Setting up at the Overland Park Antique Show, October 23, 2013

Posted on October 24, 2013 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.

We’re just getting started

Today, we started to set up our first show ever in the Kansas City area. It’s the Overland Park Antique Show, to be held at the International Trade Center in Overland Park, KS. It opens to the public on Friday, October 25, at 10 AM and continues until Sunday, October 27, 2013, at 4 PM.

Just bought this rare Tiffany Studios decorated 3-light lily lamp

We’ve got a lot riding on this show. If it goes well, we’ll try again next summer on the way to Denver. If we decide not to return, we won’t make a dedicated trip to Denver. It will also impact our decision to exhibit again at the Winnetka Antiques Show next October, which will be held the week before the Overland Park Antique Show. The results of the show will help us decide how to juggle our show schedule, which changes as we add new possibilities and eliminate laggards. Tune in Monday for the results.

In the meantime, Leslie Hindman held a 20th Century Decorative Arts auction today with French glass, which was ON FIYAH! I’ll cover the results in full next Thursday.

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

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 Antiques + Modernism Winnetka show, October 18-20, 2013

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Philip Chasen

My lovely wife is busy with her iPad

I’m writing this blog at 2 PM on Sunday. As of this moment, the show is not going well, and will probably end with a break even result. It’s definitely not fun. Perhaps a white knight will come before the end of the day and change the result.

Some of the Tiffany glass on display in my booth

The show has been slow, with light attendance each day. The hours were unbearably long, starting with a preview party on Thursday night, followed by 23 hours open to the public, from Friday to Sunday. Some shows have shortened from three days to two days, just for that reason. Shortening the hours of a show forces people to come at the same time and adds a little excitement. It’s also far less stressful and costly to the dealers. I strongly suggest the promoters shorten this show to two days.

Some of the Daum vases on display

I haven’t had much luck transferring my many clients in the greater Chicago area from the defunct Arlington Racetrack show to the Winnetka show. I’m sure it would have gone better if more of them had shown up. The jury is still out as to whether we’ll return next year. We’ll make that decision later.

UPDATE. 5 PM Sunday. The show has closed. No white knight, but we made a couple of sales between 2 PM and 5 PM, so the show turned a small profit. A gentleman also brought in a Tiffany lamp that he may sell to me. If he does, the show will have worked out well.

Next month we’ll be working from home base, exhibiting at the NYC Pier Show, November 23-24, 2013. That will be our last show of the year, followed by the wonderful Florida shows in January and February.

Fantastic Tiffany Favrile blue decorated vase, just in

Setting up at the Antiques + Modernism Winnetka show

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Philip Chasen

Our booth is taking shape

The Antiques + Modernism Winnetka show will open tonight with a preview party (whoopdee doo!). I’ve never been a fan of preview parties, but some are better than others, especially if the food and drink are good. I recall they’re pretty good in Winnetka.

Another exhibitor is putting the final touches on his booth

We moved our booth (again!). Our new location is called an end cap (open on three sides), in a very good location. Last year we were in the gymnasium, that many people never found. Our new booth is a little small and cramped, but still nice.

I hope many of our greater Chicago clients come and visit us at the show, especially since the Arlington Racetrack show is no more. We’ll see how the show goes and report about it in my Monday blog. The show looks great, with a nice variety of high-quality exhibitors. I’ve brought some really fine items that I’ve recently purchased, so I encourage you to come and visit!

Next week we’re off to Overland Park, KS to exhibit at the Overland Park Antique Show in the International Trade Center. The show will be open to the public from Friday, October 25th – Sunday, October 27th. It will be our first time there and hopefully it will go well. If it does, we’ll exhibit there again next summer, on the way to the Denver show, the following week.

Wonderful 12″ Daum rain scenic vase, just in

A visit to the Parma Merchant’s Fair, October 3-5, 2013

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Philip Chasen

Loading in at the Parma show at the Thursday opening

To say the least, this has been a memorable trip, with some nice highs and some unpleasant lows. If you follow my blog, you know that I was invited to attend the Mercanteinfiera Parma (Parma Merchant’s Fair), which included airfare and hotel. It opened to dealers only on Thursday, October 3rd. Basically it’s a unique combination of the Brimfield and Miami Beach shows. As in Brimfield, the exhibitors unload and set up at the same time outside dealers wander about. As in Miami, the show is indoors and opens to the public after the first two days of setup.

Lia is in front of a fabulous garden display at the show

The show is very large, with about 1,000 exhibitors, spread out over three huge buildings. That may sound gigantic, but it’s my understanding the show used to be even larger a few years ago, filling six buildings. I suppose that’s why the fair is sponsoring outside dealers to attend the show. That would be great if an American city were to do the same thing for its big shows, like Miami Beach, but the odds of that happening are just about nil.

