Category Archives: Auctions

The Tiffany Studios market is alive and well

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This past week saw the major New York auction houses hold their 20th Century Decorative Arts sales, which included a significant number of Tiffany Studios items. What became clear is that the upper end of the market is sizzling, while the lower end of the market is fizzling. (My mother would have liked that one.) Today, I’ll discuss the Christie’s sale and on Thursday, the Sotheby’s sale.

Tiffany Studios Peony window, Christie's lot 252

Christie’s held their Important Tiffany sale first, on December 15, 2010. The sale included several important lamps and a gorgeous window, lot 252. The estimate of $100,000-150,000 gave no clue that it would become the star of the sale, realizing the incredible price of $962,500, including buyer’s premium. In retrospect, it shouldn’t have been that much of a surprise — first, it was gorgeous and second, it had impeccable provenance. It was installed in the Darius Goff House in Pawtucket, Rhode Island in 1893 and remained there until early in 2010.

Also in the sale were a Wisteria lamp ($842,500), a Snowball (Hydrangea) floor lamp ($482,500), another Wisteria lamp ($482,500) and ten more lamps selling over $100,000 each. Another nine lamps sold in the range of $40,000 to $86,500.

Rare Tiffany Studios table, Christie's lot 227

One of the more unusual Tiffany offerings was an early 1881 cherry table with brass inlays, from Tiffany’s own home at the Bella Apartment House in New York City. Estimated to sell for $150,000 – $200,000, it sold within the estimate for $182,500.

Tiffany Studios Lemon Leaf table lamp, Christie's lot 204

Simple Tiffany floral lamps and geometric lamps were under-appreciated at the Christie’s sale. There were some serious bargains, especially for Arts & Crafts buyers. An 18″ yellow Lemon Leaf table lamp with a matching Grueby base, with Jordan-Volpe Gallery provenance, sold for only $15,000, including the buyer’s premium. Kudos to the buyer for picking off this one.

For the complete Tiffany results from Christie’s, click on the following link: Christie’s Important Tiffany results.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Tiffany, Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve recently listed many of them on my website, including Daum blackbirds, swans, rain, and more to come in the next few days, plus a killer red Tiffany Favrile vase. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Even Sotheby’s makes mistakes

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Rare Tiffany Studios Laburnum table lamp, Sotheby's lot 227

Sotheby’s New York will hold their sale of Important Tiffany today, December 16, 2010. There are only 33 lots in the sale — but most of them are important and high quality. The offerings range from original oil paintings by Louis Comfort Tiffany to glass to lamps, like a Laburnum, lot 227.

Reproduction Tiffany Studios vase, Sotheby's lot 202

You would think their experts would be able to spot a fake Tiffany vase when they saw one, but lot 202, sneaked past them and into their catalog. It’s listed as “A Superb Monumental Floriform Vase”, circa 1900, Favrile glass, engraved L.C. Tiffany-Favrile W2977, 16 5/8″ high. Provenance — Private Collection, Paris. $15,000-20,000. The only problem is that it’s not by Tiffany Studios, but a modern reproduction. Upon receipt of the catalog, I immediately doubted the authenticity of the vase, but waited to make a final judgment until I could see it in person. There was no doubt in person. The cup part of the vase was good quality, but the foot was all wrong. It’s a decoration Tiffany did not do. The signature was an obvious fake, of which, unfortunately, I don’t have a photo. I can only assume that the European consignor was an important client with other valuable objects, so the vase did not get the proper scrutiny it deserved. It’s rare for reproductions to get past their experts.

(P.S. – Thursday afternoon, December 16, 2010, 1:55 PM. I just found out that Sotheby’s withdrew the above lot, #202, before sale time. I don’t know if someone read my blog and informed them or if they found out another way, but luckily it was not put up for sale. It saved the potential buyer a lot of grief.)

Christie’s Tiffany results were excellent on December 15th, so I can only assume that Sotheby’s will be too. I’ll post blogs next week about the recent 20th Century sales in New York at the major auction houses. One item soared past estimates to sell for almost $1 million.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Tiffany, Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve recently listed many of them on my website, including Daum blackbirds, swans, rain, and more to come in the next few days, plus a killer red Tiffany Favrile vase. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Solid results at Julia’s Lamp & Glass Auction, December 1-2, 2010

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James D. Julia, Inc. held their semi-annual Lamp & Glass auction on December 1 & 2, 2010, with excellent results. Dudley Browne, the head of the department, told me he was very pleased with total sales of $1.9 million, against expectations of $1.3 million. He attributed the improved results to several reasons — new collectors, old collectors getting involved again, and realistic estimates and reserves. The sell-through rate improved to 85% — a significant increase over the previous couple of years.

