Now that the Baltimore Summer Antiques show is history, I’m looking forward to our next show in November. In the meantime, I’m not resting on my laurels. I’ve been buying some great items and will be buying more as opportunities present themselves.
Very rare Gallé Rio de Janeiro banjo vase
One of the really great items I just acquired is a very rare Gallé Rio de Janeiro banjo vase. It’s the first time I’ve owned one, ever. I’ve seen a few in other color combinations, but this example is the best.
Important Daum bowl with violets
Daum Nancy violets are very desirable decoration. Most of the time the decoration is more important than the shape, but occasionally the shape is as important, such as this bowl with two applied handles. Add great color and superb detail, with hand-painted, gilded veins in the leaves and you get an extraordinary example.
Whimsical bronze inkwell with mermaid and octopus
When was the last time you saw a mermaid with two legs and two fins? Not often, I imagine. This German/Austrian, bronze, Art Nouveau, circa 1900 inkwell has one, as well as an octopus with a human-type face and teeth. It’s one of the most amusing inkwells that I’ve ever had.
Now that fall is here, I’m starting to work hard to list new items and search for new ones. We’re going soon on a European buying trip. I’ll list those items when we return and then bring them all to our next show in Winnetka, Illinois.
November 8-10, 2019
Fri: 10 AM – 6 PM
Sat: 10 AM – 5 PM
Sun: 11 AM – 4 PM
No shows until October 20, 2022, when we’ll exhibit at the Baltimore Art, Antique & Jewelry Show. Two weeks later we’ll exhibit at the Antiques + Modernism Show in Winnetka, IL, starting on November 4, 2022.
There was a crowd of a few hundred people at the opening of the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show on Thursday, August 29, 2019.
Following is a contemporaneous account of the show.
My booth at the opening of the show
Thursday, 6 PM. Opening day is almost over and business was decent. All of our sales were French glass, either Gallé or Daum. It was a good start, but far from where we need to be to reach total average sales for the last few years. However, I’m cautiously optimistic as we usually get off to a slow start.
We sold this gorgeous Daum Nancy vase with applied and wheel-carved berries at the show on Friday
Friday, 4 PM. It’s been pretty busy today. We made several sales, again mostly French cameo glass by Daum. We also had good interest from several clients who we hope will return.
Friday, 7 PM. Things really slowed down toward the evening. There were a few questions, but no sales. Some of the people said they’d be back, but I’ve heard that many times before. We’ll see.
We sold this lovely Tiffany Furnaces clock on Saturday
Saturday, 2:30 PM. Attendance has been really good today, as well as interest and sales. We sold a Tiffany floor lamp and a clock. We have another client who is likely to buy a different floor lamp. Funny how all the action today has shifted from French glass to Tiffany.
We sold two almost identical Tiffany Favrile lamps at the show
Saturday, 7 PM. 3/4 of the show is now in the books and the show is good. We added to today’s sales with a gorgeous Rookwood vase and another Tiffany floor lamp. If tomorrow goes well, the show will go from good to excellent.
We sold this beautiful Daum Nancy Peacock Feather vase on Sunday
Sunday, 3:30 PM. We’re having a very nice day today with the sales of two naughty Austrian bronzes, as well as a Daum vase and a Gallé vase. My guess is we won’t sell anything else until the show ends at 6 PM tonight, but stranger things have been known to happen.
Sunday, 7 PM. The show is over and we’re very pleased. And we did make another sale of a Daum vase. Whaddya know? Total sales were slightly less than last year, but net profit was about the same and last year was one of our best. This week I’ll be discussing the sale of a Tiffany Dragonfly lamp that a client saw at the show. If that happens, the show will be our best in years, maybe ever.
Next year’s show is moving up to the week before Labor Day. I think it’s a good move that I’m looking forward to.
November 8-10, 2019
Fri: 10 AM – 6 PM
Sat: 10 AM – 5 PM
Sun: 11 AM – 4 PM
No shows until October 20, 2022, when we’ll exhibit at the Baltimore Art, Antique & Jewelry Show. Two weeks later we’ll exhibit at the Antiques + Modernism Show in Winnetka, IL, starting on November 4, 2022.
