Tag Archives: authentic Tiffany

Even Sotheby’s makes mistakes

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Rare Tiffany Studios Laburnum table lamp, Sotheby's lot 227

Sotheby’s New York will hold their sale of Important Tiffany today, December 16, 2010. There are only 33 lots in the sale — but most of them are important and high quality. The offerings range from original oil paintings by Louis Comfort Tiffany to glass to lamps, like a Laburnum, lot 227.

Reproduction Tiffany Studios vase, Sotheby's lot 202

You would think their experts would be able to spot a fake Tiffany vase when they saw one, but lot 202, sneaked past them and into their catalog. It’s listed as “A Superb Monumental Floriform Vase”, circa 1900, Favrile glass, engraved L.C. Tiffany-Favrile W2977, 16 5/8″ high. Provenance — Private Collection, Paris. $15,000-20,000. The only problem is that it’s not by Tiffany Studios, but a modern reproduction. Upon receipt of the catalog, I immediately doubted the authenticity of the vase, but waited to make a final judgment until I could see it in person. There was no doubt in person. The cup part of the vase was good quality, but the foot was all wrong. It’s a decoration Tiffany did not do. The signature was an obvious fake, of which, unfortunately, I don’t have a photo. I can only assume that the European consignor was an important client with other valuable objects, so the vase did not get the proper scrutiny it deserved. It’s rare for reproductions to get past their experts.

(P.S. – Thursday afternoon, December 16, 2010, 1:55 PM. I just found out that Sotheby’s withdrew the above lot, #202, before sale time. I don’t know if someone read my blog and informed them or if they found out another way, but luckily it was not put up for sale. It saved the potential buyer a lot of grief.)

Christie’s Tiffany results were excellent on December 15th, so I can only assume that Sotheby’s will be too. I’ll post blogs next week about the recent 20th Century sales in New York at the major auction houses. One item soared past estimates to sell for almost $1 million.

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

Solid results at Julia’s Lamp & Glass Auction, December 1-2, 2010

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James D. Julia, Inc. held their semi-annual Lamp & Glass auction on December 1 & 2, 2010, with excellent results. Dudley Browne, the head of the department, told me he was very pleased with total sales of $1.9 million, against expectations of $1.3 million. He attributed the improved results to several reasons — new collectors, old collectors getting involved again, and realistic estimates and reserves. The sell-through rate improved to 85% — a significant increase over the previous couple of years.

Tiffany Studios Peony border floor lamp, Julia's lot #2276

It was no surprise that the top lot of the sale was #2276, an estate-fresh Tiffany Studios Peony Border floor lamp with excellent color and in near mint condition. It was consigned by the children of the buyers who purchased it at an auction in the Midwest in the early 1960s. Estimated at $125,000-175,000, it sold for $172,500, including buyer’s premium.

Tiffany Studios Aquamarine vase, Julia's lot #2257

The top Tiffany Favrile glass lot of the sale was #2257, a rare aquamarine vase. Aquamarine vases are heavy as they’re nearly solid glass, with internal decoration, usually flowers or fish. This example was very nice, with yellow daffodils. The pre-sale estimate was $15,000-20,000 and sold for $34,500.

Rare Daum Nancy gourd vase, Julia's lot #2012

French glass sold well, with a unique Daum gourd vase with applied insect selling best. It’s final price was $19,550 against a pre-sale estimate of $10,000-15,000.

Painted lamps by both Handel and Pairpoint were weak. Prices appear to have regressed to levels not seen since the 1980s.

For the complete sale results, click on the following link. Julia Lamp & Glass results. You will need to register first (free).

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve listed them all on my website. I just listed another fifteen incredible Daum items, including swans, rain, and more in the last few days. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

R. Lalique red vase soars at Ron Rhoads auction, November 28, 2010

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Lalique vase, Hirondelles, Ron Rhoads lot #802

Ron Rhoads Auctioneer of Spring City, PA, held a Thanksgiving weekend auction on Saturday and Sunday, November 27-28, 2010. Much of the sale was the estate of Stanley Baker of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a noted author and collector of Railroadiana for seventy years. The second half of the sale, on Sunday, was mostly his wife’s collection and included some choice pieces of art glass, including a rare Lalique vase.

