What’s new at Philip Chasen Antiques?

Posted on January 7, 2019 by Philip Chasen

We haven’t exhibited at a show since early November, when we were in Winnetka for the Antiques + Modernism Winnetka show. That’s given us plenty of time to search high and low for some truly great items to bring to our upcoming two shows in Miami, FL and one show in Asheville, NC. Following is a preview of several items, all of which are for sale.

Good Daum Nancy glass is difficult to find, but I’ve been able to buy 15-20 of the finest Daum Nancy vases and lamps available. The large Swan example above is just one of the outstanding examples.

Tiffany Favrile *Nasturtium* cameo glass vase

Tiffany Studios glass and lamps is another area where I’ve made a concerted effort to find the best available. I’ve been quite successful. The Nasturtium cameo glass vase above is wheel-carved and internally decorated. It’s a museum-quality, exceptional example.

I bought the Daum Nancy table lamp pictured above from the son of an 83-year-old woman who asked him to sell it for her. His grandmother received the lamp as a wedding gift in February, 1929 in Sarre Union, France. Is that great provenance, or what? It’s a wonderful, colorful, big (24″ tall) lamp.

Tiffany Studios Pine Needle double card box

I bought several Tiffany Studios desk sets in both Pine Needle and Grapevine, so I have many different items for sale. There was a time a few months ago where I sold out of Pine Needle and had very few Grapevine items left.

The few items mentioned here are just a taste of all the new merchandise I have for sale. Email or call if there’s something you like or something you’re looking for.

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.

Phillips New York sold some important Martin Brothers stoneware in their Design sale, December 13, 2018

Posted on December 31, 2018 by Philip Chasen

First I would like to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year. May 2019 be a year of Peace and Prosperity!

Phillips New York held two Design sales on December 13, 2018. Included in the evening sale were four important items by R.W. Martin & Brothers. Only two of the four items sold, but they brought strong prices.

R.W. Martin & Brothers Crab creature, Phillips lot #29

The highest price of the four lots was realized by #29, a very rare, huge (18″ long), stoneware Crab creature. This early work from June, 1880, sold near its low estimate of $250,000, realizing $275,000, including buyer’s premium. What should have seemed like a good result didn’t look quite as good because of the aggressive estimate.

R.W. Martin & Brothers bird, Phillips lot #28

Lot #28 was a large, 15″ bird, meant to be a caricature of Sir Edward George Clarke. It was signed and dated February, 1898. It, too, sold near its low estimate of $150,000, realizing $175,000, including buyer’s premium.

Lot #26, a huge (28½” tall) mantel clock case and lot #27, a 21″ bird, did not sell. They were estimated at $30,000 – $50,000 and $100,000 – $150,000 respectively.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

The market for Tiffany Studios lamps and glass is alive and well, part II (Christie’s New York)

Posted on December 24, 2018 by Philip Chasen

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.

Christie’s New York held a Design sale on December 13, 2018, with total sales of $8,493,125. Approximately 40% of that total was for the sale of one single Tiffany Studios lamp.

Tiffany Studios *Pond Lily* table lamp, Christie’s lot #9

Lot #9 was a rare and important 1903 Pond Lily table lamp. It had previously been sold at Christie’s New York on December 9, 1989, for what was then the world auction record price for a Tiffany lamp, $550,000, including buyer’s premium. Once again it attained the new world record auction price for a Tiffany lamp. It realized $3,372,500, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $1,800,000 – $2,500,000. Its rarity was partially due to its steep price of $400 in 1903. (That is not a misprint.) There are only 13 examples known to exist, with 5 in museums and 8 in private hands.

Tiffany Studios *Laburnu*m table lamp, Christie’s lot #10

The second best result for Tiffany lamps was a magnificent Laburnum table lamp on a killer Bird Skeleton lamp base. It sold near its low estimate, realizing $468,500, against a pre-sale estimate of $400,000 – $600,000 .