Tiffany Studios Peony border floor lamp, Julia's lot #2276

It was no surprise that the top lot of the sale was #2276, an estate-fresh Tiffany Studios Peony Border floor lamp with excellent color and in near mint condition. It was consigned by the children of the buyers who purchased it at an auction in the Midwest in the early 1960s. Estimated at $125,000-175,000, it sold for $172,500, including buyer’s premium.

Tiffany Studios Aquamarine vase, Julia's lot #2257

The top Tiffany Favrile glass lot of the sale was #2257, a rare aquamarine vase. Aquamarine vases are heavy as they’re nearly solid glass, with internal decoration, usually flowers or fish. This example was very nice, with yellow daffodils. The pre-sale estimate was $15,000-20,000 and sold for $34,500.

Rare Daum Nancy gourd vase, Julia's lot #2012

French glass sold well, with a unique Daum gourd vase with applied insect selling best. It’s final price was $19,550 against a pre-sale estimate of $10,000-15,000.

Painted lamps by both Handel and Pairpoint were weak. Prices appear to have regressed to levels not seen since the 1980s.

For the complete sale results, click on the following link. Julia Lamp & Glass results. You will need to register first (free).

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve listed them all on my website. I just listed another fifteen incredible Daum items, including swans, rain, and more in the last few days. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Julia’s sells Teddy Roosevelt’s shotgun for world record price, October 5, 2010

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Teddy Roosevelt's Fox shotgun, Julia's lot #1129

James D. Julia, Inc. held their semi-annual firearms auction on October 5-6, 2010. Included in the sale was a rare shotgun made by the Ansley H. Fox Gun Company exclusively for President Theodore Roosevelt.

According to records from the Fox Gun Company, work was started on the gun on September 18, 1908 and was completed sometime in February, 1909, according to a thank you note from President Roosevelt. The gift was made especially for Roosevelt’s African safari in 1909. Upon receipt of the gun, the President wrote to Mr. Fox on February 11, 1909 “the double-barreled shotgun has come, and I really think it is the most beautiful gun I have ever seen. I am exceedingly proud of it. I am almost ashamed to take it to Africa and expose it to the rough usage it will receive. But now that I have it, I could not possibly make up my mind to leave it behind. I am greatly obliged to you, and I am extremely proud that I am to have such a beautiful bit of American workmanship with me”. Then five days later on February 16, 1909, President Roosevelt again wrote to Mr. Fox “do let me thank you most warmly again for that beautiful gun. It is so beautiful that I take pleasure in just looking at it. I shall keep it as long as I live, and when I die it shall go to my son Kermit who accompanies me on my African trip.”

Roosevelt’s son Kermit inherited it after his death, and then his son, Kermit Roosevelt Jr. In 1974, Kermit Jr., and the Roosevelt family decided to sell all of the family firearms. The Fox shotgun was sold to Thomas C. Kidd, a Fox historian. Then on February 22, 2000, Kidd sold the gun to an undisclosed buyer, who consigned the gun to Julia’s.

Roosevelt Fox gun detail

The gun was sold as lot 1129 on October 5, 2010, for $862,500, the highest price ever paid at auction for a shotgun. The quality of the gun, together with its impressive history and provenance proved irresistible to collectors.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve listed them all on my website. I just listed another fifteen incredible Daum items, including swans, rain, and more in the last few days. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com Then check out the huge sale I’m having on Icart etchings. For the complete listing, click this link. Available Icart etchings.

Did you hear the story about a Batman comic book? Hard to believe.

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Detective Comics #27, the first appearance of The Batman, Heritage lot #91114

When Robert Irwin was 13 in 1939, he visited the local newsstand in Sacramento, California, to buy a comic book. Little did he know at the time the good fortune that would come of that purchase.

