Setting up at the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show, January 20, 2016

Posted on January 21, 2016 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.

miami-airport-1-2016(2) Yesterday was the first day of setup at the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show, The Airport Show, which will open to the public this Friday, January 22, 2016 at noon. Setup went smoothly, but it’s a big job, so we only finished about half. We’ll finish today and be ready for the public tomorrow.

We were just getting started

The show is small by Miami standards, but not small by Midwest standards. The dealers are high quality, so it’s definitely worth a visit. You’ll be able to see some great merchandise before these same dealers exhibit next week at the Original Miami Beach Antique Show.

Some of the Tiffany Favrile glass we’ll have for sale

I’ve brought an incredible assortment of French and American glass and lamps — one of the best ever. I hope you’ll visit so you can get first crack.

Tune in on Monday for the results of the show.

The following week the Original Miami Beach Antique Show will open to the public, as usual, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. You should attend because it’s a great show, but also for the memories. miami-beach-1-2016

I’ve been quite busy buying and selling recently, partly because I’ve listed many new items on my website. I need to buy more, so if you have something great, please offer it to me. I am paying the highest prices of any dealer. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email me a jpeg.

I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. I will continue to list more as often as possible. Please click here to take a look.There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

Here’s a preview of my booth in Miami starting this Friday, January 22, 2016

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Philip Chasen

miami-airport-1-2016(2) The Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show, The Airport Show, will open to the public this Friday, January 22, 2016 at noon. We’re bringing such a huge selection of fantastic merchandise that we had to leave some items home because the truck was chockablock full.

We’ll have this wonderful Gallé floral lamp at the show

Sales of French glass have been great for the last few years, so I’m bringing a really powerful selection of Daum Nancy, Gallé and Argy-Rousseau items. If French glass interests you, you’ll want to see what I have.

This Tiffany Studios 20-inch diameter Nasturtium is one of over 20 lamps

How about Tiffany Studios lamps and glass? I can’t tell you what a great selection we have, from a 20″ Nasturtium lamp to an Aquamarine vase.

Very important Tiffany Favrile Aquamarine vase

Thursday’s blog will be from the floor of the the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show. Can’t wait to get there and start the action!

Some good results at Bonham’s New York 20th Century Decorative Arts sale, December 17, 2015

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Philip Chasen

It’s December 31, 2015. Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year, filled with Peace!

Bonham’s New York held their 20th Century Decorative Arts sale on December 17, 2015, immediately following their The Artistry of Tiffany sale. I will only concern myself with the beginning of the sale, which included works by Tiffany Studios, the Martin Brothers and Daum Nancy.

Tiffany Studios Floral Bouquet chandelier, Bonham’s lot #1008

The first nine lots of the sale were offerings by Tiffany Studios. Of this group, the top lot was a 28¼” diameter Floral Bouquet chandelier. It doubled its high estimate of $120,000, realizing an impressive $293,000, including buyer’s premium. There are more buyers for table lamps than chandeliers, which made the result even more notable. It easily exceeded the high of $137,000 for all of the Tiffany Studios items in the previous The Artistry of Tiffany sale.

Martin Brothers aquatic vase, Bonham’s lot #1010

Lot #1010 was a large, incredible Martin Brothers stoneware aquatic vase from 1892, with 3-dimensional carving and barnacles. I was drooling over this vase, especially with an unbelievably low estimate of $2,000 – $3,000. I knew I had a chance, but only if the major collectors weren’t interested. I was willing to pay way over the high estimate, but unfortunately I wasn’t the buyer. At $20,000, I was the underbidder. Oh well. At least I made the buyer pay, but I really wanted this lot. Martin Brothers collectors have deep pockets, so I think I would have been outbid no matter what.

Daum Nancy Impressionist vase, Bonham’s lot #1011

The three Daum Nancy lots did very well, with the best results for lot #1011, an Impressionist vase with yellow trees on a purple mottled background. It easily exceeded its high estimate of $15,000, realizing $27,500, including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

I’ve been quite busy buying and selling recently, partly because I’ve listed many new items on my website. I really need to buy more, so if you have something great, please offer it to me for sale. I am paying the highest prices of any dealer. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email me a jpeg.

I will continue to list more as often as possible. Please click here to take a look.

We’re still very much in business between shows, especially since there are fewer shows nowadays. Please don’t hesitate to email or call. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

Some French cameo glass treasures I’ve owned (and sold) in 2015

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Philip Chasen

2015 has been my best year ever in business. It was a very good year. (Think Frank Sinatra singing.) Thanks to all my loyal clients who have supported me. Following are a few of the highlights of the many French cameo glass treasures I bought and sold this past year, in no particular order.

Gallé blownout Rhododendron table lamp

I’ve never owned a Gallé Rhododendron table lamp before this year. It’s big, gorgeous and very rare.

Daum Nancy Weeping Willow vase

I just love this vase. It’s very rare, but more importantly it’s killer. The decoration is the best and the shape is rare and fabulous.

Monumental Argy-Rousseau pâte-de-verre vase Libation

Most Argy-Rousseau pâte-de-verre vases are small to medium-sized. At 12¼” Libation is huge, stunning and rare.

