Some interesting results at Brunk Auctions, March 24-25, 2017

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.

Brunk Auctions, Asheville, NC, held a diversified sale on March 24th and 25th, 2017. Included in the sale were a Tiffany Studios chandelier, a Colinet bronze and three French cameo glass vases among the 910 lots offered for sale. The results varied greatly.

Tiffany Studios Turtleback chandelier, Brunk lot #65

The unsigned, 24″ diameter, Tiffany Studios Turtleback chandelier sold well, even with a few problems, such as three new sockets, a replaced ceiling cap, and seven cracked panels. In its favor were reddish turtleback tiles and nice mottled glass. It sold for $36,000, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $15,000 – $25,000.

Claire Colinet bronze, Brunk lot #327

Lot #327, a Claire Colinet French bronze of dancing children, 23″ tall, was featured on the inside cover of the catalog. It sold for $3,360, including buyer’s premium, above its high estimate of $2,500. I was busy during the sale, so I never bid, but I think I would have bought it if I had participated.

The three French cameo glass lots, #s 10-12, were two acid-etched-only Daum vases and one low quality Gallé vase. They all sold at or below their low estimates. I wouldn’t have bought them at any price.

For the complete results, click here. There were glitches with the website, so it was difficult to use, but you can try.


We haven’t exhibited in the greater Detroit area in over 10 years, but at the encouragement of a fellow dealer, we’ve decided to give it another shot. I enjoyed doing the show years ago and hope that business is good so we can add it to our regular schedule. The show opens next week with a preview party on Friday, April 21st and continues until Sunday, April 23rd at 5 PM. I hope you can make it.

I recently listed over 15 new items on my website 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.

I’m happy because I didn’t buy much at auction this past weekend

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.


I bid at five auctions this past weekend hoping to buy a few items at reasonable prices. I’m happy to report that prices were strong, so I bought almost nothing. Happy, because if prices are strong, the market is good, and I love a good market.

Martin Brothers musicians, Leland Little lot #373

Martin Brothers musicians, Leland Little lot #373

One lot was #373 at Leland Little’s Fall Catalogue Auction in Hillsborough, NC, on Saturday, September 12, 2015. Three Martin Brothers stoneware musicians (two in perfect condition, one restored) were estimated to sell for $2,000 – $4,000, but sold well beyond my budget, for $8,850, including buyer’s premium. For the complete results of the sale, click here.

Joseph Frances Kernan, Rago lot #2715

Joseph Frances Kernan, Rago lot #2715

The day before, I got a bigger surprise at Rago’s Great Estates auction, Friday, September 11, 2015. I noticed a couple of interesting American Illustration paintings in the manner of Norman Rockwell. Both were by Joseph Francis Kernan, an artist I didn’t know very well, but whose work I admired. Lot #2714 carried a pre-sale estimate of $1,500 – $2,000 and sold for $11,875 after serious competitive bidding from two phone bidders. The same two bid the next lot, #2715, to $17,500, against a pre-sale estimate of $3,000 – $5,000. I was hoping to buy them at or below the low estimates. Goes to show you what I know.

Newcomb College scenic vase, Brunk lot #313

Newcomb College scenic vase, Brunk lot #313

Brunk Auctions may or may not have sold a lovely, large (10¾”) Newcomb College vase for $9,600, including buyer’s premium. I say may or may not because I really don’t know. The pre-sale estimate was $4,000 – $8,000. Auction houses never permit reserves higher than the low estimates, so once the bidding reaches the low estimate, an item is supposed to be sold. The hammer price reached $8,000, so it certainly appeared to have sold, but it’s listed on liveauctioneers as “Lot passed. No bid history.” I assume there’s a good explanation, but as of the publication of this blog post, I don’t know it. I wrote directly to Andrew Brunk, the owner of Brunk Auctions, and he responded that he didn’t know of the problem. It was his understanding that the vase sold at auction for $9,600.

In the meantime, I’ll keep plugging away and get my fair share. Luckily I also have private sources for my goodies, so I hope to be outbid at every auction.


nyc-big-flea-9-2015Our next show will be The Big Flea Market at Pier 94 in New York City, September 26-27. Last year was the first time for this show and it was good. The attendees were completely different than the established Pier Antique Show that takes place in November and March each year, making it a totally different experience.

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.

Some good results for French Cameo Glass at Brunk Auctions, November 16, 2013

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.

Brunk Auctions held a diverse sale November 15-16, 2013. Many of the Art Nouveau items were from the estate of Dr. Laurence and Dorothy Grossman, of Nashville, Tennessee. Included in that group was a nice selection of French cameo glass.

Rare Daum vase with applications, Brunk lot #692

Rare Daum vase with applications, Brunk lot #692

Lot #692 was a rare Daum vase with martelé-carved, applied cabachons. This was a lovely, rare piece, with a butterfly and gilding, that ordinarily I would have aggressively gone after, but did not because of the significant wear to the gilding. This is a perfect example of how I act as a filter. If it’s good enough for me to buy, it’s good enough for you to buy, and vice versa. It wasn’t good enough for my inventory — close, but no cigar. Regardless, it sold for $6,600, including buyer’s premium — well above its estimate of $2,000 – $3,000.

