The turkeys are back

Posted on December 8, 2009 by Philip Chasen

Lia Chasen, with friend Sandra Pak, feeding the wild turkeys

Having never seen a wild turkey on Long Island for my whole life, I’ve now seen them three times in a month. Today they visited again and this time they brought their friends (or relatives). Today’s visit included a rafter of nine turkeys. (How do you like the term “rafter of turkeys”? Had to look that one up online to find the proper term.) Two of the eight were probably the alpha males. They were much bigger and had their tail feathers open. They seemed to be in charge and protective of the others. Two of the turkeys flew up to drink from the bird bath. Did you know that turkeys can fly? Well, not very far, according to my research. Basically they just fly up into trees.

The alpha male turkeys

Long Island’s wild turkeys are quite tame. So many people feed them that they’re practically domesticated. We had a hunt on Long Island a few weeks ago, but that was farther out on Long Island in Suffolk County. Hunters had to get licenses and were permitted only one turkey per permit. Very few turkeys were caught during the five day hunt. They haven’t yet learned to fear humans, so hunting them shouldn’t have been that difficult. I guess the problem was locating them, as there aren’t that many yet — approximately 3000 on all of Long Island, and Long Island is very big.

A couple of the turkey hens drinking from the bird bath

It’s fun to get a visit from the local turkeys, as long as they leave soon, and they usually do. A rafter of nine turkeys can leave quite a bit of poop. Just ignore them and stop feeding them — that seems to do the trick. At least they’re not as bad as geese (and we have lots and lots of geese on Long Island). Once they decide they like your property, it’s very difficult to get rid of them.

I’m taking a lot of time to add new items to my website. I’ve already listed new items under Gallé glass (including a blownout vase), Daum Nancy glass and Tiffany Studios glass. Soon I’ll be adding many Tiffany Studios desk pieces. Many are priced right for great holiday gift-giving. Who wouldn’t like to receive a genuine Tiffany desk set accessory as a Christmas or Chanukah gift? I’ll soon be starting a big sale on Icart etchings. Please take a look, as every day I’m adding more. Click on this link chasenantiques.com.

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.com or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

Make your plans for the two big antique shows coming to Miami in January, 2010

Posted on December 3, 2009 by Philip Chasen

The Miami National Antiques Show, January 15-17, 2010

Now is the time to start making your plans to come to Miami for the two big antique shows in January. The first show is the Miami National Antiques Show, held at the Doubletree Expo Centre (near the airport), January 15-17, 2010. This show has a long history, back to the time about 30 years ago when Marty Ellis was the show promoter. I remember one January when there were so many people on line that the fire marshalls were only permitting people into the show as other visitors were leaving. I’ve exhibited at some busy shows since then, but that was the high-water mark for show attendance. Although the show has gotten a little smaller (there’s no second floor any more), the quality has managed to stay extraordinarily high. Many of the best dealers exhibit at this show, so it’s a good way to start the new year’s antique season. There’s a concentration of the best dealers in glass and lamps, so that’s an especially good reason to visit.

The Original Miami Beach Antique Show, January 21-25, 2010

Immediately following that show will be the eagerly anticipated Original Miami Beach Antique Show, at the Miami Beach Convention Center, January 21-25, 2010. This is a huge show that attracts both exhibitors and attendees from all over the world. I’ve done business at this show with people from almost every continent. There’s always a lot of action, with millions and millions of dollars of merchandise changing hands. Many dealers save their best items just for this show. Give yourself at least two days to see everything.

Have you tried Hotwire.com or Priceline.com to book your hotel or car? Take my advice from a very experienced traveler. Hotwire is great most of the time. You won’t know the name of the hotel until you’ve paid with a credit card, but you will know the location and the star rating. You can be pretty sure that a 3 or 4-star rating will be a nationally-known brand-name hotel. I like to stay in Miami, not Miami Beach, for the duration of the two shows. Parking and eating is much less of a hassle and the hotels are better and cheaper. The least expensive 3½-star hotels on Hotwire were $89/night, so I tried Priceline and bid $69/night. To my amazement, I got the Embassy Suites near the airport. Embassy Suites are great and $69/night??? What a deal!

