Setting up at the Miami National Antiques Show

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Philip Chasen

Thursday setup at the Miami National Antiques Show

At this point, setup is finished and the show opens to the public today at noon. We’ve exhibited at this show for more than 25 years and have seen the show change over this time. Unfortunately most of the changes are for the worse. 25 years ago, the show was so crowded with attendees that the Fire Department closed the doors and would not permit additional people to enter until some people had left. Most show promoters today would give their right arms to get that kind of attendance. A complicated confluence of events has changed today’s show landscape. One important factor is the aging of dealers and buyers, without enough young people to replace them. Perhaps even more important is the profound effect of the Internet on the market (but that’s a whole other story for another day).

Today’s show is smaller. No longer is there a second floor. The first floor is 90% full, but that’s less than 95% from the previous year. The overall quality of the show is quite high, but again a bit less than in previous years. A few of the better dealers are gone, replaced with a few borderline dealers.

My booth is almost fully set up

Is it worth visiting the show? Absolutely. There are important dealers, with a huge variety of the finest quality antiques. Guaranteed you will find something you like at the show. Yours truly has brought incredible Tiffany Studios lamps and glass plus French cameo glass by Daum Nancy and Galle plus a huge selection of Louis Icart original etchings at ridiculously low prices. Come visit me at the show and get first crack at everything, before the big Miami Beach Convention Center Antiques Show next week. I’ll post the results of this show early next week.

The Miami National Antiques Show, January 15-17, 2010.

The first show of the winter season, the Miami National Antiques Show, begins tomorrow and ends on Sunday. It is being held at the Doubletree Expo Centre, Miami Merchandise Mart, near the airport.

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.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail.com or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

Shopping for antiques in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Posted on January 11, 2010 by Philip Chasen

Defensa Street, the main antiques street of San Telmo, Buenos Aires

We’ve been traveling to Argentina for over 35 years. In that time, we’ve watched the changes in the antiques market there. Early on, we were able to buy fairly well, especially French Art Deco glass by companies like Schneider, who made Le Verre Francais. There was a plethora of Le Verre Francais, as a result of the success of Argentina in the 1920s. Argentina was wealthy and influential and much of that wealth was directed to France for the purchase of the finest quality glass and furniture. Unfortunately (for buyers), times have changed. The world discovered Argentina and siphoned off the best items, so today there is a much more limited supply. With access to the Internet, Argentines are up-to-the-minute on prices all over the world. Even 35 years ago, dealers would show me catalogs from Sotheby’s and Christie’s to justify their prices, so even then they weren’t in a vacuum.

Argentina hasn’t suffered as badly as some of the countries of the world during this latest recession. Tourism is up, so foreign dollars are flowing in, and that seems to be a moderating influence. I saw tourists from many different corners of the globe, including Australia, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, and the US. Many people I spoke to said that business was fairly good. I’m quite pleased because Argentina went through a terrible crisis starting in 1999 that lasted for about three years. Many people lost their jobs, crime was up and civil unrest was high. During that time Argentina developed a bad reputation which scared off many tourists. Today there is no evidence whatsoever of the crisis. Buenos Aires is as safe as any other major world city.

But I digress — back to antiques shopping. The prices I was asked for the types of items I buy were so high, that they sounded like telephone numbers, rather than prices. The same stores are still in business from a few years ago, so they must be selling to someone, but I certainly don’t know who that might be. I wish I did. For instance, I sell original Louis Icart etchings starting at $850, in great condition, with a certificate of authenticity. The lowest price for the same etchings in Buenos Aires was $2,000, in relatively poor condition. A Gallé vase that should have been priced at $6,000 was priced at $14,000. To top things off, Argentine dealers price their antiques in US dollars, not just now, but always. That’s smart for them, but takes away the exchange rate advantage for foreigners.

