Sotheby’s Masterworks by Tiffany Studios from the Geyer Family Collection auction was held on December 15, 2012

Let me begin with a retraction and an apology to Alan Michaan of Michaan Auctions. In my blog of December 6, 2012, I falsely accused him of making it appear that some items that were bid up to or beyond the low estimate sold, but actually did not. After further checking of my facts, it appears that the auction house did no such thing. As is normal practice, items were bid up to an amount just below the reserve. Those items that were bid beyond that, actually did sell. It was never my intention to malign Mr. Michaan or Michaan Auctions. My opinion was based on the belief that the auction house had committed some unethical practices that did not actually occur.
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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.

Sotheby’s New York held their 20th Century decorative arts auctions on December 15, 2012. They were separated into two catalogs and sales, one immediately following the other. The first was a private collection sold as Masterworks by Tiffany Studios from the Geyer Family Collection, which grossed $2,871,126. Immediately following, the various owner Important Tiffany sale was held (Thursday’s blog).

Splendid Tiffany Studios Peony table lamp, Sothebys lot #226

Splendid Tiffany Studios Peony table lamp, Sothebys lot #226

The top lot of the sale was #226, a gorgeous Tiffany Studios Peony table lamp, on a rare Turtleback and Mosaic base. The final price of $746,500, including buyer’s premium, would seem to indicate the lamp did very well, but it sold below the estimate of $800,000 – $1,200,000. Perhaps the estimate was a little too optimistic, but at least the reserve was realistic.

Most items in the sale sold within or above the pre-sale estimates, but a few good lots sold below. It was a rare buying opportunity for astute buyers. I think some people will be kicking themselves in the near future, when they look back at the results.

Tiffany Studios Lily Pad table lamp, Sotheby's lot #241

Tiffany Studios Lily Pad table lamp, Sotheby’s lot #241

Lot #241 was an attractive Tiffany Studios 20″ diameter Lily Pad table lamp with a desirable Twisted Vine base. It sold well above its pre-sale estimate of $100,000 – $150,000, realizing $218,500.

Ultra rare Tiffany Studios Pine Needle clock/barometer, Sotheby's lot #233

Ultra rare Tiffany Studios Pine Needle clock/barometer, Sotheby’s lot #233

Tiffany Studios desk set items were well represented in the sale. The rarest single item was a combination clock/barometer in the Pine Needle pattern. Estimated to sell for $7,000 – 9,000, it soared to a final price of $21,250, the most I can recall for any individual Tiffany Studios desk set item ever at auction — not a surprising result, considering its rarity.

For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link. Geyer Family Collection results.

I will be posting videos on YouTube of my lecture on French Cameo Glass to the Metropolitan Glass Club. I need some time to edit the videos. When they’re ready, I’ll put the link on my website and here in my blog.

Incredible Tiffany Favrile red decorated paperweight vase, just in

Incredible Tiffany Favrile red decorated paperweight vase, just in

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

Fine Gallé clematis blownout vase, recently acquired

Fine Gallé clematis blownout vase, recently acquired

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.

Mediocre results at Christie’s Magnificent Tiffany auction on December 14, 2012

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.

Christie’s New York held its Magnificent Tiffany auction on December 14, 2012, with total sales of $1,124,625. Most prices were unexceptional, so smart buyers had a rare opportunity to buy some nice items at good prices.

Tiffany Favrile reddish floriform vase, Christie's lot #10

Tiffany Favrile reddish floriform vase, Christie’s lot #10

The top lot of the sale was a rare, but boring, Tiffany Favrile reddish floriform vase. Sold as lot #10, it realized $134,500 — below the pre-sale low estimate, including buyer’s premium. The vase was not exciting, so the estimate of $120,000 – $180,000 seemed far too aggressive. The consignor was lucky to have sold the vase.

Tiffany Studios Rose table lamp, Christie's lot #3

Tiffany Studios Rose table lamp, Christie’s lot #3

Two Tiffany Studios lamps tied for second place, both selling for $86,500, against identical estimates of $70,000 – $90,000. One was lot #3, a very nice 25″ diameter Rose table lamp and the other was lot #8, a 20″ diameter Daffodil.

Tiffany Studios 18-light lily table lamp, Christie's lot #31

Tiffany Studios 18-light lily table lamp, Christie’s lot #31

A few bargains were had by sharp buyers, including a Tiffany Studios 18-light lily table lamp. 18-light lily lamps are much rarer than 7, 10 or 12-lily lamps and usually sell for $100K and up. This example sold for $56,250, against a pre-sale estimate of $45,000 – $55,000. Kudos to the buyer.

For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link. Christie’s Magnificent Tiffany results.

