Setting up at the Chicago Summer Antiques Show, August 15, 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.

Setup is just beginning in our booth. The transformation will be impressive.

Wednesday was the first day of setup at the Chicago Summer Antiques Show. It’s one of the easier shows for setting up and breaking down, as vehicles can be driven into the building, right to one’s booth. It really makes life easier. There are two full days for setting up, which takes the pressure off. By the time the show opens on Friday at noon, the booth and the show will be gorgeous.

Wonderful Tiffany Favrile millifiori vase to be exhibited in our booth for the first time

The show is small, but with good dealers, so there’s a very nice selection of items for sale. It’s worth a trip from anywhere in the greater Chicago area. Personally, I’ve brought a lot of fresh merchandise that I’m sure you’ll like, so please visit the show and take a look. Hopefully you’ll like what you see and go home with a treasure.

A view of a small part of the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show

The important Baltimore Summer Antiques Show will start a few days after the Chicago show on Thursday, August 23rd, at noon, and continue for four days, until Sunday, August 26th, at 6 PM. This show is one of the best of the year, second only to the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show at the Miami Beach Convention Center in January. It’s big, with some of the world’s best exhibitors, and worth a trip from anywhere. Buyers fly in from Europe, Japan, South America, Canada, and all over the United States. The selection of hotels and restaurants is diverse and first-class. If you’ve never visited the Baltimore show, I strongly recommend it. You’ll thank me.

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

The Chicago Summer Antiques Show begins this Friday, August 17, 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 view of the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center looking northeast, also showing Gibson’s Steakhouse

The summer antique show schedule is half over, with the stronger half about to come. The Chicago Summer Antiques Show will begin this Friday, August 17th, at noon, and continue until Sunday, August 19th, at 5 PM. It’s a show I look forward to for a few reasons. First is to see all of my many clients and friends in the greater Chicago area. Next is the convenience of a show in the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, very close to the airport. The convention center allows vehicles to drive into their booths, making setup and breakdown easier than many shows. The hotel is across the street and comfortable, with very good restaurants in walking distance. And last, but not least, is that business is usually very good in Chicago.

I will have a very fine selection of Martin Brothers stoneware at the shows

The show has gotten smaller over the years, but has managed to maintain a nice level of quality, with good exhibitors. Many of these same exhibitors will continue on to the big Baltimore show the following weekend, so this is a very good opportunity to get first crack at their offerings. Many antique shows are struggling, so it’s important to attend your favorite ones and consider making a purchase. The success and survival of your local antique show depends on your participation. That doesn’t mean your friend or neighbor, it means you! (AND your friend or neighbor) :>)

A fabulous, rare Schneider Art Deco vase with padded and wheel-carved poppies — one of several very fine examples

Personally, I will be bringing a very strong assortment of American and French glass and lamps. I’ve been very successful in making great purchases in the off-season of May to mid-July. Rarities in Daum, Gallé, Le Verre Francais, Schneider and Tiffany will be part of my display, as well as a strong selection of original Louis Icart etchings. I guarantee you’ll like what you see.

A view of a small part of the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show

Immediately following the Chicago show will be the important Baltimore Summer Antiques Show. It will start on Thursday, August 23rd, at noon and continue for four days until Sunday, August 26th, at 6 PM. This show is one of the best of the year, second only to the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show at the Miami Beach Convention Center in January. It’s big, with some of the world’s best exhibitors, and worth a trip from anywhere. Buyers fly in from Europe, Japan, South America, Canada, and all over the United States. The selection of hotels and restaurants is diverse and first-class. If you’ve never visited this show, I strongly recommend it. You’ll thank me.

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

Tiffany Studios Favrile red vase soars at Pook & Pook auction, June 28, 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.

Wonderful Tiffany Studios Favrile vase, Pook & Pook lot #696

Pook & Pook held their Decorative Arts Sale on June 28, 2012. Most of the glass in the sale was from the collection of Charlene Sussel of Garrett Park, Maryland. Included in her collection was a fabulous red and yellow decorated Tiffany Favrile vase. Though diminutive in size at 4″, it was not in rarity or quality. The very low estimate of $400 – $600 showed that it was there to be sold. There is nothing better than fresh-to-the-market, top quality merchandise at bargain basement estimates — it’s like mice to cheese. As a result, the price soared to $28,440 — not bad for a 4″ vase. I thought it was a $15,000 vase, so even I was surprised, but not shocked.