Plaza Dorrego, in the center of San Telmo, Buenos Aires

I still suggest you visit the bohemian San Telmo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, which is the antiques center. There are many stores, with a wide array of items. It’s fun to search. I’m sure there are some good items available at fair prices, but you’ll have to be a determined shopper. For me, looking for important, mostly French items, it’s become a futile effort. Sometime during your visit, take a break for coffee or dessert with dulce de leche, in Plaza Dorrego, in the center of San Telmo.

The Miami National Antiques Show, January 15-17, 2010.

This week starts a busy antiques season with shows in Miami and Miami Beach. The first, the Miami National Antiques Show, will be held from January 15-17 at the Doubletree Expo Centre, Miami Merchandise Mart, near the airport. It’s a beautiful show with important dealers. It’s also your opportunity to get first crack at the great items they’ll be bringing, before they go on the following week to exhibit at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

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.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail.com or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

Generally poor results at Heritage’s first New York 20th Century Decorative Arts auction, December 10, 2009

Posted on December 15, 2009 by Philip Chasen

Heritage Auctions, the major Dallas, TX auction house, held their first auction of 20th Century Decorative Arts in New York on December 10, 2009. Results were generally poor in the lamp and glass sections of the auction, with many lots not reaching reserve. Heritage had hoped to break into the New York market and become a major player along with Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Bonham’s. It’s difficult to ascertain the exact reasons for the poor showing, but a few things are clear. First, they did not have a compelling group of items to sell. A fresh collection of important items at low estimates and reserves would have been a good way to kick start their New York presence. Unfortunately that was not the case. Secondly, they do not have a permanent exhibition space. They rented space from Tepper Galleries on the third floor of a building on East 25th St. — not an easy location to find. Third, they tried to enter the New York market in a difficult period in the economy. Heritage is a major auction firm primarily selling coins. They branched out into several antiques markets, some with excellent success, such as American Illustration Art. Perhaps they can crack the New York market, but they will have to upgrade their offerings and lower the estimates and reserves — a difficult task.

Tiffany Studios bamboo floor lamp, Heritage lot #74057

Tiffany lamps sold poorly, mostly because of too aggressive estimates and reserves. One of the major lamps of the sale was a Tiffany Studios Bamboo floor lamp. It was estimated at $200-300,000 and did not sell.

Tiffany Studios 22 inch Dragonfly table lamp, Heritage lot #74064

Another major lamp that did not sell was a Tiffany Studios 22″ Dragonfly table lamp on a rare reticulated base. It was available for sale after the auction for $179,250.

Daum Nancy wheat vase, Heritage lot #75144

French cameo glass also did not fare well. Many of the vases did not sell but a few did. Lot 75144 was a Daum acid-etched and enameled vase with wheat decoration. It carried a pre-sale estimate of $8-12,000 and sold for $9,560, including buyer’s premium.

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. Many are priced right for great holiday gift-giving. Who wouldn’t like to receive a genuine Tiffany desk set accessory as a Christmas or Chanukah gift? I’ll soon be starting a big sale on Icart etchings. 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.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail.com or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

Astounding price for a Galle vase at Christie’s New York 20th Century Decorative Arts auction

Posted on December 9, 2009 by Philip Chasen

The 20th Century decorative arts market gets very busy at this time of year with most of the major auctions houses scheduling their sales this week and next. Christie’s New York held their sale yesterday with some very interesting results. Today I’ll review the French cameo glass.

Gallé parrot vase, Christie's lot #188, December 8, 2009

The runaway record price of the French cameo portion of the sale was for a large Gallé vase decorated with parrots. The subject matter was rare and the vase was big (21¼”), but the workmanship was standard acid-etching and the colors were chartreuse and brown — tough colors to sell. It was estimated to sell for $30-50,000, which in my opinion was too high. I was bidding on the telephone and told the Christie’s representative that I thought the vase would not reach reserve and would fail to sell. Wrong!!! The old adage that it only takes two to make an auction was certainly true today. Two determined bidders fought for this vase all the way to $104,500, including buyer’s premium — an astonishing price. If I had owned it, I would have marked it $25,000 and would have had trouble selling it, but what do I know? I’ve only been selling French cameo glass for 35 years.

