The Chicago Summer Antiques Show & Sale begins on Friday, August 16, 2013

Posted on August 5, 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.

The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, on River Road, in Rosemont, IL

The Chicago Summer Antiques Show & Sale begins next weekend, Friday, August 16, 2013, at noon, and continues until Sunday, August 18, 2013 at 5 PM. It’s a small show, but with good dealers, so it’s worth a trip from anywhere in the greater Chicago region. An interesting aspect of this year’s show, at least from an exhibitor’s viewpoint, is the simultaneous Chicago International Coin Fair. It will run at the same time as the antique show, in the same building, the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. It’s an important opportunity because many coin dealers are good clients of antiques dealers. If you’re a dealer sitting on the fence about exhibiting this year at the Chicago Summer Antiques Show, this is important information which may help you make up your mind. Personally I have many clients who are coin dealers, so I’m hopeful that some of my business at the show will come from them.

Very rare 1914 Louis Wain cat, The Lucky Master Cat

I’m bringing some powerful new items, including a very rare Louis Wain ceramic cat from 1914, entitled The Lucky Master Cat. It’s straight out of a private home and fresh to the market.

Rare Tiffany Studios frame in the Medallion pattern

Rare Tiffany Studios frame in the Heraldic pattern

How about a rare and beautiful Tiffany Studios frame in the Heraldic pattern? Again, straight out of a private home and fresh to the market.

I’m also bringing a great assortment of Tiffany Studios lamps and glass and some really great French glass by Daum Nancy and Gallé. Please take the time to visit me at the show, especially because you won’t be able to visit me at the Arlington Park Racetrack in October. It’s unlikely there will be any more antique shows at the track in the foreseeable future. Even if there is one, I won’t be there.

In any event, make sure you make plans to come to the really great Baltimore Summer Antiques Fair, August 22-25, 2013, the week after Chicago. 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? Click here to get your two free tickets to the show.

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.

The results of the Birchwood Manor Antiques Show, July 27-28, 2013

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Philip Chasen

Saturday afternoon, in front of my booth

The Birchwood Manor Antiques Show was held this past weekend, July 27-28, 2013. Attendance was slow to moderate on Saturday, with few questions and only a couple of (decent) sales. It’s very tough to sit at a show for eight hours, with little to do. At least I got to take a short nap.

This fabulous Tiffany Studios 3-light lily lamp was sold at the show

Attendance improved considerably on Sunday, but not sales. The day ended with only one Sunday sale, for a total of only three sales, and a show rating of “fair” from me.

Sunday saw better attendance

I asked around and got the following feedback from some of the dealers — “Very respectable” from a dealer in Asian items; “mediocre and disappointing” from a dealer in general merchandise and art; “worst show I ever had here” from a dealer in general antiques; “good” from a dealer in art glass and watches; and “very good” from a dealer in art glass. There was no general consensus for the show, just the expected range from good to bad.

Are you coming to the Baltimore Summer Antiques Fair, August 22-25, 2013? Maybe two free tickets will convince you. Click here for two free tickets to the show.

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.

The results of the Denver World Wide Antique & Vintage Show, July 19-21, 2013

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Philip Chasen

Saturday afternoon, in front of my booth

I never meant to ruffle any feathers when I last wrote about the Denver Antiques show in July of 2010, but apparently I did. I got word that several people were angry with me and wanted to know why I was exhibiting again in Denver, when they thought I wrote disparagingly about the show three years ago. First and foremost, I write honestly about shows, whether the news is good or bad. I never intend to harm other dealers or show promoters, but it’s possible the truth may hurt. Sorry, but I won’t do it another way.

Saturday afternoon in my booth

Now for the show at hand. The Denver World Wide Antique & Vintage Show was held this past weekend, July 19-21, 2013. Attendance was light on Friday and Saturday, with a few small sales to the public and a few sales to dealers on the floor. Sales to other dealers exceeded sales to the public, which was a rarity in my booth.

Sunday afternoon in front of my booth

Sunday continued with light attendance and no sales to the public. I did make one sale to another dealer on the floor of the show, making this the first time in 40 years where I sold more to dealers on the floor than the public.

