The Original Miami Beach Antique Show opens today, Thursday, January 31, 2013

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Philip Chasen

The line to get in was huge, 20 minutes before opening on Thursday

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. This Monday’s blog, with the results of the Original Miami Beach Antique Show, will be postponed until Tuesday, as the show ends on Monday.

That’s Larry Zinzi’s booth at the entrance to Hall D

The Original Miami Beach Antique Show opens to the public today, Thursday, January 31, 2013, at noon, and continues until Monday, February 4, 2013, at 6 PM. Not sure why the show ends on a Monday, but it’s not my decision. Makes more sense to begin on a Wednesday and end on a Sunday.

This view shows about ¼ of my booth

The show is looking great, with amazing quantity and quality. Many dealers exhibit at this show who rarely exhibit at other shows. I can’t think of another show that attracts dealers and collectors from so many countries. I’ve seen dealers from England, France, Argentina, Italy, Germany and of course, all over the US. Dealers and collectors fly in from all over the entire globe to shop this show. It’s a real happening.

This is a small portion of the really great French Cameo Glass I have for sale

My booth is bursting with not only the most I’ve ever brought, but the best quality I’ve ever brought. For instance, take a look at the big, fabulous Gallé Lake Como vase that I bought yesterday. It’s truly spectacular. The two 14″ Tiffany Studios Dragonfly lamps look great next to the new Handels, Pairpoints and other Tiffany lamps. I’ve got way more than I can describe in this blog. It’s not too late to make plans to come to the show. Come on down, enjoy the weather, eat in the great restaurants and shop the best antique show of the entire year!

I will be posting videos on YouTube of my lecture on French Cameo Glass to the Metropolitan Glass Club. I need some time to edit the videos. When they’re ready, I’ll put the link on my website and here in my blog.

Love this French terra cotta figure by Bouraine

Click this link to view some of the new objects I recently purchased and listed. Tiffany glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

You can buy this incredible 12″ Schneider padded and wheel-carved Medallion vase at the show

Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. I regularly add Tiffany vases, lamps and desk accessories, as well as French cameo glass by Galle and Daum Nancy and etchings by Louis Icart. Here’s the link. Philip Chasen Antiques.

The results of the Miami National Antiques Show, January 25-27, 2013

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Philip Chasen

Attendance is light on Saturday afternoon in my aisle

It’s Saturday afternoon as I write my blog at the Miami National Antiques Show. As of this minute, not much is happening. Attendance is light and business is negligible in my booth. I would have been better off staying home (except that the weather is beautiful here and freezing in New York), but I hope to change my tune by the end of the show. I sold a couple of items pre-show and bought a few, so I’m close to covering my expenses, but that’s not why I came. I’m here to sell and the buyers are not buying yet. Hopefully I’ll have better news to report by the close of the show on Sunday at 5 PM.

Attendance is still light on Sunday afternoon

UPDATE: Sunday, 5:40 PM. The show is closed and I’m depressed. Ugh! What a show. Only three total sales — two to show dealers before the show opened and one to a personal friend for almost no profit. Not one single sale to the public for the entire 3 days of the show — just not acceptable. I had made up my mind not to exhibit at this show again, but then the big news came out today. The show has been sold to a new promoter, U.S. Antique Shows — the same promoters as the big Original Miami Beach Antique Show this coming week. Now that’s major news! So what does it mean? Not really sure, but any new promoter tries hard to revive a flagging show. That means lots more publicity, probably more dealers and MAYBE more buyers. We’ll try the show one more time because of the new promoters. If we don’t do well one more time, that will be it for us at the Miami National Antiques Show. Here’s wishing the new promoters the best of luck with this show and the old promoters the best of luck with their other shows. It would be nice to see the Miami National Antiques Show return to its former glory.