Daum dragonfly bottle, Christie's lot #189, December 8, 2009

A beautiful small Daum bottle with an applied dragonfly and wheel-carved stopper sold for $12,500, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $10-15,000. Another Daum vase, with wheel-carved stylized flowers, sold slightly below estimate at $7,000 + buyer’s premium ($8,750), while carrying a pre-sale estimate of $8-12,000. A Daum lamp with grape decoration and applied snails was estimated too aggressively at $60-80,000 and as a result failed to sell.

Muller magnolia vase, Christie's lot #186, December 8, 2009

A huge Muller vase, 14½” tall and bulbous, with magnolia flower decoration, exceeded the high estimate, selling for $13,750. It carried a fair pre-sale estimate of $6-9,000.

Tomorrow I’ll review the Tiffany lamps sold at the Christie’s sale. There were some fireworks, so you won’t want to miss this report.

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.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail.com or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

Some treasures I’ve owned, part V, Gallé blownout vases

Posted on December 1, 2009 by Philip Chasen

Gallé blownout elephant vase

Emile Gallé died in 1904, but the company he founded continued in business until the Great Depression. Production stopped during WWI, but then continued after the war. It was during that time that blownout vases were created. Sometimes they are referred to as mold-blown or soufflé, in France. The technique is first to create a mold and blow the glass into the mold. That creates the identical shape for successive examples, but not identical colors. The artist is still free to change the colors for each example. The colored layers are applied to the vase and then etched with acid. There are roughly 30 different models, from simple models with berries to exotic ones with elephants. What makes one better than another is the design, the color and the size.

Elephants are amongst the best Gallé blownout vases. The usual coloration is brown elephants on an opalescent or yellow background. There is also a rarer example with white elephants. Gallé elephant vases are large and impressive. The example above was a beauty.

Gallé blownout calla lily vase

The largest Gallé blownout vase is the calla lily. It’s huge, heavy, and spectacular. This particular example had great color with red lilies on a yellow-amber background. This model also exists with blue calla lilies and is exceptionally beautiful.

Gallé blownout clematis vase

Sometimes an additional layer of color (usually white) is added to give the flowers even more of a three-dimensional and realistic look. These examples are quite rare and usually gorgeous. The example below has a layer of white glass beneath the red and makes the clematis flowers appear dramatic.

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.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail.com or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

French cameo and Tiffany Studios Favrile glass do well at Julia’s Lamp & Glass auction, November 20, 2009

Posted on November 24, 2009 by Philip Chasen

Tiffany Studios flower form vase, Julia's lot #2091

Session 2 of James D. Julia’s Lamp & Glass auction was held on Friday, November 20. The session began with art glass shades, with rare and unusual examples holding up well, while common shades did not.

The Tiffany Studios section of the sale followed with glass and desk accessories performing well. Lot 2091 was a Tiffany Studios flowerform vase that carried a pre-sale estimate of $4-6,000 and sold for $11,500, including buyer’s premium. A mini red Tiffany Studios decorated vase, 3″ tall, estimated for $3-5,000, sold for $6,612.50, including buyer’s premium.

Tiffany Studios red mini vase, Julia's lot #2093

French cameo glass was next up on the auction block. First was an outstanding vase by Eugène Michel with padded and heavily wheel-carved poppy flowers. It was estimated at $15-20,000 and sold for $25,300, including buyer’s premium. The three other Michel vases in the sale also did well. An outstanding Gallé marquetry vase, lot #2235, was estimated at $20-30,000 and sold within the estimate for $24,150.

