2016 Year in Review

Posted on January 9, 2017 by Philip Chasen

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.

2016 was a good year, with French cameo glass leading the action. That wasn’t an easy task as the antiques business has changed significantly over the last few years, with many antique shows failing and relocating. What was good were loyal clients. Thank you.

Burgun & Schverer made exceptionally beautiful, internally decorated French cameo vases. The market has been solid for their work. This vase was one of the very fine examples sold during the year.

This gorgeous B&S vase was sold in 2016

The market in Daum Nancy has been consistently strong for quite some time. 2016 was no different.

This killer Daum Nancy French Alpine scenic vase was sold in 2016

This special red Tel el Amarna vase was one of the fine Tiffany Favrile vases sold during the year.

Gorgeous red Tiffany Favrile Tel el Amarna vase

Here’s hoping that 2017 will be a good year. The stock market is experiencing a Trump rally, so hopefully that will put everyone in a buying mood.

The Hammerstein Ballroom at the Manhattan Center

Next week we’ll be exhibiting at our first show of the new year, the NYC Big Flea Antiques Market at the Manhattan Center, Historic Hammerstein Ballroom, 34th St. and 8th Ave. in New York City. We’ll be there Thursday – Saturday, January 19-21, 2017, with all of our new and exciting purchases. Then on to the all-important Miami shows at the beginning of February. If you can’t see us in New York City, don’t miss us in Miami.

I just listed this killer Daum Prairie pitcher for sale on my website

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.

Sotheby’s Paris held their Emile Gallé sale on November 22, 2016

Posted on December 29, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Sotheby’s Paris held their Emile Gallé sale on November 22, 2016, with total sales of €1,458,063 ($1,545,547) for the 51 lots offered, of which 9 lots failed to sell. Since the overall quality of the offerings was high, the average was a strong $36,798 for each of the 42 sold lots.

Gallé Coupe La Nature, Sotheby’s lot #128

A huge 17½” diameter, marquetry bowl entitled Coupe La Nature was the top lot of the sale. It sold close to its low estimate of €200,000, realizing €247,500 ($262,350), including buyer’s premium.

Gallé vase Parlant La Giroflée De Muraille, Sotheby’s lot #135

The second highest lot of the sale, #135, also brought just below its low estimate of €200,000, realizing €235,500 ($249,630), including buyer’s premium. The vase was technically very sophisticated, with internal decoration and an inscribed poem, but not very pretty. I believe both items would have done better had they been offered with less aggressive estimates.

Gallé vase, Les Ephémères, Sotheby’s lot #125

I loved lot #125, a gorgeous vase with wheel-carved and internally decorated butterflies, but it sold beyond my budget, realizing €60,000 ($63,600), including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of €30,000 — €50,000. If I had my way, this vase would have sold for more and others would have for less, but once again I wasn’t consulted. What is wrong with those people?

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

I just listed this killer Daum Prairie pitcher for sale on my website

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.

Our next show will be the NYC Big Flea, the weekend of January 21, at the Lexington Avenue Armory. After that we’ll be in Miami for the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show, February 3 – 5, 2017. This is the airport show, which will be new and improved, with many additional exhibitors. The changes are happening because the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show will no longer be in Miami Beach, instead changing its name to The Original Miami Antique Show and moving to a new location in southwest Miami. It will all make for an interesting winter season.

Exceptional results for two Emile Gallé lamps at Rago’s Mid-Mod sale, October 15, 2016

Posted on December 8, 2016 by Philip Chasen

I meant to write about this sale earlier, but life got in the way. So here goes. Rago Auctions held their Mid-Mod sale on October 15, 2016. Included in the sale was a small collection of Gallé lamps and vases. The two lamps sold very well, while the rest of the Gallé basically flopped.

Gallé floor lamp, Rago lot #532

Lot #532 was a Gallé floor lamp with allium floral decoration. Other than the rarity, I thought the glass was unexceptional, with only one technique (acid-etching) and uninspiring brown and green colors. On the other hand, the metalwork was fine and floor lamps are really rare. The bidders did not consult me and pushed the final price to $310,000, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $150,000 – $200,000. The air gets kinda thin at that altitude.

Gallé Allium table lamp, Rago lot #533

The next lot, #533, appeared to be a companion table lamp, which in my opinion was finer and more graceful than the floor lamp. It didn’t do as well, realizing $43,750, including buyer’s premium, against an estimate of $40,000 – $60,000.