The big, important, action-packed, Original Miami Beach Antique Show opens to the public this Thursday, January 31, 2013, at noon, and continues until Monday, February 4th, at 6 PM. If there’s only one show you attend this year, make it this one! It’s not too late to make your plans. The show runs for five days, so you can even come as late as next Monday. The weather is gorgeous, the restaurants are great, and the show promises to be outstanding!

Love this French terra cotta figure by Bouraine

Click this link to view some of the new objects I recently purchased and listed. Tiffany glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

You can buy this incredible 12″ Schneider padded and wheel-carved Medallion vase at the show

Setting up at the Miami National Antiques Show, January 23, 2013

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Philip Chasen

My lovely wife, Lia, is busy setting up our booth

Toulouse Antiques is almost finished setting up with their superb paintings

Toulouse Antiques is almost finished setting up their great paintings

We started setting up the Miami National Antiques Show, today, January 23, 2013. We didn’t finish, but it went smoothly. One more day of setup and then the show will open to the public on Friday, January 25, 2013, at noon. I’m cautiously optimistic the show will go well, but I’m also a realist. My results at this show haven’t been stellar in recent years, but I brought a really great selection, so the show might go really well. You’ll find out when when you read Monday’s blog.

Greenwald Antiques has a high quality, diverse display

I walked the show floor, so I’ve got a good idea of the quality of the dealers at the show. It’s super. There are some really outstanding displays. I assure you, if you make the effort to come a little early to Miami, you’ll find some great items for sale at the show. You’ll get first crack at outstanding merchandise, before these same dealers show their wares at next week’s big and important Original Miami Beach Antiques Show. FYI, it was 73° degrees today in Miami. What was your temperature? -10°, 0°? Just get on a plane and come down here right away. Ten-hut!

Love this French terra cotta figure by Bouraine

Click this link to view some of the new objects I recently purchased and listed. Tiffany glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

You can buy this incredible 12″ Schneider padded and wheel-carved Medallion vase at the show

The Miami National Antiques Show begins this Friday, January 25, 2013

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Philip Chasen

I’ll have this wonderful Tiffany Studios Curtain Border floor lamp in my booth

December is always a slow month. Some people are looking for a $1,000+ antique for a Christmas gift, but most people are looking for a sweater or an iPad. January and February in Miami is another story. Instead of slow, there’s the opposite — action. The world’s most interested buyers fly down for a week or two to enjoy the sun, the beach, the restaurants, and most of all, the concentration of great antiques. There’s no place else where so many important dealers congregate with their best offerings. It’s brilliant. Give everyone a warm, fun city to go to, in the middle of winter, and assemble the best dealers with the finest antiques — and you have the formula for success. That’s why we’re smiling before we head down to Miami.

The Miami National Antiques Show is first, starting this Friday, January 25, 2013, at noon. It will have some of the best dealers with great offerings, but your help is needed. Please attend the show and consider making a purchase. It will insure the show continues. It’s the same problem for most antique shows — they’ve all gotten smaller over the years and need more buyers.

Stupendous Daum Nancy wheel-carved poppy jar

If you come to Miami a few days early, you can accomplish a lot. First you’ll be in Miami, in the middle of winter. That should be enough of a motivation. Second, you can shop the Miami National Antiques Show and see the same antiques that will be on display the following week at the big, important, Original Miami Beach Antiques Show. Of course, there will more dealers and merchandise on display at the second show, but you can get first crack at a decent percentage of it.

Wonderful Daum Nancy wheel-carved vase with Black-Eyed-Susan flowers

Personally, I’m bringing the BEST. I’m loaded for bear. I’ve been very busy since the November antique shows, adding to my already large inventory of fantastic French cameo glass and Tiffany glass and lamps. I guarantee you’ll like what you see. Please come to the show, visit me, and let me know if I had anything to do with your decision to come to Miami early. See you soon!