Business was especially good last year in Baltimore
Have you noticed the older you get the faster time passes? Einstein’s Theory of Relativity at work. Well here it is already. The Baltimore Summer Antiques Show will open to the public on Thursday, August 29th, at noon, and continue until Sunday, September 1st, at 6 PM. I was unhappy at first with the change of dates back to the Labor Day weekend, but attendance and business were really good last year, so who am I to argue with success?
I always look forward to this show, especially since there aren’t many great shows left. Many guests travel great distances to visit this show and that includes Europe and Japan. Where else can you see an international selection of the finest antique dealers, all in one location? The show is truly worth a trip from wherever you are. Baltimore has great restaurants, the Inner Harbor, street performers, fine stores, the National Aquarium and of course the best antique show money can buy.
This gorgeous Daum Nancy Fall scenic tumbler is one of the many fine French glass vases that I will have at the show
As usual, I’ve been buying the best items I could find in anticipation of the show. I’ll be bringing those items to complement the finest selection of French and American art glass and lamps. It will be the first time the new items will be exhibited for sale.
I just checked the rates on Hotwire.com and the price for a 4½-star hotel was as little as $77/night. As a little extra incentive, click here to get two free tickets to the show. If you were on the fence, that should help you make up your mind.
See you soon in Baltimore!
November 8-10, 2019
Fri: 10 AM – 6 PM
Sat: 10 AM – 5 PM
Sun: 11 AM – 4 PM
No shows until October 20, 2022, when we’ll exhibit at the Baltimore Art, Antique & Jewelry Show. Two weeks later we’ll exhibit at the Antiques + Modernism Show in Winnetka, IL, starting on November 4, 2022.
Martin Brothers Wise Owl tobacco jar, Woolley & Wallis lot #78
Woolley & Wallis held an Arts & Crafts auction on June 19, 2019. Included in the sale was a nice collection of Martin Brothers ceramics, including several birds.
The top lot of the group was #78, a Wise Owl bird tobacco jar, 11½” tall, with restoration. Estimated to sell for £15,000 – £20,000, it realized £24,700 ($31,064), including buyer’s premium — a pretty handsome price for a restored item.
Martin Brothers spoon warmer, Woolley & Wallis lot #82
The only Martinware spoon warmer in the sale sold within its pre-sale estimate of £12,000 – £18,000, realizing £20,800 ($26,159), including buyer’s premium.
Martin Brothers grotesque bird vase, Woolley & Wallis lot #56
Of the many Martinware vases offered for sale in the auction, lot #56 sold for the highest price. It was a 9½” vase, with goofy birds that collectors admire. It sold for its high estimate of £8,000, without buyer’s premium, or £10,400 ($13,080) with buyer’s premium.
For the complete results of the sale, click here.
No shows until October 20, 2022, when we’ll exhibit at the Baltimore Art, Antique & Jewelry Show. Two weeks later we’ll exhibit at the Antiques + Modernism Show in Winnetka, IL, starting on November 4, 2022.
Bonhams New York held a Modern Decorative Art + Design sale on June 7, 2019. Included in the sale were two Tiffany Studios lamps, the topic of today’s post.
Tiffany Studios Swirling Leaf floor lamp, Bonhams lot #12
Lot #12 was a huge Tiffany Studios Swirling Leaf floor lamp. It was moderately rare, but not terribly appealing nor important. This was one of those cases where the base probably had more value than the shade. Regardless, it sold near its high estimate of $90,000, realizing $106,325, including buyer’s premium — the fourth highest price paid at the sale. My guess is that someone had a more important shade and wanted the base for it, but that’s totally conjecture on my part.