Most of the other Gallé offered for sale did not sell, with a few exceptions. It was a mixed day for French glass at Rago’s.

I just bought this killer Martin Brother 11½-inch bird.

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, including a couple of fabulous Martin Brothers birds and a great face jug. Please check my site as often as you can.

No more shows in 2016. Our next show will be the NYC Big Flea, the weekend of January 21, at the Lexington Avenue Armory. After that we’ll be in Miami for the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show, February 3 – 5, 2017. This is the airport show, which will be new and improved, with many additional exhibitors. The changes are happening because the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show will no longer be in Miami Beach, instead changing its name to The Original Miami Antique Show and moving to a new location in southwest Miami. It will all make for an interesting winter season.

Tiffany Studios lamps lead the way in James D. Julia’s record $3.1 million Important Lamps, Glass & Fine Jewelry auction, November 18, 2016

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Philip Chasen

James D. Julia, Inc. held its Important Lamps, Glass & Fine Jewelry auction on November 18, 2016, with gross sales of $3.1 million, a record for the lamp & glass division. Much of the merchandise offered was fresh to the market from important collections in the Midwest, Florida and elsewhere.

Tiffany Studios 22″ diam. Drop Head Dragonfly table lamp, Julia lot #1259

Top lot of the sale and a record for any item ever sold by Julia’s lamp & glass division was #1259, a Tiffany Studios 22″ Drop Head Dragonfly table lamp. It more than tripled its low estimate of $120,000, realizing $515,475, including buyer’s premium.

Lot 1216, a Tiffany Studios 22-inch Peony table lamp on a rare mosaic base sold for $394,605

All of the top three Tiffany lamps were consigned from the same Florida collection and all of them were offered with very low estimates and reserves. This was the guidance given to the consignor by the division head, Mike Fredericks, and it certainly was good advice. Each of the three lamps vastly exceeded their estimates and each broke the previous record for any lot sold by the division. As I’ve stated many times before, there is nothing like high quality, fresh merchandise at low estimates. It’s raw meat for the hungry lions.

Gallé marquetry vase, Julia lot #1058

The French glass section of the sale included many fresh, high quality items, which overall did very well. Top lot of this section of the sale was #1058, a fine 17″ Gallé marquetry vase. It sold a little below its low estimate of $50,000, realizing $52,732.50, including buyer’s premium. In my opinion, it would have done better had it been consigned at a less aggressive estimate of $30,000 – $50,000.

Tiffany & Co. mixed metal chocolate pot, Julia lot #1409

The sale included some nice silver, including Tiffany & Co. mixed metal objects. They were met with enthusiasm, with lot #1409, a mixed metal chocolate pot more than tripling its low estimate of $10,000, realizing $40,290, including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, click here, but not immediately. The results are expected to be posted sometime on Monday or Tuesday. You will have to sign in (free) in order to see the prices.

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.

No more shows in 2016. Our next show will probably be the NYC Big Flea, the weekend of January 21, at the Lexington Avenue Armory. If not, we’ll be in Miami for the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show, February 3 – 5, 2017. This is the airport show, which will be new and improved, with many additional exhibitors. It’s all happening because the Miami Beach Antiques Show will not be at the beach, instead moving to a new location in southwest Miami. It will all make for an interesting winter season.

What’s new at Philip Chasen Antiques?

Posted on November 14, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Tiffany Favrile 7″ diameter shade

It’s been a while since I’ve listed new items on my website, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been busy. Just the opposite. Between buying and selling and traveling for business and pleasure, I’ve been too busy to update my listings. But that’s beginning to change. I’ve already started to list some of the great items of French and American glass I recently bought. The Tiffany Favrile glass all comes from the same important private collection that I’ve been buying from for the last few years. Following are just a few examples. Please check my website now and every day, as I continue to add new items. If you’re impatient, please email me, philchasen@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to discuss it with you.

Gorgeous red Tiffany Favrile Tel el Amarna vase

I bought several fine Tiffany Favrile vases from a NYC collection and a 7″ diameter Favrile glass shade and a 4-branch candelabrum from a Washington, DC collection. There are some really great examples here.

