The results of the 31st National Arts & Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC, February 16-18, 2018

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.


There were about 200 people on line at the opening on Friday

If you’ve never visited the National Arts & Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn, you don’t know what you’re missing. There just isn’t another show anywhere like it. Let’s see. The venue is the astonishingly beautiful, historic Grove Park Inn. The show is contained, so it’s its own thing, with a personality. Everyone, including the dealers and attendees, was smiling and in a good mood. It’s Arts & Crafts heaven, with a ballroom filled with antique dealers and hallways filled with the finest craftsmen of modern Arts & Crafts lighting, ceramics, rugs, bronze, textiles and anything you can think of. The show hours are short and sweet — 5 hours on Friday, 6 hours on Saturday and 5 hours on Sunday, ending at 4 PM. Clients have enough time to make up their minds and dealers leave refreshed instead of exhausted. Nobody doesn’t like this show. It’s our favorite of the year.

My booth on Friday

As opposed to the Original Miami Antiques Show last week, this show started with energy and enthusiasm. At 1:00 PM on Friday, the crowd rushed in and the action started right away. We were busy almost all the way to closing at 6 PM. Friday was a good day.

The aisles were crowded early on Saturday

Saturday was another story with a much slower pace. What a difference a day makes. We ended the day disappointed with one small sale.

We sold this wonderful Martin Brothers bird tobacco jar on Sunday

Sunday was slow until a flurry of activity mid-afternoon. We wound up making three good sales to make it our best-ever Grove Park show!

We look forward to next year’s show. Put it on your calendar and make sure you attend next year. I promise you you won’t regret it!


By the time you read this post we’ll be on our way home. Our next show is not until May 18-20, 2018, when we’ll exhibit at the 2nd edition of the resurrected Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. It’s a wonderful venue for a show that deserved to be restored from purgatory.

We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. 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.

The results of the National Arts & Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn, February 17-19, 2017

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 sold this beautiful Tiffany Favrile lamp at the show

The National Arts & Crafts Conference finished its three-day run yesterday at the Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC. In contrast to our shows in Miami, Tiffany Studios lamps, glass and desk set items sold best.

It was quite busy on Friday shortly after opening

Attendance and interest seemed better than last year, which was a good year. This show is unlike any other we do. True collectors and decorators fly in from all over the country to attend. Most are knowledgeable, courteous and friendly. It’s a real pleasure to exhibit at this show. We look forward to next year’s show.

I was busy on Sunday on a short day, from 11 AM to 4 PM, so I didn’t have a chance to record other dealer’s reactions. However in asking around most dealers were quite upbeat. I saw sale after sale. The UPS packer on the show floor was busy every minute of every day. It was very refreshing.

I recorded a short video of the show. Click here to view it.


After exhibiting at four shows in the last few weeks, we’re off on a brief vacation to view the Aurora Borealis. If we get lucky, we’ll see it and I’ll write a blog with photos. I will have complete access to my email, so don’t hesitate to write. I’ll answer as soon as I finish drinking my Cuba Libre.

Our next show is a new one for us, the Charleston Antique Show in Charleston, SC, March 17-19, 2017. I have no idea what to expect since I’ve never exhibited there, but I figure it’s worth a shot. I have low expectations and am hoping for a nice surprise.

I’ve been listing on my website many of the new items I’ve recently purchased and I’ll be listing more in the near future. Please check my site as often as you can.

Click here to check my website for the latest items and to look around. I will update it as often as time permits. We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. 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.

Strong results for Arts & Crafts at Sotheby’s Important 20th Century Design sale, December 16, 2010

Every major and not-so-major auction house holds its 20th Century Decorative Arts sale in December. It makes for a very busy month.

Sotheby’s held three decorative arts sales on December 16th. In my previous blog, I covered the superb results of the Important Tiffany sale. Today I’ll review the results of the Important 20th Century Design sale, which grossed $6,933,688, despite the failure of the cover lot to sell, a Greene & Greene desk and chair from the Pratt House of Ojai, CA.

The first section of the sale was devoted to Arts & Crafts furniture, ceramics and lighting. The strong results probably had most of the consignors smiling.

