Category Archives: Galle

The importance of flowers in French Cameo Glass, especially Daum Nancy

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Unusual shaped Daum Nancy bowl with violets

Rare and unusual shaped Daum Nancy bowl with violets

When I first started collecting and selling French cameo glass over 30 years ago, there were red flowers and blue flowers and yellow flowers. Then one day a Japanese client asked me the name of the flower on the vase I was offering. What a strange question! Nobody had ever asked me that question before. Now suddenly I had to become a botanist and know my flowers. Well it’s a good thing I did because the market has changed dramatically since then.

Fine Daum Nancy ewer with poppies

Fine Daum Nancy ewer with poppies

Japanese buyers changed the nature of the French cameo glass market. They were very particular about which flowers they wanted and which they didn’t. Violets were their favorite, with roses and poppies tied for second. Then in 1990, Japanese buyers suddenly dropped out of the market because of a crash in the value of their real estate. As a result, one might think that Japanese buyers have little impact on today’s market, but their influence remains strong. The flowers favored by Japanese buyers earlier are the ones that are still favored today. As an example, Daum vases with violets can sometimes command double the prices of similar vases with different flowers.

Vases by Daum Nancy with wheel-carved tobacco flowers

Daum Nancy vase with wheel-carved tobacco flowers

Vases by Daum Nancy with tobacco flowers are more sophisticated than other similar vases because the flowers on these vases are almost always wheel-carved. The problem is that the flowers are not enameled, so the color is too similar to the background. Most buyers don’t find them as attractive as some other flowers. This is one of those instances where even though the technique and quality are excellent, the vases are difficult to sell.

Please send me your suggestions or questions about art glass, lamps, Louis Icart, shows, auctions, etc. If it’s interesting, I’ll answer your question in a future blog entry.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

Knowledge is power, part IV

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Gallé polar bear vase

The Gallé polar bear vase from this post

In the early 2000s, I received an email from a lady who had found my website through the Internet.  She told me that she had purchased a vase, signed Galle, and that she would like to have it authenticated.  I told her that my fee for appraisals or authentications was $100.  She agreed and drove all the way from North Carolina to New York to show me the vase in person, which ordinarily would not have been a wise thing to do, but I did tell her that I thought the vase was probably authentic.

The better version of a Gallé polar bear vase

The more desirable version of a Gallé polar bear vase

She told me that she had gone into a shop and spotted the vase on a high shelf.  The owner of the shop said he had purchased an estate and the vase was part of it.  Apparently he didn’t think it was authentic because he priced it at $500.  The lady purchased it because she thought it was pretty and at $500, it was worth it, even if it weren’t authentic.

Upon seeing it in person, I confirmed that the vase was indeed authentic.  It was a rare Galle polar bear vase.  Galle polar bear vases come in two different shapes (or models).   This one was the less desirable of the two, but I for one do not look a gift horse in the mouth.  The owner wanted me to sell it for her on consignment and take a commission upon its sale.  With this arrangement, there was no charge for the appraisal. It took me a while, but I sold it for $30,000.   She was thrilled and I was as pleased as punch with my commission.  This kind of find used to happen more regularly than it does nowadays, but it still does happen.

Knowledge is power.  Sir Francis Bacon, Religious Meditations, Of Heresies, 1597.

Please send me your suggestions or questions about art glass, lamps, Louis Icart, shows, auctions, etc. If it’s interesting, I’ll answer your question in a future blog entry.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com