Goodbye, Los Angeles

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Sorry for the posting delay until Tuesday, but my laptop computer blue-screened, so I had to wait to return to New York to finish the post on my desktop computer.

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.

Saturday afternoon at my booth

It’s 5:30 PM on Saturday afternoon, as I compose my preliminary draft of Monday’s blog post. As of this minute, the title is Goodbye, Los Angeles. That could change by the end of the day on Sunday, and I hope it does. The Pasadena Antiques Show has been busier than last week’s Redondo Beach Antiques Show — more people, more questions, more sales, but not enough to warrant returning to Southern California. The total of all sales, as of this minute, is not enough to cover our expenses, let alone make a profit. If this were a local show, it would be fine, but the expenses of transporting our inventory from the East Coast to the West Coast are such that we need to do more business.

Defense of the Homeland, one of several Louis Icart etchings sold at the show

I’m writing this paragraph on Monday night and unfortunately the results did not allow me to change the title. We did some business on Sunday, but not enough to come back to Southern California in the foreseeable future, and that’s a shame. It was fun going for vacation for a week prior to the two shows in Southern California, with its glorious weather, but it wasn’t meant to be. Next summer we may return to do a show in the Midwest in July and also Birchwood Manor in New Jersey. Every year I have to adjust the calendar by deleting some shows and adding others. C’est la vie.

I tried to convince this visitor to the show to make a purchase, but had no luck

We’ll be back in New York for a week before we head to Chicago to exhibit at the Chicago Summer Antiques Show in Rosemont, IL. We’ve got so many clients and friends in Chicago, that it’s always a pleasure. The following week, we’ll be in Baltimore for the big, important Baltimore Summer Antiques Show. That’s one you shouldn’t miss. It’s huge and filled with some of the best exhibitors in the country (and the world). It’s worth a trip from anywhere. Visitors fly in from Japan, Europe and South America, as well as every part of the US. Baltimore is a fun city in the summer, so make your plans to visit. You’ll thank me.

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 Louis Icart etchings. Just recently, I added about 15 new items. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

The results of the Redondo Beach Antiques Show, July 27-29, 2012

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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.

We had a big mess during setup, but the booth looked great when it was finished

I’m sitting in my booth on Saturday at 2:30 in the afternoon. My rear end is flatter than usual and I’m about to crawl out of my skin. Sometimes that’s the life of an antiques show dealer. I had hopes that this might be a decent show, but as of this minute, it doesn’t look likely. If the show ends poorly, we will not return to Los Angeles for our usual two summer shows (that includes the Pasadena Show next weekend). We’ve exhibited at the Los Angeles Antiques Show a couple of times at the Barker Hangar. That was a busier show, so we might return for that one. The problem is that it’s very expensive for an East Coast dealer to exhibit on the West Coast. We have to sell enough to make it worth our while. If it turns out to be a losing proposition, we have no choice but to give up the show. Each year, the results have gotten weaker in Los Angeles, so we’re probably better off doing shows closer to home. I hope to write a different ending to this story, but that’s the situation this minute.

Some of the fine objects on display at the show

Sunday, 7:05 PM PDT. The show is over and I’m reflecting on the results. There were more people today and one good sale. Two total sales for the entire show. That’s pretty awful, but both were good, so it wasn’t a disaster. Also, two separate people came into the show today and sold me some very nice items. Eventually I’ll sell them and earn a profit, so all in all, the show wasn’t terrible, but certainly not good either. I’ll postpone my decision to exhibit at my usual two summer shows in the greater LA area until after this week’s show in Pasadena. If it goes well, we’ll try Southern California one more time. If it doesn’t go well, we’ll stop exhibiting at these two shows. Tune in next Monday for the verdict. I’ll also post a blog this Thursday.

A wonderful Tiffany Studios counterbalance floor lamp with 10″ green Favrile shade, carved with two dragonflies — sold at the show

We’ll be exhibiting at the Pasadena Antiques Show this coming weekend, August 3-5. If you missed the Redondo Beach Antiques Show, please try and visit us there.

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 Louis Icart etchings. Just recently, I added about 15 new items. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

The Redondo Beach Antiques Show starts this Friday, July 27, 2012

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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.

Superb Burgun & Schverer internally decorated vase

The Redondo Beach Antiques Show will start on Friday, July 27th, at noon, and will end on Sunday, July 29th, at 5 PM. The show has gotten smaller over the last few years, but the dealers who remain are high quality, so it’s still a good show. The problem is that the show needs to enter a virtuous circle, where more people attend and make purchases. The news will get out and more dealers will want to return, making the show better. It’s not an easy task, but unless it happens, the show will get so small that it won’t be viable any more.