I will be posting videos on YouTube of my lecture on French Cameo Glass to the Metropolitan Glass Club. I need some time to edit the videos. When they’re ready, I’ll put the link on my website and here in my blog.

Incredible Tiffany Favrile red decorated paperweight vase, just in

Incredible Tiffany Favrile red decorated paperweight vase, just in

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

Fine Gallé clematis blownout vase, recently acquired

Fine Gallé clematis blownout vase, recently acquired

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.

Some good results at Bonham’s 20th Century Decorative Arts auction, December 11, 2012

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.

Every year all the major and many secondary auction houses hold a 20th century decorative arts auction in December. This year Bonham’s New York was the first of the majors. They held their 20th Century Decorative Arts auction on December 11, 2012. Christie’s was next (this Thursday’s blog) and Sotheby’s was last (next Monday’s blog). Bonham’s results were good, but not superlative.

Good Tiffany Studios 20-inch diameter Dogwood table lamp, Bonham's lot #2047

Good Tiffany Studios 20-inch diameter Dogwood table lamp, Bonham's lot #2047

Two Tiffany Studios lamps tied for top lot of the sale. #2047 was a nice 20″ diameter Dogwood. Estimated to sell for $80,000 – $120,000, it realized $104,500 — within the estimate.

Tiffany Studios Miniature Wisteria table lamp, Bonham's lot #2049

Tiffany Studios Miniature Wisteria table lamp, Bonham's lot #2049

Lot #2049 was a Tiffany Miniature (Pony) Wisteria lamp. It carried the same estimate as the Dogwood lamp and brought the same result.

Daum Nancy Blackbird and Frog vase, Bonham's lot #2072

Daum Nancy Blackbird and Frog vase, Bonham’s lot #2072

The top French cameo glass item of the sale was a rare 14¼” Daum Nancy blackbird and frog vase, lot #2072. It was bid well past the pre-sale estimate of $15,000 – $20,000 to a final price of $43,750, including the buyer’s premium. I thought it was ugly and wouldn’t have paid $5,000, but apparently two bidders disagreed with me. (They should have asked.)

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

I will be posting videos on YouTube of my lecture on French Cameo Glass to the Metropolitan Glass Club. I need some time to edit the videos. When they’re ready, I’ll put the link on my website and here in my blog.

Incredible Tiffany Favrile red decorated paperweight vase, just in

Incredible Tiffany Favrile red decorated paperweight vase, just in

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

Fine Gallé clematis blownout vase, recently acquired

Fine Gallé clematis blownout vase, recently acquired

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.

Solid results at James D. Julia, Inc. Lamp and Glass auction, November 28-29, 2012

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 its semi-annual Lamp and Glass auction on November 28-29, 2012. According to Dudley Browne, head of the Lamp and Glass division, it was the best sale he’s had in 10 years at Julia’s. Total sales were over $1.6 million, including the buyer’s premium. Two weeks prior to the sale, Dudley was concerned that the auction might not even reach $1 million in sales. Then Michaan’s had an awful Tiffany sale in California (don’t miss Thursday’s blog). Ultimately his fears were unjustified. Interest was solid across the board, even in categories that had been weak in recent sales. Part of the success was due to the re-emergence of many bidders who had been absent for several years. They probably helped increase the percentage of sold lots to a near all-time high for the division.

Tiffany Studios Venetian table lamp, Julia’s lot #1314

Top lot of the sale was #1314, a fine Tiffany Studios Venetian table lamp. Estimated to sell for $60,000 – $80,000, it realized $103,500, including buyer’s premium. In general, lamps were resurgent, from unsigned leaded to Pairpoint puffies to Tiffany Studios.

High-quality Galle marquetry vase, Julia lot #1200

The Gallé selection of glass was strong, anchored by several high quality marquetry examples. Lot #1200, a fine Gallé marquetry vase, sold for $25,875, above the high estimate of $20,000. The majority of Gallé vases sold within or above their pre-sale estimates.

Daum wheel-carved vase, Julia’s lot #1235

The top Daum lot of the sale was #1235, a beautifully wheel-carved example. This was the type of vase that used to sell very well to Japanese buyers, but not to American ones. On this day, the vase was well-received by Americans (an assumption on my part). It sold for $23,000, against an aggressive pre-sale estimate of $20,000 – $30,000.

For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link. Julia’s Lamp and Glass results. You will have to login (gratis) to see the prices.

I will be posting videos on YouTube of my lecture on French Cameo Glass to the Metropolitan Glass Club. I need some time to edit the videos. When they’re ready, I’ll put the link on my website and here in my blog.

