Tag Archives: Arlington Racetrack Antiques Show

Big goings-on at the greater Chicago antiques shows

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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.

I completed all my plans for three back-to-back greater Chicago area antique shows in April, which included non-refundable airline, hotel and car reservations. Serendipitously, I found out that the first show, the Arlington Park Racetrack Antiques Show, had been cancelled. I really don’t know what I would have done if I had shown up to Arlington Racetrack and found out there was no show. Mixed emotions — sorry the show was cancelled, but relieved I had enough time to change my plans.

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Next, I found out that the long-time director of the Chicago Merchandise Mart Antiques Show, Laurette Lutiger, left the Mart to work for another show promoter, the Palm Beach Show Group, promoters of the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show and the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show. I wish her the best of luck in her new job.

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So now our show schedule in Chicago begins with the Chicago Antiques & Garden Fair at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL. It will be our first time there. Hopefully the show will be good for us, so we can make it a regular show on our schedule. We have many clients in the greater Chicago area, so if a show fails, we need a replacement. We’re bringing an impressive group of items that will be shown for the first time in Chicago, including Tiffany lamps and glass and French cameo glass by Gallé and Daum. Please visit us at the show. It opens to the public on Friday, April 19th, at 10 AM, and continues until Sunday, April 21st, at 5 PM. Click here for more information about the show.

Wonderful Tiffany Favrile red Tel-El-Amarna vase

Wonderful Tiffany Favrile red Tel-El-Amarna vase

I recently listed over 15 new items, including several Tiffany lamps and vases, as well as two fine Grueby vases. Click here to view the Tiffany lamps for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

Fine Galle Plum blownout vase, recently purchased

Fine Galle Plum blownout vase, recently purchased

Click here to view French cameo glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

This superb Galle fuchsia blownout vase has great color and just arrived

This superb Galle fuchsia blownout vase has great color and just arrived

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 Arlington Park Racetrack Antiques Show, October 12-14, 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.

Sunday afternoon in front of my booth

The Arlington Park Racetrack Antiques show began this past Friday, October 12, 2012, and ended on Sunday, October 14, 2012. The show was small, with fewer than 50 dealers and the attendance was light. Regardless, most of the dealers I spoke to had good shows. Even though there weren’t many attendees, the ones that did come were serious.

It was really pouring at the show on Sunday afternoon

Sunday’s attendance was best, with a captive audience, as the rain was heavy in the middle of the day. There was even a local 45-minute tornado warning from 2:15 PM to 3:00 PM. My guess is that some people were discouraged from coming because of the severe weather.

One of the fine Daum Nancy vases sold at the show

On a personal note, my show was very good. Even though I only made a few sales, some were substantial. Almost all the sales were of French or English glass and very surprisingly, to new clients. I look forward to doing the show again, but I fear for the its continued existence. Each time the show gets smaller and fewer people attend. Unless the trend can be reversed, the show will fail and that will be a shame. I’ve got my fingers crossed that something will be done to keep the show alive.

Just purchased this fabulous Tiffany Studios 20″ Dragonfly table lamp

The Winnetka Antiques + Modernism Show starts this Friday, October 19, at 11 AM, and continues until Sunday, October 21, at 5 PM. We’re bringing all of our new purchases, which include some great Galle and Daum glass, as well as a fabulous Tiffany Studios Dragonfly lamp and a Tiffany Favrile red decorated vase. Please visit the show and see them in person.

Click this link to view some of the new objects. I listed about 25 new items in the last two weeks. French glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

I just purchased this rare, special Tiffany Studios red decorated Favrile vase

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.

Grogan and Company sells rare Tiffany Studios desk items, September 30, 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.

Grogan and Company held their September sale on September 30, 2012. Included in the sale were some very rare Tiffany Studios desk pieces that sold for well above their estimates.

Very rare Tiffany Studios enameled bookends, Grogan lot #320

Lot #320 included a very rare pair of enameled Tiffany Studios bookends, as well as an enameled Zodiac inkwell and a Ninth Century letter opener. Estimated to sell for $800 – $1,200, it sold for $2,242, including buyer’s premium. I was interested in buying the lot, but thought at the time it was too expensive for a dealer to buy. In retrospect, I wish I had bid more, as the bookends were so rare and beautiful, that I still could have made a profit.

Tiffany Studios green Art Deco desk set, Grogan lot #320A

The next lot, #320A, was a partial Tiffany Studios desk set in the green Art Deco pattern. (The Art Deco pattern also comes in red, blue, and cream color). This green set was desirable, especially because it included rare pieces, like a scale. It sold for $11,800 against a pre-sale estimate of $5,000 – $8,000. I was the underbidder, who in retrospect, should have bid more. But an auction doesn’t give you unlimited time to make up your mind.

