The 2017 Michigan Modernism Art & Antiques Show opens to the public this Saturday, April 22, 2017

Thursday’s post will be delayed until Friday as setup in Southfield, MI doesn’t start until Thursday.

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’re traveling to Michigan this week to exhibit at the 2017 Michigan Modernism Art & Antiques Show in Southfield. 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 to the public this Saturday at 10 AM and continues until Sunday at 5 PM. There will be a preview party on Friday from 6 – 9:30 PM. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am about that. 🙁

We’ll have this killer Daum Nancy Spring scenic vase at the show

We’re bringing one of the strongest inventories we’ve ever carried, including an amazing selection of French and American glass and lamps by Tiffany Studios, Handel, Pairpoint, Daum Nancy and GallĂ©, to name a few.

Just got this Tiffany Studios 20″ diameter Linenfold table lamp with a rare Silver Dollar base

The dealer list will include important dealers with beautiful displays, including Alan & Adele Grodsky, Myers-Huffman Antiques, Del Giudice Antiques and Ray Kisber. For the complete list of dealers, click here.

If you’re anywhere in the greater Detroit area, it will be worth your while visiting the show. Click here for more information. I hope to see you there.


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.

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 GallĂ© 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.

What a difference a day makes!

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.

Tiffany Studios 22″ diameter Greek Key table lamp, Cottone lot #61

Tiffany Studios 22″ diameter Greek Key floor lamp, Sotheby’s lot #31

Two Tiffany Studios 22″ diameter Greek Key table lamps sold within one week, one at Cottone’s in upstate New York on March 25th and the other at Sotheby’s in New York City on March 29th. What a difference a day makes!

Cottone sold lot #61 for $89,125, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $25,000 – $35,000, while Sotheby’s sold lot #31 for $47,500, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $20,000 — $30,000. So how do you explain that? Cottone’s lamp had excellent orange mottled glass while Sotheby’s lamp had more common green striated glass with light mottling. Cottone’s was a table lamp, while Sotheby’s was a floor lamp, but Cottone’s sold for almost twice as much.

I’m sure those factors played a role, but there’s more. Cottone’s lamp was a big fish in a small pond, while Sotheby’s was the opposite. That makes a difference. Two bidders with big egos and fat wallets duked it out at Cottone’s while the fighting at Sotheby’s was accompanied by a yawn. Every good auction result requires a bidder and an underbidder. Congrats to Cottone for corralling the right players.


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 with a preview party on Friday, April 21st and continues until Sunday, April 23rd at 5 PM.

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.

Good results at Sotheby’s New York Design sale, March 29, 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.

Sotheby’s New York held their Design sale on March 29, 2017 with total sales of $2,742,251. Included in the sale was a nice selection of Tiffany Studios lamps and French cameo glass.

Tiffany Peony lamp, Sotheby’s lot #16

Lot # 16 was a beautiful Tiffany Studios 22″ diameter Peony table lamp, with impeccable provenance. It sold for its high estimate, $150,000, including buyer’s premium, but in my opinion, should have sold for more.

Tiffany Spider lamp, Sotheby’s lot #23

I really liked lot #23, a lovely 16″ diameter Tiffany Studios Spider lamp. It sold for $35,000, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $25,000 — $35,000 — an excellent price for the final buyer, but a bit too much for a dealer. I was the underbidder.

Daum Nancy Mushroom vase, Sotheby’s lot #98

Top lot of the French cameo glass section of the sale was #98, a rare and very desirable Daum Nancy Mushroom vase, with wheel-carving and enameling. It more than doubled its high estimate of $9,000, realizing $21,250, including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results, click here.


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 with a preview party on Friday, April 21st and continues until Sunday, April 23rd at 5 PM.

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.

John McInnis Auctioneers sold a beautiful Gallé marquetry vase at their Three Day Spring Estates Auction, Sunday, March 26, 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.

Gallé marquetry vase, McInnis lot #954

John McInnis Auctioneers held a Three Day Spring Estates Auction, March 24-26, 2017. Included in the Sunday portion of the sale was a rare and beautiful Gallé marquetry vase, lot #954.