An amazing 8′ tall building model, sold at the show

Unfortunately, we had a couple of nasty problems, the worst of which was losing our passports. What grief! We had to spend all day Friday driving to and from the American Consulate in Milan to get emergency passports. That made it impossible to visit the show on Friday. Then amazingly on Saturday, we received a call from the police department in Milan, notifying us that our passports were found. What great news! What terrible timing! If only they had called the day before. Regardless, we were thrilled to get back our portfolio and made whole again. The portfolio contained our passports, some documents and a SIM card for my phone. Phew!

Need a litter for an aristocrat in your family?

Shopping the show was interesting. Our main focus was to buy good quality French glass by Daum or Gallé, but that proved impossible. We did find some Gallé and Daum, but none were the quality or the price we were looking for. Everything I already have in inventory is better quality and priced better than what we found. So what did we buy? A 1960s Pan Am model airplane; a beautifully painted enamel on copper plaque of Leda and the Swan; a wonderful Sandoz ceramic fish; a period glass Coca-Cola tray; and five 1920s German bisque naughty dolls — not what you expect to find in our booth at a show, but different and interesting.

A similar German bisque bathing beauty to the five we purchased

Now for the story of the German naughties. We were running out of time on Saturday, our last day at the show. We found a booth with five 1920s German bisque naughty dolls, with original wigs and clothing. They were all in amazingly good condition, except for minor damage to one. Lia paid $2,000 for a similar one a few months back, so we asked the price. We were prepared to pay $1,200 for one. The dealer said he wanted to sell them as a group. How much, you ask? $550!!! I couldn’t believe it was for the whole group, but it was. Dealers clearly remember every single time they make a score and this was one of them. Lia was on a high for hours. Fortunately for her and unfortunately for me, Lia collects them, so the profit will not be realized for a long time.

Wonderful 12″ Daum rain scenic vase, just in

You might be eligible for a free round trip flight and hotel in Parma, Italy

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Philip Chasen

Parma is in the north of Italy

Parma, Italy is host to a huge, biannual antiques fair, every October and March. Known as Mercanteinfiera Parma (Parma Merchant’s Fair), the fair accommodates over 1000 dealers, in several buildings on the site. To put that into perspective, that’s more than twice the size of The Original Miami Beach Antiques Show. Many dealers travel long distances to exhibit there, from all over Europe. Over 50,000 people attend each fair, with the first two days for dealers only.

A partial view of one of the fair buildings

In order to introduce American dealers to the Parma Fair, the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast (IACC), together with the Fiere di Parma organize a U.S. buyer’s delegation. Their Hospitality Program includes free round trip airfare, 4-star hotel accommodations for four nights, transfers, admission to the fair, interpreting services, and a tour of Parma. To the best of my knowledge, you just have to be an active, bona fide antiques or modern dealer. They’re interested in bringing over dealers who will shop the show and likely make purchases. That’s all there is to it. You can add a partner or additional days to your trip (at your expense). You just have to arrive and leave from any cities in Italy. It’s too late for this October, but not for next March. Apply to Francesca Tanti by emailing her at tanti@iacc-miami.com.

An aerial view of Piazza Garibaldi in Parma

So did you guess? Lia and I are going to the Parma show this October, courtesy of IACC. We’ve added a few days to our trip for R&R, so it should be fun. I’ll write a blog after we return to let you know about our trip and the show.

My new, totally redesigned website isn’t quite ready for prime time, but it’s ready for testing. Click here to view my new site. Then look around, try the links and use the site as you normally would. I need your reactions, so don’t be bashful. Please write to me and let me know what you think! philchasen@gmail.com or use the CONTACT form on the site. I expect there are more than a few bugs, which I hope you’ll let me know about. We’ll fix all the problems and then roll out the new site. Thanks!!!

Wonderful Daum Nancy scenic blownout vase, in rare purple variation, just in

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. Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps.

What’s new at Philip Chasen Antiques?

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Philip Chasen

Wonderful Tiffany floriform vase, sold after the Baltimore show

First a short follow-up to the Baltimore Summer Antiques Fair. Not only was the show a success, but it got even better afterward. I made a sale to a gentleman who was considering purchasing a major Tiffany vase at the show, but didn’t make up his mind until a couple of days afterward. Another gentleman, who had seen a French dueling gun set in my booth, called to buy it. Unfortunately for him (and for me), I had already sold it at the show. Follow-up show sales are few and far between, so it was very gratifying to hear from these two gentlemen.

Beautiful, rare, red Tiffany Favrile vase, just in

I had some good luck buying recently, including several Tiffany Favrile, Daum and Gallé vases. Of the Tiffany vases, a 5¾” red example, with a great shape, was one of the better buys. It’s really red, not orange, like some of the less desirable examples.