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

Just purchased this fabulous Tiffany Studios 20″ Dragonfly table lamp

The Arlington Park Racetrack Show starts tomorrow, Friday, October 12 at 11 AM and continues until Sunday at 5 PM. We brought all of our new purchases, which include some great Galle and Daum glass, as well as a fabulous Tiffany Studios Dragonfly lamp. So please visit and consider making a purchase. The survival of the show depends on you!

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

I just purchased this fabulous Daum winter scenic rose bowl

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.

The results of the Arlington Park Racetrack Antiques Show, April 13-15, 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.

It was time to set up the show on Wednesday and Thursday

The Arlington Park Racetrack Antiques Show was held in Arlington Heights, IL, from April 13-15, 2012. Unfortunately, the show has gotten smaller and smaller over the years and has been in a vicious cycle. There were fewer dealers, so there were fewer people. Some dealers didn’t do well and won’t come back, and round and round it goes. It’s possible to reverse a vicious cycle, but it takes extraordinary effort and money. A show promoter has to commit to a show and pour money into promotion to attract new dealers and new attendees. It’s been done before. The problem is that the show promoter, Shawn Hastings, has been very ill for quite some time, so he wasn’t able to do what needed to be done. Hopefully, he’ll do something now and reverse the trend.

Saturday afternoon at my booth

Personally, my show went well. Thanks to a very loyal customer base in the greater Chicago area, the right clients showed up and made purchases. (You know who you are, so I’d like to send each of you a personal thank you.) There was interest in a variety of areas, including French cameo glass by Daum and Galle, Tiffany desk items, and American Art Pottery. Icarts, paintings, and lamps were slow at this show, but unpredictability is why I made a conscious decision many years ago to diversify. Everything that didn’t sell at this show may sell at the next.

Another aisle on Saturday afternoon

In asking around, a few dealers did okay and a few were complaining. I didn’t hear anyone rave about his/her show. Attendance was fairly light all weekend, with mostly tire-kickers coming on Sunday.

Our next show will be at the Merchandise Mart, in downtown Chicago, Friday-Sunday, April 27-30. It’s Chicago’s best show, and one of the best shows in the entire country. There will be great exhibitors, many of whom exhibit at very few shows a year. It’s worth a trip from anywhere.
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A wonderful Martin Brothers stoneware face jug

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. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

The Arlington Park Racetrack Antiques Show starts this Friday, April 13, 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.

The Arlington Park Racetrack Antiques Show starts this Friday, April 13, 2012, at 11 AM, and continues until Sunday, April 15, 2012, at 5 PM. It’s a small, but very nice show, with a diverse selection of quality dealers. We have many friends in the greater Chicago area so it’s a pleasure to return after not having exhibited there since last November. We’ve been doing Chicago shows for so many years that it feels like home.

A very fine Tiffany Studios 10-light lily table lamp (one of two)

I’ve been buying up a storm, so I’ll be bringing my new purchases, which include Tiffany lamps, glass and metalware, outstanding Daum Nancy and Gallé glass, a Le Verre Francais lizard vase, a nice selection of Martin Bros. stoneware, a wonderful Pairpoint puffy lamp, delightful American illustrator paintings, and a great selection of Icart etchings.

A rare and wonderful Daum Nancy egg with swan decoration

The French cameo glass market has been good, with rare items selling strongly at auction. Click on this link to read my blog about the 10″ Daum Nancy blackbird vase that was sold last month at Christie’s for $40,000. Christie’s results blog.

Wonderful Joe Hennesy oil on canvas cover illustration

I just bought a group of nine American illustrator paintings, one better than another. I’ll have them all at the show.

Have I given you enough reasons yet to visit the show? Make sure to stop by my booth and introduce yourself. I want to know what you’d like to buy, sell or trade.

Our next show will be at the Merchandise Mart, in downtown Chicago, Friday-Sunday, April 27-30. It’s Chicago’s best show, and one of the best shows in the entire country. There will be great exhibitors, many of whom exhibit at very few shows a year. It’s worth a trip from anywhere.
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One of the rarest and most beautiful of all Louis Icart etchings, Mardi Gras

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. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

The results of the Arlington Park Racetrack Antiques Show, October 14-16, 2011

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Recently I’ve had more time to write about the interesting things happening in the antiques world. When there’s no one in my booth at a show, I keep busy by writing blog posts. So for the next few weeks, I will 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.