Eugène Michel padded & wheel-carved cameo glass vase, Julia's lot #2217

Bidding was spirited for several fine examples of Daum Nancy glass. A 5″ vase with blackbirds sold for $12,650, within the estimate of $10-15,000, while a bowl with handles and rare swan decoration sold to a New York dealer on the telephone for $10,925, including buyer’s premium, against a conservative estimate of $5,500-7,000.

Daum Nancy handled bowl with swan decoration, Julia's lot #2283

More than a dozen examples of pate-de-verre vases, boxes and pendants by Argy-Rousseau and A. Walter sold well, most within the estimates and a couple exceeding the estimates. A Walter luminaire of a fish was estimated to sell for $3,500-5,000. It sold for $10,350, including buyer’s premium.

A. Walter pate-de-verre luminaire, Julia's lot #2347

I will be adding many new and exciting items to my website in the next few days and weeks, many of them at very attractive prices. Please check my website often for the latest. chasenantiques.com.

I’d love to hear from you with 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.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail.com or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

Pate-de-verre French glass by A. Walter and Argy-Rousseau

Posted on November 18, 2009 by Philip Chasen

A. Walter pâte-de-verre tray with lizard

I buy and sell a lot of French cameo glass, mostly from the Art Nouveau period, 1890-1920, and the Art Deco period, 1920-1940. Some of the highest quality glass from these periods is not cameo glass, but rather pâte-de-verre (pronounced pot, as in pot of stew). It was formed in molds from colored glass powders and heated in kilns until the glass solidified, a process called vitrification. Upon removal from the molds, the items were cleaned with hydroflouric acid, washed, polished and finished for sale. Decorators such as Henri Bergé and Joseph-Gabriel Argy-Rousseau created the original models from which the molds were made. Multiple copies of the same model can be produced with a mold, so the differences that are seen are in the colors. Depending on the choice of colors or the firing temperature, each example of the same model will differ in color, but not design. Collectors value some colors more than others, so the price will vary for the same model. Muted colors tend to be less desirable and therefore lower in price.

Argy-Rousseau pâte-de-verre wolf vase

Argy-Rousseau’s production included vases, sculptures, boxes, and pendants, whereas Walter produced very few vases. Argy-Rousseau’s most desirable models include animals like wolves or lions, or women, like ballerinas.

A. Walter pâte-de-verre paperweight with snail

Almeric Walter produced his best work after the end of WWI into the 1920s. He is most famous for his 3-dimensional sculptures, especially with animals like lizards or insects like bees. He preferred to use opaque glass, whereas Argy-Rousseau used both translucent and opaque glass.

The start of the Depression in 1929 impacted the production of pâte-de-verre glass dramatically. Interest and production waned significantly in the 1930s. The glassware was mostly forgotten for decades and rediscovered later. By the 1970s, it had become highly collectible and has been ever since.

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.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail.com or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

Thank you, Chicago, once again

Posted on October 19, 2009 by Philip Chasen

Royal Vienna vase

I just finished my third show in the greater Chicago area in six weeks, with sincere reservations beforehand. After all, how many times can you exhibit in the same city within a reasonably short period of time? Well, the answer is THREE! The show went very well and I’m both surprised and pleased. What happened is that my clients who couldn’t attend the previous two shows found the time to attend this one. Sales were made to existing clients (thank you very much!) and also several new ones. That’s as good as it gets. I always value sales to my loyal clients, but it’s important to make sales to new ones too. When I have a show where I make very few, but good sales, I feel lucky. I don’t want to feel lucky. I want business to be good and when it’s spread across a larger base of clients, it means that business is good. Guess what? Business is good!

Tiffany Favrile candle lamp in rare kerosene version

There was interest across the board. Sales were made in Tiffany, Daum, Galle, Rookwood, Newcomb College, Marblehead, Royal Vienna, and bronze and ivory, to name a few. That’s the way it’s supposed to be! If the stock market is a leading indicator of the end of recession, let me add that the antiques business also seems to be a leading indicator. The economy is getting better and it’s starting to show. After a wonderful show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart a couple of weeks ago, it was very gratifying to see that it wasn’t a fluke.