Just look at the great color and detail of this Daum Nancy fall scenic tumbler

One of my fine Daum Nancy purchases was a fall scenic tumbler. I love Daum fall scenic vases because of their great color and detail. This 4¾” square tumbler has vivid color.

Galle 9¼” berry blownout vase

A fine blownout vase with blue berries was one of my better Galle purchases. Galle blownout vases are rarer than standard cameo vases and as such are very desirable and easy to sell. Collectors from all over the world enjoy them.

Don’t have any shows for several weeks, so I’m devoting more time to updating my site. I’ve already listed about 10 new Tiffany, Daum, and Gallé vases. Click here to take a look. Then look for my totally redesigned website, with many changes and improvements, coming sooner than later. Can’t wait to show you and get your reaction!

Wonderful Daum Nancy scenic blownout vase, in rare purple variation, just in

The results of the Baltimore Summer Antiques Fair, August 22-25, 2013

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Philip Chasen

There was a pretty good crowd forming 15 minutes before the show opened on Thursday

The Baltimore Summer Antiques Fair was held this past weekend, August 22-25, 2013, with generally good results. Attendance was moderate to good and relatively consistent over the four days of the show. No earthquakes or hurricanes this year, although that was a great year for sales.

My booth was crowded on Saturday afternoon

It’s been a few years since the Palm Beach Show Group took over ownership and promotion of the Baltimore Summer Antiques Fair from the previous owner. In that time, the quality of the show has gone up, as well as attendance and sales. Kudos to them for a job well done. They also own and promote the Palm Beach Antiques Show, so we added it to our winter schedule.

Fantastic Daum Nancy Fall scenic vase, sold at the show

In asking around, the majority of dealer’s comments were favorable. Here they are, in no special order. A dealer in general antiques commented “OK, disappointing, but I’ll do it again.”; from another dealer in general antiques, “Very strong, with an enthusiastic audience”; a dealer in Art Nouveau ceramics said “We had a good show, the best first two days in a long time.”; and from a California dealer in general antiques, “Very solid. We should have this kind of show everywhere”. Not all California dealers fared as well — one who deals in general antiques commented “Not good.” A Midwest dealer in general antiques told me, “Great. I’m thrilled.”, while another general dealer from the Midwest commented “Excellent”. A Southern art glass dealer told me “Sold over 50 pieces. Best show we ever had.”; from a general dealer “Very mediocre.”; from a dealer in French and Asian antiques, “Excellent, exceeding last year. Many sales to Chinese and Russian clients.”; from a dealer in Austrian glass, ceramics and design, “Very good show. Pleasantly surprised. Strong sales.”, and finally an English dealer specializing in Chinese export porcelain didn’t make a single sale. Ugh! My heart goes out to him.

Super Schneider padded and wheel-carved Medallion vase, sold at the show

Personally our show was very strong, with sales best in, you guessed it if you read my blog, French glass. Other categories that were selling were American art glass, American art pottery, paintings, and Icart etchings. We did business every day, making the show enjoyable and interesting. We sold to buyers from everywhere, including Brazil, Japan, Russia and many US states. That makes two wonderful shows in a row and a great end to the summer. Business usually gets better the colder the weather, so here’s looking forward to a good autumn.

Don’t have any shows for several weeks, so I’ll be able to devote more time to updating my site. I hope to get 10-15 new items listed in the next week or so, including some important Tiffany, Daum, and Gallé vases. Please take a look. Then look for my totally redesigned website, with many changes and improvements, coming in the next few weeks. Can’t wait to show you and get your reaction!

Wonderful Daum Nancy scenic blownout vase, in rare purple variation, just in

Setting up at the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show, August 20, 2013

Posted on August 21, 2013 by Philip Chasen

The booth is messy, but getting there. This is the first time the Tiffany Venetian base in the case is for sale.

Today was the first day of setup for the Baltimore Summer Antiques Fair. It went smoothly, but there’s lots more to do before the doors open to the public this Thursday, August 22nd, at noon. It always gets done, usually with excellent results. In the meantime, dealers visit each other looking to buy, with a decent amount of merchandise changing hands. I was able to buy some very nice Daum, Galle and Tiffany vases, and I’m hoping to buy more tomorrow.

Another four Tiffany vases, fresh from a private collection, just in for the show

I can’t rave enough about this show. It’s huge and very high quality, with some dealers who exhibit at very few shows the entire year. It’s also fun, with lots of action. I like to think of it as the Miami Beach show of the summer. It’s worth traveling to from anywhere in the world. Buyers fly in from all over the country, Canada, Europe and even Japan. The show runs four days, from Thursday to Sunday. And if you read my blog, you can get two free tickets to the show with no strings attached. Click here to get them.

Beautiful Daum Nancy columbine vase, just in

I’m in the process of having my website totally redesigned, with many changes and improvements. It’s coming in the next few weeks. Can’t wait to show you and get your reaction!