Original Louis Icart etching, New Friends, sold at the show

The Arlington Park Racetrack Antiques Show opened on Friday, October 14th. Attendance was fairly slow, especially late in the day. Sales were practically nonexistent, except for one small one. Thank you, Marc.

Have I told you what torture it is to sit for 8 hours and not sell anything and not talk to many people? The days fly by when it’s busy and drag on when it’s slow.

A superb Daum swan tumbler, sold at the show

Saturday was a better day with sales and interest mostly in French cameo glass. Later in the day, it slowed down to a crawl. At least the show closed at 6 PM. Most people have better things to do than go to an antique show on Saturday evenings.

Attendance was better on Sunday, especially in the afternoon. Interest and sales were diverse. Overall, the show was fair. I didn’t lose money, but didn’t earn much either.

Galle vase, windowpane technique, with superb color

In the meantime, check the listings on my website, which I will update as often as I can. I’ll be photographing all my new Gallé and Daum purchases and listing them on my website. Recently I listed quite a few Tiffany, Handel and Pairpoint lamps and some very rare Louis Icart etchings including Melody Hour and Mardi Gras. There are also several fine Daum vases; a Daum lamp; several Galle vases; and several more Tiffany Favrile vases. Coming soon will be several wonderful European ceramic items by Clement Massier, Zsolnay and Amphora. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

The Arlington Racetrack Antiques Show opens this Friday, October 14, 2011

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I have less time to write about the interesting things happening in the antiques world since the fall shows started, so I am posting new blog entries once or twice a week — Mondays and Thursdays. 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.

Rare Galle box with 2 dragonflies

The Arlington Park Racetrack Antiques Show opens this Friday, October 14th at 11:00 AM and runs until 5:00 PM on Sunday, October 16th. The show is not as big as it once was, but that’s the case for most shows nowadays. The quality is still very good and worth a trip from anywhere in the Greater Chicago area.

Tiffany 14 inch diameter Dragonfly table lamp with great color

We went on a successful buying trip to France in early September, so we have some very fine French cameo glass by Daum and Gallé that is fresh to the market. Additionally, we were able to purchase a small collection of Tiffany lamps, so we’ll have some new ones that you haven’t seen before. Sales of Tiffany lamps have been strong in the last few weeks, so I’m glad to be able to offer some fresh ones.

The promoter of the show, Shawn Hastings, has been quite ill for a month now. His wife and staff will be running the show. Let’s all pray for a speedy and full recovery for him.

Very fine color on this beautiful and rare Galle blue floral vase

In the meantime, check the listings on my website, which I will update as often as I can. I’ll be photographing all my new Gallé and Daum purchases and listing them on my website. Recently I listed quite a few Tiffany, Handel and Pairpoint lamps and some very rare Louis Icart etchings including Melody Hour and Mardi Gras. There are also several fine Daum vases; a Daum lamp; several Galle vases; and several more Tiffany Favrile vases. Coming soon will be several wonderful European ceramic items by Clement Massier, Zsolnay and Amphora. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Results of the Arlington Park Racetrack Antiques Show, April 1-3, 2011

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Setup is just beginning on Wednesday, March 30, 2011

The Arlington Park Racetrack Antiques Show ended yesterday, April 3, 2011. Most of the dealers I spoke to were quite pleased with their results. One dealer who sells furniture sold quite a few pieces. Another who sells jewelry and diverse objects told me he sold a bracelet for $100,000. (I can’t verify that information, so my best guess is that he sold an expensive bracelet, but who knows the price.) I didn’t hear a single complaint from any dealer, except one, and it wasn’t really a complaint. He was just disappointed. The problem was that he’s too specialized and very few buyers showed up for his specialty.

A few of the lamps on display in my booth

Personally, the show went well for me, but with few sales. Based on the number of bona fide buyers who showed up, I should have had a really great show. Too many potential buyers were right on the fence and decided not to make a purchase. It could easily have gone the other way and then I would be raving about my great show. Oh well! I really would like to rave about my great show, but it wasn’t meant to be.

Some of the Daum Nancy glass on display in my booth.

Interest and sales was greatest in Tiffany lamps and glass. French glass was quiet at this show, but not otherwise. The French glass market, mainly Gallé and Daum Nancy glass, is quite active. Each show has a personality, depending on who shows up. This time the Tiffany buyers showed up.