Opalescent R. Lalique Ceylan vase, Pook & Pook lot #513

Good R. Lalique vases continue to show strength, no matter the auction. Pook & Pook sold a nice opalescent Ceylan vase for close to retail value. It realized $4,740, against a pre-sale estimate of $2,000 – $3,000.

For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link. Pook & Pook Decorative Arts results.

Our next show won’t be until July 27-29, in Redondo Beach, CA, but we’re still very much in business. Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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Superb Galle water lily blownout vase, just in

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 10 new items. I’ve listed those and more will be coming this week. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

James D. Julia’s Important Lamp & Glass sale grosses $1.1 million, June 20-21, 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.

James D. Julia, Inc. held their Important Lamp & Glass sale on June 20-21, 2012. The results weren’t stellar, but not terrible either. A fair number of items did not reach reserve, but those items that did sell added up to the respectable figure of approximately $1.1 million.

Rare Tiffany Favrile black decorated vase, Julia's lot #2366

The top Tiffany Favrile glass lot of the sale was #2366, a 12″ black vase with busy blue decoration around the shoulder. Estimated to sell for $10,000 – $15,000, it more than doubled its low estimate to sell for $25,300, including buyer’s premium.

Rare Daum Nancy Prairie vase, Julia's lot #2141

French glass did OK at the sale, with a rare Daum Nancy Prairie vase, pictured on the cover of the catalog, leading the way. Sold as lot #2141, it sold within the estimate of $10,000 – $15,000 to reach $14,950. Prairie vases are rare, beautiful and desirable. This example was fresh from a private home.

Fancy 29½" Moser vase, Julia's lot #1458

Moser glass has been selling well at auction for about a year. This sale was no exception, with strong prices, mostly above the high estimates. Lot #1458 brought the most money, though within the estimate of $20,000 – $30,000. Even with a professional restoration to the foot, it realized a price of $26,450.

For the complete results of the sale, you’ll have to sign in to the site. Click on the following link. Julia’s Important Lamp & Glass results.

Our next show won’t be until July 27-29, in Redondo Beach, CA, but we’re still very much in business. Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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Very fine, internally decorated Burgun & Schverer vase, just in

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 this past week, I added about 10 new items. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

A few good results at Bonham’s New York 20th Century Decorative Arts sale, June 12, 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.

Bonham’s New York held their 20th Century Decorative Arts sale on June 12, 2012, with fair results. There were a few good sales, but more than a few items went unsold. Sotheby’s and Christie’s held their 20th Century sales in the two days following Bonham’s, with considerably better results.

Tiffany Studios Lotus table lamp, Bonham's lot #4061

Top lot of the Bonham’s sale was #4061, a Tiffany Studios Lotus table lamp. Estimated to sell for $80,000 – $100,000, it squeaked by to sell near the low estimate, reaching $92,500, including buyer’s premium.

Art Deco bronze and ivory figure, Dourga, by Chiparus, Bonham's lot #4205

Second best lot of the sale was an Art Deco 24½” bronze and ivory statue by Demetre Chiparus, entitled Dourga. It soared past its pre-sale estimate of $25,000 – $35,000 to sell for $88,900. That continued the decade-long strength by important Art Deco bronze and ivory artists like Chiparus and Preiss.

Rare R. Lalique vase, Deux Anneaux Lizards, Bonham's lot #4195

René Lalique glass sold well, also showing continued strength. Top Lalique lot was #4195, a rare frosted glass two-handled vase, Deux Anneaux Lizards. It was sold privately after the auction for $20,000, against an aggressive estimate of $20,000 – $30,000.

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

Thursday I’ll cover James D. Julia’s Important Lamp and Glass auction that took place on June 21.

Our next show won’t be until July 27-29, in Redondo Beach, CA, but we’re still very much in business. Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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Very fine, internally decorated Burgun & Schverer vase, just in

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 this past week, I added about 10 new items. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Noguchi table leads the way at Christie’s New York Important 20th Century Decorative Art & Design sale, June 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.

Important and unique marble table by Isamu Noguchi, Christie's lot #175

Christie’s New York held their Important 20th Century Decorative Art & Design sale on June 14, 2012. A unique marble table by Isamu Noguchi, lot #175, commissioned for the Chappaqua, NY home of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel C. Dretzin, 1948-49, led the sale with an impressive result. Estimated to sell for $800,000 – $1,200,000, it more than doubled its high estimate to sell for $2,882,500, including buyer’s premium.

