Tag Archives: Chicago Summer Antiques Show

The results of the Redondo Beach and Pasadena Antiques Shows, July 29 – August 7, 2011

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The summer show season has started. The last two weeks we exhibited at the Redondo Beach Antiques Show and the Pasadena Antique Show. Next week, we’ll be in Rosemont, Illinois, for the Chicago Summer Antiques Show. Since I have less time to write about the interesting things happening in the antiques world, 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.

Looking down my aisle at the Pasadena Antique Show on Saturday afternoon, 4:30 PM

I’m writing this blog on Saturday afternoon, August 6, 4:15 PM. As of today, the show is going poorly, but more than a few shows have been saved on Sunday. (I’ll add to this post if it happens.) This whole trip to Southern California has pretty much been a waste of time, energy and money.

My booth at the Pasadena Antique Show

Last week we exhibited at the Redondo Beach Antiques Show. The show has gotten quite a bit smaller from the first time we exhibited there. A large part of the show used to be outdoors, but last week there were only a handful of outdoor exhibitors. It’s part of a larger problem with antique shows. Too many of them are shrinking. Many exhibitors have chosen to stop exhibiting, either because they weren’t doing well or because they were getting too old. In addition, there aren’t enough young dealers and collectors to replace the aging ones. The show wound up being neither a money maker nor a money loser. In dealer’s lingo, we bought our way out of the show. The translation is that we didn’t sell enough to make any money, but we bought some items that will yield profits down the road when they are sold.

Another view of my booth at the Pasadena Antique Show

The Pasadena Antique Show is a more established show. It took place at the newly renovated Pasadena Convention Center. It looks like an official antique show, but it too is substantially smaller than it used to be. Attendance was decent, but not great. Interest and sales were poor, but in walking around, many dealers were making sales. It wasn’t our turn.

I’ve met some great clients at these two shows in the past and it’s possible I’ll meet others in the future. I’m not giving up yet on these shows and Southern California in general, but I may if they don’t improve. I’ll keep you posted.

Very rare Louis Icart etching entitled Mardi Gras

Check out my new acquisitions. I just listed quite a few Tiffany, Handel and Pairpoint lamps. I also listed some very rare Louis Icart etchings including Miss America and Mardi Gras; a gorgeous Daum Nancy pink floral vase; several fine Daum vases; a Daum lamp; several Galle vases; and several more Tiffany Favrile vases. Soon I’ll be listing a wonderful Tiffany Studios 7-light lily lamp with beautiful shades and a fine patina. Also coming soon will be several wonderful European ceramic items by Clement Massier, Zsolnay and Amphora. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Results of the Chicago Summer Antiques Show, August 27-29, 2010

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This year, Dolphin Promotions held its annual summer Chicago Antiques Show at the Rosemont Convention Center. It had been held there for many years, but was moved to a downtown location last year in an effort to reinvigorate the show. This year, Rosemary Krieger, the owner of Dolphin Promotions, decided that the show was better off back in its original location. To give the show a boost, she upped the advertising budget and offered incentives to the public, including free parking for a paid admission.

Sunday at the Chicago Summer Antiques Show, August 29, 2010

Show attendance was light to moderate for most of the show, but many of the attendees were serious buyers, so a decent percentage of the dealers reported that their shows were fair to good. Personally, my show was decent, with good interest in Tiffany and Loetz glass and Tiffany desk set items. Sales were decent on Friday and Saturday. Sunday was a bust, with the usual cast of tire-kickers. If only I knew which Sundays to stay in my hotel room and watch TV!

Tiffany Studios Pine Needle magnifying glass

There are so many interested, knowledgeable buyers in the greater Chicago area, that I would love for the show to succeed and grow again. As the economy strengthens in the coming months and years, the show will have a decent chance.

This coming week, we’re off to Baltimore for the biggest show of the summer and probably one of the biggest shows of the year. The Baltimore Summer Antiques Show is held every year over the Labor Day weekend, ending on Sunday. This year’s dates are Thursday, September 2, to Sunday, September 5. The show was expanded to four days after the previous promoter, Frank Farbenbloom, sold it to the Palm Beach Show Group. This is one show that you should get on a plane, get in your car, or get on a train, and ATTEND. The show is not only huge, but top-notch quality, with some fantastic dealers who exhibit at very few shows, including some from abroad. Buyers fly in from all over the world, including Europe, Japan, and South America. The Baltimore Inner Harbor is a fun location in the summer, so for the price of one trip, you get the antiques show, wonderful local entertainment and great restaurants.