Lot 802 was listed as: Lalique Hirondelles Vase circa 1919
Rene Lalique Vase Hirondelles An amazingly rare approximately 24 centimeters tall red glass Lalique Vase signed LALIQUE in the mold condition listed as good, photo shows typical scattered air bubbles Lalique Vase with winged birds, deep red glass with etched flower, signed “Lalique” (embossed), “France” etched on base

Condition report
Good.

Estimate $5,000 – $10,000
Starting Bid $1000

The bidding started at $25,000, so immediately it was clear that the estimate was low. It went up in $5,000 increments, with action from four phones and five floor bidders. When it was finally over, the winner was present at the sale, and paid $115,000 + buyer’s premium of $17,250, for a total of $132,250. Everyone at the auction house was surprised, except for the bidders, who knew the rarity and value of the vase. The Hirondelles model is desirable in any color, but is rarest and most valuable in red, the holy grail.

Tiffany Studios Favrile vase, Ron Rhoads lot #839

Also in the sale were a couple of very nice Tiffany Favrile vases. Lot 839 was small at 3½” tall, but very nice quality and somewhat rare. It was estimated at $800-1,200 and sold for $3,737.50, including buyer’s premium. The bidding started at $500 and quickly jumped to $3,000, with a bidder on the Internet, and ended at $3,250.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve listed them all on my website. I just listed another fifteen incredible Daum items, including swans, rain, and more in the last few days. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com Then check out the huge sale I’m having on Icart etchings. For the complete listing, click this link. Available Icart etchings.

The results of the NYC Pier Antiques Show, November 13-14, 2010

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The lines outside of the show at 9:45 AM on Saturday morning

Stella Show Management held their semi-annual NYC Pier Antiques Show this past weekend, November 13-14, 2010. Attendance was excellent on Saturday and very good on Sunday. The weather was probably a factor, as it was uncharacteristically mild for a mid-November weekend. The two-pronged line extended far out of the door 15 minutes before opening at 10 AM on Saturday.

My booth on Saturday afternoon

Personally, my show was good, with interest and sales in many categories, including Tiffany glass and desk pieces, French cameo glass, Vienna bronzes and Icart etchings. In asking around, I heard results from good to fair. No one was effusive and no one was glum. Most dealers were satisfied.

Sold Daum Nancy solifleur vase with wild orchids and spider webs

In my last blog, I tried to convey some of the atmosphere of the show. In talking to another show promoter during the show, she referred to the Pier Show as “raw”. It made me look at the show through a stranger’s eyes. What I saw is a show that is not polished, with more functional displays than elaborate ones. That’s part of what makes the show interesting — it’s a very “New York” happening. Can I say “funky” anymore or is that passé?

The hours are long, from 10 AM – 6 PM, both Saturday and Sunday. It makes a lot of sense on Saturday, when there are lots of people all day, but it makes NO sense on Sunday. The hours should be 12 – 5 PM, but I can understand longer hours. At the very least, the hours should be shortened one hour on Sunday, from 11 AM – 6 PM. I spoke personally to Irene Stella about the change, but she indicated to me that the dealers needed the extra hour to park in the street and pay their bills. Excuse me??? I need an extra hour’s sleep and rest and not help with parking or paying my bills. To those other dealers who read my blog, please let Irene know you agree with me. From 10 – 11 AM, I did not answer a single question from even one person, nor did I open a single cabinet. The show didn’t even start to fill up until about 11:30 AM. Irene, please change the hours. OK, enough of my bitching.

Stella Show Management continues to put together high quality full shows in a world where many shows are shrinking dramatically. Their publicity is good, so they maintain consistently strong attendance. I wish them continued success.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve listed them all on my website. I’ve listed another twenty items in the last few days, including Tiffany, Quezal, Steuben, Van Briggle, Fulper, George Ohr, Daum and Gallé. Here’s the link chasenantiques.com

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Tiffany Studios auction action in Connecticut, Saturday, October 30, 2010

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Tiffany Studios turtleback inkwell, Nadeau's lot #150

Nadeau’s Auction Gallery of Windsor, Connecticut, sold a killer Tiffany Studios inkwell on Saturday, October, 30, 2010. Their auction description was as follows:

Description: Tiffany Studios RARE ‘TURTLEBACK TILE’ AND BRONZE TRIPLE INKWELL, with two gold iridescent liners, three metal inserts, stamped TIFFANY STUDIOS NEW YORK, 1071

Dimensions: ht. 4 1/4in., dia. 6 1/4in.

