Le Verre Francais glass is in the doldrums, except…

Posted on February 1, 2010 by Philip Chasen

Le Verre Francais Poissons vase, lot #754, Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates, Inc., January 30, 2010

Every category of item that I sell has its ups and downs. I’ve seen it again and again with Handel lamps, Louis Icart etchings, art glass shades, etc., etc. It doesn’t take a lot to move the prices in one direction or another. Right now the market in Le Verre Francais glass and Schneider glass is quiet. Historically there wasn’t much demand for quality Art Deco glass until 10 or 15 years ago. Then with the publications of a few books on the topic, some French Art Deco glass took off. Specifically I’m referring to the glass of Charles Schneider, that was sold under the name “Schneider” or “Le Verre Francais”. At one point, I couldn’t buy the glass fast enough. Now the market is taking a breather. In other words, many collectors have amassed their collections and are not adding to them significantly unless something special comes along.

Huge Le Verre Francais Palmiers bleus vase

Today, that something special vase came up for auction. Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates, Inc. of Mount Crawford, VA, sold lot #754, a Le Verre Francais Poissons vase, 8¾” tall. The pre-sale estimate was $1-2,000. Apparently they didn’t know what they had, as the vase sold for $9,945, including buyer’s premium, with two determined phone bidders pushing the price. Le Verre Francais vases with fish are considered to be amongst the best and rarest. This was a beautiful example with very good color.

The most desirable Le Verre Francais vases have animals, trees or geometric decorations. If they’re big or have unusual shapes, they’re even more valuable. Le Verre Francais vases with floral decoration are more common, but not lower in quality.

Le Verre Francais Orchidées vase

The quality of Le Verre Francais glass hasn’t changed, only the demand. Just a few new or old collectors opening their wallets will cause the prices to jump again. If you’ve ever thought of adding Le Verre Francais glass to your collection, it’s my strong recommendation that you look now. This is an especially good time, with an excellent supply of gorgeous vases and lower prices. Don’t look back on this time period and regret not having taken advantage.

I’m taking a lot of time to add new items to my website. I’ve already listed new items under Gallé glass (including a blownout vase), Daum Nancy glass and Tiffany Studios glass. Soon I’ll be adding many Tiffany Studios desk pieces. Please take a look, as every day I’m adding more. Click on this link chasenantiques.com.

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.com or
516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

French cameo and Tiffany Studios Favrile glass do well at Julia’s Lamp & Glass auction, November 20, 2009

Posted on November 24, 2009 by Philip Chasen

Tiffany Studios flower form vase, Julia's lot #2091

Session 2 of James D. Julia’s Lamp & Glass auction was held on Friday, November 20. The session began with art glass shades, with rare and unusual examples holding up well, while common shades did not.

The Tiffany Studios section of the sale followed with glass and desk accessories performing well. Lot 2091 was a Tiffany Studios flowerform vase that carried a pre-sale estimate of $4-6,000 and sold for $11,500, including buyer’s premium. A mini red Tiffany Studios decorated vase, 3″ tall, estimated for $3-5,000, sold for $6,612.50, including buyer’s premium.

Tiffany Studios red mini vase, Julia's lot #2093

French cameo glass was next up on the auction block. First was an outstanding vase by Eugène Michel with padded and heavily wheel-carved poppy flowers. It was estimated at $15-20,000 and sold for $25,300, including buyer’s premium. The three other Michel vases in the sale also did well. An outstanding Gallé marquetry vase, lot #2235, was estimated at $20-30,000 and sold within the estimate for $24,150.

Eugène Michel padded & wheel-carved cameo glass vase, Julia's lot #2217

Bidding was spirited for several fine examples of Daum Nancy glass. A 5″ vase with blackbirds sold for $12,650, within the estimate of $10-15,000, while a bowl with handles and rare swan decoration sold to a New York dealer on the telephone for $10,925, including buyer’s premium, against a conservative estimate of $5,500-7,000.