Gallé clematis blownout vase, Brunk lot #678

Gallé clematis blownout vase, Brunk lot #678

A nice Gallé blownout vase with clematis flowers was offered as lot #678, with an estimate of $2,000 – $3,000. Even though the color was only decent, it still sold for almost triple its high estimate, realizing $9,120.

Tiffany Favrile padded and wheel-carved vase, Brunk lot #672

Tiffany Favrile padded and wheel-carved vase, Brunk lot #672

Brunk put a very low estimate of $1,000 – $2,000 on lot #672, a Tiffany Favrile padded and wheel-carved vase with pretty variegated pink flowers. The price flew past its estimate to sell for $8,400, even with a small chip to the interior of the rim.

For the complete catalog, click here. As of today, the results haven’t been posted, but they should be by the end of the week.

Pier-10-2013

The NYC Pier Show will be held this coming weekend, November 23-24, 2013. The show is under new management, U.S. Antique Shows, which usually portends improvements. It will be our last show of the year, followed by the important Florida shows in January and February. We’re bringing some incredible new items, so don’t miss this show!

Fantastic Tiffany Favrile blue decorated vase, just in

Fantastic Tiffany Favrile blue decorated vase, just in

Click here to view my new website and look around. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps

A look at a few special Tiffany Studios items

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. We’ll be on vacation for most of May, so I may not be able to post anything until early June, but I’ll try.

Tiffany Studios was in business for many years and manufactured thousands upon thousands of items, ranging from common to unique. As a dealer, I get to see many of the same items over and over again, so it’s a kick when I come across something new and exciting. Here are a few that come to mind.

Very rare Tiffany Studios turtleback inkwell

Very rare Tiffany Studios turtleback inkwell

A very rare Tiffany Studios turtleback inkwell was sold at Nadeau’s Auction in Windsor, Connecticut on October 30, 2010 for $37,500, including buyer’s premium. I bid strongly for it, but was outbid by another dealer. I found out later which dealer, when I saw the inkwell for sale in another booth at the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show. My understanding was that it sold quickly at the show for approximately $75,000. That doesn’t surprise me, because it was AMAZING, with different colored turtleback tile lids on each of the three inkwells, and a fabulous patina. I hope the present owner is enjoying it.

Fabulous 10" blue Tiffany Favrile intaglio-carved shade

Fabulous 10″ blue Tiffany Favrile intaglio-carved shade

Blue Tiffany Favrile shades are much rarer than green or gold ones. The example pictured above was the single best example I have ever owned. It had really great blue color and was covered with a plethora of beautifully carved insects — killer!

Superb Tiffany Studios scarab stamp box

Superb Tiffany Studios scarab stamp box

I would loved to have owned the stamp box pictured above, but unfortunately I never did. It’s a real rarity, with Favrile glass scarabs on the lid and mosaic tiles all around. What a beauty!

Tiffany Pond Lily desk set, the rarest of them all

Tiffany Pond Lily desk set, the rarest of them all

The Pond Lily pattern, with dragonflies, is the rarest of all Tiffany Studios desk sets. It almost never comes up for sale, so when it does, fireworks go off. The set pictured above was sold at Brunk Auctions on November 4, 2006, for over $200K, including the buyer’s premium. Wow!

No shows until late July, but we’re still very much in business. Please don’t hesitate to call or write. We’re always interested in buying, selling or trading.

Rare Argy-Rousseau elephant paperweight, just in

Rare Argy-Rousseau elephant paperweight, just in

Click here to view French cameo glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

A rare blue Tiffany Favrile salt, just in

A rare blue Tiffany Favrile salt, just in

Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps.

Excellent results for French cameo glass at Brunk Auctions, September 24-25, 2011

I have less time to write about the interesting things happening in the antiques world since the fall shows started, so I am posting new blog entries once or twice a week — Mondays and Thursdays. 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. There will be a post this Thursday about the Leslie Hindman auction of October 2-3, 2011.

Outstanding Galle polar bear vase, Brunk lot #734

Brunk Auctions of Asheville, NC, held a decorative arts auction on September 24-25, 2011. Included in the sale were a couple of outstanding French cameo vases. Lot 734 was a huge Galle polar bear vase, 14¼”, with exceptional color. It carried a pre-sale estimate of $20,000-30,000. It sold for almost twice the low estimate, realizing $45,600, including buyer’s premium.

Outstanding Daum crocus vase, Brunk lot #737

Also in the sale was a superior Daum crocus vase. The sophisticated techniques used in the making are called padding and carving. First the flowers were padded, meaning they were applied from molten colored glass rods. When the vase cooled, the flowers were hand-carved, also called wheel-carving. On one side of the vase, there is a deep orange flower and on the other, a deep purple flower — both with better color than the usual example. Selling as lot 737, it brought $15,600, against a conservative pre-sale estimate of $6,000-10,000.

To search the results of the sale, click on the following link. Search Brunk. Choose the September 24-25, 2011 dates and a keyword.

The best Daum scenic blownout vase

In the meantime, check the listings on my website, which I will update often. I’ll be photographing all my new Gallé and Daum purchases and listing them on my website. Recently I listed quite a few Tiffany, Handel and Pairpoint lamps and some very rare Louis Icart etchings including Melody Hour and Mardi Gras. There are also several fine Daum vases; a Daum lamp; several Galle vases; and several more Tiffany Favrile vases. Coming soon will be several wonderful European ceramic items by Clement Massier, Zsolnay and Amphora. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com