Love this French terra cotta figure by Bouraine

Click this link to view some of the new objects I recently purchased and listed. Tiffany glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

You can buy this incredible 12″ Schneider padded and wheel-carved Medallion vase at the show

You could have bought the original piano from the 1942 classic film Casablanca

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Philip Chasen

Sam plays As Time Goes By to Rick and Ilsa

The two weeks from the end of November to the middle of December were good for fans of the classic 1942 film, Casablanca, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. First Heritage Auctions sold a 1942 Casablanca poster for $191,200 on November 29, 2012 and then Sotheby’s offered the famous original piano from the movie on December 14, 2012. You remember the flashback scene in the French café La Belle Aurore, where Sam (Dooley Wilson) serenaded Rick (Humphrey Bogart) and Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) with “As Time Goes By”? It doesn’t get more romantic than that.

The piano and bench on display at Sotheby’s

The piano came to the auction block with a pre-sale estimate of $800,000 – $1,200,000. Apparently there weren’t that many multi-millionaires willing to pay the big bucks, so the piano sold for only $602,500 — probably disappointing to the consignor, but maybe not. He (a Japanese man) paid $154,000 for it at auction in 1988 and brought it to Japan. Now it’s back (but the buyer has not been named). I’d like to think it was Steven Spielberg, but that’s wild speculation on my part.

The Miami shows are almost upon us. The first one, the Miami National Antiques Show (The Airport Show), begins in one week, on Friday, January 25, 2013, at noon and ends on Sunday, January 27, at 5 PM. It’s a very fine quality show with top exhibitors. If you come just a little early to Miami, you can visit the Airport Show and get first crack at the very same antiques that will be exhibited the following week at the huge, important, eagerly awaited Original Miami Beach Antiques Show. You can see two shows for the travel price of one, in warm, sunny Miami and legitimately write the whole thing off as a business expense (well, only if you’re a dealer).

Incredible Tiffany Favrile red decorated paperweight vase, just in

Click this link to view some of the new objects I recently purchased and listed. Tiffany glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

Fine Gallé clematis blownout vase, recently acquired

Stellar sale at Heritage’s Vintage Movie Poster Signature Auction, November 29, 2012

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Philip Chasen

Heritage Auctions held a successful Vintage Movie Poster Signature Auction on November 29, 2012, with total sales of $2.21 million — 94% sold by value and 80% sold by lot. Genres such as horror, science fiction, film noir, Western, musical, and comedy were represented in the huge, 1300+ lot sale, with many of the lots from the collection of film critic Leonard Maltin.

1933 King Kong poster, Heritage lot #83252

The top lot of the sale was #83252, a rare, large (40″ X 79″), three-sheet poster of the 1933 RKO classic film, King Kong, starring Fay Wray. In very fine condition, backed on linen, it soared past its pre-sale estimate of $80,000 – $100,000 to sell for $388,375, including buyer’s premium.

Casablanca movie poster insert, Heritage lot #83063

Casablanca, the 1942 Warner Brothers classic film, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, is considered by many to be one of the best and most romantic movies of all time. Admirers of the film pushed the final price of a poster insert, lot #83063, to $191,200, against a pre-sale estimate of $18,000 – $28,000, even though it wasn’t in the finest condition, having been folded and with additional minor damage.

Other superb results included a rare Mickey Mouse poster from 1928 ($101,575), a Three Stooges Tassels in the Air poster from 1938, ($56,762.50), and a wonderful Dracula poster from 1931 ($41,825). For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link. You will have to sign in for prices. Heritage’s Vintage Poster auction results.

The Miami shows are almost upon us. First up is the Miami National Antiques Show (The Airport Show), January 25-27, 2013. It’s a very fine quality show with top exhibitors. If you come just a little early to Miami, you can visit the Airport Show and get first crack at the very same antiques that will be exhibited the following week at the huge, important, eagerly awaited Original Miami Beach Antiques Show. You can see two shows for the price of one, in warm, sunny Miami and legitimately write the whole thing off as a business expense (well, only if you’re a dealer).