The Miami shows are wonderful. First of all, you can escape winter for as long as you’re there. Then you’re at the heart of the antiques world for a couple of weeks. What a combination. Make your plans now, while good hotels are still available and airfares are cheap. I’ll see you there!!!

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.com or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

Some treasures I’ve owned, part V, Gallé blownout vases

Posted on December 1, 2009 by Philip Chasen

Gallé blownout elephant vase

Emile Gallé died in 1904, but the company he founded continued in business until the Great Depression. Production stopped during WWI, but then continued after the war. It was during that time that blownout vases were created. Sometimes they are referred to as mold-blown or soufflé, in France. The technique is first to create a mold and blow the glass into the mold. That creates the identical shape for successive examples, but not identical colors. The artist is still free to change the colors for each example. The colored layers are applied to the vase and then etched with acid. There are roughly 30 different models, from simple models with berries to exotic ones with elephants. What makes one better than another is the design, the color and the size.

Elephants are amongst the best Gallé blownout vases. The usual coloration is brown elephants on an opalescent or yellow background. There is also a rarer example with white elephants. Gallé elephant vases are large and impressive. The example above was a beauty.

Gallé blownout calla lily vase

The largest Gallé blownout vase is the calla lily. It’s huge, heavy, and spectacular. This particular example had great color with red lilies on a yellow-amber background. This model also exists with blue calla lilies and is exceptionally beautiful.

Gallé blownout clematis vase

Sometimes an additional layer of color (usually white) is added to give the flowers even more of a three-dimensional and realistic look. These examples are quite rare and usually gorgeous. The example below has a layer of white glass beneath the red and makes the clematis flowers appear dramatic.

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.com or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

Oops! I broke it, part II

Posted on November 27, 2009 by Philip Chasen

Most damage happens because of carelessness, but occasionally there’s another reason. This was one of those times.

Daum blackbird vase

Lia and I used to go to Paris several times a year on buying trips. It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it. We haven’t gone in quite some time, mostly because of the dollar’s weakness, making domestic buying more attractive. On one particular trip we bought some lovely items for resale, including one very special Daum vase with blackbirds. It was a beautiful example with lovely color and a great shape with an applied foot.

Daum blackbird vase, Julia's lot #2250, November 20, 2009

Blackbird decoration is one of the rarest and best decorations. Just this past weekend at Julia’s lamp and glass auction, a beautiful Daum 5″ vase with blackbirds sold for $12,650, including buyer’s premium.

The unfortunate result

When a vase is dirty, I usually clean it before putting it up for sale. So I took it to the sink, sprayed it with some cleaners and scrubbed it clean. I held it by the foot and turned it upside-down to let the excess water drain. Then to my utter astonishment, the body of the vase separated from the foot and dropped to the floor, smashing into many pieces. I stood there motionless for a while, incredulous, trying to understand what had just happened. Finally, I got around to examining the foot and noticed that there was glue residue on it. Daum vases are not made with glue, so that meant that someone had reattached the foot to the body. LUCKILY for me, I hadn’t paid for it yet. I called the dealer in France to tell him the bad news. He had sold me a restored vase and therefore it was not my responsibility. I emailed him photos of the disaster and ultimately gave him back the pieces. He said he didn’t know it was restored, but someone, somewhere, along the line of possession was responsible for the restoration and no one was willing to own up to it. To the best of my knowledge, the dealer who sold the vase to me took the loss. He tried to go back to the person who sold it to him, but that person refused to accept responsibility (or so he said).

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.com or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

French cameo and Tiffany Studios Favrile glass do well at Julia’s Lamp & Glass auction, November 20, 2009

Posted on November 24, 2009 by Philip Chasen

Tiffany Studios flower form vase, Julia's lot #2091

Session 2 of James D. Julia’s Lamp & Glass auction was held on Friday, November 20. The session began with art glass shades, with rare and unusual examples holding up well, while common shades did not.

The Tiffany Studios section of the sale followed with glass and desk accessories performing well. Lot 2091 was a Tiffany Studios flowerform vase that carried a pre-sale estimate of $4-6,000 and sold for $11,500, including buyer’s premium. A mini red Tiffany Studios decorated vase, 3″ tall, estimated for $3-5,000, sold for $6,612.50, including buyer’s premium.