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.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail.com or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

The changing antiques market

Posted on October 15, 2009 by Philip Chasen

I’ve been pondering the changing nature of the antiques business. After 35 years, I have the luxury of being able to stand back and look dispassionately at the changes.

One of the major changes I’ve noticed is that there are fewer collectors today. That hasn’t necessarily hurt the value of antiques, as many people are still decorating with antiques. I meet people at shows who have a spot for a lamp or a vase or a painting and then they’re finished. Previously I encountered many more people who were looking to accumulate collections.

Daum winter scenic bowl

A lady from Florida wanted only to collect Daum winter scenes. She would see me at a show and ask me if I had any new shapes. She would only buy from me if I had a vase in a shape she didn’t have. By the time she finished, she had collected 72 different Daum winter scenic vases and lamps. It was quite an impressive collection.

Sam Maloof furniture from a 2006 exhibit at the Oceanside Museum of Art

Another big change has to do with what is collectible today — and that’s constantly changing as time goes by. For example, most Victorian glass has gone down in value, as there are fewer collectors today. Just on the face of it, it seems that when certain antiques get “too old”, interest in them lessens. Maybe people want to collect items from their childhoods or their parent’s or grandparent’s childhoods. Older than that and the items are unfamiliar. Modernism has become more and more popular as the years go by. The collectors are mostly younger and the items they like are no older than from the ’50s, and much of it is much newer. For example, Sam Maloof furniture is highly collectible. Sam was making furniture until his death in May, 2009.

So what will happen as time passes? I wish I had the answer. I do know that whatever happens is not inevitable. Publicity can work wonders. After a traveling exhibition in the 1980s in Japan of the works of Louis Icart, interest in Japan soared. So how about a few important exhibitions for Tiffany or French cameo glass? I’d love to see some.

What’s your opinion? Please post comments.

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.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail.com or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

Thank you, Chicago

Posted on October 6, 2009 by Philip Chasen

My booth at the Chicago Merchandise Mart Show

We last exhibited at the Chicago Merchandise Mart in May. The spring show is considered the better of the two shows because it’s more established and gets better attendance. But for us the results were the reverse. We were disappointed in the spring and thankful for a very fine show this time around.

Tiffany 14 inch diameter Acorn floor lamp with drink tray, ashtray and magazine rack

I asked a handful of dealers about their results and as always, there was a diversity of opinion. One dealer who is not a specialist and sells fine items from many different categories had one of the best shows ever in Chicago. Another dealer specializing in majolica didn’t do well. Two mid-west dealers said their shows were ok, but not better. Then there’s me. I’d like to thank all of my clients who made purchases. My clients are very loyal and as a result, I’m sincerely appreciative.

Tiffany glass and lamps garnered the most interest this time, with Art Nouveau French cameo glass by Gallé and Daum Nancy a close second. This time there was less interest in Art Deco glass by Le Verre Francais, etchings by Louis Icart and pottery by Rookwood.

Now it’s time for a short break and then back to the greater Chicago area for the Arlington Park Racetrack Show, October 16-18, and then on to Denver the following week.

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.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

Philip Chasen Antiques

The blog for chasenantiques.com

Tag Archives: Authentic Galle

Setting up at the Miami National Antiques Show

Shopping for antiques in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Generally poor results at Heritage’s first New York 20th Century Decorative Arts auction, December 10, 2009

Astounding price for a Galle vase at Christie’s New York 20th Century Decorative Arts auction

Some treasures I’ve owned, part V, Gallé blownout vases

French cameo and Tiffany Studios Favrile glass do well at Julia’s Lamp & Glass auction, November 20, 2009

Pate-de-verre French glass by A. Walter and Argy-Rousseau

Thank you, Chicago, once again

The changing antiques market

Thank you, Chicago