Estimate: $15,000 – $25,000

Starting Bid: $7,500

In their written description, they left out the fact that the inkwell rotates — a rare feature, however they did mention it just before selling the object. The bidding started at $15,000 and continued in $1,000 increments until the final price of $30,000 ($37,500 with the buyer’s premium). In my opinion, the price was a bargain if the buyer was a collector and a bit high if the buyer was a dealer. I had guessed the final price would be closer to $50,000, considering the beauty, rarity, and desirability of this very fine inkwell.

Tiffany Studios Tyler Scroll table lamp, Gaudreau's Auction Company

On the same day, Gaudreau’s Auction Company of Killingly, Connecticut, sold a Tiffany Studios Tyler Scroll table lamp, in as-found condition. The lamp had an original kerosene burner and a very dirty shade. It had never been electrified. The unreserved lamp was sold at the high end of the $10,000 – $20,000 pre-sale “guesstimate” for $20,000 ($22,000 with the buyer’s premium) — a very fair price for the lucky buyer, followed by loud applause from the audience. The lamp was not pictured in any advertisement, only described. One had to visit the auction site to see photos of it.

I don’t think any sweeping conclusions can be drawn from these two results, except to say that if you had enough spare change and the knowledge of when and where they were selling, you could have bought two winners.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve listed them all on my website. I’ve listed another ten items in the last couple of days, including art pottery. Here’s the link chasenantiques.com

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Setting up at the Winnetka Antiques + Modernism Show, October 20, 2010

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Truly fantastic Ernst Wahliss Amphora ceramic with three witches on a broom

Previously the Winnetka Antiques Show and the Winnetka Modernism Show were each held once a year. The two shows have now been combined and the new combined show will be held once a year in October. This is my first time at the show. The building is not your typical exhibition space, as found at most convention centers. It has many rooms, so attendees have to search in each of the rooms, lobby and upstairs to find all the exhibitors. Our space is different from any other show as the room was divided in an unusual way to accommodate three exhibitors. It was tricky, but we made it work.

My booth on the first day of setup

I’m bringing some items to this show that have never been exhibited before, including an unbelievable Ernst Wahliss sculpture of three witches on a broom. I’ve owned lots of Austrian ceramics before but have never seen anything as great as this. Also for the first time, I’ll have a super Tiffany Favrile blue miniature vase with millifiori decoration and a fine Van Briggle 1907 blue vase. I also brought another 25-30 items that I recently purchased, including a Satsuma bowl with underwater seashells and flora on the underside and a really great cloisonné vase with a dragon.

One of the high-quality booths at the show

The show is very diverse with top-notch exhibitors. There’s furniture, art, jewelry, glass, ceramics and most anything you can think of. The overall quality is higher than most shows, so it’s definitely worth a visit.

I’ll do my best to post the results on Monday morning, but no guarantees.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve listed them all on my website. Here’s the link chasenantiques.com.

Excellent results at Rago’s early 20th Century/Arts & Crafts auction, October 1, 2010, including a few lottery winners

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The results at Rago Auctions on October 1, 2010, showed just how much the public appreciated the assembled variety of pottery, glass, lamps and furniture. Many of the items were high quality and fresh to the market — a combination that’s hard to beat. Talk of recession is finished. Now buyers have to compete strongly for the best merchandise.

Rare Marblehead decorated vase by Arthur Hennessey, Rago lot #131, October 1, 2010

The top lot of the sale was a rare 7″ Marblehead vase, decorated by Arthur Hennessey. Even with a 1½” hairline crack (usually the kiss of death), the vase soared to $134,200, against a pre-sale estimate of $25,000-35,000. Bidding was fierce as this was only one of four known to exist.

Martin Brothers bird tobacco jar, Rago lot #209, October 1, 2010

The Martin Brothers of London and Southall were nicely represented with nine lots, six of which were the very desirable bird tobacco jars. Four of these birds were among the top ten lots of the sale. Lot 209 was estimated to sell for $17,500-22,500. It doubled its estimate to sell for $39,040. Again damage didn’t seem to be much of an issue. The public was looking for excellent examples and they weren’t going to be deterred by a few chips or hairline cracks. Ceramics buyers are much more tolerant of condition issues than glass buyers.

