The Chicago Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair preview party is tonight, April 26, 2012

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Philip Chasen

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.

Lia is setting up our glass and ceramics

Setup went well at the Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair. We doubled the size of our booth, so we had lots of space to properly exhibit our special selection of lamps, glass, ceramics and paintings. You’ll have to come in person to see the completed fabulous display.

The Best of France has a great display of furniture and bronzes

The show is about 10% larger than before, with several exhibitors on the north side of the show floor, where previously there was no one. I walked the entire show and was blown away by what I saw.

Toulouse Antiques has fantastic paintings and 19th Century antiques

I assure you, this is one show you shouldn’t miss. The exhibitions are very high quality and very diverse. Almost everything that could interest you is on display. The show opens to the public this Friday, April 27th at 11 AM. The preview party is tonight, to invited guests. The show is killer, so make sure you come!! Then come to my booth and tell me I was right.

John Atzbach Antiques has fabulous Russian Imperial antiques

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

The Chicago Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair opens this Friday, April 27, 2012

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Philip Chasen

The Chicago Merchandise Mart is located downtown, on the river, a few blocks from Michigan Ave.

The Chicago Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair opens this Friday, April 27th at 11 AM, and continues until Monday, April 30th, at 3 PM. It’s Chicago’s best antiques show and one of the best in the entire country. The quality is very high throughout, with many of the exhibitors displaying at very few shows. Some of them will travel from around the world to exhibit at this show. It’s an opportunity to see amazing exhibitions that exceed the quality and breadth of many museum’s collections.

The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago will benefit from the preview party on Thursday night, April 26th. They treat people with a variety of diseases ranging from cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury to arthritis and chronic pain. Most of you know I’m not a fan of preview parties, but this one is a cut above many of the others. The Merchandise Mart treats its dealers well, unlike some other promoters. There’s plenty of food and drink for everyone. All you get at some other shows is a clear plastic box with a half sandwich, a cookie and a few grapes. I’m not joking and I’m not exaggerating. It’s shameful.

One of two Tiffany Studios 10-light lily lamps I'll have at the show

I’m bringing a fantastic assortment of Tiffany Studios lamps and glass, French cameo glass by Daum Nancy and Emile Gallé, stoneware by the Martin Brothers, superb American illustrator paintings and a large collection of Louis Icart etchings, including some very rare ones.

Fantastic original oil painting for the 1934 movie poster of East River

The show is worth a trip from anywhere, so walk, drive, fly, or do whatever it takes to visit. Chicago weather at this time of year is usually fantastic, with tulips in bloom on Michigan Avenue, although they may be finished this year because of unusually warm weather in March.

A wonderful Martin Brothers stoneware face jug

Results of the Chicago Merchandise Mart International Antiques Show, April 29 – May 2, 2011

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Philip Chasen

Saturday afternoon in my booth

The Chicago Merchandise Mart International Antiques Show ended on Monday, May 2, 2011. Many of the dealers were pleased with their results, but a few were not. Following is some of the scuttlebutt.

An important Art Nouveau dealer is not returning because he did not do enough business after having exhibited at the show twice. An important dealer of Art Nouveau, 19th century and Asian antiques only had a fair show, mainly because he sold Chinese antiques to Chinese dealers. (The Chinese market is red hot because of the new wealth in China. Chinese buyers are repatriating fine Chinese antiques.) A dealer in Russian antiques only had a decent show. A dealer in French furniture and bronzes did very well, exhibiting for the first time at the show. Another dealer who deals in general, but fine antiques, did very well. An important dealer in general, but fairly unique items, only had a fair show. Another who deals in mainly 19th century fine antiques and art only had a fair show. An English dealer of silver had a very good show. A domestic dealer of silver had a barely passable show. An English dealer of ceramics and other objects barely made expenses. (Last year was much better for them.) Finally several dealers in Asian antiques did well.

One of the fine sold Daum Nancy vases -- "Rain"

Personally, my show was very good. I have to thank all of my loyal clients, who made a point of visiting my booth and purchasing from me. Interest and sales were best for Tiffany lamps and French glass by Gallé and Daum Nancy. I was disappointed that few of my sales were to new people, but thankful for the good show.

Where else but my blog can you get such accurate information about a show? NOWHERE! Most people who write about antiques have an agenda, but I don’t. I’ll tell you like it is. So have you told one of your friends to read my blog? Send them the link. https://blog.chasenantiques.com

So what was the consensus? Many dealers did OK, some did well, and others only had fair shows. I didn’t hear from a single dealer who had a great show. The best I heard was “pretty good”. Business was solid, but not ebullient. Overall, there have been better years, but almost every dealer is returning, with the exception of a few. So that means they think Chicago is a good city to exhibit and the Chicago Merchandise Mart is a good venue to exhibit. The Mart does a really fine job of making the dealers feel like they’re important. Kudos to the staff of the Merchandise Mart.

A Tiffany Studios 7-light lily lamp, similar to the one that I will be getting soon with a fine patina

I’m in the process of acquiring some wonderful Tiffany Studios lamps — a 7-light lily with beautiful shades and a fine patina, a 20″ Dragonfly and a 16″ Poinsettia. I should have them reasonably soon, so email me if you’re interested and I’ll send you photos as soon as they’re in my possession.

