Christie’s London Design sale grossed £2,869,062 ($3,750,432), October 17, 2018

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.


Christie’s London held a Design sale on October 17, 2018, with gross sales of £2,869,062 ($3,750,432). Included in the 212-lot sale was a Tiffany lamp and a few fine French cameo lamps, vases and sculpture. Following is a review of some of those items.

Tiffany Spider lamp, Christie’s lot #131

The sole Tiffany lamp in the sale, lot #131, was a good, but not exceptional, example of a 15″ diameter Spider table lamp, in gold doré. It sold for £27,500 ($35,948), including buyer’s premium, within its estimate of £15,000 – £25,000.

Daum Nancy Mimosa vase, Christie’s lot #284

An exceptional Daum Nancy 17½” Mimosa vase, lot #284, also sold within its estimate of £25,000 – £30,000, realizing £30,000, ($39,216), including buyer’s premium.

Leo Laporte-Blairsy bronze sculpture La Voie Lactée, Christie’s lot #273

A wonderful bronze sculpture by Leo Laporte-Blairsy entitled La Voie Lactée (The Milky Way), with glass by Daum Nancy, sold for its high estimate of £43,750 ($57,190).

Christie’s doesn’t allow a static link for its results, so you’ll have to do a little searching. Start with this link Christie’s results and then search for the London Design sale of 17 Oct 2018.


We will exhibit at Antiques + Modernism Winnetka (IL), next week, November 1-4, 2018. We hope you can visit. It will be worth the effort.

I recently listed some of the new items on my website and will list more every week. Click Philip Chasen Antiques to take a look. I will make every effort to actively list new items as often as time permits. 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’ items sell very well at Christie’s New York Design sale, December 14, 2017

My goal is to publish new posts twice a week — Mondays and Thursdays. Now that the weather is colder, I have gone back to publishing twice weekly, as often as possible.


Christie’s New York, held its Design sale on December 14, 2017, with total sales of $6,756,750. Of the 69 lots offered for sale, 33 were made by Tiffany Studios. The results were strong, which seems to coincide with a general strengthening of the Tiffany market, as evidenced at several recent auctions.

Tiffany Studios Gourd floor lamp, Christie’s lot #28

The top lot of all the Tiffany Studios’ items was #28, a rare floor lamp in the Gourd pattern. It sold near its high estimate of $800,000, realizing $948,500, including buyer’s premium.

Tiffany Studios Apple Blossom enamel box, Christie’s lot #9

Tiffany Studios enamel on copper items are quite rare and desirable. This sale included a wonderful selection of nine enamels from the collection of Dr. Alan Feld. The results were very strong, with lot #9 doing best. It was a beautiful Apple Blossom box, estimated to sell for $10,000 – $15,000. It soared to $106,250, including buyer’s premium.

Tiffany Studios Favrile Lava vase, Christie’s lot #13

Tiffany Favrile glass was underrepresented in the sale with only three lots, but lot #13 was a good one, a rare Lava glass vase. It sold for approximately double its pre-sale estimate of $25,000 – $35,000, realizing $68,750, including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

The strength of the Tiffany market will be the subject of an upcoming post. Be sure to follow my blog.


No more shows until February 2, 2018, when we’ll exhibit at the Miami Airport show. I’ve been beating the bushes finding new treasures and have come up with some beauties. I just listed over 18 new items on my website and will list more every week. Click Philip Chasen Antiques to take a look.

I will make every effort to actively list new items 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.

Strong price for a Tiffany Studios window at Christie’s New York Design sale, December 12, 2016

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.


Christie’s New York held their Design sale on December 12, 2016, with total sales of $3,572,625 for the 154 lots offered.

Tiffany Studios Snowball and Wisteria window, Christie’s lot #103

I was only interested in the 11 lots of Tiffany Studios’ objects. Of that small group, lot #103, a Snowball and Wisteria window, did best. It sold for $499,500, including buyer’s premium, well above its pre-sale estimate of $200,000 – $300,000, and was the top lot of the sale.