The comic book was Detective Comics, #27, the first appearance of The Batman. Irwin paid 10¢, the standard price for a comic book in 1939. He put it away and forgot about it for 65 years, until 2004, when he discovered it in a box together with 1930s National Geographic and Popular Mechanics magazines. A collector found out he had the comic book and offered him $100,000. Irwin made another good decision in deciding not to accept the offer.

Eventually the comic was consigned to Heritage Auctions to sell on November 18, 2010. It was listed as lot 92224, with a pre-sale estimate of $400,000+. The owner, Irwin, was in attendance at the sale. He had to be pleased with the final result of $492,937.50, including buyer’s premium. Not a bad return on his 10¢ investment.

Irwin’s comic was graded 7.0 by Certified Guaranty Company. Heritage twice previously sold Detective Comics, #27 in better graded condition. On Aug 4, 2010, an example, graded 7.5, brought $657,250 and on February 27, 2010, another, graded 8.0, brought an incredible $1,075,500. When it comes to selling graded objects, like comic books and coins, condition is key. Slight differences in condition can make for dramatic differences in value.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve listed them all on my website. I just listed another fifteen incredible Daum items, including swans, rain, and more in the last few days. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com Then check out the huge sale I’m having on Icart etchings. For the complete listing, click this link. Available Icart etchings.

R. Lalique red vase soars at Ron Rhoads auction, November 28, 2010

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Lalique vase, Hirondelles, Ron Rhoads lot #802

Ron Rhoads Auctioneer of Spring City, PA, held a Thanksgiving weekend auction on Saturday and Sunday, November 27-28, 2010. Much of the sale was the estate of Stanley Baker of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a noted author and collector of Railroadiana for seventy years. The second half of the sale, on Sunday, was mostly his wife’s collection and included some choice pieces of art glass, including a rare Lalique vase.

Lot 802 was listed as: Lalique Hirondelles Vase circa 1919
Rene Lalique Vase Hirondelles An amazingly rare approximately 24 centimeters tall red glass Lalique Vase signed LALIQUE in the mold condition listed as good, photo shows typical scattered air bubbles Lalique Vase with winged birds, deep red glass with etched flower, signed “Lalique” (embossed), “France” etched on base

Condition report
Good.

Estimate $5,000 – $10,000
Starting Bid $1000

The bidding started at $25,000, so immediately it was clear that the estimate was low. It went up in $5,000 increments, with action from four phones and five floor bidders. When it was finally over, the winner was present at the sale, and paid $115,000 + buyer’s premium of $17,250, for a total of $132,250. Everyone at the auction house was surprised, except for the bidders, who knew the rarity and value of the vase. The Hirondelles model is desirable in any color, but is rarest and most valuable in red, the holy grail.

Tiffany Studios Favrile vase, Ron Rhoads lot #839

Also in the sale were a couple of very nice Tiffany Favrile vases. Lot 839 was small at 3½” tall, but very nice quality and somewhat rare. It was estimated at $800-1,200 and sold for $3,737.50, including buyer’s premium. The bidding started at $500 and quickly jumped to $3,000, with a bidder on the Internet, and ended at $3,250.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve listed them all on my website. I just listed another fifteen incredible Daum items, including swans, rain, and more in the last few days. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com Then check out the huge sale I’m having on Icart etchings. For the complete listing, click this link. Available Icart etchings.

More information on how to spot reproduction Galle vases

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St. Charles Gallery, Inc. held an auction this past Sunday, November 21, 2010. They sold two cameo glass vases that were reproductions of original Gallé vases. What was so good about that was how accurately they described them.

Reproduction Gallé vase, New Orleans Auction, lot 1047

Lot 1047 was described as follows: Tall Cameo-Cut Glass Vase, the blue over smoky topaz over yellow glass vase of tall baluster form in “Mountain Lake” decor in the manner of Emile Galle (1846-1904), the side with a pseudo-Galle signature in cameo script, h. 14-1/2″, dia. 4″.

Reproduction Gallé vase, New Orleans Auction, lot #1048

The second reproduction was also accurately described: lot 1048 Emile Galle-Style (1846-1904) Cameo-Cut Glass Vase, early 20th century, of modified flask form in “Mountain Lake” decor, signed at one side “Galle”, in wavy script within a freeform reserve, h. 8-3/4″, w. 5-1/4″, d. 3-1/2″.