Tiffany Studios pottery bowl, Rago lot #463, October 1, 2010

There were more than a couple of lottery winners at this auction. Lot #463 was a rare Tiffany Studios pottery bowl with fern decoration, the only example known. It was recently purchased at an estate auction in Pennsylvania for $115. It sold for $25,620, against a pre-sale estimate of $15,000-20,000. Not a bad day’s pay.

I emailed David for his impressions of the sale. Here is his reply.

“We were surprised by how strong the Tiffany and Lalique performed in the sale. I knew the material well enough to understand it was unusual, but not nearly enough to think it could take off. The first Tiffany glass lot, the early blue vase (lot #473, $23,180), both the consignor and I thought wasn’t even Tiffany. That collection of glass (and including the large jeweled desk set) did more than double what we told the consignor to expect. The Tiffany pottery fern bowl was recently purchased by the consignor at a local auction for $115 and I knew it would do well, but the $25k was above our expectations. And the Tiffany sketch book, from his trip up the Nile in 1908, passed but sold after the sale. That was a surprise because there were like 28 sketches in the book which, individually, had to be worth $1500 – 2k each on the average and the reserve was $35k. And I’m thinking that the book, as a whole, is worth more than the sum of its parts.

I’m still not sure about the Lalique and why the prices, especially for the jewelry, were so high. There must be a new buyer or three out there focusing on that niche and driving the prices. In any case, we had most of them in for $1000 – 1500 and many brought from about $4k to 11k including premium. The only sour note was again the non sales of tired dealer merchandise (lamps mostly) that were taken in at fair prices but didn’t sell for the same reasons the dealers who consigned them couldn’t sell them. Estate lamps, like our daffodil? It’s like buyers have a sixth sense for what’s new to the market and there to be sold (that brought 40k…) on top of that, we ended up having to pull the Tiffany parasol lamp because the base was doctored. We had a buyer in Europe who left a covering bid and a serious buyer on the phone from the east coast, so it was more than sold. But we have no interest in getting behind a piece with problems. The auction as a whole was over 80% sold for the weekend and hammered in estimate range, totaling (with bp) over 5.5 mil.”

Cowan Jazz bowl, Rago lot #869, October 2, 2010

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention another wonderful story from the next day’s auction. A picker had found a Cowan Jazz bowl and brought it to a Rago Monday appraisal day. It had been used as a planter, so it was very dirty, with mineral deposits to the interior glaze at the bottom and two hairline cracks to the rim. The picker wanted a $5,000 reserve. He was advised to permit Rago Auctions to clean and professionally restore the bowl. The bowl was presented at auction with all the details of the restoration. It carried a pre-sale estimate of $20,000-30,000 and sold for $158,600 — a fantastic price, but below the more than $200,000 for another example that previously sold in perfect condition. According to David, the result will make an important impact on the quality of the consignor’s life.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve listed them all on my website. Here’s the link chasenantiques.com.

Results of the Chicago Merchandise Mart Fall Antiques Show, October 1-4, 2010

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My booth on Sunday afternoon

The Chicago Merchandise Mart Fall Antiques Show finished yesterday. Most of the dealers I spoke to were pleased with their results, but for the most part, they were below the results of a year ago. Attendance was good at the show, but selling was not quite as strong as before. No one I spoke to was ebullient, most were satisfied, and one dealer was quite unhappy.

A fantastic Daum Nancy ewer with poppies

Personally, I was pleased with my show, but my results were also below a year ago. Interest was best in Tiffany lamps and frames, Daum Nancy glass, and Icart etchings. I am always thankful to my loyal clients who buy from me repeatedly, and very gratified for the new clients I made at the show. This was a good show, not a lucky one, as I sold items to more than a few clients.

A rare Tiffany Linenfold floor lamp with hoof feet

The Merchandise Mart shows are amongst my favorites of the year. Setup and packup are always pleasant and efficient. All of the staff at the Mart, from the porters to the office, bend over backwards to be helpful. Downtown Chicago is great. Now if I can only convince them to get rid of the preview party, I’ll really be happy. Four hours of torture for me that always puts me in a bad mood.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve listed them all on my website. Here’s the link chasenantiques.com.