Incredible Tiffany Favrile red decorated paperweight vase, just in

Click this link to view some of the new objects I recently purchased and listed. Tiffany glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

Fine Gallé clematis blownout vase, recently acquired

The results of the Birchwood Manor Antiques Show, January 5-6, 2013

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Philip Chasen

Saturday afternoon in front of my booth

The Birchwood Manor Antiques Show was held this past weekend, January 5-6, 2013. Attendance was fairly good on Saturday, but only light to moderate on Sunday. After a good turnout on Saturday, I was fairly confident of another one on Sunday, but that goes to show you what I know. Don’t understand it, because the weather was perfect.

Sunday afternoon

My results were poor, breaking even at best. Ugh! Three days of hard work for what? It’s difficult to justify returning to any show in New Jersey, but I may try Birchwood Manor one more time this summer. We stopped doing shows in Southern California in the summer because of poor results, so that leaves a hole in our schedule. If next summer’s Birchwood Manor show fits into the schedule, we’ll give it one more shot. If it goes poorly, goodbye New Jersey.

And that would be a shame, as local shows are easy. Lower travel expenses and a smaller time commitment make good business sense. Fine show promoters, like Allison Kohler of JMK Shows, pave the way for a smooth setup and show. So it’s up to you, New Jersey buyers. If you want to see shows like the Birchwood Manor Antiques Show continue and flourish, visit the show and consider making a purchase. Compliments are appreciated, but they won’t pay the bills.

The important Miami shows are coming up shortly. First up is the Miami National Antiques Show (The Airport Show) at the Miami Airport Convention Center, January 25-27, 2013. Immediately following will be the eagerly anticipated Original Miami Beach Antiques Show, January 31 – February 4, 2013. That’s the big one that gets clients flying in from all over the world. The smart ones arrive a few days early to shop at the Airport Show. Don’t miss these shows. You can enjoy warm, beautiful Miami, in the middle of a cold northern winter and see the best antique shows in the country at the same time.

Incredible Tiffany Favrile red decorated paperweight vase, just in

Click this link to view some of the new objects I recently purchased and listed. Tiffany glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

Fine Gallé clematis blownout vase, recently acquired

My 2012 year in review

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Philip Chasen

2012 was an exceptionally good year. Period. End of blog. OK, OK, just kidding, about the end of the blog, not the year.

Incredible, sold, Gallé seagull vase — one of the best I’ve ever owned

French glass was especially strong, with excellent sales for better examples of Gallé, Daum and pâte-de-verre. Collecting interest was primarily American, but with good international participation.

Tiffany Studios Wisteria table lamp, sold in 2012

The Tiffany glass and lamp market was also in top form. Sales were excellent both privately and at auction, with more than a few record prices.

Wonderful Schneider padded and wheel-carved floral vase, sold in 2012

In some areas that had been weak, interest (and sales) strengthened. Specifically, I’m referring to Le Verre Francais and Schneider glass, Pairpoint puffy lamps and Handel reverse-painted lamps. Better examples showed life, with good sales privately and at auction. Pairpoint puffy sales were especially good at various shows around the country.

Here’s hoping that 2013 will continue the strong trend. This weekend we will be exhibiting at our first show of 2013, at the Birchwood Manor, in Whippany, NJ, Saturday and Sunday, January 5-6. We will be bringing all of our new and exciting purchases. We’ll have them all on display. Then on to the all-important Miami shows at the end of the month. If you can’t see us in New Jersey, don’t miss us in Miami.

Incredible Tiffany Favrile red decorated paperweight vase, just in

Click this link to view some of the new objects I recently purchased and listed. Tiffany glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

Fine Gallé clematis blownout vase, recently acquired

Some good results at Skinner’s 20th Century Design auction, December 15, 2012

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Philip Chasen

First things first. Happy New Year! May the coming year be a good one, with the new Congress having more sense than the last one. (What are the odds?)