Tiffany Studios red mini vase, Julia's lot #2093

French cameo glass was next up on the auction block. First was an outstanding vase by Eugène Michel with padded and heavily wheel-carved poppy flowers. It was estimated at $15-20,000 and sold for $25,300, including buyer’s premium. The three other Michel vases in the sale also did well. An outstanding Gallé marquetry vase, lot #2235, was estimated at $20-30,000 and sold within the estimate for $24,150.

Eugène Michel padded & wheel-carved cameo glass vase, Julia's lot #2217

Bidding was spirited for several fine examples of Daum Nancy glass. A 5″ vase with blackbirds sold for $12,650, within the estimate of $10-15,000, while a bowl with handles and rare swan decoration sold to a New York dealer on the telephone for $10,925, including buyer’s premium, against a conservative estimate of $5,500-7,000.

Daum Nancy handled bowl with swan decoration, Julia's lot #2283

More than a dozen examples of pate-de-verre vases, boxes and pendants by Argy-Rousseau and A. Walter sold well, most within the estimates and a couple exceeding the estimates. A Walter luminaire of a fish was estimated to sell for $3,500-5,000. It sold for $10,350, including buyer’s premium.

A. Walter pate-de-verre luminaire, Julia's lot #2347

I will be adding many new and exciting items to my website in the next few days and weeks, many of them at very attractive prices. Please check my website often for the latest. chasenantiques.com.

I’d love to hear from you with 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.com or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

Thank you, Chicago, once again

Posted on October 19, 2009 by Philip Chasen

Royal Vienna vase

I just finished my third show in the greater Chicago area in six weeks, with sincere reservations beforehand. After all, how many times can you exhibit in the same city within a reasonably short period of time? Well, the answer is THREE! The show went very well and I’m both surprised and pleased. What happened is that my clients who couldn’t attend the previous two shows found the time to attend this one. Sales were made to existing clients (thank you very much!) and also several new ones. That’s as good as it gets. I always value sales to my loyal clients, but it’s important to make sales to new ones too. When I have a show where I make very few, but good sales, I feel lucky. I don’t want to feel lucky. I want business to be good and when it’s spread across a larger base of clients, it means that business is good. Guess what? Business is good!

Tiffany Favrile candle lamp in rare kerosene version

There was interest across the board. Sales were made in Tiffany, Daum, Galle, Rookwood, Newcomb College, Marblehead, Royal Vienna, and bronze and ivory, to name a few. That’s the way it’s supposed to be! If the stock market is a leading indicator of the end of recession, let me add that the antiques business also seems to be a leading indicator. The economy is getting better and it’s starting to show. After a wonderful show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart a couple of weeks ago, it was very gratifying to see that it wasn’t a fluke.

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.com or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

The changing antiques market

Posted on October 15, 2009 by Philip Chasen

I’ve been pondering the changing nature of the antiques business. After 35 years, I have the luxury of being able to stand back and look dispassionately at the changes.

One of the major changes I’ve noticed is that there are fewer collectors today. That hasn’t necessarily hurt the value of antiques, as many people are still decorating with antiques. I meet people at shows who have a spot for a lamp or a vase or a painting and then they’re finished. Previously I encountered many more people who were looking to accumulate collections.

Daum winter scenic bowl

A lady from Florida wanted only to collect Daum winter scenes. She would see me at a show and ask me if I had any new shapes. She would only buy from me if I had a vase in a shape she didn’t have. By the time she finished, she had collected 72 different Daum winter scenic vases and lamps. It was quite an impressive collection.

Sam Maloof furniture from a 2006 exhibit at the Oceanside Museum of Art

Another big change has to do with what is collectible today — and that’s constantly changing as time goes by. For example, most Victorian glass has gone down in value, as there are fewer collectors today. Just on the face of it, it seems that when certain antiques get “too old”, interest in them lessens. Maybe people want to collect items from their childhoods or their parent’s or grandparent’s childhoods. Older than that and the items are unfamiliar. Modernism has become more and more popular as the years go by. The collectors are mostly younger and the items they like are no older than from the ’50s, and much of it is much newer. For example, Sam Maloof furniture is highly collectible. Sam was making furniture until his death in May, 2009.