Tiffany Studios Laburnum table lamp, Christie’s lot #107

Of the Tiffany group, a large Laburnum table lamp performed second best. It sold within its estimated range of $150,000 – $200,000, realizing $211,500, including buyer’s premium.

Rembrandt Bugatti bronze sculpture Jeunesse, Christie’s lot #116

The second best-performing lot of the entire sale was a 1906 bronze by Rembrandt Bugatti, entitled Jeunesse (Youth). It sold below its estimate of $400,000 – $600,000, realizing $391,500, including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.


I just bought this killer Martin Brother 11½-inch bird.

I just bought this killer Martin Brother 11½-inch bird.

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, including a couple of fabulous Martin Brothers birds and a great face jug. Please check my site as often as you can.

No more shows in 2016. Our next show will be the NYC Big Flea, the weekend of January 21, at the Lexington Avenue Armory. After that we’ll be in Miami for the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show, February 3 – 5, 2017. This is the airport show, which will be new and improved, with many additional exhibitors. The changes are happening because the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show will no longer be in Miami Beach, instead changing its name to The Original Miami Antique Show and moving to a new location in southwest Miami. It will all make for an interesting winter season.

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.

Christie’s New York sold The Private Collection of President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan, September 21-22, 2016

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.


Christie’s New York sold The Private Collection of President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan, September 21-22, 2016, with total sales of $5,740,625, far surpassing the total high estimates. I wish I had known about the sale in advance, but unfortunately I missed it. I would have loved to own a souvenir of President Reagan, but realistically I probably wouldn’t have been willing to pay the high prices.

Nancy Reagan's Bulgari ring, Christie's lot #126

Nancy Reagan’s Bulgari ring, Christie’s lot #126

The top lot of the sale, #126, a Bulgari diamond, sapphire and ruby ring, in the motif of an American flag, was owned and worn by the first lady. The final price of $319,500 made a mockery of the pre-sale estimate of $5,000 – $7,000.

A hand-signed section of the Berlin wall, Christie's lot #65

A hand-signed section of the Berlin wall, Christie’s lot #65

The second highest lot of the sale was the most interesting and historically significant — a graffiti-covered piece of the Berlin wall, hand-signed by the president. One of Reagan’s most famous quotes, from a speech he made in West Berlin on June 12, 1987, was “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” It too, far exceeded its high estimate of $20,000, realizing $277,500, including buyer’s premium. It should have brought even more.

NFL football, with hand-signed quotation and signature, Christie's lot #100

NFL football, with hand-signed quotation and signature, Christie’s lot #100

Another very cool lot from the sale, #100, was an official NFL Wilson football, signed and inscribed by Reagan, “Win One For the Gipper Ronald Reagan”, in its original box. It’s a paraphrase from his 1940 film, Knute Rockne, All American. No trouble again with the pre-sale estimate of $5,000 – $10,000. This one scored a touchdown at $93,750, including buyer’s premium.

If you had to have something from the sale as a souvenir, you could have bought lots 414 or 415 for as little as $750, but they were pretty boring. For the complete results of the sale, click here.


Cute glass "food"

Cute glass “food”

I hope to put together videos of the glassblowing demonstration we saw in Murano, Italy, for uploading to youtube for this Thursday’s post, but I don’t guarantee it. You’ll want to see it if the process of glassblowing interests you.


winnetka-2016Our next show will be in Winnetka, Illinois, November 4-6, 2016. This is our only fall show in the greater Chicago area (and probably our last show of the year). We always look forward to exhibiting there, especially to see all our friends and clients. Put it in your calendar. It’s a lovely show!

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.

Christie’s South Kensington sold some French cameo glass at their Interiors sale, September 14, 2016

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.


Christie’s South Kensington held their Interiors sale yesterday, September 14, 2016, with total sales of £764,688 ($1,009,329). Included in the sale were about twenty French cameo vases. I probably would have bought a few of them, but unfortunately I missed the sale.

Daum Nancy Rain scenic vase, Christie's lot #201

Daum Nancy Rain scenic vase, Christie’s lot #201

Lot #201 was a nice Daum Nancy 8½” Rain scenic vase. It exceeded its pre-sale estimate of £3,000 – £5,000, realizing £6,875 ($9,151).

