Category Archives: Auctions

Noguchi table leads the way at Christie’s New York Important 20th Century Decorative Art & Design sale, June 14, 2012

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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.

Important and unique marble table by Isamu Noguchi, Christie's lot #175

Christie’s New York held their Important 20th Century Decorative Art & Design sale on June 14, 2012. A unique marble table by Isamu Noguchi, lot #175, commissioned for the Chappaqua, NY home of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel C. Dretzin, 1948-49, led the sale with an impressive result. Estimated to sell for $800,000 – $1,200,000, it more than doubled its high estimate to sell for $2,882,500, including buyer’s premium.

Important R. Lalique cire perdue vase, Rondes D'Enfants, Christie's lot #153

Top lot of the glass section of the sale was #153, an R. Lalique cire perdue vase from 1930, entitled Ronde D’Enfants, #5/5 from a small edition of five. It sold within its estimate of $200,000 – $300,000, realizing $290,500. The Lalique market, in general, appears solid, with good results worldwide for better vases.

Rare Tiffany Studios Dragonfly lamp on blownout crab base, Christie's lot #111

A wonderful Tiffany Studios 20″ diameter Dragonfly table lamp, lot #111, with a rare blownout crab base, was the lamp leader, selling for $266,500, against a pre-sale estimate of $100,000 – $150,000.

Total sales were $8,821,337, roughly twice as much as Sotheby’s the day before, helped in no small part by the sale of the Noguchi table. For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link. Christie’s 20th Century sale results.

Just prior to the Important 20th Century Decorative Art & Design sale, Christie’s conducted a one-owner sale of seven Tiffany Studios lamps. Results were less than stellar, with four of the seven lamps selling, including a very fine Wisteria lamp for $602,500. For the results of this sale, click on the following link. Christie’s Henry Africa’s lamps results.

James D. Julia’s Important Lamp and Glass auction is happening today, Thursday, June 21, while Skinner’s 20th Century Design sale will happen this Saturday. After that we can expect a calmer July.

Our next show won’t be until July 27-29, in Redondo Beach, CA, but we’re still very much in business. Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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A killer Gallé 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. I regularly add Tiffany vases, lamps and desk accessories, as well as French cameo glass by Galle and Daum Nancy and Louis Icart etchings. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Tiffany Studios lamps and glass sell well at Sotheby’s New York Important 20th Century Design sale, June 13, 2012

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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.

June is Decorative Arts month at the nation’s auction houses. Every major and many not-so-major auction house holds one in June. I’ll cover many of them in the next few weeks, each Monday and Thursday. Today, it’s Sotheby’s turn. They held their New York Important 20th Century Design sale on June 13, 2012.

Very pretty Tiffany Studios Pony (miniature) Wisteria lamp, Sotheby's lot #14

Tiffany Studios table lamps and glass were the sale’s top sellers, with only one lot, a 1960s aluminum chair by Gerrit Rietveld, selling for more. 100% of the Tiffany lamps sold, with many exceeding their high estimates.

Beautiful Tiffany Studios Favrile glass morning glory vase, Sotheby's lot #6

The top Tiffany Studios lot of the sale was #14, a Pony Wisteria lamp, which sold for $254,500, against a pre-sale estimate of $120,000 – $180,000. The top Tiffany Studios Favrile glass lot of the sale was #6, a beautiful paperweight vase with morning glory decoration. It sold for approximately double its low estimate, to reach $98,500. Total sales for the auction were $4,486,125, approximately half their December figures, as the December sales are usually larger and more important.

For the complete results of the Sotheby’s sale, click on the following link. Sotheby’s 20th Century results.

Still to come up are James D. Julia’s Important Lamp and Glass auction, this Wednesday and Thursday, as well as Skinner’s 20th Century Design sale this Saturday. After that we can expect a calmer July.

Our next show won’t be until July, but we’re still very much in business. Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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A killer Gallé 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. I regularly add Tiffany vases, lamps and desk accessories, as well as French cameo glass by Galle and Daum Nancy and Louis Icart etchings. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Loetz sells well at Doyle New York’s Belle Epoque sale, June 6, 2012

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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.

Doyle New York held its Belle Epoque sale on June 6, 2012, with Loetz glass leading the way. The art glass section of the auction was fairly weak, except for Loetz, which was well represented with a great collection that appeared to be from a single owner. The Loetz was estimated very conservatively, so the results easily surpassed their estimates for many lots. I tried to get a statement from the head of the department at Doyle, but unfortunately received no answer.

Rare Loetz black bottom decorated vase, Doyle lot #581

Top results for the Loetz were shared by two lots, #s 581 and 583. Lot 581 was a rare black bottom vase that could have been estimated much higher than $1,000-1,500. It soared past its estimate to sell for $17,500 (including buyer’s premium).