What is one supposed to do if the auction gallery either doesn’t know that the vases are fake or is unscrupulous and does know, and is trying to trick you? That’s the tough part. It’s important to have seen and handled enough authentic vases to be able to tell the difference. Gallé used specific colors, designs and shapes. If there are substantial differences, the odds are that it’s a reproduction. But until you’ve seen and handled many, many authentic vases, you won’t know for sure.

Let’s talk specifically about the two vases at St. Charles Gallery. The first one, lot 1047, is easier to identify as a reproduction. The first giveaway is the quality of the decoration. The fisherman is cartoonish — well below the quality of an authentic vase. The second giveaway is the shape, but that’s more difficult. The foot is the wrong shape — too large and bulbous. One would only know that with lots of experience. Next is the finish. The decoration on earlier authentic vases was wheel-polished, which gave it a semi-gloss sheen, while the background remained matte. The fisherman vase has the same matte finish throughout. Again that’s difficult for a novice to tell because late authentic Gallé vases were not wheel-polished, so they were similar to the reproductions.

Lot 1048 is a more faithful reproduction. The shape is a known Gallé shape. The decoration is close to authentic Gallé. The colors are close to authentic colors. This one doesn’t scream reproduction, but rather whispers it. Thank goodness this auction house didn’t try to fool anyone, because they probably would have gotten away with it.

Reproduction Gallé vase, Kaminski Auctions, lot 6040

Kaminski Auctions of Beverly, Massachusetts, will be holding an auction this coming Saturday and Sunday, November 27-28, 2010. Lot 6040 is described as follows: Galle cameo vase, floral with insects, 9″ x 7 1/2″. Good condition. EST 600 ~ 900. To the best of my knowledge, Kaminski Auctions is a reputable auction house, so I can only assume they just don’t know. This one is an obvious fake, with the biggest giveaways being the dark band around the rim and the straight-cut rim.

I post lessons about reproductions on my website and I continue to write about them on my blog. I’m doing my best to educate the public, but it only helps a little. Of the many appraisals I do for individuals and insurance companies, about half of them turn out to be fake. My fee for appraisals is $100 for the first object and $50 for each additional. Most appraisals are done from emailed digital images.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve listed them all on my website. I’ve listed another twenty items in the last few days, including Tiffany, Quezal, Steuben, Van Briggle, Fulper, George Ohr, Daum and Gallé. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com Then check out the huge sale I’m having on Icart etchings. For the complete listing, click this link. Available Icart etchings.

Demi Moore’s payday at Sotheby’s 19th Century European Art sale is good, but not quite what she had hoped

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Today, November 4, 2010, Sotheby’s held their 19th Century European Art sale with decent results that included one sensational one. Two of the lots belonged to the actress Demi Moore. She had purchased them at a Christie’s auction in 1995 and consigned them for sale at this Sotheby’s auction.

Frère et Soeur by William Bougeureau, Sotheby's lot #23

The first was a lovely painting of a sister and brother by William Bouguereau, for which Moore had paid $178,500. It sold below the estimate of $1,000,000-1,500,000, but totaled $1,082,500, after including the buyer’s premium. The buyer’s premium belongs to the auction house, so Moore will likely receive a figure in the $850,000-$900,000 range, after seller’s fees are deducted. Not a bad payday after 15 years, but below the hoped for price within or above the estimate.

Mère et Ses Enfants by Alfred Stevens, Sotheby's lot #24

Her second painting, by Alfred Stevens, did not fare as well. Moore paid $200,500 in 1995. The painting sold for $182,500, including buyer’s premium, so Moore is likely to receive a figure in the $135,000-$150,000 price range, after seller’s fees are deducted. Taken together, her investment of $379,000 in 1995 will return approximately $1,017,500. Most people would be very satisfied with that kind of return.

The Finding of Moses by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Sotheby's lot #56

Anything can happen at auction, good or bad, but the good results generally make the news. A huge, 53¾” by 84″ painting by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, estimated to sell for $3-5,000,000, brought the astounding price of $35,922,500, including buyer’s premium. A result like that is the same as winning the lottery — it doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, it makes for one happy winner.