Daum Nancy Thistle vase, Christie's lot #139

Daum Nancy Thistle vase, Christie’s lot #139

The top lot of the Daum Nancy selection of glass was #139, a huge 19¾” vase, with nice coloration and very fine martelé work in the background. I’ve had similar vases in the past, which were superior to this example, in my opinion. I didn’t like the carving on the foot as it looked too haphazard, like the carver was trying to eliminate flaws in the making. It was all original, but not to my taste. Regardless, it exceeded its high estimate of £6,000, realizing £7,500, ($9,982).

Gallé wheel-carved and intercalaire vase, Christie's lot #138

Gallé wheel-carved and intercalaire vase, Christie’s lot #138

Top lot of the Gallé glass was #138, a Hazelnut vase with internal decoration, called intercalaire. Brown is not usually a desirable color, but the high-quality workmanship, including wheel-carving, was attractive to bidders. It sold over its high estimate of £6,000, realizing £8,750 ($11,646). I didn’t like it, so I wasn’t going to bid, no matter what the price.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.


winnetka-2016Our next show will be in Winnetka, Illinois, November 4-6, 2016. This is our only fall show in the greater Chicago area. We always look forward to exhibiting there, especially to see all our friends and clients. Put it in your calendar. It’s a lovely show!

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.

Christie’s South Kensington sold a Loetz glass collection at its Interiors sale, June 8, 2016

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.


Christie’s South Kensington held its Interiors sale on June 8, 2016. Included in the sale was a nice grouping of Loetz vases, some of which did well.

Loetz decorated vase, Christie's lot #320

Loetz decorated vase, Christie’s lot #320

Top lot of the group was #320, a signed, 6½” vase, decorated with iridescent hearts and swirled decoration, in beautiful shades of pink and red. It doubled it’s high estimate of £2,500, realizing £5,625 ($8,173), including buyer’s premium.

Loetz drip-decorated vase, Christie's lot #318

Loetz drip-decorated vase, Christie’s lot #318

I thought highly of lot #318. It was signed, but small at 4½” tall. It featured gold iridescent drip decoration over a deep salmon, wave-decorated background. It sold for 50% above its high estimate of £1,800, realizing £2,500 ($3,633), including buyer’s premium.

For all of the Loetz results, click here.


Denver, July 15-17, 2016

Denver, July 15-17, 2016

No shows until next month, when we’ll be in Denver for the Denver World Wide Antique Show, July 15-17, 2016. In the meantime, we’re very much in business, so call or email me with your wants or items for sale. If you have what I’m looking for, I’m paying the highest prices. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email it to me.

I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. I will continue to list more as often as possible. Please click here to take a look.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 for French cameo glass at Christie’s London Interiors sale, May 18, 2016

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.


Christie’s London held an Interiors sale on May 18, 2016 with total sales of £1,377,062 ($2,010,226). Included in the sale was a moderate collection of French cameo glass, some of which did very well. Many of the vases were what I call “stuff”, meaning they’re authentic, but not particularly appealing because of the design, or color, or shape. I woke up at 6 AM to bid on the few items that I thought were interesting and in good condition. Unfortunately for me, it was a waste of time, as I was outbid on all of my items. (On the other hand I’m quite pleased, as it means the market is healthy.)

Gallé Foo Dog vase, Christie's lot #79

Gallé Foo Dog vase, Christie’s lot #79

Lot #79 was top lot of the French glass section of the sale. It was a rare, early, wheel-carved, enameled, clear glass, 5¼” Gallé Foo Dog vase, in the Japanese style and taste. It soared well beyond its pre-sale estimate of £5,000 – £8,000, realizing £37,500 ($54,225), including buyer’s premium. Surely this vase will be going to Japan. I had no interest in it, as Americans wouldn’t pay a plugged nickel for it.

Daum Snail lamp, Christie's lot #52

Daum Snail lamp, Christie’s lot #52

A rare and very desirable Daum lamp with applied snails was in the sale. It easily surpassed its pre-sale estimate of £12,000 – £15,000, realizing £23,750 ($34,343), even with important condition problems. Here’s an excerpt from the condition report. One snail has been off and re-glued back on and it has a chip/loss to one antennae and a small chip on the end of the shell. The other snail has a tiny chip on the end of its shell. I had no interest in the lamp at any price.