A beautiful Loetz decorated vase, Doyle lot #583

Two lots later, a gorgeous Loetz vase with very busy decoration of drips and zippers shared the spotlight with #581. It sold for the identical price of $17,500, against the same pre-sale estimate of $1,000 – $1,500.

Only two other Loetz lots exceeded $10,000, but many surpassed $4,000. For the complete results of the entire Doyle Belle Epoque sale, click on the following link. Doyle’s Belle Epoque sale results.

Our next show won’t be until July, but we’re still very much in business. Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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A killer Gallé 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. I regularly add Tiffany vases, lamps and desk accessories, as well as French cameo glass by Galle and Daum Nancy and Louis Icart etchings. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Some interesting results at Humler & Nolan’s Rookwood XXII●Keramics 2012●Art Glass 2012 sale, June 2-3, 2012

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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.

Humler & Nolan held their Rookwood XXII●Keramics 2012●Art Glass 2012 sale on June 2-3, 2012. There were some diverse results in the the art glass section of the auction (which is the only part I will cover). Following are the two highlights.

Tiffany Studios mosaic scarab stamp box, Humler & Nolan lot #550A

Lot #550A was a very rare Tiffany Studios mosaic tile stamp box with jeweled scarabs on the lid. Estimated to sell for $8,000 – $10,000, it soared to $34,220 (including buyer’s premium), as it should have. What a great box! I don’t have enough adjectives to describe how fantastic this box was. I’m not sure I would have been the successful buyer, but I might have been if I hadn’t been on vacation. I would have given the successful buyer a run for his money.

Wonderful Gallé lilac vase, Humler & Nolan lot #587

Now for a Gallé vase that gets me ill. Not because there was anything wrong with it. Just the opposite. It was wonderful and sold for such a bargain that I’m speechless. Lot #587 was a gorgeous, huge (19″), colorful Gallé vase with vivid red lilacs on a yellow background. It was estimated to sell for $6,000 – $8,000 and sold for only $5,900 (including buyer’s premium). This was easily a $15,000 vase, so my vacation cost me thousands more in lost profits. Every once in a while, something wonderful falls through the cracks and this was one of those times.

For the complete results of the entire sale, click on the following link. Humler & Nolan results.

Our next show won’t be until July, but we’re still very much in business. This coming week I’m going to list some new French glass purchases that are breathtaking, so make sure you check my website daily. Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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A rare, fantastic Daum Nancy vase with penguin decoration

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 Louis Icart etchings. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Clarke Auction Gallery sells rare Tiffany Studios chandelier for $102,000 on April 15th, 2012

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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.

Clarke Auction Gallery, of Larchmont, NY, held a diversified auction on April 15, 2012, with a number of high quality lots. The auction went well, with a rare Tiffany Studios chandelier leading the way.

Rare Tiffany Studios chandelier sold at Clarke's

The chandelier came from a local Garrison, NY home, where it had hung for 30 years. It was a fancy variation with a row of turtleback tiles at the top and six suspended tulip shades. By auction day, the stage was set for a good show. The chandelier was fresh to the market, high quality, fairly estimated, and well advertised. It should have sold well, and it did. After spirited bidding from the audience and the telephones, the chandelier easily exceeded its pre-sale estimate of $60,000 – $80,000 to sell for $102,000, including buyer’s premium. I wouldn’t be surprised if it sold to a dealer, because it’s worth $150,000+ to the right buyer.

Tiffany Studios 16-inch diameter Colonial table lamp

Also in the sale were several more Tiffany Studios items, including a 16″ diameter Tiffany Studios Colonial table lamp. It sold for $9,600, including buyer’s premium – a high wholesale price.

Large Camille Fauré vase

Also in the sale was a fine, large, Art Deco Camille Fauré enamel on copper vase from France. In keeping with the strength in the Fauré market the last few years, it sold for $5,760, including buyer’s premium — another high wholesale price.

For a review of the highlights of the sale, click on the following link and scroll down the page. Clarke Auction Gallery highlights.

Our next show won’t be until July, but we’ll still be very much in business (except for a two week well-deserved vacation). Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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A rare, fantastic Daum Nancy vase with penguin decoration

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 Louis Icart etchings. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Sotheby’s sells Edvard Munch’s The Scream for $119,922,500

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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.

Edvard Munch's The Scream, Sotheby's lot #20

Sotheby’s New York held its Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale on May 2, 2012, with fabulous results. The big news for the evening was the sale of the world’s most valuable single work of art, Edvard Munch’s iconic painting, The Scream. Pre-sale chatter suggested the price may reach $80,000,000. That was blown away, when the painting sold for $107,000,000 at the hammer ($119,922,500, including buyer’s premium). Sotheby’s produced an interesting 2½-minute video with highlights of the painting’s sale, which can be viewed by clicking on the following link. Sotheby’s video.