Marquetry vases are quite sophisticated. The technique required pressing colored glass into the design when the glass was molten. On cooling, the finish work was hand-engraved to give the flowers realistic details. The quality was superb.

The original Gilman Collamore & Co. sticker affixed to the underside.

Additionally the vase had a sticker underneath from the original high-end retailer in New York City, Gilman Collamore & Co., which opened on 5th Avenue and 30th St. in 1890. I’m sure the vase’s provenance, provided by the sticker, gave a boost to its value.

The bidding began at $2,000 and immediately jumped to $11,000. By the time it was finished, the vase sold for $44,280, including buyer’s premium, many times the pre-sale estimate of $4,000 – $6,000. I was actively bidding until $30,000, when I had to drop out. There’s only so much a dealer can pay and still make a profit. Congratulations to the successful bidder for a superb purchase.

For the complete results, click here.


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 with a preview party on Friday, April 21st and continues until Sunday, April 23rd at 5 PM.

I recently listed about 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.

Tiffany Studios lamps were alive and well at Cottone Auctions Art, Antiques & Modern Design sale, March 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.

Cottone Auctions, Geneseo, NY, held its Art, Antiques & Modern Design sale on March 25, 2017. Included in the sale were several good Tiffany Studios lamps, which performed very well.

Tiffany Studios Dragonfly table lamp, Cottone lot #56

The first of the group, lot #56, was a very nice quality 20″ diameter Dragonfly with beautiful mottled glass and green jeweled eyes. Estimated to sell for $40,000 – $60,000, it sold for a very healthy $80,500, including buyer’s premium.

Tiffany Studios Greek Key table lamp, Cottone lot #61

Much more surprising than the result for the Dragonfly was the result for lot #61, a 22″ diameter Greek Key lamp with superior mottled glass. It sold for an astonishing $89,125, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $25,000 – $35,000. There was no way I could have predicted that.

More modest results were obtained by other lamps, including a Tiffany Studios Daffodil chandelier @ $51,750. The group also included lamps by Duffner & Kimberly, Handel and Wilkinson. For the complete results, click here.


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 with a preview party on Friday, April 21st and continues until Sunday, April 23rd at 5 PM.

I recently listed about 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.

DuMouchelles sold a wonderful Tiffany Favrile vase, March 11, 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.

Tiffany Favrile paperweight vase, DuMouchelle’s lot #1010

DuMouchelle’s held its March auction on the weekend of March 10-12, 2017. Included in the Saturday portion of the sale was a beautiful Tiffany Favrile paperweight vase, lot #1010. I was bidding on the telephone, but barely had a chance to open my mouth when the bidding flew past me. Estimated to sell for $3,000 – $5,000, it soared to $37,200, including buyer’s premium. I was left in the dust.

This was a beautiful example that appeared to be in superior condition, but I was still surprised at the final price. I thought the retail value was $15,000 – $20,000. Apparently the successful bidder disagreed with me.


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 with a preview party on Friday, April 21st and continues until Sunday, April 23rd at 5 PM.

I recently listed about 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.

The results of the Charleston Antique Show, March 16-19, 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.

There’s no one in our booth at the preview party

Thursday evening, 7:50 PM. I’m starting to write this blog from the preview party on Thursday night. Those of you who follow my blog know my disdain for preview parties. Well this one is as bad or worse than most. There has been very little to no interest, so I occupy my time playing Spider Solitaire and drinking. What also makes it difficult is there are only hors d’oeuvres to eat. We will have to go to a restaurant after the preview.

We set up a nice booth for the show with limited resources

UPDATE: Friday, 4 PM. The show has been open since 10 AM and based upon the first day, the show will be a disaster. Not only haven’t we sold anything, we haven’t had many questions and no one seems to know what they’re looking at. I’m not completely giving up hope, but it’s not looking good.

On the other hand, the show promoters have set aside a room for dealers to rest and eat a complimentary, lovely lunch each day. Very nice.

We sold this Tiffany Studios 18″ diameter Lemon Leaf table lamp at the show

UPDATE: Saturday, 12 PM. Well, what do you know? We sold a Tiffany lamp to a lovely lady visiting from Missouri. At this point, we’re breaking even. If we sell something else, we’ll actually earn a profit. That would be a pleasant surprise.