Tiffany Studios Spider table lamp, Bonhams lot #6
Lot #6 was a 15″ diameter Spider table lamp on a complementary Mushroom base — a fairly desirable model. I had interest in the lamp until I found out that it had been completely repatinated. Regardless, it sold for approximately double its high estimate of $30,000, realizing $68,825 including buyer’s premium. My guess is that the bidders were unknowledgeable novices. Discriminating collectors just wouldn’t have bid.
Tiffany & Co. water pitcher, Bonhams lot #9
The fifth highest price in the sale went to a gorgeous, Art Nouveau, mixed-metal, sterling silver, Tiffany & Co. water pitcher from 1880. It easily exceeded its estimate of $40,000 – $60,000, realizing $93,825 including buyer’s premium.
For the complete results of the sale, click here.
No shows until October 20, 2022, when we’ll exhibit at the Baltimore Art, Antique & Jewelry Show. Two weeks later we’ll exhibit at the Antiques + Modernism Show in Winnetka, IL, starting on November 4, 2022.
Morphy Auctions, Denver, PA, held a two-day Fine & Decorative Arts auction June 18-19, 2019. Included in the sale was an important collection of Tiffany Favrile glass from a New Hampshire estate. It was high quality and fresh-to-the-market, so the results were superb. The estimate for the entire glass collection was $250,000 – $361,000. It soared past its estimates to realize $729,000. Kudos to Mike Fredericks, head of the Decorative Arts department, for landing the collection and putting together a superior sale.
Tiffany Favrile paperweight vase, Morphy lot #1251
The top lot of the selection of Tiffany Favrile glass was #1251, an 11″, colorful, paperweight vase with internal swirls. It flew past its pre-sale estimate of $6,000 – $8,000, realizing $42,000, including buyer’s premium. The sale included several paperweight vases, all of which easily exceeded their high estimates.
Tiffany floriform vase, Morphy lot #1267
Tiffany floriform vases haven’t been selling well for the last few years, but lot #1267 sold very well as it was special — 13¼” tall, with hand-carved white flower petals and green leaves and stems. It was the third best seller of the Tiffany Favrile glass collection. It realized $36,000, six times its pre-sale high estimate of $6,000.
Tiffany Favrile gooseneck vase, Morphy lot #1304
Lot #1304 was a gorgeous, deep blue, Tiffany Favrile, gooseneck vase with raised beehive decoration on the bulb of the vase and aqua blue pulled decoration on the neck of the vase. It sold for $21,600, many times its pre-sale high estimate of $3,000. A colleague of mine bought it for his private collection.
For the complete results of the sale, click here.
No shows until October 20, 2022, when we’ll exhibit at the Baltimore Art, Antique & Jewelry Show. Two weeks later we’ll exhibit at the Antiques + Modernism Show in Winnetka, IL, starting on November 4, 2022.
Clars Auction Gallery, Oakland, CA, held a 3-day Furniture, Fine Art, Jewelry and Timepieces, Asian Art auction, June 15-17, 2019. Included in the sale was a very fine leaded lamp by Morgan & Sons, Brooklyn, NY, 18″ diameter x 24″ tall. It sold for $19,680, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $10,000 – $15,000. I was interested in the lamp, but not willing to pay the price, so I declined to bid. The lamp also needed some attention as one of the flowers had come loose from the lamp and will have to be re-leaded.
A close-up of a hand-painted, bent glass rose panel from a Morgan & Sons lamp. Photo courtesy of James D. Julia, Inc.
Morgan & Sons used techniques in their leaded lamps that differed from their competitors like Tiffany Studios. First they bent the glass, which took a lot of time, effort and skill. Then they hand-painted the flowers on the individual tiles of glass and fired them in a kiln, making the decorations permanent. Ultimately the shade was leaded together in the manner of Tiffany, but only after 1903, when Tiffany’s patent on the technique expired. Then they coupled the shade with a complementary organic base, creating a unique and magnificent lamp.
Other similar examples of Morgan lamps were sold over the years at James D. Julia Auctions, ranging from $6,792 – $23,000. Click here for Julia’s results.