Important R. Lalique cire perdue vase, Rondes D'Enfants, Christie's lot #153

Top lot of the glass section of the sale was #153, an R. Lalique cire perdue vase from 1930, entitled Ronde D’Enfants, #5/5 from a small edition of five. It sold within its estimate of $200,000 – $300,000, realizing $290,500. The Lalique market, in general, appears solid, with good results worldwide for better vases.

Rare Tiffany Studios Dragonfly lamp on blownout crab base, Christie's lot #111

A wonderful Tiffany Studios 20″ diameter Dragonfly table lamp, lot #111, with a rare blownout crab base, was the lamp leader, selling for $266,500, against a pre-sale estimate of $100,000 – $150,000.

Total sales were $8,821,337, roughly twice as much as Sotheby’s the day before, helped in no small part by the sale of the Noguchi table. For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link. Christie’s 20th Century sale results.

Just prior to the Important 20th Century Decorative Art & Design sale, Christie’s conducted a one-owner sale of seven Tiffany Studios lamps. Results were less than stellar, with four of the seven lamps selling, including a very fine Wisteria lamp for $602,500. For the results of this sale, click on the following link. Christie’s Henry Africa’s lamps results.

James D. Julia’s Important Lamp and Glass auction is happening today, Thursday, June 21, while Skinner’s 20th Century Design sale will happen this Saturday. After that we can expect a calmer July.

Our next show won’t be until July 27-29, in Redondo Beach, CA, but we’re still very much in business. Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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A killer Gallé fuchsia blownout vase, just in

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

Tiffany Studios lamps and glass sell well at Sotheby’s New York Important 20th Century Design sale, June 13, 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.

June is Decorative Arts month at the nation’s auction houses. Every major and many not-so-major auction house holds one in June. I’ll cover many of them in the next few weeks, each Monday and Thursday. Today, it’s Sotheby’s turn. They held their New York Important 20th Century Design sale on June 13, 2012.

Very pretty Tiffany Studios Pony (miniature) Wisteria lamp, Sotheby's lot #14

Tiffany Studios table lamps and glass were the sale’s top sellers, with only one lot, a 1960s aluminum chair by Gerrit Rietveld, selling for more. 100% of the Tiffany lamps sold, with many exceeding their high estimates.

Beautiful Tiffany Studios Favrile glass morning glory vase, Sotheby's lot #6

The top Tiffany Studios lot of the sale was #14, a Pony Wisteria lamp, which sold for $254,500, against a pre-sale estimate of $120,000 – $180,000. The top Tiffany Studios Favrile glass lot of the sale was #6, a beautiful paperweight vase with morning glory decoration. It sold for approximately double its low estimate, to reach $98,500. Total sales for the auction were $4,486,125, approximately half their December figures, as the December sales are usually larger and more important.

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

Still to come up are James D. Julia’s Important Lamp and Glass auction, this Wednesday and Thursday, as well as Skinner’s 20th Century Design sale this Saturday. After that we can expect a calmer July.

Our next show won’t be until July, but we’re still very much in business. Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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A killer Gallé fuchsia blownout vase, just in

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

Some interesting results at Humler & Nolan’s Rookwood XXII●Keramics 2012●Art Glass 2012 sale, June 2-3, 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.

Humler & Nolan held their Rookwood XXII●Keramics 2012●Art Glass 2012 sale on June 2-3, 2012. There were some diverse results in the the art glass section of the auction (which is the only part I will cover). Following are the two highlights.

Tiffany Studios mosaic scarab stamp box, Humler & Nolan lot #550A

Lot #550A was a very rare Tiffany Studios mosaic tile stamp box with jeweled scarabs on the lid. Estimated to sell for $8,000 – $10,000, it soared to $34,220 (including buyer’s premium), as it should have. What a great box! I don’t have enough adjectives to describe how fantastic this box was. I’m not sure I would have been the successful buyer, but I might have been if I hadn’t been on vacation. I would have given the successful buyer a run for his money.

Wonderful Gallé lilac vase, Humler & Nolan lot #587

Now for a Gallé vase that gets me ill. Not because there was anything wrong with it. Just the opposite. It was wonderful and sold for such a bargain that I’m speechless. Lot #587 was a gorgeous, huge (19″), colorful Gallé vase with vivid red lilacs on a yellow background. It was estimated to sell for $6,000 – $8,000 and sold for only $5,900 (including buyer’s premium). This was easily a $15,000 vase, so my vacation cost me thousands more in lost profits. Every once in a while, something wonderful falls through the cracks and this was one of those times.