A fine Pairpoint Marlborough closed-top puffy table lamp

We’re doing our part by exhibiting in the show and bringing an outstanding collection which includes Tiffany Studios lamps, glass and desk sets; French cameo glass by Emile Galle, Daum Nancy, Almeric Walter, Argy-Rousseau and René Lalique; American art glass by Quezal and Steuben; American, French and Hungarian ceramics by Rookwood, Grueby, Newcomb College, Marblehead, Clement Massier and Zsolnay; American illustrator paintings and finally an extensive collection of original Louis Icart etchings.

Tiffany Studios Favrile decorated loving cup

Many people who attend antique shows don’t understand that it’s a business like any other business. If it doesn’t turn a profit, it goes out of business. That includes the antique show business. The promoter organizes the show. He/she needs enough dealers and attendees to make the show a success. The dealers need enough patrons to make purchases. While compliments are much appreciated, they don’t pay the bills. The expenses to transport antiques from the East Coast to the West Coast are considerable. I have to sell enough to make it worth my while. So I am advising my clients in Southern California that this will be the last time I exhibit there if I don’t sell enough to cover my costs and a reasonable profit. I’ve had to drop several cities (Detroit, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco) over the years as the local public stopped supporting their shows by not making purchases. Believe me, the show’s existence depends on your support. Please visit the Redondo Beach Antiques Show and consider making purchases from your favorite dealers. While you’re at it, bring your friends too.

Come visit us in Redondo Beach, July 27-29

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 Louis Icart etchings. Just recently, I added about 15 new items. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Gil Elvgren leads Heritage Auction’s Illustration Art auction, June, 2012

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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 week we’ll go hiking and white water rafting before our shows in the greater LA area, so there won’t be a Thursday post.

Heritage Auction held their Illustration Art auctions June 27-28, 2012, proving that Gil Elvgren is still King of the Hill. Heritage sold seven works by Elvgren that ranged in price from $11,875 to $176,500, for an average of $82,036, far surpassing the results for any other artist in the sale. Of course there are other illustration artists that can sell for more, like Norman Rockwell, but they weren’t represented in the sale. Besides, Elvgren is noted for pinup art, whereas the other big shots are not.

Gil Elvgren, Skirting the Issue (Breezing Up), Heritage lot #78139

Lot #78139 was an Elvgren painting titled Skirting the Issue (Breezing Up), from 1956. It took the prize for top lot, selling for $176,500, against a pre-sale estimate of $30,000 – $50,000.

Al Buell painting, Brunette Pin-Up, Heritage lot #78110

After Elvgren, second prize, (really 7th prize after six Elvgrens) went to Al Buell. His painting, Brunette Pin-Up, circa 1940, sold for $32,500, against a pre-sale estimate of $1,000 – $2,000 — truly an impressive result. The most a Buell painting has sold for in recent Heritage auctions was $10,000 in March of 2012, so this was quite a jump. Let’s see over the next few auctions if a new level has been set for Buell, or this result was just a fluke.

Hy Hintermeister painting, The Last Word, Heritage lot #78314

One of my favorite artists, Hy Hintermeister, sold very reasonably. Lot #78314, The Last Word, sold for $4,062.50, against a pre-sale estimate of $3,000 – $5,000. A similar painting, Hold Everything, sold for $20,000 in Heritage’s March, 2012 Illustration Art auction.

For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link. Heritage’s Illustration Art results. You’ll have to sign in to view the prices.

We’ll be exhibiting at a show at the end of next week in Redondo Beach, CA, July 27-29. Please come and visit us and show support by considering purchasing something. This will be our last time exhibiting in the greater LA area if we don’t sell enough to make it worth our while.

In the meantime, we’re still very much in business. Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let us know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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Come visit us in Redondo Beach, July 27-29

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 Louis Icart etchings. Just recently, I added about 15 new items. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Coyle’s Auction gets good results for Grueby and R. Lalique glass, June 10, 2012

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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.

Coyle’s Auction Gallery of Bellingham, MA, held their summer auction on June 10, 2012. Many of the items were estate fresh, including a fine Grueby two color vase and an R. Lalique bowl and plate. They both did quite well.

Grueby two-color vase, sold at Coyle's Auction

The Grueby vase was two-color, with yellow flowers and leaves on a standard Grueby green ground, repeating three times around the vase. The vase was in “as found” condition, which meant that it was filthy, but in otherwise perfect condition. That’s when you know an item is really estate fresh. It sold for $10,250 + buyer’s premium, for a total of $11,787.50 — impressive!