For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link, Sotheby’s 19th Century European Art sale.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve listed them all on my website. I’ve listed another ten items in the last few days, including art pottery. Here’s the link chasenantiques.com

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Tiffany Studios auction action in Connecticut, Saturday, October 30, 2010

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Tiffany Studios turtleback inkwell, Nadeau's lot #150

Nadeau’s Auction Gallery of Windsor, Connecticut, sold a killer Tiffany Studios inkwell on Saturday, October, 30, 2010. Their auction description was as follows:

Description: Tiffany Studios RARE ‘TURTLEBACK TILE’ AND BRONZE TRIPLE INKWELL, with two gold iridescent liners, three metal inserts, stamped TIFFANY STUDIOS NEW YORK, 1071

Dimensions: ht. 4 1/4in., dia. 6 1/4in.

Estimate: $15,000 – $25,000

Starting Bid: $7,500

In their written description, they left out the fact that the inkwell rotates — a rare feature, however they did mention it just before selling the object. The bidding started at $15,000 and continued in $1,000 increments until the final price of $30,000 ($37,500 with the buyer’s premium). In my opinion, the price was a bargain if the buyer was a collector and a bit high if the buyer was a dealer. I had guessed the final price would be closer to $50,000, considering the beauty, rarity, and desirability of this very fine inkwell.

Tiffany Studios Tyler Scroll table lamp, Gaudreau's Auction Company

On the same day, Gaudreau’s Auction Company of Killingly, Connecticut, sold a Tiffany Studios Tyler Scroll table lamp, in as-found condition. The lamp had an original kerosene burner and a very dirty shade. It had never been electrified. The unreserved lamp was sold at the high end of the $10,000 – $20,000 pre-sale “guesstimate” for $20,000 ($22,000 with the buyer’s premium) — a very fair price for the lucky buyer, followed by loud applause from the audience. The lamp was not pictured in any advertisement, only described. One had to visit the auction site to see photos of it.

I don’t think any sweeping conclusions can be drawn from these two results, except to say that if you had enough spare change and the knowledge of when and where they were selling, you could have bought two winners.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve listed them all on my website. I’ve listed another ten items in the last couple of days, including art pottery. Here’s the link chasenantiques.com

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Mixed, but improved results at Heritage Illustration Art Auction, Oct 14, 2010

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Gil Elvgren painting, Riding High, from 1958, Heritage lot #78043

Heritage Auction Galleries of Dallas, Texas, held their first auction in New York City on Oct 14, 2010. The Illustration Art sale did well with art from the top artists, decently with art from the second-tier artists, and poorly with art from the third-tier artists. The auction was the second highest-grossing sale ever for the Illustration Art category, totaling over $3.75 million.

Top lot of the sale was #78043, a Gil Elvgren painting of a witch on a broom. Estimated to sell for $30,000 – $40,000, it soared to $167,300, including buyer’s premium. Prices for Elvgren’s seven offerings in this sale were all over the map, from $4,481.25 for a pencil on paper sketch of Miss Sylvania to $38,837.50 for a painting of Miss Sylvania to $167,300 for the top lot of the sale, above.

Garth Montgomery Williams, Charlotte's Web book cover from 1952. Heritage lot #78301

Original art from the 1952 children’s book, Charlotte’s Web, did extraordinarily well. The cover illustration, done in graphite and ink on paper, was the second highest lot of the sale, selling for $155,350, against a pre-sale estimate of $20,000 – $30,000. Individual illustrations from the book also did well, with prices from as low as $717, all the way up to $95,600, with an average price of about $10,000.

Several other artists commanded more than $60,000, including J.C. Leyendecker, Thornton Utz, Jesse Wilcox Smith, Howard Pyle and Norman Rockwell.

Packard Motor Car Company advertisement, Heritage lot #78422

As in the past, there were plenty of bargains to be had. Including the next day’s Internet only session in Dallas, over 180 lots sold for less than $1,000. A beautiful large 30″ x 46″ oil on canvas painting of a Packard automobile sold for only $896.25. If that’s not a bargain, I don’t know what is.

For the complete results, you will have to register (free) with Heritage. You can view all of the paintings without results if you don’t register. Here is the link. Heritage Illustration Art auction, August 17-18, 2010.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve listed them all on my website. I’ve listed another ten items in the last couple of days, including art pottery. Here’s the link chasenantiques.com

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