Monumental Daum Nancy Swans vase

How about a 16½” Daum Nancy vase with three swans? About as rare and beautiful as Daum gets.

I really need to buy more, so if you have something great, please offer it to me for sale. I am paying the highest prices of any dealer. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email me a jpeg.

I’ve been quite busy buying and selling recently, partly because I’ve listed many new items on my website. I will continue to list more as often as possible. Please click here to take a look.

This is why you buy from me

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Philip Chasen

Daum poppy vase with handles

I was offered a lovely Daum vase by a serious French dealer, with whom I’ve done a lot of business over the years. The decoration of poppies was particularly pretty and desirable, especially with the applied handles and gilding. I agreed to buy the vase. The dealer shipped it to me without prior payment, as we have a longstanding relationship.

A closeup of the regilded foot

It looked good in the original photo from the dealer, who I trusted not to send me a vase with problems. Boy, was I disappointed. The first thing I noticed when I opened the box was the strange gilding on the foot. It had been poorly redone with metal leaf. It stuck out to me like a sore thumb. Then came the handles — even worse. The two handles did not match each other in texture at all, nor did they match the body of the vase. They both looked like they had been spray-painted by a restorer of little ability. Do you think you would have known if you had purchased this vase? I doubt it. I venture to guess that most people would not have had a problem with it.

A side-by-side comparison of the two handles

I felt like he tried to slip one past me, but that wasn’t going to happen. It’s going back to France and I’ll be out $73.25 return postage. The good part is you’re not going to buy it. I act like a filter, filtering out fake, repaired, ugly, unimportant, and common items. If I’m offering it for sale, it’s passed my inspection. And that’s why you buy from me.

I’ve been quite busy buying and selling recently, partly because I’ve listed many new items on my website. I will continue to list more daily. Please click here to take a look.

French cameo glass sells well at Sotheby’s Paris Design sale, November 24, 2015

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Philip Chasen

Sotheby’s Paris held their Design sale on November 24, 2015, with total sales of €3,870,400 ($4,100,304). Bidders were determined to continue life as usual, and not allow the terrorists to win, after the recent horrendous terrorist attacks.

Gallé Rose de France vase, Sotheby’s lot #16

Of particular interest to me were five lots of superb Gallé items and one Daum vase. They all sold, most above their high estimates. Top lot of this group was #16, an important, artistic vase by Gallé, entitled Rose de France. It sold for €141,000 ($149,375), including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of €70,000 — €90,000.

Fine Gallé marquetry vase, Sotheby’s lot #13

Second best of this small group was lot #13, a fine Gallé marquetry vase on an original bronze base. It soared past its pre-sale estimate of €15,000 — €25,000 to realize €81,000 ($85,811).

Gallé Mosque chandelier, Sotheby’s lot #11

The most unusual of the six items was a huge, 22″ tall, Gallé chandelier Grand Lampe De Mosquée (Large Mosque lamp). Though this wasn’t for everybody, it found at least two bidders who were willing to push the final sale price beyond the high estimate, to €43,750 ($46,348), against a presale estimate of €25,000 — €30,000.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

I’ve been quite busy buying and selling recently, partly because I’ve listed many new items on my website. I will continue to list more daily. Please click here to take a look.

What’s new at Philip Chasen Antiques?

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Philip Chasen

The buying has been really good for me recently with most of my effort directed at acquiring exciting examples of French cameo and Tiffany Favrile glass. I’m listing a few of them here (in no particular order) and will be listing them as fast as I can on my website.

Rare Gallé Undersea 11″ vase

First up is a really special Gallé vase with undersea flora. Aquatic subject matter of this sort is rare for Gallé and this particular example is the best I’ve ever owned or seen. The size is large, but not overwhelming, at 11″ tall and bulbous. What’s exciting are the detail and especially the colors, with exquisite, realistic greens and blues.

Another special example of the finest of Gallé glass is a monumental, 19″, Trumpet Flower vase with red flowers on a yellow background. The colors, the size and the shape make it a superb, desirable vase.

Important Tiffany 9¾” red decorated vase

If you know about Tiffany Favrile glass, you know that red is the most desirable color. I’ve been fortunate to acquire two great examples, both of which are decorated red, not solid red. The first example is larger, 9¾” tall, with busy blue and black decoration. The second is smaller, with simpler decoration and a lower price, of course.

I’m trying to list many new items on my website, as fast as I can. If you check my site often, you’ll see regular updates.

Click here to check my website for the latest items and to look around. I will update it as often as time permits. We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

Julia’s held one of their best ever Important Rare Lamps, Glass & Fine Jewelry auctions this past Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Philip Chasen

James D. Julia, Inc. held their semi-annual Important Rare Lamps, Glass & Fine Jewelry auction this past Wednesday, November 18, 2015, with approximately $2.4 million in sales — one of their best ever for the division. The sale included five private collections of high quality goods, some with no reserves. As I’ve noted many times in the past, nothing makes for a better auction than three key ingredients — 1. fresh-to-the-market items; 2. high quality; 3. no or low reserves. It’s like fresh meat to the lions and these lions were hungry.