In asking around at the show, I got the following responses from other dealers to the question “How did you do?”. “Killer” was the response from a dealer in jewelry and assorted items; “Great” from a dealer in bronzes, china and assorted; “AOK” from a dealer in art glass; “Terrible” from a dealer in silver and cut glass; “Mediocre” from a dealer in art pottery; “Quite well” from a dealer in bronze, 19th century and assorted; “Horrible” from a dealer in furniture; “OK” from a dealer in art glass and watches; “Pretty good” from a jewelry dealer who’s done the show for years; and finally “Fair” from me.

The jury is still out as to whether we’ll exhibit again in Denver. If we can work it out geographically with another show the week before or after, we might try it again.

Gorgeous Daum Nancy Fall scenic vase, 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.

Fabulous B&S mini vase with internally decorated flowers — just in

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 Denver World Wide Antique & Vintage Show

Posted on July 18, 2013 by Philip Chasen

The Denver World Wide Antique & Vintage Show will be held in the Expo Building of the Denver Merchandise Mart

We haven’t exhibited in Denver for the last three years, as we didn’t sell enough to justify the expenses of traveling from New York. A fellow dealer, Loretta Gosse, encouraged me to try the show again, as the show was sold to new owners. Most shows improve under new owners, usually with better promotion. Loretta told me the last show, under the new promoters, was excellent, so we decided to exhibit in Denver one more time. Hopefully we’ll do well and return next year. Tune in Monday for the results.

We’re just getting started setting up in Denver

Most dealers seemed quite upbeat. They told me of good results at recent shows, both in Denver, Kansas City and elsewhere. Good advertising and promotion can do the trick of attracting more and better buyers to a show, so everyone benefits. It creates a virtuous circle, where a show gets better each year. The show is already larger than three years ago, and that’s a very good sign.

We’ll have this very rare Louis Icart etching Happy Birthday at the show

This will be our first show since the spring, when we exhibited at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. In the meantime, we’ve been traveling and buying everywhere. There are so many new items in our inventory, you’ll have trouble recognizing our booth (not really). If you’re in the area, please try to visit the show. It’s much improved and worth your while.

Gorgeous Daum Nancy Fall scenic vase, 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.

Fabulous B&S mini vase with internally decorated flowers — just in

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

The summer antique show season is about to begin

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Philip Chasen

The summer antiques shows are almost upon us, with Denver first. We gave up on Denver a few years ago, but were convinced to try it again, since the show is under new management. Hopefully it will be better this time around, so we can look forward to returning the following year. The show will be held at the Denver Mart, beginning on Friday, July 19 at 10 AM and ending on Sunday, July 21, at 5 PM. Please visit us in booth 107 and take a look at our spectacular new purchases, accumulated from around the world.

I’ll have this fabulous Tiffany Studios 3-light lily lamp at the Denver show

The following week, we will exhibit locally in the New York area, at the Birchwood Manor in Whippany, NJ. It’s a short, weekend show, July 27-28. The quality is very good for a small show. Some years it’s gone very well and others not. We’ll see what’s in store for us this year.

Just got this very rare Louis Icart etching Happy Birthday

August’s shows have a better track record. First we’ll be in Rosemont, IL, for the Chicago Summer Antiques Show at the Rosemont Convention Center, August 16-18. It’s a small, but good quality show. We always look forward to Chicago, as we have many good friends and clients in the area. We’ll no longer exhibit at Arlington Racetrack, if there is another show there (and that’s in doubt). That increases the importance of our other shows in the greater Chicago area.

This was our Baltimore booth is 2011

The last show of the summer is also the best. The Baltimore Summer Antiques Show has been slowly evolving, first under the stewardship of the former promoter, Frank Farbenbloom, and now under the ownership of the Palm Beach Show Group. Every year, incrementally, the show has gotten better, with higher quality exhibitors, increased attendance, and stronger sales. In my opinion, it’s now one of the two best antiques shows of the year, competing only with the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show in January. Make your travel plans now and join buyers who drive and fly in from all over the US, Canada, Europe and Asia. Then stop by my booth to say hi.