The Baltimore Summer Antiques Show will be held September 2-5, 2010

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.

Setting up at the Chicago Summer Antiques Show, August 26, 2010

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Set up went smoothly at the Chicago Summer Antiques Show. My booth was large enough that we weren’t stepping over each other.

The booth is almost all set up, August 26, 2010

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The show is small, but good quality, with several high-end dealers. There’s a nice, diverse selection of furniture, paintings, silver, glass and lighting. Rosemary Krieger, the promoter of the show, is determined to restore the show to its former glory. She hopes that her advertising and other incentives, like free parking, will bring in the buyers. If the exhibitors do well, word will get around and more dealers will want to exhibit there the following year. It’s the beginning of an upward cycle. It’s not easy to accomplish, especially when the economic news is not ebullient. But I’m a firm supporter of the show and of Rosemary Krieger, so I’m wishing her the best.

Fabulous Kauba bronze 'How Kola' that I'm exhibiting for the first time

The show hours were changed to make it very favorable for both exhibitors and the public. The new hours are noon – 7 pm, Friday and Saturday, and noon – 5 pm on Sunday. That’s more than enough time for the public to shop and very fair to the dealers. Kudos to Rosemary and a request to other promoters to do the same. The public are the clients of the dealers and the dealers are the clients of the promoters. You hear that, promoters? Treat your dealers well, or you’ll lose them, and have nothing in the end.

A rare and beautiful Galle blownout water lily vase, on display in my booth at the show

Please take the time to visit the show and buy from your favorite dealers. Everyone wins. You go home with a beautiful purchase and the dealer goes home pleased with his sales. The show gets better the next year and everyone is happy.

On Monday or Tuesday, I’ll report on the results of the show. I’m cautiously optimistic.

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.

The summer antique show season is about to begin in Denver, July 16-18, 2010

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Spring is always a slow time for antiques and antique shows. There just aren’t any good shows, so I redirect my attention elsewhere, but not too far astray. Mainly I spend the time trying to acquire wonderful new items for my summer show schedule of five shows — Denver, Redondo Beach, Pasadena, Chicago and finally Baltimore.

A rare Tiffany Studios tripod 10 inch Linenfold floor lamp

A rare Tiffany Studios tripod 10 inch Linenfold floor lamp

I’ve really succeeded this time. I’ve been lucky to find several fine Tiffany Studios floor lamps, including rare examples with unusual bases and fine Linenfold or Favrile glass shades. And how about a superb 18″ Tiffany Studios Belted Dogwood table lamp?

A rare and very desirable Daum Nancy Blackbird vase

A rare and very desirable Daum Nancy Blackbird vase

I always try to carry a large selection of the finest French cameo glass, which I’ve been able to add to with some recently acquired beauties. You can view photos on my website of much of the great Gallé, Daum Nancy, and pate-de-verre glass.

The Denver Antiques Show, July 16-18, 2010

The Denver Antiques Show, July 16-18, 2010

My first show this summer will be in Denver, July 16-18. I hope everyone comes out to support the show. I exhibited there last summer for the first time and had a pretty good show — good enough to return in the fall. Unfortunately that didn’t go well. This third Denver show will be the test — best of three. Two good shows and I’ll be back. Two bad shows and goodbye to Denver. Over the years, I’ve had to eliminate many good cities from my schedule because I couldn’t do enough business to make them worth my while. Gone from my schedule are San Francisco, Indianapolis, Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston, New Haven, Hartford, Sarasota, Houston and others. Too bad, because I really like some of those cities, especially San Francisco and Houston.

The week after Denver, we’ll be at the Redondo Beach Antiques Show, just south of LA. One week off and then back to the same general area — Pasadena. A couple of weeks off and then on to Chicago and finally Baltimore over the Labor Day weekend. Try to make the time to come and see us when we get to or near your city. Some of the shows are worth a trip from anywhere. For a complete list of my shows, please click on the following link. Philip Chasen Antiques show schedule.

I just 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.