Important Gallé marquetry vase, Julia lot #1130

French glass did extremely well, with some ultra-high quality items in the mix. Lot 1130, a gorgeous Gallé marquetry vase in the original box, was the best item of the French glass. Estimated to sell for $15,000 – $20,000, it realized $53,325, including buyer’s premium.

Rare Le Verre Francais cat vase, Julia lot #1611

Surprisingly, a nice collection of Le Verre Francais vases and lamps also did well at the end of the sale. The Le Verre market has been soft for a while, so it was nice to see new interest. Lot #1611, a rare, large (23¼”) cat vase, was the best of the group. It sold for $10,665, against a pre-sale estimate of $4,000 – $6,000.

Loetz Phaenomen vase, Julia lot #1143

The selection of Loetz glass was strong and so were the prices. A large, 12″ Loetz Phaenomen vase, estimated to sell for $3,000 – $5,000, sold for five times it’s high estimate, realizing $29,625, including buyer’s premium.

Tiffany Favrile Cypriote vase, Julia lot #1108

The selection of Tiffany Favrile glass was also strong, with some vases selling at considerable premiums over their pre-sale estimates. Lot #1108 was a gorgeous Cypriote miniature example. It sold for many times it’s estimate of $800-1,200, realizing $11,257.50.

Tiffany Studios Koi Fish lamp, Julia lot #1202

The best Tiffany Studios lamp in the sale did well. Lot #1202 was a rare Koi fish example, consigned by a Japanese national. Previously this exact lamp had sold at Christie’s in March, 1990, for $104,500. After the seven phone bidders were done, it went out the door for $106,650, against a pre-sale estimate of $50,000-100,000.

For the complete results of the sale, click here. You will have to sign in (free) for the prices.

I’ve listed many new items on my website and will continue to list many new (and great) items that I’ve recently purchased, both on our buying trip and elsewhere. We have a treasure trove of goodies, so please check my site often for updates.

Some strong prices at Philip Weiss Auctions, October 8, 2015

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Philip Chasen

Sorry for the problems with the website and blog. The site was down for a while for maintenance.

Philip Weiss Auctions, Lynbrook, NY, held a sale entitled Estate Sale, Paintings, Porcelain, Jewelry on Thursday, October 8, 2015. Included in the sale were several very good lots that I tried unsuccessfully to buy. Prices were beyond what a dealer could pay.

Wonderful Daum Nancy floral and butterfly vase, Weiss lot #214

Lot #214 was a killer Daum vase that I really wanted. It had everything going for it including butterflies, blue hydrangea flowers, applied cabochons and gilding, plus a nice big size at 15½”. I thought the estimate was a little strong at $12,000 – 16,000, but I was still interested. It finally sold for $20,700, including buyer’s premium. I was the underbidder. Oh well, better luck next time.

Tiffany Studios mosaic inkwell, Weiss lot #534

Weiss didn’t think much of lot #534, a Tiffany Studios mosaic inkwell, so he put an estimate of $800 – $1,200. That was really low. The buying public knew better and bid it to $11,212.50, including buyer’s premium, when I had to drop out. It wasn’t even the best example I’d ever seen. It had a couple of small chips to the mosaic tiles, plus the patina was gone, and it was only signed on the insert. But guess what? Water under the bridge — the public has spoken.

We’re off to Europe on a two-week buying trip, so I’ll do my best to post twice a week, but it may not be possible. I’m sure we’ll bring back a few great items for our upcoming shows.

Our next show will be at the Winnetka Community House in Winnetka, IL, November 6-8, 2015. We used to exhibit at shows in the greater Chicago area 4-6 times yearly. Most of them have disappeared, so we now only exhibit in Chicago twice a year, once in the fall in Winnetka and once in the spring in Glencoe at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. Too bad, because we like Chicago and have lots of friends and clients. We’re really looking forward to seeing you at the show, so please put the dates in your calendar.

Setting up at the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show, August 18-19, 2015

Posted on August 20, 2015 by Philip Chasen

Setup was just beginning

The Baltimore Summer Antiques Show begins today, August 20, 2015, as you read this post. Setup went smoothly and the booth looks great.

I just bought this large, killer B&S internally decorated vase with orchids

I was able to purchase several wonderful Daum, Gallé and B&S vases during setup, which I’ll have at the show. Early buying is one of the advantages of being an exhibitor, which sometimes can make up for a poor show.

Another of the wonderful items I purchased at the show

I’ve got my fingers crossed that the show will go well, but it’s not up to me. I did my best to gather the finest items. Now it’s up to the public. Tune in Monday for the show results.

On a sad note, I have to report two deaths. James (Jimmy) Roush, 70, and Sig Monroe, 77, both of cancer. They will be missed.

Our next show will be The Big Flea Market at Pier 94 in New York City, September 26-27. Last year was the first time for this show and it was good. The attendees were completely different than the established Pier Antique Show that takes place in November and March each year, making it a totally different experience.

Philip Chasen Antiques

The blog for chasenantiques.com

Category Archives: Daum Nancy