Skinner Boston was the last of the auction houses to hold a December 20th Century sale. Its 20th Century Design auction was held on December 15, 2012, with a few good results. The sale wasn’t terribly exciting, with only a few lots that could be called interesting or selling for $10,000 or more.

Tiffany Studios 17-inch diameter Poppy table lamp, Skinner lot #143

The top lot of the sale was a Tiffany Studios 17″ diameter Poppy table lamp, with decent color, but not in A-1 condition. Estimated fairly at $30,000 – $40,000, it realized $51,000, including buyer’s premium.

Fine Tiffany Favrile floriform vase sold for $9,000, Skinner lot #148

This fine Tiffany Favrile floriform vase sold for $9,000 as Skinner lot #148

Two nice Tiffany Favrile floriform vases easily exceeded their estimates of $800 – $1,200 each, with one selling for $7,200 and the other for $9,000, including buyer’s premiums.

Alphonse Mucha Les Saisons screen, Skinner lot #110

The second highest price paid went to a Les Saisons (The Seasons) screen decorated by the celebrated Austrian Art Nouveau artist, Alphonse Mucha. It went on the auction block with an estimate of $20,000 – $25,000. The final price of $39,000 handily exceeded the high estimate.

For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link. Skinner’s 20th Century Design results.

This weekend we will be exhibiting at our first show of 2013, at the Birchwood Manor, in Whippany, NJ, Saturday and Sunday, January 5-6. We will be bringing all of our new and exciting purchases. We’ll have them all on display. Then on to the all-important Miami shows at the end of the month. If you can’t see us in New Jersey, don’t miss us in Miami.

Incredible Tiffany Favrile red decorated paperweight vase, just in

Click this link to view some of the new objects I recently purchased and listed. Tiffany glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

Fine Gallé clematis blownout vase, recently acquired

Good results at Sotheby’s Important Tiffany auction, December 15, 2012

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Philip Chasen

Sotheby’s New York held its Important Tiffany auction on December 15, 2012, immediately following its Masterworks by Tiffany Studios from the Geyer Family Collection auction. The sale did well, grossing $2,950,500. Results were a little stronger in this sale than the Geyer Collection sale. The quality was high in both sales, so I can only speculate that the more conservative estimates in the various owner sale achieved better results.

Tiffany Studios Trumpet Creeper table lamp, Sotheby’s lot #331

The top lot of the sale was a Tiffany Studios Trumpet Creeper table lamp, with the same form as a Wisteria lamp, but with a rarer flower. It flew past its pre-sale estimate of $400,000 – 600,000, to sell for $914,500, including buyer’s premium.

Good Tiffany Studios Peacock table lamp, Sotheby’s lot #332

A fine Tiffany Peacock table lamp, with matching Favrile glass base, was the second best lot of the sale. Estimated to sell for $140,000 – $180,000, it handily exceeded its high estimate to sell for $242,500, including buyer’s premium.

Tiffany 7-inch diameter Favrile blue counterbalance table lamp, Sotheby’s lot 333

The prize winner for the most bizarre price paid at the sale goes to lot #333, a 7″ diameter blue Favrile counterbalance table lamp. The shade had decent color with the lamp off and weak color with the lamp on. For that reason, I decided not to bid, regardless of how low the price would be. Instead, it was one of the most competitive lots of the sale. Its final price of $46,875 was approximately five times the low estimate. The estimate of $8,000 – $12,000 was appropriate, so what happened? Easy. Two wealthy, but unknowledgeable bidders, butted heads. Each had more cents than sense (pun intended). The consignor hit a home run and the underbidder should thank his lucky stars that he was outbid.

For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link. Important Tiffany results.

Incredible Tiffany Favrile red Tel-El-Amarna vase, just in

Click this link to view some of the new objects I recently purchased and listed. Tiffany glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

Fine Gallé clematis blownout vase, recently acquired