UPDATE: Sunday, 5 PM. The show is over and the verdict is in. We will not be returning to exhibit in Charleston. One sale, which covered our expenses, is no reason to return to a show. There was a distinct lack of interest and knowledge. We only had a few questions in three days. Too bad, because everything about the show was nice, except the lack of business.


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 with a preview party on Friday, April 21st and continues until Sunday, April 23rd at 5 PM.

I recently listed about 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.

We will exhibit at the Charleston Antique Show, March 16-19, 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.


After a very difficult week that started with truck trouble, we will exhibit at the Charleston Antique Show this coming weekend. We had to leave most of our supplies in the truck, and two-thirds of our merchandise in New York, so our exhibition will be improvised. We had to buy all the basic supplies we always carry, like light bulbs, electric wires and fabric. We were able to rent a single showcase from a local dealer. But now it’s all new, so after exhibiting at hundreds and hundreds of shows, it’s like starting all over again. I’m not a fan.

We’re trying to figure our improvised display

The show opens with a preview party on Thursday night. I can’t tell you how thrilling that is. NOT! Then the show opens to the public on Friday at 10 AM and closes on Sunday at 5 PM. Charleston is a very nice city and I expect the public to be very friendly and courteous. What I don’t expect are sales. Exhibiting in Charleston was a shot in the dark, but not having our usual display makes me truly apprehensive about the results.

We’re making some progress

I hope I’m wrong, but I think this show will not end well. Tune in on Monday for the results.


I’ve been listing on my website many of the new items I’ve recently purchased and I’ll be listing more in the near future. Please check my site as often as you can.

Click here to check my website for the latest items and to look around. I will update it as often as time permits. We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

Hopefully we’ll exhibit at the Charleston Antique Show this week, March 17-19, 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.



We’re scheduled to exhibit at the Charleston Antique Show this week, March 17-19, 2017, but it’s not sure at this moment. Not that we don’t want to, just that circumstances may prevent us.

My driver, Bill, showed up on Saturday to load the truck for our trip. The problems started immediately when the truck wouldn’t start. We finally brought a mechanic to the truck and he diagnosed a frozen starter motor. Since it was Saturday afternoon, we couldn’t get the part and would have to wait for Monday morning.

We were scheduled to fly to Charleston on Tuesday to begin setting up the show on Wednesday, but as you probably know, a huge Nor’easter is bearing down on the Northeast. So we were forced to fly to Charleston yesterday. Now we’re in Charleston and I’m biting my nails awaiting word from New York that the mechanic was able to fix the problem.

If Bill can load the truck and start driving by the afternoon, he just might be able to beat the brunt of the storm which threatens tremendous snow and wind from Washington, DC, to Boston.

UPDATE: Monday, 6:00 PM. The situation with the truck went from bad to worse. The truck couldn’t be started. It was towed to the dealer for repair. So we had to go to Plan B, take the van, with no showcases. So we’re going to exhibit at the show with tabletop lamps and glass. That is assuming Bill makes it safely through the storm. He left New York about 5 PM. Another update tomorrow.

UPDATE: Tuesday, 2:00 PM. It’s still up in the air if we can exhibit at the show. Now the van has transmission trouble and it’s 60/40 if Bill can make it all the way to Charleston. He’s in North Carolina at the moment, so I’ve got my fingers crossed.

UPDATE: Wednesday, 7:30 AM. The transmission on the van held up and Bill made it to Charleston. We were able to rent one showcase, so we’ll have a modified display, but not our usual. To make things worse, the problem with the truck was the starter motor. The mechanic who came to change the starter motor on the truck misdiagnosed the problem. Had he actually replaced the starter motor, we would have had the truck and all of our showcases, but that’s life. We have to play the cards we’re dealt.


I’ve been listing on my website many of the new items I’ve recently purchased and I’ll be listing more in the near future. Please check my site as often as you can.

Click here to check my website for the latest items and to look around. I will update it as often as time permits. We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.