R. Lalique opalescent bowl and plate with mermaids, sold at Coyle's Auction

An opalescent R. Lalique bowl and plate with mermaids were sold together as one lot. Continuing the strength for good or better R. Lalique at auctions everywhere, the lot sold for $3,565, including the buyer’s premium.

We’ll be exhibiting at the Redondo Beach, CA antique show July 27-29. Please come and visit us and show support by considering purchasing something. This will be our last time exhibiting in the greater LA area if we don’t sell enough to make it worth our while.

In the meantime, we’re still very much in business. Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let us know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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Come visit us in Redondo Beach, July 27-29

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 Louis Icart etchings. Just recently, I added about 10 new items. I’ve listed those and more will be coming this week. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

What’s new at chasenantiques.com?

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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.

Traditionally, May and June are very quiet months in the antiques business, at least for show exhibitors — there are no shows of any consequence. People get spring fever, so they’re more concerned with making their summer travel plans or planting their gardens than they are with antiques. It’s the perfect time for a little R&R and to replenish our inventory. We look high and low to find good items — we travel, we buy from private homes, we make careful purchases at auction and usually wind up with some great new items for our summer shows. This year is no exception. Here are a few examples.

Very desirable Gallé blownout vase with purple grapes

Gallé blownout vases are rarer and more desirable than conventional cameo glass. They’re usually difficult to find, especially with good color. I’ve been lucky, so now I can offer for sale several superior examples, including fuchsia, grapes, and water lilies.

Killer Daum Nancy farm scenic vase

The market in top quality Daum Nancy vases, especially with acid-etching and enameling, has been hot for many years. It doesn’t come better than rain or farm scenics. I’ve got a gorgeous rain tumbler and a killer farm scenic vase.

Rare and beautiful Schneider vase with applied and wheel-carved poppies

The market in better Schneider and Le Verre Français glass is picking up, after having been very slow for a few years. And rightfully so, because it’s wonderful glass. I’ve got some of the top examples, including two killer Schneider vases with padded and wheel-carved decoration.

You won’t recognize our booth, we’ve got so many new items, so please take the time to visit us at our two Los Angeles area shows. This may be the last time we exhibit at these shows. It’s very expensive to travel cross-country, so if we can’t sell enough to make it worth our time and expense, we won’t be back. If you want to continue to see antique shows in the greater Los Angeles area, you’ve got to support them. That means visit your favorite dealers and BUY something. Compliments, though much appreciated, do not pay the bills. We’ve stopped exhibiting in several cities where the locals didn’t support the shows, and Los Angeles could be next. Please visit the Redondo Beach and Pasadena shows and support your favorite dealers.

The dates of the Redondo Beach, CA antique show are July 27-29. In the meantime, we’re still very much in business. Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let us know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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Come visit us in Redondo Beach, July 27-29

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 Louis Icart etchings. Just recently, I added about 10 new items. I’ve listed those and more will be coming this week. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Have an Apple I computer? It could be worth over $350,000.

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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.

Apple I motherboard, Sotheby's lot #57

Included in Sotheby’s New York sale of Fine Books and Manuscripts, was a working Apple I computer from 1976, with the original manual. Curious choice of sales in which to put a computer, but apparently they did so because of its historical significance. Estimated to sell for $120,000 – $180,000, it almost tripled its low estimate to sell for $374,500, including buyer’s premium. Not a bad return, considering the original price was $666. It’s also interesting to note that a computer then is not what a computer is today. You only got the motherboard in 1976. You had to supply your own keyboard, monitor and cassette machine to run the programs. Here is the link to Sotheby’s sale. Apple I computer results.

Detail of the Apple Computer Company contract, Sotheby's lot #241

The Apple I sales price shouldn’t have been a surprise considering that in December, 2011, Sotheby’s New York sold three Apple documents, including the original contract for the formation of the Apple Computer Company, for $1,594,500 — 15 times the pre-sale estimate of $100,000 – $150,000. The historical significance of the lot was not lost on the public. Here is the link. Sotheby’s sale of Apple contracts.

So go searching in your attic if you were into early Apple computers. Maybe you’ve got a fortune there.

Our next show won’t be until July 27-29, in Redondo Beach, CA, but we’re still very much in business. Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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Superb Galle water lily blownout vase, just in

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 Louis Icart etchings. Just recently, I added about 10 new items. I’ve listed those and more will be coming this week. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Tiffany Studios Favrile red vase soars at Pook & Pook auction, June 28, 2012

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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.