Daum pillow vase with Swan>/i> decoration

Daum pillow vase with Swan decoration

Just this past weekend I bought several very fine Daum Nancy vases, including a very rare Swan vase, a gorgeous scenic vase and a covered perfume. I’ll be listing them all as soon as possible, but right this minute only a few have been listed. I’ll be listing more this week. Please check my site as often as you can.

A. Walter pate-de-verre tray with beetle

Horta Auctioneers sold French cameo glass in Brussels, Belgium, October 17-18, 2016

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Horta Auctioneers, Brussels, Belgium, held an important sale, October 17-18, 2016. Included were quite a few lots of French cameo glass, including some very large examples, possibly from the same collection.

Monumental Gallé scenic vase, Horta lot #209

Top lot of the French cameo glass was #209, a huge 20″ tall scenic vase by Emile Gallé. Besides its enormous size, the decoration was very colorful and highly detailed. It sold below its aggressive pre-auction estimate of €25,000 – €30,000, realizing €24,000 ($26,125), including buyer’s premium. Sounds fair for such a huge vase. The problem for me personally would have been shipping, transporting and displaying such a gigantic vase at a show.

Monumental Daum Columbine vase, Horta lot #139

Lot #139 was another of the very large vases, this time by Daum, 21″ tall, with columbine decoration. It too sold below its estimate of €4,500 – €6,000, realizing €5,040 ($5,486), including buyer’s premium. (Remember the estimate does not include the buyer’s premium.) Personally I don’t have much luck selling very tall, narrow vases, so I tend to avoid them.

Monumental Le Verre Francais vase, Horta lot #145

Le Verre Francais made some very large vases, but 27½” is ridiculously large. The decoration on this example was nothing special, but the vase still sold within its pre-auction estimate of €4,500 – €6,000, realizing €6,000 ($6,531), including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

Our next show in Winnetka, Illinois, is just around the corner, November 4-6, 2016. This is our only fall show in the greater Chicago area (and probably our last show of the year). We always look forward to exhibiting there, especially to see all our friends and clients. Put it in your calendar. It’s a lovely show!

New Orleans Auction sold French cameo glass at its October 15-16, 2016 sale

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Philip Chasen

New Orleans Auction Galleries held an almost 1000-lot sale, October 15-16, 2016. Included in the sale were quite a few lots of French cameo glass, mostly low quality. I was interested in two of the lots, but unfortunately I missed the sale.

Gallé scenic vase, New Orleans lot #149

Lot #149 was a large, 14″, Gallé scenic vase with very good color and a rare shape. It was estimated to sell for $1,500 – $2,500 and realized $3,500, including buyer’s premium. That was a fair price, so I probably would have been the buyer.

Argy-Rousseau? moth paperweight, New Orleans lot #928

Lot #928 was possibly an Argy-Rousseau pâte-de-verre moth paperweight. It sold for very little money, $812.50, including buyer’s premium. The problem with this lot is that it may or may not have been authentic, as this particular paperweight has been reproduced. From the photo it was very difficult to ascertain its authenticity. My guess was 60/40 that it was a reproduction. In person I would have had no problem. So if I had bought it and determined it to be fake, returning it would have been a hassle. In retrospect, it was probably a good thing I didn’t buy it.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

French cameo glass shapes matter

Posted on October 10, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Most of the time a French cameo glass vase is more valuable when the subject matter is more desirable. For instance a Daum rain vase is considerably more valuable than a floral vase if the two are the same size and shape. But what if the same subject matter appears on different shapes? It can make a difference, sometimes a big difference.

Both Daum vases have wild orchids and spider web decoration

Let’s take a look at the same subject matter on different shapes. I think it’s obvious that the above left shape is ordinary, while the shape on the right is special and rare. I would estimate the vase on the right would be worth at least triple.

daum-swan-comparison How about these two? Any shape with a swan is good, as the decoration is rare and very desirable. But let’s just compare the shapes. The covered egg shape is very rare and beautiful, but not everyone loves it. I would say the egg would be more valuable, depending on the size of each.

Fine Galle vase with red fuchsia on a flattened triangular shape

Gallé wasn’t as adventurous with shapes as Daum. Most Gallé shapes are fairly ordinary, but some are very pleasant. I personally like the flattened triangle pictured above.

This Gallé Rio de Janeiro banjo vase was sold at Julia Auction

More than a few collectors like Gallé’s banjo shape so much, they have amassed collections with over 75 different examples. The Rio de Janeiro banjo vase is the one of the rarest.

