they’ve spent more money on advertising, such as a full page ad in last weekend’s New York Times — mucho dinero. Sometimes a new promoter will start a show on a virtuous cycle that feeds on success and gets better with time. A case in point is the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show. It was owned and managed well for many years by Frank Farbenbloom. After he sold the show to the Palm Beach Show Group, the show only got better, with more and better exhibitors, more attendees, and better sales — a win-win situation. Now it’s the must-go-to show of the summer.

Rare Tiffany Studios 3-light lily lamp with decorated shades

This will be our last show of the year, so we hope to make it a good one by bringing some fantastic new items. One is a Tiffany Studios 3-light lily lamp with rare green pulled feather shades. It’s one of 25, mostly Tiffany Studios, lamps we’ll have on display at the show.

Fine Tiffany Favrile vase with applied handles, just in

Another is a rare Tiffany Favrile decorated vase with applied handles, part of our fine selection of Tiffany Studios vases.

Big, important, 13¾” Daum birch tree scenic vase, just in

Our French glass selection will be large, with some outstanding examples of Daum and Gallé glass.

After the Pier show, we’ll be buying up a storm for the important Florida shows in January and February. We just added a wonderful show to our winter schedule, the Grove Park Inn Arts & Crafts Conference, February 21 – 23, 2014. We last exhibited there a few years ago and couldn’t do it again because of scheduling conflicts. This year there were no conflicts, so we’re happy to return. It will immediately follow the important Palm Beach Antiques Show.

Tune in Monday for the NYC Pier Antique Show results!

Fantastic Tiffany Favrile blue decorated vase, just in

If You Only Go To Three British Antiques Fairs Next Year…

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Philip Chasen

Today’s post is the first by a guest writer. William Robinson has spent most of his life working with antiques and fine art, while developing a family run business, Loveday Antiques, into one of London’s finest showrooms. Will’s passion for exotic wood and classic carpentry keeps his love of antiques strong.

If you would like to be a guest writer for my blog, please submit your post to philchasen@gmail.com. I suggest you send me your idea first. If it’s interesting, illustrated, and well-written, I’ll be happy to post it.

“Britain is world famous for hosting some of the largest and most prestigious antiques fairs in the world. A rich heritage and a natural affinity for antiques has resulted in Britain, notably England, being well stocked with a multitude of valuable antiques. Spotting a bargain, picking up a premium piece or simply admiring the beautiful craftsmanship from the rafters – antiques fairs around the world pull audiences from all sizes, shapes, ages and demographics looking for a day of culture and class.

There are hundreds of antiques fairs and home shows that you could attend within the next year, but for the best experience I recommend the following three for their facilities and the exceptionally large variety of antiques that are available for purchase.

Ardingly International Antiques & Collectors Fair

1. The Ardingly International Antiques and Collectors Fair is the largest antiques fair in the South of England and is hosted at the South of England Showground. This particular antiques fair is incredibly easy to access, as it is only an hour’s journey from England’s capital, London, and is just 12 miles from Gatwick Airport.

The Ardingly fair is popular amongst a multitude of ages and has seen an increase in visitors of 28% since 2009. This increase may be due to the welcoming atmosphere. It’s a large event, but does not overwhelm the senses or feel crowded — an amazing feat considering the showground can hold up to 1,700 stalls. The fair specialises in a wide range of quality European ornamental and decorative items, with the smaller, more fragile pieces kept indoors, while the larger products such as wooden furniture, sculptures and household items are kept outdoors beneath marquees and tents.

The Ardingly International Antiques & Collectors Fair will take place between Tuesday the 7th of January and Wednesday the 8th of January, 2014. Entry tickets for Tuesday are £20 and include entry for Wednesday; entrance to the event taking place on Wednesday is £5.

Newark International Antiques & Collectors Fair

2. The Newark International Antiques & Collectors Fair is owned by International Antiques & Collectors Fairs Ltd (IACF) and has been crowned as Europe’s largest antiques fair, housing more than 2,500 dealers. Due to the remarkable number of dealers, the Newark antiques fair offers an amazingly diverse selection. It has become so popular that the IACF has run it up to 6 times a year. It is located at the Nottinghamshire Showground, with an approximate area of 84 acres.