The six Tiffany lamps in the sale sold for a combined total of $4,134,750 – almost 50% of the total for the entire sale of sixty-three lots. For the complete results of the sale, click https://www.christies.com/design-27820.aspx?lid=1&dt=231220181137&saletitle=

The market for Tiffany Studios lamps and glass is alive and well

Posted on December 17, 2018 by Philip Chasen

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.

December is Design month, with every major and not-so-major auction house in the entire world holding a Design sale. My desk gets piled high with all the catalogs. It’s tough to keep track, but trends do appear. The most obvious is that the market for Tiffany Studios’ lamps, glass and objects is alive and well. Today I’ll only focus on the recent sale at Sotheby’s New York. I’ll write about other sales in the weeks to come.

Sotheby’s held a Dreaming in Glass: Masterworks by Tiffany and La Farge
sale on December 12, 2018, with total sales of $9,060,000. The majority of the 48 lots sold above their high estimates, with 100% selling.

Tiffany *Trumpet Creeper* table lamp, Sotheby’s lot #327

The top banana of the sale was lot #327, an important Trumper Creeper table lamp. It almost doubled its high estimate of $1,200,000, realizing $2,295,000, including buyer’s premium.

Tiffany *Cypriote* vase, Sotheby’s lot #319

Lot #319 was the top lot of the glass vases. It sold for $87,500, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $30,000 – $50,000. The paperweight-technique vase had a thin layer of Cypriote decoration over clear glass.

John LaFarge window *Dawn Comes on the Edge of Night*

The one lot in the sale by John LaFarge was an important window entitled Dawn Comes on the Edge of Night. It sold near its high estimate of $700,000, realizing $765,000, including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, click http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/2018/tiffany-dreaming-in-glass-n09958.html.

No shows until January 18, 2019, when we’ll exhibit at the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC). It precedes the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show.

I just listed some of the new items on my website and will list more every week. Click Philip Chasen Antiques to take a look. I will make every effort to actively list new items as often as time permits. 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 good results at Toomey & Co.’s Tradition & Innovation auction, December 2, 2018

Posted on December 10, 2018 by Philip Chasen

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.

Toomey & Co. held its Tradition & Innovation auction on December 2, 2018. Following are the results for some interesting lots by Grueby and Tiffany Studios.

Lot #13 was a rare Grueby 9″ x 9″, yellow, melon-shaped vase. I liked it and hoped to buy it, but it wasn’t meant to be. It sold for $18,750, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $3,000 – $5,000. I knew it was nice, nonetheless I was surprised by the result.

Tiffany Studios *Saxifrage* candlestick, Toomey lot #17

Usually collectors want Tiffany Studios’ candlesticks in pairs, but not when it comes to Saxifrage. It’s rare and highly desirable, so single candlesticks sell well. This example, lot #17, sold for $23,750, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $8,000 – $12,000

Tiffany Studios/Grueby lamp, Toomey lot #19

The other Tiffany Studios lot in the sale, lot #19, a combined lamp with a pottery base by Grueby, also did reasonably well. It sold within its estimate of $15,000 – $20,000, realizing $22,500, including buyer’s premium. This was one of those unusual examples where the base of the lamp was more valuable than the shade, as the base was two-color, with full flowers. (Most Grueby vases are one color.)

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

No shows until January 18, 2019, when we’ll exhibit at the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC). It precedes the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show.

I’ll be listing new items soon, especially Tiffany desk set items, which make great Christmas gifts. Look for them soon.

I recently listed some of the new items on my website and will list more every week. Click Philip Chasen Antiques to take a look. I will make every effort to actively list new items as often as time permits. 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.

I recently bought and sold a wonderful original oil painting by Louis Icart

Posted on December 3, 2018 by Philip Chasen

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.

The translation of the caption is Still life with grapes, pears and a bouquet of dahlias by Louis Icart

Au Fanny. L.I. Au jardin des Hesperides

The owner had had personal interactions with Fanny when he was young.