Cute glass “food”

I hope to put together videos of the glassblowing demonstration we saw in Murano, Italy, for uploading to youtube soon. You’ll want to see it if the process of glassblowing interests you.

Our next show will be in Winnetka, Illinois, November 4-6, 2016. This is our only fall show in the greater Chicago area (and probably our last show of the year). We always look forward to exhibiting there, especially to see all our friends and clients. Put it in your calendar. It’s a lovely show!

Christie’s South Kensington sold some French cameo glass at their Interiors sale, September 14, 2016

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Christie’s South Kensington held their Interiors sale yesterday, September 14, 2016, with total sales of £764,688 ($1,009,329). Included in the sale were about twenty French cameo vases. I probably would have bought a few of them, but unfortunately I missed the sale.

Daum Nancy Rain scenic vase, Christie’s lot #201

Lot #201 was a nice Daum Nancy 8½” Rain scenic vase. It exceeded its pre-sale estimate of £3,000 – £5,000, realizing £6,875 ($9,151).

Daum Nancy Thistle vase, Christie’s lot #139

The top lot of the Daum Nancy selection of glass was #139, a huge 19¾” vase, with nice coloration and very fine martelé work in the background. I’ve had similar vases in the past, which were superior to this example, in my opinion. I didn’t like the carving on the foot as it looked too haphazard, like the carver was trying to eliminate flaws in the making. It was all original, but not to my taste. Regardless, it exceeded its high estimate of £6,000, realizing £7,500, ($9,982).

Gallé wheel-carved and intercalaire vase, Christie’s lot #138

Top lot of the Gallé glass was #138, a Hazelnut vase with internal decoration, called intercalaire. Brown is not usually a desirable color, but the high-quality workmanship, including wheel-carving, was attractive to bidders. It sold over its high estimate of £6,000, realizing £8,750 ($11,646). I didn’t like it, so I wasn’t going to bid, no matter what the price.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

Our next show will be in Winnetka, Illinois, November 4-6, 2016. This is our only fall show in the greater Chicago area. We always look forward to exhibiting there, especially to see all our friends and clients. Put it in your calendar. It’s a lovely show!

Part II of the new items from our European buying trip

Posted on August 8, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Here’s part II, highlighting some of the Daum Nancy goodies we bought on our European buying trip. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to make a purchase. Send an email to philip@chasenantiques.com. Everything will be for sale in Baltimore toward the end of the month (unless I sell something before).

A large Daum vase with this same Parrot Tulip decoration should be arriving today or tomorrow

This Daum Violets tumbler has strong color and an original seller's sticker from Majorelle on the underside

This Daum Violets tumbler has strong color and an original retail sticker from Majorelle on the underside

I had this item listed on my website using a file photo. Now we physically have it in stock.

This bulbous 4-inch tall Daum vase has strong color and beautiful detail

baltimore-8-2016 It’s already August and our next show, the eagerly anticipated Baltimore Summer Antiques Show, is coming very soon, August 25-28, 2016. It’s the best show of the summer and maybe now the best of the year (with all the changes coming this winter in Miami). People fly in from all over the world to attend, including from as far away as Japan. If you haven’t yet visited, you should. It’s big, with some of the best national and international dealers. You’ll also enjoy Baltimore. Hope to see you there!

In the meantime, we’re very much in business. Call or email me with your wants or items for sale. If you have what I’m looking for, I’m paying the highest prices. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email it to me.

I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. I will continue to list more as often as possible. Please click here to take a look.There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

Philip Chasen Antiques

The blog for chasenantiques.com

Tag Archives: Authentic Galle

2016 Year in Review

Sotheby’s Paris held their Emile Gallé sale on November 22, 2016

Exceptional results for two Emile Gallé lamps at Rago’s Mid-Mod sale, October 15, 2016

Tiffany Studios lamps lead the way in James D. Julia’s record $3.1 million Important Lamps, Glass & Fine Jewelry auction, November 18, 2016

What’s new at Philip Chasen Antiques?

Horta Auctioneers sold French cameo glass in Brussels, Belgium, October 17-18, 2016

New Orleans Auction sold French cameo glass at its October 15-16, 2016 sale

French cameo glass shapes matter

Christie’s South Kensington sold some French cameo glass at their Interiors sale, September 14, 2016

Part II of the new items from our European buying trip