Burgun & Schverer Clematis vase, Christie's lot #118

Burgun & Schverer Clematis vase, Christie’s lot #118

The sale included two excellent, internally decorated Burgun & Schverer (B&S) vases, both of which I wanted to buy. Unfortunately they exceeded my budget. Lot #118 was especially nice, 8¼” tall, with beautiful clematis flowers, on a striking chartreuse green background. It sold well beyond its pre-sale estimate of £2,500 – £3,500, realizing £12,500 ($18,075) — pretty close to what I feel is the retail price.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

Now for a little shameless self-promotion. A good part of the reason people buy from me is that I do the very important vetting. I search for merchandise at auction, privately and through extensive traveling. Then I weed out all the items that are inferior because of design, color, condition, price, or any combination thereof. If I’m selling it, it’s passed my smell test and that means a lot to many people.


Denver, July 15-17, 2016

Denver, July 15-17, 2016

No shows until July, when we’ll be in Denver for the Denver World Wide Antique Show, July 15-17, 2016. In the meantime, we’re very much in business, so call or email me with your wants or items for sale. If you have what I’m looking for, I’m paying the highest prices. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email it to me.

I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. I will continue to list more as often as possible. Please click here to take a look.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 Christie’s New York sale, FRENCH ART GLASS: AN IMPORTANT NEW YORK PRIVATE COLLECTION, March 23, 2016

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.

Christie’s New York held a sale of important French glass, entitled FRENCH ART GLASS: AN IMPORTANT NEW YORK PRIVATE COLLECTION, on March 23, 2016. Sales totaled $1,948,375 for the 176 lots offered. Only three lots failed to sell, for an average of $11,262 per sold lot. I expected good results because this was a really fine collection and the market in French glass is buoyant. The collection consisted of mostly pâte-de-verre items, but included some cameo glass by Gallé, Daum Nancy and Muller.

Gallé Calla Lily vase, Christie's lot #29

Gallé Calla Lily vase, Christie’s lot #29

The top lot of the sale was #29, a huge Gallé blownout Calla Lily vase, in a rare color combination of white flowers and green leaves on a blue background. It easily exceeded its high estimate of $70,000, realizing $106,250, including buyer’s premium, even with open bubbles on the interior of the vase.

Argy-Rousseu Bird of Paradise table lamp, Christie's lot #69

Argy-Rousseu Bird of Paradise table lamp, Christie’s lot #69

A beautiful and rare pâte-de-verre table lamp by Argy-Rousseau, lot #69, was second best. Entitled OISEAUX DE PARADIS (Bird of Paradise), circa 1928, it sold for $81,250, against a pre-sale estimate of $35,000 – $55,000.

Argy-Rousseau Singes vase, Christie's lot #111

Argy-Rousseau Singes vase, Christie’s lot #111

I loved lot #111, a very rare Argy-Rousseau pâte-de-verre vase entitled Singes, with monkeys, on a gorgeous blue and purple background. It sold above its high estimate of $20,000, realizing $27,500, including buyer’s premium, but I thought it would sell for even more.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.


Click on this image to buy tickets

Click on this image to buy tickets

Can you believe our next show is next week! We’ll be in Glencoe, IL, for the Garden, Antique & Design Show, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, starting April 15th. It’s a beautiful show, with both antiques and gardening, that you’ll absolutely enjoy. We only have two remaining shows in the greater Chicago area, so come and say hi!

If you’re selling, please let me know. If you have what I’m looking for, I’m paying the highest prices. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email it to me.

I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. I will continue to list more as often as possible. Please click here to take a look.There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.

Fair results for the Tiffany portion of Christie’s Design sale, December 18, 2015

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.