I remembered Fanny from my young age, she passed away when I was 8. I used to meet Fanny each week-end, when visiting my grandmother. They used to be very good friends.

She was doing nice paintings, and loved to make fakes, I remembered a Picasso in the living room to turn to not be a real one when my grand mother passed away.

She was such a graceful lady, with a big sense of humour and a great painter.

It’s rare to find subject matter like this and even rarer to find any provenance. Most of Icart’s oil paintings include a young lady or two lounging about. If I couldn’t agree on a price with the buyer, I would gladly have hung it in my house. It was a privilege to own it for a short while.

Unfortunately I’m not at liberty to discuss the price as I sold it to a dealer, who in turn sold it to a collector.

Do you have any original oil paintings by Louis Icart? I’m interested in knowing about them and perhaps purchasing them. Please email me.

No shows until January 18, 2019, when we’ll exhibit at the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC). It precedes the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show.

I’ll be listing new items soon, especially Tiffany desk set items, which make great Christmas gifts. Look for them soon.

The results of Heritage Auctions’ Illustration Art auction, October 12, 2018

Posted on November 26, 2018 by Philip Chasen

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.

Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas, held an Illustration Art sale on October 12, 2018, with total sales of $1,745,893 for the 398 lots offered. Works by Patrick Nagel and Alberto Vargas led the sale, taking the first five places.

Patrick Nagel Untitled, Heritage lot #71155

The top lot of the sale was #71155, an untitled acrylic on canvas painting by Patrick Nagel. It sold for an incredible $162,500, including buyer’s premium — approximately double its high estimate of $80,000. I continue to be befuddled by his desirability and prices. I just don’t see it.

Alberto Vargas Trick or Treat, Heritage lot #71151

On the other hand, I understand Alberto Vargas. Lot #71151, a mixed media painting on board entitled Trick or Treat, a Playboy interior illustration from the October, 1967 issue, sold for $100,000, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $40,000 – $60,000.

Gil Elvgren Vision of Beauty (Unveiling), Heritage lot #71115

While the prices of works by Patrick Nagel is on the upswing, prices for Gil Elvgren’s works are on the downswing. A beautiful 1947 painting by Elvgren, entitled Vision of Beauty (Unveiling) sold below its pre-sale estimate of $60,000 – $80,000, realizing only $45,000, including buyer’s premium.

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

No shows until January 18, 2019, when we’ll exhibit at the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC). It precedes the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show.

I’ll be listing new items soon, especially Tiffany desk set items, which make great Christmas gifts. Look for them soon.

The Original Miami Beach Antiques Show has modified its dates for January, 2019

Posted on November 19, 2018 by Philip Chasen

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.

I was unable to post a new blog last Monday as we were in Europe on a buying trip. Next week I’ll post about some of our purchases.

An artist’s rendering of the Miami Beach Convention Center

As some of you know, the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show is finally moving back into the Miami Beach Convention Center after 2½ years of construction. The show usually runs from Thursday to Sunday, but the promoters were forced to change their dates to Sunday – Wednesday. That upset some dealers who canceled their spaces in a mini-rebellion. The promoters got the message and decided to open half a day on Saturday. The latest news is that the show will open a full day on Saturday. So now the show is near-normal, with a full weekend followed by two weekdays. I hope some of the dealers who canceled will reconsider with the new dates.

Now the official new dates are Saturday, January 26, 2019 to Tuesday, January 29, 2019. The dealers will have three days to set up, Wednesday, January 23, 2019 to Friday, January 25, 2019.

Here is the announcement from the show promoters with the official hours.

Please note, our adjusted show dates and hours below:
Saturday, January 26: 11:00am – 8:00pm
Sunday, January 27: 11:00am – 7:00pm
Monday, January 28: 11:00am – 7:00pm
Tuesday, January 29: 11:00am – 5:00pm
*The show will no longer be open on January 30, 2019. The last show day is Tuesday, January 29, 2019*

No shows until January 18, 2019, when we’ll exhibit at the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC). It precedes the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show.