Daum Nancy handled bowl with swan decoration, Julia's lot #2283

More than a dozen examples of pate-de-verre vases, boxes and pendants by Argy-Rousseau and A. Walter sold well, most within the estimates and a couple exceeding the estimates. A Walter luminaire of a fish was estimated to sell for $3,500-5,000. It sold for $10,350, including buyer’s premium.

A. Walter pate-de-verre luminaire, Julia's lot #2347

I will be adding many new and exciting items to my website in the next few days and weeks, many of them at very attractive prices. Please check my website often for the latest. chasenantiques.com.

I’d love to hear from you with 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.com or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

Thank you, Chicago

Posted on October 6, 2009 by Philip Chasen

My booth at the Chicago Merchandise Mart Show

We last exhibited at the Chicago Merchandise Mart in May. The spring show is considered the better of the two shows because it’s more established and gets better attendance. But for us the results were the reverse. We were disappointed in the spring and thankful for a very fine show this time around.

Tiffany 14 inch diameter Acorn floor lamp with drink tray, ashtray and magazine rack

I asked a handful of dealers about their results and as always, there was a diversity of opinion. One dealer who is not a specialist and sells fine items from many different categories had one of the best shows ever in Chicago. Another dealer specializing in majolica didn’t do well. Two mid-west dealers said their shows were ok, but not better. Then there’s me. I’d like to thank all of my clients who made purchases. My clients are very loyal and as a result, I’m sincerely appreciative.

Tiffany glass and lamps garnered the most interest this time, with Art Nouveau French cameo glass by Gallé and Daum Nancy a close second. This time there was less interest in Art Deco glass by Le Verre Francais, etchings by Louis Icart and pottery by Rookwood.

Now it’s time for a short break and then back to the greater Chicago area for the Arlington Park Racetrack Show, October 16-18, and then on to Denver the following week.

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

French Cameo Glass sells well at Doyle’s Belle Epoque Auction

Posted on September 24, 2009 by Philip Chasen

Doyle New York had its Belle Epoque auction today with a very nice selection of French cameo glass. The overall results were solid with a few items doing very well.

Daum Prairie vase, lot 356

First up was a group of Daum vases. One of the nicest of the group was a small Prairie vase, which is a rare and desirable model. This model always comes with a plethora of small flowers in a field. The flowers are hand-painted with enamel and fired. Lot 356 was small at 5″ and a good example of a Prairie vase, but certainly not the best. It carried a pre-sale estimate of $5-7000 and sold for $6250, including the buyer’s premium — a very good price.

Daum winter tumbler, lot 364

Lot 364 was a 4½” Daum diamond-shaped tumbler with a winter scene that sold for $3750, including buyer’s premium — again a very nice price for a small, but very nice example. The pre-sale estimate was strong at $3-4000.

Le Verre Francais vase, 'Papilon', lot 317

The nicest of the Le Verre Francais vases was a 13¾” Papillons example with colorful butterflies. It carried a conservative pre-sale estimate of $25-3500 and sold for $4687.50, including buyer’s premium. The other Le Verre vases that were sold were more common and brought commensurately less.

The Gallé vases that were sold were all decent, but none exceptional. The best of the group was a clear glass, early enameled Crystallerie vase, 13″. Doyle didn’t think highly enough of the vase to picture it in their catalog, but it should have been. It carried a pre-sale estimate of $15-2500 and sold for a strong $4375, including buyer’s premium. The others vases sold for less, as they were not as desirable. Early Galle vases have risen in popularity in the last few years, mainly as a result of strong Japanese interest.

Tomorrow, the results of the Tiffany Studios items sold in this auction.

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

Philip Chasen Antiques

The blog for chasenantiques.com

Category Archives: Le Verre Francais

Le Verre Francais glass is in the doldrums, except…

French cameo and Tiffany Studios Favrile glass do well at Julia’s Lamp & Glass auction, November 20, 2009

Thank you, Chicago

French Cameo Glass sells well at Doyle’s Belle Epoque Auction