Check out my new Tiffany, Daum, and Gallé acquisitions. I just listed a couple of important Tiffany vases, straight from a private home. I also listed about ten Daum and Gallé vases plus about 10 Tiffany Pine Needle and Grapevine desk pieces. I’ll be listing even more Pine and Grapevine pieces within the next few days. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

The Chicago Merchandise Mart International Antiques Show preview party, April 28, 2011

Posted on April 28, 2011 by Philip Chasen

Results of the show Tuesday afternoon, as the show ends Monday, May 2.

My booth during the preview party

I started writing this blog from my booth at the preview party of The Chicago Merchandise Mart International Antiques Show. I’m glad to say that I couldn’t finish writing it there because it was fairly busy later in the evening. At first there were quite a few people, but very few questions and little interest. Things picked up during the latter half of the party, resulting in a couple of sales and one item on hold. Pretty good for a preview party. The preview party in Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago was also good. To the credit of the Merchandise Mart, the food and drink were excellent and plentiful, as always.

Some of the unique items in the booth of M.S. Rau of New Orleans

This is really a show you should make the time to visit. There are very few shows in the US with the same quantity and quality of dealers. M.S. Rau of New Orleans has an enormous booth filled with one-of-a-kind rarities. Green River Stone Co. has wall plaques of river animal and plant fossils over a million years old, removed directly from the river. The diversity of dealers in this show is wonderful, from Asian to art to Chanel purses to silver. There are no junk dealers in this show.

Green River Stone Co. fossils

You’ll surely like what I’ve brought, including many items which will be exhibited for the first time; European ceramics by Clement Massier, Dalpayrat, Zsolnay, and Amphora; Daum vases including a very rare and fine mushroom example, Galle vases and Icart etchings. I hope you come and visit. The hours are Friday 11 AM – 7 PM, Saturday 11 AM – 7 PM, Sunday 11 AM – 6 PM and Monday, 11 AM – 3 PM.

One of the fine new Daum Nancy vases I will be exhibiting for the first time.

The Chicago Merchandise Mart International Antiques Show will be open from April 29 – May 2, 2011

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Philip Chasen

The Merchandise Mart International Antiques Show, April 29 - May 2, 2011

The Chicago Merchandise Mart International Antiques Show will open to the public on Friday, April 29 and remain open until Monday, May 2, 2011. If you only attend one antique show a year, this is the one you were waiting for.

The show is everything you would want from an antique show — it’s elegant, it’s moderately large, it has world-class exhibitors. What else? It’s in downtown Chicago, conveniently located a few blocks west of Michigan Ave, right on the river. It’s spring, so the weather will be near perfect, with fabulous floral displays around the city, especially the tulips on Michigan Ave. You can eat at some of the best restaurants in the world and shop in some of the best stores.

A superb Daum winter ewer that I'll be showing for the first time

Convinced yet? Some of the exhibitors exhibit at very few shows, so you’ll have one of the rare chances to see them. For example, M.S. Rau of New Orleans exhibits at this show and usually bring incredible items, including paintings by Norman Rockwell and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Many of the exhibitors are international, from England, France, Italy and Turkey.

Fantastic bronze grouping in the booth of Greenwald Antiques

Greenwald Antiques has one of the most fantastic items I’ve ever seen at a show. It’s an amazing 6 feet long, gilded bronze grouping of horses and a chariot by the French sculptor E. Picault, given as a gift by the citizens of a town to the local sheriff in England in 1880, with the original presentation plaque, marble base and hand-carved furniture base. It’s a show-stopper.

The show begins on Thursday evening with a preview party. I’m not a fan of preview parties, but the last one in LA was good. Maybe one day I’ll change my mind about preview parties. In the meantime, I’ll appreciate the good food and drink.

Another of the fabulous Daum vases from my buying trip

Personally, I’m bringing some of the finest items I’ve ever shown. We will have an incredible 18″ Tiffany Studios Peony table lamp with superb red flowers plus another dozen Tiffany lamps, including four floor lamps. We’re just back from a European buying trip, so we’ll have some great Daum & Gallé glass that will exhibited for the first time.

I’ll post results on Tuesday, because the show ends on Monday.

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

Posted on October 5, 2010 by Philip Chasen

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.

Setting up at the Chicago Merchandise Mart Fall Antiques Show, September 29, 2010

Posted on September 30, 2010 by Philip Chasen

My booth at the Chicago Merchandise Mart Fall Antiques Show, September 29, 2010

The first time I was to exhibit at the Chicago Merchandise Mart Antiques Show, I was concerned. I was familiar with Chicago unions so I was ready for the worst. Much to my surprise, the union was not my enemy, but my friend. Whenever I needed to have something done, I didn’t have to look far to find a carpenter, porter, electrician, painter or whomever. Everything that needed to get done, got done. It’s such a pleasant alternative to many other shows where setting up can be much more difficult.