For the complete results of the entire sale, click on the following link. Humler & Nolan results.

Our next show won’t be until July, but we’re still very much in business. This coming week I’m going to list some new French glass purchases that are breathtaking, so make sure you check my website daily. Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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A rare, fantastic Daum Nancy vase with penguin decoration

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

Clarke Auction Gallery sells rare Tiffany Studios chandelier for $102,000 on April 15th, 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.

Clarke Auction Gallery, of Larchmont, NY, held a diversified auction on April 15, 2012, with a number of high quality lots. The auction went well, with a rare Tiffany Studios chandelier leading the way.

Rare Tiffany Studios chandelier sold at Clarke's

The chandelier came from a local Garrison, NY home, where it had hung for 30 years. It was a fancy variation with a row of turtleback tiles at the top and six suspended tulip shades. By auction day, the stage was set for a good show. The chandelier was fresh to the market, high quality, fairly estimated, and well advertised. It should have sold well, and it did. After spirited bidding from the audience and the telephones, the chandelier easily exceeded its pre-sale estimate of $60,000 – $80,000 to sell for $102,000, including buyer’s premium. I wouldn’t be surprised if it sold to a dealer, because it’s worth $150,000+ to the right buyer.

Tiffany Studios 16-inch diameter Colonial table lamp

Also in the sale were several more Tiffany Studios items, including a 16″ diameter Tiffany Studios Colonial table lamp. It sold for $9,600, including buyer’s premium – a high wholesale price.

Large Camille Fauré vase

Also in the sale was a fine, large, Art Deco Camille Fauré enamel on copper vase from France. In keeping with the strength in the Fauré market the last few years, it sold for $5,760, including buyer’s premium — another high wholesale price.

For a review of the highlights of the sale, click on the following link and scroll down the page. Clarke Auction Gallery highlights.

Our next show won’t be until July, but we’ll still be very much in business (except for a two week well-deserved vacation). Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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A rare, fantastic Daum Nancy vase with penguin decoration

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 Chicago Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair, April 27-30, 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.

The Merchandise Mart show didn’t end until Monday, so this week’s blog was postponed until Tuesday so I could report final results. Consequently, there will be no Thursday post this week.

Tiffany 20-inch diameter Lily Pad table lamp, sold at the show

This was an interesting show. There were substantial differences between my expectations and the results. A few weeks ago at the NYC Pier Show there were lots of new people and real action that I thought would carry over to the Chicago Mart show. But it didn’t. New York seems to have recovered from the recession sooner than Chicago. There were fewer people attending than some past years and many dealers saw less business. Here are a few results.

Our booth

Personally, my show was superb — the best show I’ve had at the Mart. Sales were best in Tiffany lamps and glass, Daum Nancy French cameo glass, Icart etchings and illustrator paintings. American art pottery was slow, as well as some of the other usual suspects, like art glass shades. Most of my business came from my very loyal clients (thank you, thank you, thank you). I was gratified to see some interest and sales coming from new blood.

Lia's got a few minutes to knit during a slow period at the show

In asking around, I heard results from “poor” to “great”. What I did notice is that many of the dealers who did well are good business people. They know what to buy and how to sell. The merchandise doesn’t jump off the shelves into the client’s hands — it has to be sold. That doesn’t mean being unscrupulous, it just means convincing a client that they would be better off buying than not.

It's time to start packing up and go home

OK. Here’s some of the scuttlebutt. One silver dealer did very poorly — not sure if they even opened their books. Another silver dealer did fairly — they made their expenses and a little bit more. A major diversified dealer told me he covered his expenses (very high because of a huge booth) and earned a little because of a big jewelry sale. Another diversified dealer did very well — they have great items and know how to sell. A dealer in Russian items only did OK. A dealer in furniture and bronzes was contemplating not returning until he made a major sale on Monday. I’m happy to say he’s returning. I did hear of a few dealers who did poorly and will not be returning. A first time diverse dealer at the show who sells a lot of jewelry was one of the people who told me his results were “great”. You know he’s coming back.

Our next show won’t be until July, but we’ll still be very much in business (except for a two week well-deserved vacation). Don’t hesitate to call or write, and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell, or trade.

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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