Christie’s New York held their Design sale on December 18, 2015 with total sales of $5,169,125 for the 152-lot auction. The first 36 lots of the sale were Tiffany Studios items. 10 of those failed to sell, which worked out to a total of $1,378,500 for the Tiffany, for an average of $53,019 for the 26 sold lots, considerably below the results of Sotheby’s Tiffany sale two days earlier.

Tiffany Studios 22" Peony table lamp, Christie's lot #318

Tiffany Studios 22″ Peony table lamp, Christie’s lot #318

Top lot of the Tiffany portion of the sale was #318, a Tiffany Studios 22″ diameter Peony table lamp, with a rare Favrile glass ball base. It sold below its pre-sale estimate of $180,000 – $240,000, realizing $173,000, including buyer’s premium.

Tiffany Favrile blue Jack-in-the-Pulpit vase, Christie's lot #311

Tiffany Favrile blue Jack-in-the-Pulpit vase, Christie’s lot #311

Oops on my prediction that the Christie’s blue Favrile Jack-in-the-Pulpit vase would bring less money than the example at Sotheby’s. Christie’s Jack, lot #311, sold for an incredible $161,000, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $80,000 – $120,000. That was $42,250 more than the $118,750 spent on the Sotheby’s example. I thought the color on the Sotheby’s example was much better than Christie’s, but Christie’s example was bigger by 2″, 21¼” versus 19¼”. That worked out to $21,125 per extra inch. Whew!

Rare Tiffany Studios inkwell, Christie's lot #317

Rare Tiffany Studios inkwell, Christie’s lot #317

Tiffany Studios turtleback inkwell, Nadeau's Auction,  October, 30, 2010

Tiffany Studios turtleback inkwell, Nadeau’s Auction, October, 30, 2010

Lot #317 was a rare Tiffany Studios Turtleback triple inkwell. It also sold below its estimate of $30,000 – $50,000, realizing $25,000, including buyer’s premium. This is only the second time I’ve seen this inkwell come up for sale at auction. A far better example sold at Nadeau’s Auction Gallery, Windsor, Connecticut, on October, 30, 2010, for $37,500. It had three distinct colors, red, blue and green and a much better patina. It’s my understanding that the dealer who bought it subsequently sold it for $75,000.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.


I’ve been quite busy buying and selling recently, partly because I’ve listed many new items on my website. I really need to buy more, so if you have something great, please offer it to me for sale. I am paying the highest prices of any dealer. My decisions are quick and my payments just as quick. Just snap a photo and email me a jpeg.

I will continue to list more as often as possible. Please click here to take a look.

We’re still very much in business between shows, especially since there are fewer shows nowadays. 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 for Tiffany Studios lamps at Christie’s Design sale, June 10, 2015

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.


Christie’s New York held their Design sale yesterday, June 10, 2015, with total sales of $7,687,750 for the 213 lots offered. Included in the sale were several Tiffany Studios lamps that sold well as a group.

Tiffany Studios 22" diameter Peony floor lamp, Christie's lot #14

Tiffany Studios 22″ diameter Peony floor lamp, Christie’s lot #14

The top lot of the Tiffany lamps was #14, a 22″ diameter Peony floor lamp that sold for $161,000, against a pre-sale estimate of $80,000 – $120,000.

Tiffany Studios 20" diameter Dragonfly table lamp, Christie's lot #11

Tiffany Studios 20″ diameter Dragonfly table lamp, Christie’s lot #11

Flying well past its pre-sale estimate of $60,000 – $80,000 was an unusual 20″ Dragonfly table lamp, Christie’s lot #11. It had nicely colored dragonflies against a pastel sky-blue, mottled background, with non-jeweled eyes, two amber geometric bands near the rim and amber jewels in the background. The shade rested on a twisted vine base, all with an original gold doré finish. I couldn’t decide if I liked it or not, but I was going to buy it if the price were low. Alas, that wasn’t the case. It realized $125,000.

All prices include the buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.


No shows until July, when we’ll be in Denver for the Denver World Wide Antique Show, at the Denver Mart, EXPO Building, 451 East 58th Avenue, July 24-26, 2015. We’re still in business, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. Keep checking my website for the latest offerings, which I’ll be posting in the next week.

Click here to check my website for the latest items and to look around. 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.