So what will happen as time passes? I wish I had the answer. I do know that whatever happens is not inevitable. Publicity can work wonders. After a traveling exhibition in the 1980s in Japan of the works of Louis Icart, interest in Japan soared. So how about a few important exhibitions for Tiffany or French cameo glass? I’d love to see some.

What’s your opinion? Please post comments.

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.com 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.

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

French Cameo Glass excels at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

Posted on October 5, 2009 by Philip Chasen

Leslie Hindman held an auction today with fresh-to-the-market French cameo glass from the Patricia J. Gottschalk Trust. Combined with the fact that the estimates were very conservative, the results excelled, with most items exceeding the high estimates, some items selling for 5-6 times the high estimate and one item bringing 8 times the high estimate.

Daum rain scenic vase, Hindman lot #23

Lot 23 was a Daum rain scenic vase. Rain scenes are very desirable, so there was no question this vase would do well. This example was very nice, with a good shape and size at 8″. It would have been excellent if there had been more pink in the sky. The pre-sale estimate was $1-2,000, which was very low. A fair estimate would have been $4-6,000. The vase sold for $13,420, including buyer’s premium — over 6 times the high estimate.

Daum wheel-carved footed vase, Hindman #24

A superb Daum vase, with highly detailed wheel-carving, was sold as lot 24. Apparently the staff at Hindman’s didn’t think much of the vase because the pre-sale estimate of $800-1,200 was even lower than for the previous lot. It sold for a strong $9,760, including buyer’s premium — 8 times the high estimate.

It was nice to see such strength and interest in the French cameo glass market. The key to great results at auction is fresh merchandise and low estimates and Hindman’s had both.

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

French Cameo Glass sells well at Doyle’s Belle Epoque Auction

Posted on September 24, 2009 by Philip Chasen

Doyle New York had its Belle Epoque auction today with a very nice selection of French cameo glass. The overall results were solid with a few items doing very well.

Daum Prairie vase, lot 356

First up was a group of Daum vases. One of the nicest of the group was a small Prairie vase, which is a rare and desirable model. This model always comes with a plethora of small flowers in a field. The flowers are hand-painted with enamel and fired. Lot 356 was small at 5″ and a good example of a Prairie vase, but certainly not the best. It carried a pre-sale estimate of $5-7000 and sold for $6250, including the buyer’s premium — a very good price.

Daum winter tumbler, lot 364

Lot 364 was a 4½” Daum diamond-shaped tumbler with a winter scene that sold for $3750, including buyer’s premium — again a very nice price for a small, but very nice example. The pre-sale estimate was strong at $3-4000.

Le Verre Francais vase, 'Papilon', lot 317

The nicest of the Le Verre Francais vases was a 13¾” Papillons example with colorful butterflies. It carried a conservative pre-sale estimate of $25-3500 and sold for $4687.50, including buyer’s premium. The other Le Verre vases that were sold were more common and brought commensurately less.

The Gallé vases that were sold were all decent, but none exceptional. The best of the group was a clear glass, early enameled Crystallerie vase, 13″. Doyle didn’t think highly enough of the vase to picture it in their catalog, but it should have been. It carried a pre-sale estimate of $15-2500 and sold for a strong $4375, including buyer’s premium. The others vases sold for less, as they were not as desirable. Early Galle vases have risen in popularity in the last few years, mainly as a result of strong Japanese interest.

Tomorrow, the results of the Tiffany Studios items sold in this auction.

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

Philip Chasen Antiques

The blog for chasenantiques.com

Tag Archives: Daum Nancy

The turkeys are back

Make your plans for the two big antique shows coming to Miami in January, 2010

Some treasures I’ve owned, part V, Gallé blownout vases

Oops! I broke it, part II

French cameo and Tiffany Studios Favrile glass do well at Julia’s Lamp & Glass auction, November 20, 2009

Thank you, Chicago, once again

The changing antiques market

Thank you, Chicago

French Cameo Glass excels at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

French Cameo Glass sells well at Doyle’s Belle Epoque Auction