The auction was a barn-burner, with total sales reaching $330,568,550, the second-highest total for any Sotheby’s auction ever. Only a few paintings did not sell. Surprisingly one of them was by Edvard Munch, entitled Sommernatt, (Summer Night). It was offered as lot #41, with an estimate of $2,500,000 – $3,500,000. But let’s not feel bad for Munch – four additional paintings by the artist sold in the auction.

Pablo Picasso's Femme Assise Dans Un Fauteuil, Sotheby's lot #4

Honors for second place went to Pablo Picasso. His Femme Assise Dans Un Fauteuil sold for $29,202,500, against a pre-sale estimate of $20,000,000 – $30,000,000.

For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link. Sotheby’s sale results.

Our next show won’t be until July, but we’ll still be very much in business (except for a two week well-deserved vacation). Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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A wonderful Martin Brothers stoneware face jug

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 Louis Icart etchings. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

The Arlington Park Racetrack Antiques Show starts this Friday, April 13, 2012

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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 Arlington Park Racetrack Antiques Show starts this Friday, April 13, 2012, at 11 AM, and continues until Sunday, April 15, 2012, at 5 PM. It’s a small, but very nice show, with a diverse selection of quality dealers. We have many friends in the greater Chicago area so it’s a pleasure to return after not having exhibited there since last November. We’ve been doing Chicago shows for so many years that it feels like home.

A very fine Tiffany Studios 10-light lily table lamp (one of two)

I’ve been buying up a storm, so I’ll be bringing my new purchases, which include Tiffany lamps, glass and metalware, outstanding Daum Nancy and Gallé glass, a Le Verre Francais lizard vase, a nice selection of Martin Bros. stoneware, a wonderful Pairpoint puffy lamp, delightful American illustrator paintings, and a great selection of Icart etchings.

A rare and wonderful Daum Nancy egg with swan decoration

The French cameo glass market has been good, with rare items selling strongly at auction. Click on this link to read my blog about the 10″ Daum Nancy blackbird vase that was sold last month at Christie’s for $40,000. Christie’s results blog.

Wonderful Joe Hennesy oil on canvas cover illustration

I just bought a group of nine American illustrator paintings, one better than another. I’ll have them all at the show.

Have I given you enough reasons yet to visit the show? Make sure to stop by my booth and introduce yourself. I want to know what you’d like to buy, sell or trade.

Our next show will be at the Merchandise Mart, in downtown Chicago, Friday-Sunday, April 27-30. It’s Chicago’s best show, and one of the best shows in the entire country. There will be great exhibitors, many of whom exhibit at very few shows a year. It’s worth a trip from anywhere.
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One of the rarest and most beautiful of all Louis Icart etchings, Mardi Gras

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 Louis Icart etchings. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Learn your Gallé and Daum Nancy shapes to stay out of trouble

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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.

Glass vases are easily damaged. It’s the nature of glass — it’s delicate. So what does one do if a vase gets chipped? Doesn’t make sense to throw it in the garbage, so you get it fixed. Repairs to tiny chips don’t have much of an effect on value. For bigger chips or cracks, a makeover may be necessary, and that will certainly affect value. The vase will still have some value, but that’s a nebulous area. If it’s sold at auction, the discount could be slight or major. And that’s where the problem lies.

Sometimes the experts at auction galleries know that a vase has had a major alteration and sometimes they don’t. That puts most of the responsibility on your shoulders. If you know what the shape should be, you’ll notice any alterations. Here are a couple of examples.

Sotheby's lot #211 is on the left

The first is a Gallé chrysanthemum blownout vase that was sold at Sotheby’s New York on March 7, 2012, as lot #211. It was estimated at $6,000 – $8,000 and sold for $7,500, including buyer’s premium. Chrysanthemum is a rare model that would have done much better, if it were perfect. As you can see from the photo, a substantial portion of the top of the vase was missing. My guess is that the buyer was unaware of the problem (and will be pretty unhappy if (s)he reads this blog).

Bonham's vase is on the left

Bonham’s will be selling a Gallé seed pod blownout vase. They know that the top has been cut off, so it’s listed in the catalog as “reduced”, but they apparently don’t know the foot has been “reduced” also. The estimate is conservative at $1,000 – $1,500. This is a vase that is so problematic, it’s anyone’s guess what it may sell for (and it may not sell, if there’s a reserve).

So what is a collector to do? There are only a few choices. The first is to become knowledgeable and learn your shapes. That’s not an easy thing to do, as it takes lots of time and exposure to the vast selection of French cameo glass available. The second is to buy from a dealer who’s knowledgeable and whom you trust. (Hmm, I have a suggestion.) Third, is to deal with reputable auction galleries. Ask for condition reports in advance. Hopefully, the experts in charge will have the knowledge you need.