Fabulous B&S mini vase with internally decorated flowers — 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.

U.S. Antique Shows buys three New York City antique shows from Stella Show Management

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Philip Chasen

The Pier show on a recent opening day

Irene Stella of Stella Show Management conceived of the idea of holding an antique show on New York City’s Hudson River, in a passenger ship terminal. The first few shows were so successful that management expanded the show to include two additional adjacent piers, and changed the name to the Triple Pier Antique Show. The demand from dealers to exhibit at the show was so great, that management further expanded the show to two consecutive weeks, twice a year. That went on for quite a while, until it was ultimately scaled back to one weekend, twice a year. Construction to some of the piers forced the show to be moved to the much larger Pier 94, just north of the original three piers, where it’s been successfully held for the last several years.

The line to get in was huge before a recent opening of the Original Miami Beach Antique Show

Fast forward to May 20, 2013, with simultaneous announcements from both Stella Show Management and U.S. Antique Shows, of the sale of three Stella New York antiques shows to U.S. Antique Shows, the promoter of the highly successful Original Miami Beach Antique Show. It marks the end of one era and the beginning of another in New York City antique shows.

A view of a section of the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show

I’ve got mixed emotions. I’ve enjoyed working with the Stellas over the years, but also look forward to the changes new management will undoubtedly make. New blood is usually good for a show, e.g. the purchase of the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show by the Palm Beach Show Group. They bought a good show and made it into one of the best shows in the country. Promotion of the show became job #1, which included a significant increase in the advertising budget. That was the start of a virtuous cycle where new buyers attended and new dealers were attracted. I wish U.S. Antique Shows, and its Director of Business Development, Andrea Canady, the same success with their new New York shows.

We’re back from our vacation/business trip, so that means two things. First, we have some great new French glass, which I’ve started to list on my website. The rest will be up within the next few days, so please check often. Second, I should have enough time to publish my blog twice a week, so check Mondays and Thursdays. We have no shows until late July, but please don’t hesitate to call or write. We’re always interested in buying, selling or trading.

Killer Daum Fall scenic vase, 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 Galle fuchsia blownout vase, just in

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

J.C. Leyendecker leads Heritage’s Illustration Art Auction, April 11-12, 2013

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Philip Chasen

Heritage Auction held an Illustration Art Auction on April 11-12, 2013, with some exceptional results. 859 lots were offered, with sales totaling $2,852,875.

J.C. Leyendecker painting Honeymoon, July 17, 1926, Heritage lot #78299

Top lot of the auction was one of the two cover lots, #78299, Honeymoon, a Saturday Evening Post cover from July 17, 1926. It easily exceeded its high estimate of $120,000, to sell for $194,500, including buyer’s premium.

Patrick Nagel painting, Her Seductive Look, Heritage lot #78153

I understand why the Leyendecker was the top lot of the sale, but I don’t understand why a fairly modern, and not so special (in my opinion) painting by Patrick Nagel, should sell for $158,500. Entitled Her Seductive Look, the pre-sale estimate was $20,000 – $30,000. Personally I wouldn’t have paid $5,000, but my opinion didn’t matter. What mattered was that two wealthy, determined bidders butted heads and bid the price into the stratosphere. Congratulations to the lucky consignor.

Gil Elvgren painting A Near Miss (Right on Target), Heritage lot #78081

Gil Elvgren paintings were well-represented in the sale, so it was no surprise that the third highest lot was his. Lot #78081 was entitled A Near Miss (Right On Target). The final price of $104,500 easily exceeded the high estimate of $75,000. Other Elvgren paintings did well too, with lot #78080, Let’s Go Around Together, selling for $101,500.

For the complete results of the sale, click here. You will have to sign in to see the prices.

No shows until late July, but we’re still very much in business. Please don’t hesitate to call or write. We’re always interested in buying, selling or trading.

Fine Argy-Rousseau pate-de-verre moth paperweight, for sale at the show

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.