Just purchased this unbelievable Gallé seagull vase — one of the best Gallé vases I’ve ever owned

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

Wonderful Schneider controlled bubble vase with wheel-carved Art Deco handles, recently acquired

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.

Some incredible prices at Rago’s 20th/21st Century Design Auction, October 26-27, 2012

Monday’s blog will be posted by 1 PM.

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.

First I’d like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! It’s a wonderful holiday, so enjoy it with your family and friends.

Superb Frederick Hurten Rhead peacock tile, Rago lot #542

David Rago held a 20th/21st Century Design Auction on October 26-27, 2012, with some results for the history books. Most incredible of all was a Frederick Hurten Rhead four-part tile panel, 20¾” sq., given as a personal gift to Levi Burgess of the Weller Pottery. Estimated to sell for $35,000 – $45,000, it soared to $637,500. A hit-the-jackpot price for the consignor and a record for ANY piece of American Arts and Crafts at auction, ever.

A superb Tiffany Favrile wheel-carved floriform vase, Rago lot #932

A wonderful Tiffany Studios Favrile glass, wheel-carved, floriform vase was the second best performer of the sale. Selling as lot #932, it realized a stunning final price of $100,000 — almost 20 times the low estimate, including buyer’s premium. What’s even more amazing is that the consignor, a dealer, bought the vase at a country auction two months ago for $75. Now there’s a story he’ll be able to tell his grandchildren!

Tiffany Favrile Milkweed pottery vase, Rago lot #538

The second-best Tiffany lot of the sale was a pottery vase with milkweed design, with a few minor flaws. Tiffany pottery vases are rarer than glass vases and those with organic designs tend to be the most desirable, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise when it more than tripled its low estimate, selling for $42,500, against a pre-sale estimate of $12,500 – $17,500. But as amazing as the Tiffany floriform vase, this vase was rescued from a New York State home about to be demolished. It was saved from the trash and free. Kudos to the consignor!

For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link. Rago 20th/21st Century Design results.

No more shows in 2012, so we’ll be spending the time buying treasures for the 2013 antiques season which begins with the Birchwood Manor Antiques Show in Whippany, New Jersey, January 5-6, 2013. (We might also find a little time for R&R.) After that we’ll be traveling south for the important Miami shows in late January and early February. In the meantime, we’re still in business, so keep the inquiries coming. Let me know what you’d like to buy, sell or trade. If you need a Christmas present, NOW is the time. I’ll be adding many new items to my website this week.

Just purchased this unbelievable Gallé seagull vase — one of the best Gallé vases I’ve ever owned

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

Wonderful Schneider controlled bubble vase with wheel-carved Art Deco handles, recently acquired

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 NYC Pier Antiques Show, November 17-18, 2012

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.

First a final update on Hurricane Sandy. We got power back 13 days after the storm hit and we got TV, Internet and land telephone back 18 days after the storm. Then we were introduced to irony. While everyone was dealing with no power, we had power from our generator. While some were dealing with flooding, we were dry. Three days ago the heat and hot water magically stopped working. I called the oil company for service, but they were so busy they couldn’t come until the next day. So we went one night without heat. The next day, the serviceman came to fix the problem. As soon as he left, a pipe from the hot water heater burst, causing a major flood in the basement. Servicemen (plural) returned a few hours later to fix the problem, but then we needed a “dryout” crew to clean and dry the basement (paid for by the oil company). So while everyone was dealing with heat, we had none. While everyone was dealing with a dry basement, we had a wet one. If that isn’t the definition of irony, I don’t know what is. The good news is that everything is returning to normal and normal feels great.

My booth

Back to business. The NYC Pier Antiques Show ended yesterday, November 18, 2012. In asking around, most dealers told me they only had fair shows, but there was a wide range of opinions. Two dealers told me they had the best shows ever at the Pier. Another told me he only made one sale, and that was to me, pre-show — not a single item sold to the public. Ugh! Another dealer described his show in one word — “terrible”. There’s always a normal distribution curve of dealer results, but this time it was skewed a little toward disappointing. Some sales were strong at the show, including Handel and Pairpoint lamps — a welcome change.

A wonderful Tiffany red Favrile vase, sold at the show

Personally, my show was moderately good, but less than the previous two shows. It could get better if sales develop later this week, as suggested by several clients. Sales and interest were best in French cameo glass (Daum and Le Verre Francais), Tiffany glass, a Pairpoint puffy lamp and a good painting.

Saturday afternoon at the show

Attendance was good on Saturday, and almost as good on Sunday, but sales and interest were better for me on Sunday. Brooke Shields, Justin Timberlake, and Joan Rivers visited the show. (I’m a sucker for celebrities. I think I inherited it from my mother.) The problem was they didn’t come to my booth and buy anything. What’s wrong with them?