Rare Greene & Greene lantern, Sotheby's lot #30

The top lot of this section of the auction was a Greene & Greene lantern, one of six that had been removed from the Blacker House in Pasadena, CA. It sold toward the lower end of the estimate of $400,000-600,000, realizing $470,500, including buyer’s premium. It’s curious to note that the following lot, #31, another of the six Greene & Greene lanterns, failed to reach reserve and did not sell.

Rare 17 inch Teco Calla Lily vase, Sotheby's lot #23

Rare and impressive examples of Arts & Crafts ceramics all sold well, with one Teco vase doing exceptionally well. Lot #23 was a rare 17″ Teco Calla Lily vase, estimated to sell for $80,000-120,000. It soared to three times its pre-sale estimate, to sell for $314,500.

Rare Gustav Stickley book cabinet, Sotheby's lot #38

Gustav Stickley was well represented in the sale with furniture and metalware. A rare book cabinet, lot #38, sold for $194,500, against a pre-sale estimate of $80,000-120,000.

Other superb results from the sale were a cire perdue René Lalique statuette ($602,500), a cire perdue René Lalique vase ($494,500), a pair of armchairs by Emile Ruhlmann ($410,500) and a dining suite by Claude Lalanne ($386,500). For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link: Sotheby’s Important 20th Century Design results.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Tiffany, Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve recently listed many of them on my website, including Daum blackbirds, swans, rain, and more to come in the next few days, plus a killer red Tiffany Favrile vase. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Setting up at the Grove Park Inn Antiques Show

For several years, I’ve heard lots of good things about the Grove Park Inn Antiques Show, though I’ve never had the opportunity to visit nor exhibit there. I decided this was the year to try, and so far it’s looking like a very good decision. The show hasn’t even opened yet, but it’s very pleasant so far, with a good vibe.

That's me in front of one of the giant fireplaces

That’s me in front of one of the giant fireplaces

First is the Grove Park Inn itself. It’s a wonderful 1913 masterpiece of a hotel. Just being in the lobby with the gigantic boulder fireplaces surrounded by people warming themselves in rocking chairs is great fun. Add to that a glass of delicious Ravenswood Zinfandel Lodi 2007 and you’ve got a wonderful relaxing time. And of course, enjoying it with my honey makes it perfect.

The show promoter, Bruce Johnson, is very friendly. He made us feel welcome, as well as most of the other dealers, many of whom I already know. Setup went very well, except that North Carolina is having a cold wave. It was colder here than in New York. For most of the day, the roll up door was open and we had to set up in freezing conditions. What a relief when they finally closed the door and the room warmed up.

Some of the wonderful Arts & Crafts furniture at the show

Some of the wonderful Arts & Crafts furniture at the show

It’s a beautiful show with very high quality Arts & Crafts furniture, ceramics, and linens. The show is mixed, with the antiques dealers in the main ballroom and the quality reproduction dealers in the hallways. There are many lectures for attendees, so the whole weekend is a complete Arts & Crafts experience. From everything I can see, it’s Arts & Crafts heaven.

My booth, almost set up at Grove Park Inn

My booth, almost set up at Grove Park Inn

I’m not a perfect fit for this show, as many of my items are Art Nouveau, but I have enough Arts & Crafts items to satisfy many collectors. I’ve brought many Tiffany lamps and they’re perfect for Arts & Crafts homes. I also have a nice collection of Arts & Crafts ceramics, including Rookwood, Newcomb College, Grueby, Arequipa, Marblehead, and others.

Right now, I’ve got a good feeling that the show will go well. Read my post on Monday and I’ll let you know.

I’m taking a lot of time to add new items to my website. I’ve already listed new items under Gallé glass (including a blownout vase), Daum Nancy glass and Tiffany Studios glass. Soon I’ll be adding many Tiffany Studios desk pieces. Please take a look, as every day I’m adding more. Click on this link chasenantiques.com.

Please send me your suggestions or questions about art glass, lamps, Louis Icart, shows, auctions, etc. If it’s interesting, I’ll answer your question in a future blog entry.