Our next show is the Arlington Park Racetrack Antiques Show, in Arlington Heights, IL, April 13-15. We always enjoy coming to the greater Chicago area. We’ve got lots of friends there and look forward to seeing them again. Come to the show! There are some great exhibitors and we’ll be bringing an outstanding display.
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Rare Le Verre Francais Lézards vase, 11½ inches tall

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 Louis Icart etchings. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Great results for French cameo glass at Christie’s 20th Century Decorative Art & Design sale, March 8, 2012

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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. Monday’s blog will be about the results of the NYC Pier Antiques Show. You won’t want to miss that.

Christie’s New York held their 20th Century Decorative Art & Design sale on March 8, 2012. There was a relatively small, but sophisticated, selection of French cameo glass for sale, as well as a few Tiffany lamps. The high quality French cameo glass sold very well, with several impressive results.

Rare Daum Nancy vase, Christie's lot #6

Top lot of the French cameo glass was a very rare bird and gilded frog decorated vase. It wasn’t gorgeous or highly detailed, but it was very unusual, with techniques not often seen together. At 13¾” tall, it was moderately large. The selling price of $56,250 was almost seven times the high estimate of $7,000. (Remember the sale price includes the buyer’s premium.)

A superb Daum Nancy blackbird vase, Christie's lot #3

Daum blackbird vases are rare and very desirable. Lot #3 was a special example, with excellent detail, yellow in the background, an attractive shape, and good size at 11″. Conservatively estimated to sell for $6,000 – $8,000, it quadrupled its high estimate to sell for $40,000, including buyer’s premium.

Tiffany Studios Peony table lamp, Christie's lot #43

There was a small selection of Tiffany Studios lamps offered, with one selling for a bargain. Lot #43 was a full-size Tiffany Studios 22″ Peony table lamp. Estimated to sell for $80,000 – $120,000, it sold for only $74,000 at the hammer ($92,500 including the buyer’s premium). Kudos to the buyer for scooping it up.

For the complete results of the auction, click on the following link. Christie’s 20th Century results.

Our next show is the New York City Pier Show at Pier 94, the Hudson River and 54th St., in New York City, this coming weekend, March 17th and 18th. It’s always fun, so make sure you come to the Big Apple and visit our show! You’ll be happy you did.
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Very fine Daum blownout scenic vase with wheel-carved detail

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 Louis Icart etchings. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Some good results at Sotheby’s 20th Century Design sale, March 7, 2012

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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 about the results of Christie’s New York 20th Century Design sale on March 8, 2012.

Sotheby’s New York held a 20th Century Design sale on March 7, 2012. It was a mid-level sale, as the major auction houses save their best items for December and June. The selection of French cameo glass was small, but high quality, while the selection of Tiffany lamps was not strong. There still were some very good results.

Tiffany Studios Elaborate Peony table lamp, Sotheby's lot #243

Top lot of the sale was #243, a Tiffany Elaborate Peony table lamp. It sold for $242,500, against a pre-sale estimate of $150,000 – $200,000. There were problems with the lamp that depressed the price. First, it had quite a bit of damage to the shade. Second, the shade finish was gold on a worn gold doré base. Had it been a patinated shade and base, with little or no damage, it probably would have sold for double or more. Even as is, I thought the final price would be higher, as the shade was rare and beautiful.

Argy-Rousseau pâte-de-verre vase, Les Loups dans La Neige, Sotheby's lot #208

The sale of lot #208, a pâte-de-verre vase by Argy-Rousseau, entitled Les Loups dans la Neige (Wolves in the Snow), was very strong, selling for $40,625 — almost double its high estimate of $20,000. (Remember the selling price includes the buyer’s premium.)

Other French cameo vases were equally strong, with a Decorchement pâte-de-verre vase with beetles selling for $50,000, against a pre-sale estimate of $8,000 – $12,000 and a Gallé vase selling for $31,250, against a pre-sale estimate of $12,000 – $18,000. This continues a string of strong auction results for superior French glass.

A beautiful, large Camille Fauré vase, Sotheby's lot #199

Camille Fauré enamel on copper vases have been strong for a couple of years, but not at this auction. All four lots were passed, partly because the estimates were too aggressive.

For the complete results of the auction, click on the following link. Sotheby’s 20th Century results.

Our next show is the Pier Show at Pier 94, the Hudson River and 54th St., in New York City, this coming weekend, March 17th and 18th. It’s always fun, so make sure you come to the Big Apple and visit our show! You’ll be happy you did.

In the meantime, we’re still in business, so don’t be bashful. Call or write!
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Very fine Daum blownout scenic vase with wheel-carved detail

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 Louis Icart etchings. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com