No more shows in 2012, so we’ll be spending the time buying treasures for the 2013 antiques season which begins with the Birchwood Manor Antiques Show in Whippany, New Jersey, January 5-6, 2013. (We might also find a little time for R&R.) After that we’ll be traveling south for the important Miami shows in late January and early February. In the meantime, we’re still in business, so keep the inquiries coming. Let me know what you’d like to buy, sell or trade. If you need a Christmas present, NOW is the time. I’ll be adding many new items to my website this week.

Just purchased this unbelievable Gallé seagull vase — one of the best Gallé vases I’ve ever owned

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

Wonderful Schneider controlled bubble vase with wheel-carved Art Deco handles, recently acquired

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 Winnetka Antiques + Modernism Show, October 19-21, 2012

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.

A carving station served turkey and beef at the preview party

The Winnetka Antiques + Modernism Show began with a preview party on Thursday night, October 18, 2012. If you read my blog regularly, you know what a fan I am of preview parties (NOT!). True to form, this one was the same as most of the others — well-heeled guests, out for a social event, not interested in buying. The good part was there was unlimited delicious food and drink. Two drinks and I didn’t care!

A view of our booth

Saturday, 3:40 PM. I’m sitting in my booth, bored out of my mind, sitting on a cushion because my rear end is flatter than a pancake. Attendance is light today, partly because the Winnetka Community Church held a well-attended rummage sale on the corner, so parking was a big problem. Second is the fact that we’re in the gymnasium, which is up a few steps and hard to find. Third is there just aren’t enough people attending. I think I’ll go for a walk and let Lia watch the booth for a while. I’m going nuts!

This beautiful Tiffany Dragonfly lamp, which was purchased at the show, is shown in situ in the home.

OK, I took a deep breath. Now I’m feeling better. Thank you for asking. The show is going well because of the sale of a Tiffany Studios Dragonfly table lamp yesterday. Thank you to my new client. There have been very few sales up to this point, but it’s still been a success. I may have to rewrite my paragraph about preview parties. Apparently my clients saw the lamp at the preview party and came back yesterday to purchase it. I’m sorry, but you still cannot get me to like preview parties.

Sunday afternoon at our booth

Sunday, 4:25 PM. The show is just about over and I can declare it a success. Saturday was a tough day. Sat in the booth for 8 hours from 10 AM to 6 PM without making a sale. Attendance was light, so there wasn’t much activity to break up the day. Boring! Sunday was another story. Attendance was better, but not outstanding. The day was more interesting with old friends visiting, many questions asked and several sales made. Now if we only could have called in sick on Saturday, it would have been a roaring success!

This was our last Chicago-area show for 2012. We’ll be back for the spring edition of the Arlington Park Racetrack Antiques Show in April, 2013. In the meantime, we’ll be exhibiting at the Morristown Armory in New Jersey this coming Saturday and Sunday. Hope you can visit us. We’ll have our outstanding new purchases on display.

Just purchased this incredible 12″ Schneider padded and wheel-carved Medallion vase

Click this link to view some of the new objects I recently purchased. I listed over 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. Here’s the link. Philip Chasen Antiques.

The results of the Arlington Park Racetrack Antiques Show, October 12-14, 2012

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

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 Baltimore Summer Antiques Fair, August 23-26, 2012

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 pretty busy in my booth on Saturday afternoon

It’s 4:40 PM on Sunday afternoon as I write this, with about an hour to go until the 2012 edition of the Baltimore Summer Antiques Fair is over. We had a very fine and interesting show. We made many sales, almost all of them from the showcases. No art sold at all. Most of the sales were American and French art glass, as well as Tiffany Pine Needle and Grapevine items. We sold more items than last year, but the gross was down because no individual item was extremely valuable.

A beautiful Gallé dragonfly box, sold at the show

Attendance was solid throughout the show. You might think that the Friday of any four-day show would be slow, but it wasn’t. There were quite a few people in attendance. For us, business was almost the same each day, except for Sunday, when it was a bit slower. We were rarely bored, as there were many questions and fairly frequent sales, especially to new clients. It was very satisfying to get what we had hoped for.

The center aisle of the show had a moderate number of people on Saturday afternoon

In asking around, the results were mixed. I heard more than a few dealers complain that they had done poorly, while some said their shows were good and a few said they were satisfied. One dealer told me he had his best Baltimore show ever. I’m sure the majority of dealers were satisfied enough to renew their contracts for next year.

No shows in September, but we’ll be back for the Arlington Park Racetrack Show in October. In the meantime, we’ll travel and find great new items. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

I just purchased this fabulous A. Walter Art Deco pate-de-verre working clock

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