No shows until October 20, 2022, when we’ll exhibit at the Baltimore Art, Antique & Jewelry Show. Two weeks later we’ll exhibit at the Antiques + Modernism Show in Winnetka, IL, starting on November 4, 2022.
I tried to buy a small, beautiful Daum Nancy cup and saucer in the Rain pattern at a French auction on June 6, 2019, but it was not meant to be. Personally I’ve never seen the Rain pattern on a cup and saucer, so it was quite rare (and probably part of a larger set when new). It had strong color and contrast, with a lot of pink in the background. It sold for €7,296 ($8,225), including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of €700 – €1,200. That was a fine price for a collector, but not a dealer.
No shows until October 20, 2022, when we’ll exhibit at the Baltimore Art, Antique & Jewelry Show. Two weeks later we’ll exhibit at the Antiques + Modernism Show in Winnetka, IL, starting on November 4, 2022.
Christie’s New York held a Design sale on June 4, 2019 with total sales of $14,038,250. 77 of the 96 lots offered for sale sold, for an impressive average of $182,315. Included in the sale were several lamps by Tiffany Studios, the topic of today’s post.
Tiffany Studios Pond Lily table lamp, Christie’s lot #12
The selection of Tiffany lamps was small and decent quality, but not exceptional. The top lot of the group was #12, a 20″ diameter Pond Lily table lamp on a Twisted Vine base. It sold below its low estimate of $100,000, realizing $106,250, including buyer’s premium.
Tiffany Studios 17″ diameter Dragonfly table lamp
The second highest price for a Tiffany lamp went to lot #15, a 17″ diameter Dragonfly table lamp on a rare matching Dragonfly base with mosaic tiles. It too sold below its low estimate of $100,000, realizing $100,000, including buyer’s premium. Even though the base was rare, the shade didn’t have much pizzazz.
Tiffany 10-light lily table lamp, Christie’s lot #17
After viewing the catalog, I really wanted to buy lot #17. The 10 green shades were quite rare and beautiful. My goal was to buy the lamp and put the shades on a patina 10-light lily base, which would have looked much better. However, after inspecting the lamp in person, I decided not to bid at all. The shades looked great in the photo, but they didn’t match very well in person and had some original flaws in workmanship I found objectionable. So without my participation, the lamp sold for $43,750, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $15,000 – $20,000. My participation really didn’t matter because I wouldn’t have paid that price.
For the complete results of the sale, click here.
No shows until October 20, 2022, when we’ll exhibit at the Baltimore Art, Antique & Jewelry Show. Two weeks later we’ll exhibit at the Antiques + Modernism Show in Winnetka, IL, starting on November 4, 2022.
I’m so busy that I miss more than a few opportunities to buy good items at fair prices. Recently there have been several auctions where some really wonderful items sold for very good prices, but I missed many of them, including Bonham’s Modern Design | Art sale on April 24, 2019.
Duffner & Kimberly Poppy table lamp, Bonham’s lot #26
Lot #26 was a gorgeous, large, 24″ diameter, Duffner & Kimberly table lamp with intense red poppies, easily worth in the $15,000 – $20,000 range. It sold for $10,000, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $3,000 – $5,000. It was incorrectly catalogued as a generic American table lamp.
Newcomb College plate, Bonham’s lot #5
Lot #5 was a high glaze Newcomb College ceramic plate with incised floral decoration, early, from 1913. It sold for $1,402, including buyer’s premium, below the pre-sale estimate of $1,500 – $2,000. I could have easily sold it for double, possibly more.
Grueby two-color vase, Bonham’s lot #7
I was also interested in a very nice Grueby 2-color vase, Bonham’s lot #7. I wouldn’t have been the buyer as it sold for $13,825, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $5,000 – $8,000.
For the complete results of the sale, click here.
No shows until October 20, 2022, when we’ll exhibit at the Baltimore Art, Antique & Jewelry Show. Two weeks later we’ll exhibit at the Antiques + Modernism Show in Winnetka, IL, starting on November 4, 2022.