A stunning result for a Tiffany Studios loving cup at Leland Little Auctions, September 18, 2010

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Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, of Hillsborough, NC, held their September auction on the 18th. Included in the sale were three Tiffany objects, of which two were from the estate of James & Lois Bower of Bement, Illinois. Lot #438 was described as “Tiffany & Co. Favrile Glass Three Handled Vase early 20th century, the organic baluster form with three applied handles, with rich gold overlaid on a bluish-purple body, with paper label and etched “5685 C” and “Favrile.” 6 7/8 in. Purchased from Tiffany’s in New York and thence by descent in the family.” What Leland Little Auctions did not know was that the loving cup was a very desirable example of Tiffany Lava glass. Tiffany Lava glass is quite rare and highly sought after by collectors. Even the best collections have very few examples. The loving cup carried a pre-sale estimate of $1,000-2,000 and soared to an incredible $62,100, including buyer’s premium. Well, not that incredible, because Lava glass commands a premium price and this was a superb example, fresh to the market. As Leland Little Auctions did not know the true value of this item, they did not properly advertise it. That didn’t stop the cognoscenti from finding it. It may even have helped. Everyone thought they were in the game, so the vase had lots of action.

Tiffany Favrile Lava loving cup, Leland Little lot #438, September 18, 2010

The second item from the Bower estate, lot #439, was very nice, but not important. Additionally it had an original flaw on the interior of the vase that looked like a crack, but was not. It sold for $7,475, against a pre-sale estimate of $1,000-2,000. Still an excellent result, but not dramatic.

Tiffany blue Favrile decorated vase, Leland Little lot #439, September 18, 2010

The final Tiffany lot of the sale was #440. It was another example of Tiffany Lava glass, correctly catalogued by Leland Little Auctions. The shape was not nearly as nice as the loving cup, and it was in flawed condition with an internal 2½” crack. This cup was not from the Bower estate, which made for a very rare event. Two of the three Tiffany items offered for sale at that auction were Lava glass. What were the odds? This item did not fare as well. It carried a pre-sale estimate of $2,000-4,000, and sold for $2,300, at the low end of the estimate.

Tiffany Favrile Lava cup, Leland Little lot #440, September 18, 2010

That leads me back to my theme of auction estimating, which I have repeated on numerous occasions. If the auction estimates are low, even extraordinarily low, the results will be best. It tells the bidding public that the items basically have no reserve and are there to be sold. The items will garner exceptional attention and active bidding, usually with very fine results.

I just came back from a successful buying trip. Over the next week, I will be adding to my website recently acquired Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique vases. Please take a look. Click on this link chasenantiques.com.

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

Results from the Redondo Beach Antiques Show, July 23-25, 2010

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Tiffany Studios 12-light lily floor lamp

Tiffany Studios 12-light lily floor lamp

It was a good show. It was a bad show. Attendance was fair at the show, with a bunch of questions, lots of compliments, and very few sales. Until Sunday afternoon, the show was going poorly. Many of the dealers were also complaining (but a few weren’t). Enter my loyal client who was looking at an important lamp since Friday. After a bit of negotiation, the sale was made. Good show.

So why was it a bad (lucky) show? A good show is one where business is composed of many sales that add up to a good total. A lucky show is one where few sales add up to the same good total. I’d much rather have a good show than a lucky one. It’s very stressful to sit at a show for many hours without making a sale. Good shows are fun and not stressful.

Thanks to all my loyal clients. You know who you are. Without you, business would be very difficult at this time, so your loyalty is especially appreciated.

We’ll be back in the Los Angeles area in about 10 days for the August 6-8, 2010 Pasadena Antiques Show. If you missed us at Redondo Beach, we’d love to see you in Pasadena.

I recently added over 10 Galle vases to my website, 7 Tiffany lamps, 1 Grueby vase, 1 Newcomb vase, Daum Nancy glass and a fabulous Burgun & Schverer internally decorated vase. This coming week, I’ll be adding many new items. Please take a look. Click on this link chasenantiques.com.

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