One of the beautiful things about the Newark International Antiques & Collectors Fair is that it began as a method for antiques dealers worldwide to stock up and share their knowledge with one another. Over the years, as vintage has become more and more intriguing for the younger generation, the fair now attracts audiences of all ages. The variety of people is almost as large as the variety of antiques available.

The first antiques fair of 2014 in Newark will last from Thursday, the 6th of February to Friday, the 7th of February. Tickets for Thursday are £20 and include entry to Friday whilst tickets to enter on Friday are just £5.

The Lincolnshire Antiques & Home Show

3. The Lincolnshire Antiques and Home Show is an antiques fair with an ever increasing following. With more than 2,000 stalls available to purchase from and more than 200 acres of showground, the Lincolnshire fair at the Lincolnshire Showground is one of the largest and most diverse fairs throughout Europe, ranging from some of the most refined wares to bric-a-brac. No matter your taste or preference, you should be able to find something. This antiques and home show is a three day event that charges a £20 entrance fee for Monday, £5 for Tuesday and only £2.50 for Wednesday.”

Next month we’ll be working from home base, exhibiting at the NYC Pier Show, November 23-24, 2013. The show is under new management, U.S. Antique Shows, which usually portends improvements. It will be our last show of the year, followed by the important Florida shows in January and February.

Fantastic Tiffany Favrile blue decorated vase, just in

The results of the Overland Park Antique Show, October 25-27, 2013

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Philip Chasen

Overland Park International Trade Center

It’s Sunday afternoon at 4:20 PM as I write this blog. The Overland Park Antique Show was a reasonable success, with enough sold and bought to make us want to return next July, on the way to the Denver show.

I had many preconceptions about the show, none of which were accurate. The show is in a modern exhibition facility that permits vehicles to enter. That’s important for a few reasons — first, we’re not subject to the weather; second, we don’t have to dolly the inventory into and out of the building, saving a lot of time; third, security becomes a non-issue.

Bought this rare Tiffany Studios decorated 3-light lily lamp at the show

We decided to exhibit at the show because it immediately followed the Winnetka, IL show and made geographic sense. The show also changed management, which is almost always a good thing. The new promoter, Chris Miller, is a show dealer, so he knows the business from the inside. In the two times since he took over, the show has substantially increased in size, with better attendance. The show seems to be entering a virtuous cycle, where each successive show gets better through a feedback loop of more dealers, better sales and more attendees. Unfortunately we won’t be back for the March show, but we will for the July show.

I’ll give you a little insight into why we left this show with good feelings. Our booth was huge and the rent was low — a rare combination. We were truly impressed with the hospitality of the locals. I can’t tell you how many people came into our booth to compliment us on our display and to thank us for coming. It was totally unexpected and very gratifying. One couple drove up from Dallas, Texas, 9½ hours, specifically to see us. Wow! Thanks. There was lots of interest from knowledgeable people, even if they didn’t make a purchase this time. Maybe next.

Thursday’s blog will cover the very strong Leslie Hindman 20th Century Decorative Arts auction. French cameo glass was ON FIYAH! Next Monday’s post will be from a guest contributor from England.

Next month we’ll be working from home base, exhibiting at the NYC Pier Show, November 23-24, 2013. The show is under new management, U.S. Antique Shows, which usually portends improvements. That will be our last show of the year, followed by the important Florida shows in January and February.

Fantastic Tiffany Favrile blue decorated vase, just in

Philip Chasen Antiques

The blog for chasenantiques.com

Category Archives: Antique shows

Setting up at the Original Miami Beach Antique Show, January 28-29, 2014

The results of the Miami National Antiques Show, January 22-24, 2014

Setting up at the Miami National Antiques Show, January 22, 2014

The Miami National Antiques Show begins this Friday, January 24, 2014

The Chicago Merchandise Mart has canceled their 2014 spring antiques show

The Miami National Antique Show will start on January 24, 2014

The results of the NYC Pier Antique Show, November 23-24, 2013

The NYC Pier Antique Show opens this Saturday, November 23, 2013

If You Only Go To Three British Antiques Fairs Next Year…

The results of the Overland Park Antique Show, October 25-27, 2013