Wellesley House, Ltd. of Lake Forest, IL is exhibiting at the show

The show is almost all set up and it’s beautiful. I’m always surprised by the quality. It looks great and it’s elegant. The quality and diversity of the exhibitors is special. Many shows are struggling to attract both enough exhibitors and high quality exhibitors. This fall, the Mart had extra difficulty because the Avenue Show in NYC changed their date from December to the same week as the Mart. As a result, several of the Mart’s exhibitors opted to exhibit in NY, rather than Chicago. The show is a little smaller than last year, but still the best quality. Attendees will not be disappointed.

Another of the show's exhibitors

Make the time to visit the show and you will be pleased. The show is open Friday, October 1, 11 am–7 pm; Saturday, October 2, 11 am–7 pm; Sunday, October 3, 11 am–6 pm; and Monday, October 4, 11 am–3 pm. I’m looking forward to seeing my old friends and making new ones. The weather in Chicago in early October is great, the city is vibrant, and the restaurants are superb. Introduce yourself to me and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell or trade.

I’ll post results for the show on Tuesday, as the show ends on Monday.

The Chicago Merchandise Mart Fall Antiques Show runs from October 1-4, 2010

Posted on September 27, 2010 by Philip Chasen

The Merchandise Mart in Chicago runs a very successful antiques show in the late April to early May every year. The success of the show led the Mart to create a fall version, which will open with a preview party on Thursday evening, September 30, 2010. This will be the third time the Mart has run the fall show and it’s getting better every year. It doesn’t have some of the international exhibitors who exhibit there in the spring, but nonetheless it’s an A-1 show that deserves a visit, even if you have to travel some distance.

The Merchandise Mart Fall Antiques Show, October 1-4, 2010

I recently returned from a successful buying trip, so I’ll be bringing some very fine items that you haven’t seen before, especially glass by Daum Nancy, Gallé and R. Lalique.

A superb Daum Nancy ewer with poppies and gilding, 9¾ in. tall

The show hours are Friday, October 1, 11 am–7 pm; Saturday, October 2, 11 am–7 pm; Sunday, October 3, 11 am–6 pm; and Monday, October 4, 11 am–3 pm. Not many shows end on a Monday. I can’t say I’m fond of it, but as this promoter insists on it, we’ll be there until Monday, October 4th.

Make your plans to visit the show. The weather in Chicago in early October is great, the city is vibrant and the restaurants are superb. Introduce yourself to me and let me know what you’d like to buy, sell or trade.

Check out the newly acquired Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique vases I’ve recently listed on my website. Please take a look by clicking 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.

Changes at Stella Shows and Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.

Posted on October 9, 2009 by Philip Chasen

The Modern Show, 7 West 34th St., NYC, October 16-18, 2009

Good changes are happening in the antique show world. Irene Stella’s company, Stella Show Mgmt. Co., has been promoting shows in the greater NY area for quite a few years. They have many successful shows under their belt, including the Pier Show in Piers 92 and 94, on the Hudson River in NYC. (The fall edition will be held November 14-15.) Stella Shows also manages Antiques at the Armory in the 69th Regiment Armory in NYC, the Chicago Botanic Garden Antiques & Garden Fair and the Modern Show, also in NYC.

Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc., (MMPI) of Chicago, manages the huge Merchandise Mart building in Chicago, which hosts the Chicago Merchandise Mart Antique Show twice yearly in the fall and spring. These two shows are the best in Chicago and amongst the best in the entire US.

Both promoters are heavy hitters in the antiques show promotion world, so it’s nice to hear of cooperation between the two. It’s my understanding that there will be major reconstruction of Piers 92 and 94, which will transform the two piers into one huge exhibition facility, and that MMPI is now in charge of Piers 92 & 94, and will be in charge of the combined facility. MMPI also operates a new facility for exhibitions at 7 West 34th St., in NYC, opposite the Empire State Building. Stella Shows will be holding their next Modern Show at this facility, October 16-18.

A collaboration of two top-notch promoters should bring about some nice changes to their shows. I wish them both good luck!

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

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

Thank you, Chicago

Posted on October 6, 2009 by Philip Chasen

My booth at the Chicago Merchandise Mart Show

We last exhibited at the Chicago Merchandise Mart in May. The spring show is considered the better of the two shows because it’s more established and gets better attendance. But for us the results were the reverse. We were disappointed in the spring and thankful for a very fine show this time around.

Tiffany 14 inch diameter Acorn floor lamp with drink tray, ashtray and magazine rack

I asked a handful of dealers about their results and as always, there was a diversity of opinion. One dealer who is not a specialist and sells fine items from many different categories had one of the best shows ever in Chicago. Another dealer specializing in majolica didn’t do well. Two mid-west dealers said their shows were ok, but not better. Then there’s me. I’d like to thank all of my clients who made purchases. My clients are very loyal and as a result, I’m sincerely appreciative.

Tiffany glass and lamps garnered the most interest this time, with Art Nouveau French cameo glass by Gallé and Daum Nancy a close second. This time there was less interest in Art Deco glass by Le Verre Francais, etchings by Louis Icart and pottery by Rookwood.

Now it’s time for a short break and then back to the greater Chicago area for the Arlington Park Racetrack Show, October 16-18, and then on to Denver the following week.