It’s sad to see that the show is shrinking. There was the bare minimum number of dealers for a show. Unfortunately, if the show shrinks any more, there won’t be a show. I’m hoping that the dealers who did well will tell their friends to exhibit there the next time and the show will expand. There are so many good buyers in the area, it would be a serious shame if the show were to close. Are you dealers reading this? Call Shawn Hastings and sign up for the next Arlington Park Racetrack Antiques Show in October. (618) 444-2803. Unfortunately I won’t be at Arlington this coming October because it conflicts with the Fall edition of the Merchandise Mart Antiques Show in downtown Chicago. They’re the same weekend. Bummer! I would love to exhibit at one show and then do the other show the following week. I hope that Shawn can change his dates.

Merchandise Mart Antiques Show, April 29 - May 2, 2011

We’ll be back soon in the Chicago area for the Spring edition of the Merchandise Mart Antiques Show. It will start on Friday, April 29, 2011 and end on Monday, May 2, 2011. Before then we’ll be exhibiting at the Los Angeles Antiques Show at the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Air Center, April 14 to April 17. Then we’re going on a buying trip, so we should have some very fine new items for the Merchandise Mart Show, especially French Cameo Glass. Make the time to come and visit the show. It’s one of the best in the entire United States, so it’s worth a trip from anywhere.

Check out my new Tiffany, Daum, and Gallé acquisitions. I just listed a couple of important Tiffany vases, straight from a private home. I also listed about ten Daum and Gallé vases plus about 10 Tiffany Pine Needle and Grapevine desk pieces. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Results of the Arlington Park Antiques Show, October 15-17, 2010

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Arlington Park Racetrack

Some days you can do no wrong and others you can do no right. Unfortunately the latter was closer to the truth for this show. According to the promoter, Shawn Hastings, attendance was better at this show than the previous two. The problem for me was that the wrong people came. Many of my clients showed up at the show, but just to say hello and admire my items. It was frustrating getting the same response from so many of them.

R. Lalique frosted vase 'Monnaie du Pape'

The show was not a total disaster. Friday was a bust with absolutely no sales. For half of Saturday, there were no sales. I started to write my Monday blog in my head, beginning with the fact that this was the only show in the last ten years where I’d sold absolutely nothing. Luckily business picked up a little on Saturday and late Sunday, so I didn’t actually write it. I probably made my expenses and a ham sandwich. Not exactly a good show’s pay, but not terrible. There was interest in Rookwood and Marblehead pottery and Lalique glass.

This is the third show I’ve done in the greater Chicago area in the last seven weeks and that may be part of the problem. Possibly compounding the problem, I’m exhibiting at a fourth show in the greater Chicago area this coming week, in Winnetka, IL. Winnetka is a wealthy northern suburb of Chicago. I’ve got my fingers crossed that different people will attend the show, but whether they’re interested in what I’m selling is a question I can’t yet answer. I’ll let you know in a week if my experiment was a success or a failure.

Fantastic Japanese cloisonné vase with dragon decoration

I’ll be bringing at least 25-30 new items that I’ve just purchased, including a few you wouldn’t think of finding in my booth. How about a Satsuma bowl with underwater seashells and flora on the underside, or a really great cloisonné vase with a dragon?

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve listed them all on my website. Here’s the link chasenantiques.com.

Setting up at the Arlington Park Antiques Show, October 13, 2010

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Setting up at the Arlington Park Antiques Show, October 13, 2010

The Arlington Park Antiques Show started setting up today. It’s held twice yearly in the fall and spring. Although it’s not a large show, there are enough quality dealers to make it worthwhile visiting.

Unfortunately, there aren’t as many show dealers as there used to be. Many have become eBay dealers, retired, or died. The industry has suffered as not enough young people have entered the business. Young people don’t seem to be very interested in antiques. It’s a shame, but I imagine they will “discover” antiques as they age, their incomes increase and fashions change once again. But I digress.

Incredible cloisonné vase with a dragon

Besides my usual offerings of Tiffany, Handel and Pairpoint lamps and glass, French glass by Daum Nancy, Gallé, Muller, Argy-Rousseau, Le Verre Francais and Lalique, and Icart etchings and paintings, I will be bringing some items you don’t ordinarily expect to see in my booth. I purchased some very fine and unusual items in a private home. Included is a really fabulous cloisonné vase with a dragon; a great, large Satsuma bowl with underwater sculpture; two Vienna bronze items with birds; a fine English tea caddy and several other high quality, interesting objects. This is the first time I will exhibit them.

Vienna bronze and enameled wine glasses

Please make the time to visit the show. Introduce yourself and let me know if you are interested in buying, selling or trading.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve listed them all on my website. Here’s the link chasenantiques.com.