I’ll be listing new items soon, especially Tiffany desk set items, which make great Christmas gifts. Look for them soon.

The results of the Antiques + Modernism Winnetka show, November 2-4, 2018

Posted on November 5, 2018 by Philip Chasen

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.

When I have the time to write a contemporaneous account of a show, I do. Unfortunately this is one of those shows. I’ve got plenty of time to write.

That’s my booth in the front of an empty ballroom at 8:45 PM Thursday night at the preview party

Thursday 8:45 PM If you read my blog regularly, you know that I’m going to complain about the preview party. They’re always awful, but sometimes better if the food and drink are good. So this one had good food and drink, so it wasn’t as bad as some others. And I think I made a sale. A lady said she’s buying a Tiffany clock for her husband’s birthday tomorrow and she’ll be back at noon. But I don’t know her and nothing is sold until it’s paid for. We’ll see. Attendance has been lighter than usual. The party is usually packed, but at 8:45 PM our ballroom is empty. Most of the attendees are young women who are here to socialize and have no interest in making any purchases.

We sold this beautiful Daum Nancy vitrified floral and butterfly vase at the show

Friday 3:30 PM There was quite a bit of interest earlier in the day when some of my clients showed up. I made a couple of very good sales, so the show is off to a good start. I’ve got my fingers crossed that it will also end well, but it’s impossible to predict. My best clients emailed me that they’re unable to attend.

Oh and that lady who said she’s buying a Tiffany clock for her husband showed up and decided not to buy the clock. That’s beyond rude, after she told me it was sold.

Noon on Saturday outside my booth (on the left)

Saturday 12:00 PM The show was dead from midday yesterday until now. There’s no reason the show should have opened at 10 AM. 11 AM would have been kind to all concerned. Still haven’t had any serious inquiries, but attendance is picking up and we’re expecting some of our clients later in the day. Hopefully it will be a good day.

Rare Tiffany Studios 4-branch Art Nouveau table lamp

Saturday 5:00 PM After a slow start, we made a small sale in the morning and then nothing till later in the afternoon when we made a nice sale. That was followed by a very good sale to one of our best clients. So the day was a good one. Thank you. You know who you are.

We sold this rare and exceptional Gallé Apple blownout vase at the show on Sunday

Sunday 4:00 PM Sundays are frequently duds, but not this one. New clients came to show today and purchased two Gallé vases, including an important blownout Apple vase. Then we made another couple of sales, including a Tiffany counterbalance desk lamp. That makes three lamps sold at the show, which is a great result. We’re extremely pleased and look forward to both our next show (in Miami) and our next show in Chicago.

No shows until January 18, 2019, when we’ll exhibit at the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC). It precedes the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show which is finally moving back into the newly renovated Miami Beach Convention Center.

I’ll be listing new items soon, especially Tiffany desk set items, which make great Christmas gifts. Look for them soon.

The Antiques + Modernism Winnetka show starts this weekend, November 2, 2018

Posted on October 29, 2018 by Philip Chasen

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.

November 2-4, 2018
Fri: 10 AM – 6 PM
Sat: 10 AM – 5 PM
Sun: 11 AM – 5 PM

We’ll be traveling to Chicago this week to exhibit at the Antiques + Modernism Winnetka show at the Winnetka Community Center. It’s one of two shows we have left in the greater Chicago area. The only other one is the Chicago Antiques, Art & Design Show at the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago in May.

We’ll have this rare Gallé vase with a beetle and oak leaves at the show

It’s an interesting show with high quality, diverse exhibitors from around the US, selling everything from paintings to furniture to art to jewelry to glass and lamps (me). We’re coming loaded for bear with a fantastic collection of French and American glass and lamps. You will not be disappointed with the show. It’s worth a trip from anywhere in the greater Chicago area. If you like antique shows, this is the only game in town until the spring. Please visit my booth, C20, and say hello.

We hope you can visit. It will be worth the effort.