Wonderful Daum Nancy scenic blownout vase, in rare purple variation, just in

The results of the Chicago Summer Antiques Show, August 16-18, 2013

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Philip Chasen

Gorgeous Tiffany Studios 17″ Dragonfly table lamp, sold at the show

The Chicago Summer Antiques Show was held this past weekend, August 16-18, 2013, in conjunction with the ANA Coin Show. Rosemary Krieger, owner of Dolphin Promotions, Inc., has decided that it’s beneficial for the antique show to be tied to the coin show. Many of the dealers and collectors at the coin show buy antiques, so it seems to be a good move. Because of the connection, there will be a substantial change in the schedule next year. The antique show will be held a week earlier, August 7-9, 2014, and will run from Thursday to Saturday. You read it right, NO Sunday. That aligns the show perfectly with the coin show, which runs in another hall of the same Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. That also gives plenty of time for Baltimore show dealers to get to Baltimore. With this year’s schedule, some of the Baltimore dealers decided not to exhibit in Chicago because it didn’t give them enough time to get to Baltimore, which starts setting up this Tuesday. There will be no problem next year for those dealers.

Several of these wonderful Tiffany Favrile vases were sold at the show

I asked a number of dealers how they did at the Chicago show and got some of these responses. “Great” from a dealer in general antiques; “Off a little from last year’s show, but still decent” from a dealer in French general antiques; “Fair” from a dealer in European ceramics. He sold to some of the coin dealers, but not to the general public; and “OK” from a dealer in general antiques. Personally I had one of the best shows of the year, just about equal to Miami. How’s that for a little show in Rosemont, IL? Tiffany glass and lamps, as well as French glass were all doing well.

Saturday afternoon in my booth

Attendance was light all three days of the show, and lightest on Sunday, but that won’t be a problem next year. What was important was that the right people showed up. I encourage dealers to give the show another try next year. If the show starts to get bigger and better, the word will get out and more people will attend. It will be the start of a virtuous circle.

Beautiful Daum Nancy columbine vase, just in

The really huge and great Baltimore Summer Antiques Fair will be held this week. It opens to the public on Thursday, August 22nd, at noon. It’s a show worth traveling to from anywhere in the world. Buyers fly in from all over the country, Canada, Europe and even Japan. How about two free tickets to the show with no strings attached? Click here to get them.

I’m in the process of having my website totally redesigned, with many changes and improvements. It’s coming in the next few weeks. Can’t wait to show you and get your reaction!

Wonderful Daum Nancy scenic blownout vase, in rare purple variation, just in

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.

Gorgeous Daum Nancy Fall scenic vase, sold at the show

Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps.

Setting up at the Chicago Summer Antiques Show, August 14, 2013

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Philip Chasen

One of four killer Tiffany Favrile vases we’ll have at the show, fresh from a private collection

We started setting up yesterday at the Chicago Summer Antiques Show, in the same booth, just to the left of the front door. It’s a nice, big booth, with plenty of room to display everything beautifully.

Another of the four great Tiffany Favrile vases that we’ll have at the show

We’ll have some great new items, including four wonderful Tiffany Favrile vases, all from the same private collection. They’ll all be at the show, which opens to the public this Friday, August 16th, at noon. We’ll be exhibiting in hall D at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, until Sunday at 5 PM. Make the time to visit the show. You’ll like what you see.

Beautiful Daum Nancy columbine vase, just in

If you can’t attend the Chicago show, make sure you make plans to come to the really great and huge Baltimore Summer Antiques Fair, August 22-25, 2013, the following week. It’s a show worth traveling to from anywhere in the world. Buyers fly in from all over the country, Canada, Europe and even Japan. How about two free tickets to the show with no strings attached? Click here to get them.

I’m in the process of having my website totally redesigned, with many changes and improvements. It’s coming in the next few weeks. Can’t wait to show you and get your reaction!

Wonderful Daum Nancy scenic blownout vase, in rare purple variation, just in

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.

Gorgeous Daum Nancy Fall scenic vase, just in

Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps.

Philip Chasen Antiques

The blog for chasenantiques.com

Category Archives: Antique shows

Setting up at the Overland Park Antique Show, October 23, 2013

The results of the Antiques + Modernism Winnetka show, October 18-20, 2013

Setting up at the Antiques + Modernism Winnetka show

A visit to the Parma Merchant’s Fair, October 3-5, 2013

You might be eligible for a free round trip flight and hotel in Parma, Italy

What’s new at Philip Chasen Antiques?

The results of the Baltimore Summer Antiques Fair, August 22-25, 2013

Setting up at the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show, August 20, 2013

The results of the Chicago Summer Antiques Show, August 16-18, 2013

Setting up at the Chicago Summer Antiques Show, August 14, 2013