Wonderful Tiffany Favrile blue decorated mini vase, for sale at the show

Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. I regularly add Tiffany vases, lamps and desk accessories, as well as French cameo glass by Galle and Daum Nancy and etchings by Louis Icart. Here’s the link. Philip Chasen Antiques.

The almost complete results for The Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair, April 26-29, 2013

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Philip Chasen

We received many compliments

It’s Sunday afternoon as I write this blog. The show continues today until 6 PM, and then finishes tomorrow, Monday, at 3 PM. Monday is usually a complete washout, so I don’t see any reason to delay my post until Tuesday. If anything significant happens on Monday, you’ll hear about it on Thursday.

The show started last Thursday with a very well attended preview party. Amazingly, business was good at the party, but only to my existing clients. If there were no party, they would have made the same purchases the next day. Attendance was fairly light on Friday, as the party stole much of the thunder of opening day. It continued only at a moderate pace for the entire show.

Important Daum farm scenic vase, sold at the show

Personally, my show went well, but not as I would have guessed. My best client, who I had hoped would be a substantial buyer, bought nothing. Luckily, other clients stepped up to the plate, so we’re pleased with our results. As expected, most of the action was in French glass and Tiffany lamps and glass.

In asking around to a handful of dealers, I heard the following comments. An Art Nouveau dealer, new to the show, was very pleased with his results and is looking forward to next year’s show, while a Tiffany dealer, not new to the show, reported disappointing results. A majolica dealer said she had a good show. Among general dealers, one was very happy and another unhappy. A dealer in general merchandise and jewelry said he brought less this year, but sold more jewelry. An art dealer told he made only two sales and broke even. A silver dealer was pleased that his results were much better than last year, and finally a furniture/Americana dealer was very unhappy with his results. Overall I heard more good reports than bad.

Gorgeous Gallé fuchsia blownout vase, sold at the show

Many of the dealers at the show are up in arms about the proposed Navy Pier show by the Palm Beach Show Group. PBSG intends to hold a show the same weekend as the April, 2014, Merchandise Mart show. Not sure why PBSG wants to do that, as there isn’t enough buying power in Chicago to support two major antique shows at the same time. We’ll see what shakes out.

No shows until late July, but we’re still very much in business. Please don’t hesitate to call or write. We’re always interested in buying, selling or trading.

Fine Argy-Rousseau pate-de-verre moth paperweight, for sale at the show

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.

Wonderful Tiffany Favrile blue decorated mini vase, for sale at the show

The Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair opens to the public this Friday, April 26, 2013

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Philip Chasen

Our booth is almost set up

The Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair will host a preview party tonight, April 25, 2013, and then open to the public tomorrow, Friday, April 26, 2013, at 11 AM. It will continue until Monday, at 3 PM.

One of two Norman Rockwell paintings on display at M.S. Rau of New Orleans

The show looks fabulous, with the usual coterie of important national dealers. There have been some dealer changes, as always happens, but the replacement dealers are all from the A-list. The show is classy, fun, intimate,and crowd-pleasing. If you’ve never visited this show, it’s worth a trip from anywhere.

Best of France has a few unique items

I made a few inquiries about the future of the Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair. Management told me the rumors of the show’s demise are untrue. They will be passing out renewal contracts on Saturday. So I stick by my opinion that the arrival of a new antique show at the Navy Pier in April, 2014, the same weekend, is a big mistake. I hope the Palm Beach Show Group will reconsider, and change their dates.

Fine Argy-Rousseau pate-de-verre moth paperweight, for sale at the show

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.

Wonderful Tiffany Favrile blue decorated mini vase, for sale at the show

The results of the Chicago Botanic Garden Antiques and Garden Fair, April 18-21, 2013

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Philip Chasen

In front of our booth at the Thursday night preview party

You know I’m not a fan of preview parties, but the party at the Chicago Botanic Garden Antiques and Garden Fair was one of the better ones. Some show promoters treat dealers as second-class citizens at preview parties, offering one little box of airline food for the evening. At the Botanic Gardens, the dealers were treated equally, with plenty of delicious food and drink for everyone. I even made a nice sale at the preview party — can you believe it?