Wonderful Tiffany Studios Favrile vase, Pook & Pook lot #696

Pook & Pook held their Decorative Arts Sale on June 28, 2012. Most of the glass in the sale was from the collection of Charlene Sussel of Garrett Park, Maryland. Included in her collection was a fabulous red and yellow decorated Tiffany Favrile vase. Though diminutive in size at 4″, it was not in rarity or quality. The very low estimate of $400 – $600 showed that it was there to be sold. There is nothing better than fresh-to-the-market, top quality merchandise at bargain basement estimates — it’s like mice to cheese. As a result, the price soared to $28,440 — not bad for a 4″ vase. I thought it was a $15,000 vase, so even I was surprised, but not shocked.

Opalescent R. Lalique Ceylan vase, Pook & Pook lot #513

Good R. Lalique vases continue to show strength, no matter the auction. Pook & Pook sold a nice opalescent Ceylan vase for close to retail value. It realized $4,740, against a pre-sale estimate of $2,000 – $3,000.

For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link. Pook & Pook Decorative Arts results.

Our next show won’t be until July 27-29, in Redondo Beach, CA, but we’re still very much in business. Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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Superb Galle water lily blownout vase, just in

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 Louis Icart etchings. Just recently, I added about 10 new items. I’ve listed those and more will be coming this week. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

James D. Julia’s Important Lamp & Glass sale grosses $1.1 million, June 20-21, 2012

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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.

James D. Julia, Inc. held their Important Lamp & Glass sale on June 20-21, 2012. The results weren’t stellar, but not terrible either. A fair number of items did not reach reserve, but those items that did sell added up to the respectable figure of approximately $1.1 million.

Rare Tiffany Favrile black decorated vase, Julia's lot #2366

The top Tiffany Favrile glass lot of the sale was #2366, a 12″ black vase with busy blue decoration around the shoulder. Estimated to sell for $10,000 – $15,000, it more than doubled its low estimate to sell for $25,300, including buyer’s premium.

Rare Daum Nancy Prairie vase, Julia's lot #2141

French glass did OK at the sale, with a rare Daum Nancy Prairie vase, pictured on the cover of the catalog, leading the way. Sold as lot #2141, it sold within the estimate of $10,000 – $15,000 to reach $14,950. Prairie vases are rare, beautiful and desirable. This example was fresh from a private home.

Fancy 29½" Moser vase, Julia's lot #1458

Moser glass has been selling well at auction for about a year. This sale was no exception, with strong prices, mostly above the high estimates. Lot #1458 brought the most money, though within the estimate of $20,000 – $30,000. Even with a professional restoration to the foot, it realized a price of $26,450.

For the complete results of the sale, you’ll have to sign in to the site. Click on the following link. Julia’s Important Lamp & Glass results.

Our next show won’t be until July 27-29, in Redondo Beach, CA, but we’re still very much in business. Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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Very fine, internally decorated Burgun & Schverer vase, just in

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 Louis Icart etchings. Just this past week, I added about 10 new items. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

A few good results at Bonham’s New York 20th Century Decorative Arts sale, June 12, 2012

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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.

Bonham’s New York held their 20th Century Decorative Arts sale on June 12, 2012, with fair results. There were a few good sales, but more than a few items went unsold. Sotheby’s and Christie’s held their 20th Century sales in the two days following Bonham’s, with considerably better results.

Tiffany Studios Lotus table lamp, Bonham's lot #4061

Top lot of the Bonham’s sale was #4061, a Tiffany Studios Lotus table lamp. Estimated to sell for $80,000 – $100,000, it squeaked by to sell near the low estimate, reaching $92,500, including buyer’s premium.

Art Deco bronze and ivory figure, Dourga, by Chiparus, Bonham's lot #4205

Second best lot of the sale was an Art Deco 24½” bronze and ivory statue by Demetre Chiparus, entitled Dourga. It soared past its pre-sale estimate of $25,000 – $35,000 to sell for $88,900. That continued the decade-long strength by important Art Deco bronze and ivory artists like Chiparus and Preiss.

Rare R. Lalique vase, Deux Anneaux Lizards, Bonham's lot #4195

René Lalique glass sold well, also showing continued strength. Top Lalique lot was #4195, a rare frosted glass two-handled vase, Deux Anneaux Lizards. It was sold privately after the auction for $20,000, against an aggressive estimate of $20,000 – $30,000.

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

Thursday I’ll cover James D. Julia’s Important Lamp and Glass auction that took place on June 21.

Our next show won’t be until July 27-29, in Redondo Beach, CA, but we’re still very much in business. Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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Very fine, internally decorated Burgun & Schverer vase, just in

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 Louis Icart etchings. Just this past week, I added about 10 new items. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com