Friday, 11:30 AM. Strange weather in Chicago. Lightning, thunderstorms, torrential rain, and cold on Wednesday — worked with a coat and gloves in a cold tent. Warm and rainy on Thursday — worked in a tent that was hot and humid, with all the showcases fogging up. Today, Friday — hailing, windy and cold — wearing a coat and freezing in the tent. The fire department shut the propane because of a leak. The wind is swirling and the tent is shaking violently at times. What fun! :>(

There was a big crowd early on Friday

OK, so much for the weather report. There’s a big crowd already, about 90% women, most of whom seem unknowledgeable. No sales yet, but that’s understandable, as unknowledgeable people rarely buy. Haven’t seen most of my Chicago clients yet, but I’m hopeful they’ll attend.

Friday, 3:00 PM. Thought it would get more crowded in the afternoon, but the opposite happened. It’s much quieter now. The heat was fixed and then it broke again. One small sale so far. Still have my coat on.

Friday, 5:00 PM. It’s been a trying day — one of the toughest we’ve had to endure at any show. It was very cold most of the day, where the chill gets into your bones. We made one additional medium sale, so we’re slowly chipping away at the results.

Saturday, 1 PM. It’s the first sunny day since we arrived and very pleasant in the tent. Lots of people here all day so far. Nice sale to one of my established clients. Sure would like to make a sale to a stranger.

Incredible Tiffany Favrile Cypriote vase, sold at the show

Saturday, 5 PM. Much thanks to my clients for showing up and making purchases. Even made a moderate sale to a new client. The show is now going well and hopefully will get better. Another important client is considering making a major purchase.

Sunday, 11:30 AM. The day is off to a slow start, but that’s to be expected on a Sunday. The show should have opened at 11 AM, not 10 AM. Jeanne Stella, you listening? Several naive inquiries will likely lead nowhere, but on the other hand, the weather is lovely and the tent is very comfortable.

Sunday, 2:20 PM. After a slow start today, it got really busy. Made a couple of sales to strangers, which was very gratifying. I’ll be surprised if anything happens between now and the end of the show, but hope springs eternal.

Sunday, 5:00 PM. The show is over and as I predicted, nothing happened from mid-afternoon to closing. It was a busy day, but not as remunerative as it should have been, based on the activity. Overall, the show went well. More sales to new clients would have made it better, but I’m not complaining.

In other news. The Palm Beach Show Group (who run the Palm Beach and Baltimore shows) has announced that it will be starting a new show in Chicago at the Navy Pier. Ordinarily I would be excited to hear such news, but not this time. They hope to run the show exactly the same week as the Merchandise Mart Antiques Show in April, 2014. Why choose that week, when there are 51 other weeks? There are rumors that this will be the last year for the Merchandise Mart Antiques Show, in which case it would make sense to run an important show in Chicago the same weekend. Other than that, it seems folly. I’ll try to get to the bottom of it.

Speaking of the Merchandise Mart Antiques Show, it’s this week! The show opens with a preview party on Thursday night, April 25th. It opens to the public on Friday, April 26th at 11 AM and continues until Monday, April 29th at 3 PM. It’s a great show and my favorite of the year. Make sure you attend. You won’t be disappointed!

Important Gallé vase with spider webs and wheel-carved leaves

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.

Fine Argy-Rousseau pate-de-verre geometric vase

Philip Chasen Antiques

The blog for chasenantiques.com

Category Archives: Antique shows

The Chicago Summer Antiques Show & Sale begins on Friday, August 16, 2013

The results of the Birchwood Manor Antiques Show, July 27-28, 2013

The results of the Denver World Wide Antique & Vintage Show, July 19-21, 2013

Setting up at the Denver World Wide Antique & Vintage Show

The summer antique show season is about to begin

U.S. Antique Shows buys three New York City antique shows from Stella Show Management

J.C. Leyendecker leads Heritage’s Illustration Art Auction, April 11-12, 2013

The almost complete results for The Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair, April 26-29, 2013

The Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair opens to the public this Friday, April 26, 2013

The results of the Chicago Botanic Garden Antiques and Garden Fair, April 18-21, 2013