Exceptional results for two Emile Gallé lamps at Rago’s Mid-Mod sale, October 15, 2016

Posted on December 8, 2016 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.

I meant to write about this sale earlier, but life got in the way. So here goes. Rago Auctions held their Mid-Mod sale on October 15, 2016. Included in the sale was a small collection of Gallé lamps and vases. The two lamps sold very well, while the rest of the Gallé basically flopped.

Gallé floor lamp, Rago lot #532

Lot #532 was a Gallé floor lamp with allium floral decoration. Other than the rarity, I thought the glass was unexceptional, with only one technique (acid-etching) and uninspiring brown and green colors. On the other hand, the metalwork was fine and floor lamps are really rare. The bidders did not consult me and pushed the final price to $310,000, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $150,000 – $200,000. The air gets kinda thin at that altitude.

Gallé Allium table lamp, Rago lot #533

The next lot, #533, appeared to be a companion table lamp, which in my opinion was finer and more graceful than the floor lamp. It didn’t do as well, realizing $43,750, including buyer’s premium, against an estimate of $40,000 – $60,000.

Most of the other Gallé offered for sale did not sell, with a few exceptions. It was a mixed day for French glass at Rago’s.

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.

Sotheby’s Paris sold two French glass lamps in their Design sale, November 22, 2016

Posted on November 28, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Sotheby’s Paris held their Design sale on November 22, 2016, with gross sales of $5,072,625. Included in the sale were two French glass lamps.

Daum Rain lamp, Sotheby’s lot #249

Lot #249 was a Daum Rain lamp estimated to sell for €20,000 – €30,000. It sold for the low estimate of €25,000 ($26,483), including buyer’s premium. I didn’t bid on the lamp because in my opinion the top rim of the shade had been ground down. Too bad, because the lamp had lovely color.

Argy-Rousseau pâte-de-verre Tragi-comique lamp, Sotheby’s lot #247

The second French glass lamp was pâte-de-verre by Argy-Rousseau, entitled Tragi-comique, circa 1922. It too sold for its low estimate of €50,000 ($52,966), including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

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.

No more shows in 2016. Our next show will probably be the NYC Big Flea, the weekend of January 21, at the Lexington Avenue Armory. If not, 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 Miami Beach Antiques Show will no longer be in Miami Beach, instead moving to a new location in southwest Miami. It will all make for an interesting winter season.

Tiffany Studios lamps lead the way in James D. Julia’s record $3.1 million Important Lamps, Glass & Fine Jewelry auction, November 18, 2016

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Philip Chasen

James D. Julia, Inc. held its Important Lamps, Glass & Fine Jewelry auction on November 18, 2016, with gross sales of $3.1 million, a record for the lamp & glass division. Much of the merchandise offered was fresh to the market from important collections in the Midwest, Florida and elsewhere.

Tiffany Studios 22″ diam. Drop Head Dragonfly table lamp, Julia lot #1259

Top lot of the sale and a record for any item ever sold by Julia’s lamp & glass division was #1259, a Tiffany Studios 22″ Drop Head Dragonfly table lamp. It more than tripled its low estimate of $120,000, realizing $515,475, including buyer’s premium.

Lot 1216, a Tiffany Studios 22-inch Peony table lamp on a rare mosaic base sold for $394,605

All of the top three Tiffany lamps were consigned from the same Florida collection and all of them were offered with very low estimates and reserves. This was the guidance given to the consignor by the division head, Mike Fredericks, and it certainly was good advice. Each of the three lamps vastly exceeded their estimates and each broke the previous record for any lot sold by the division. As I’ve stated many times before, there is nothing like high quality, fresh merchandise at low estimates. It’s raw meat for the hungry lions.

Gallé marquetry vase, Julia lot #1058

The French glass section of the sale included many fresh, high quality items, which overall did very well. Top lot of this section of the sale was #1058, a fine 17″ Gallé marquetry vase. It sold a little below its low estimate of $50,000, realizing $52,732.50, including buyer’s premium. In my opinion, it would have done better had it been consigned at a less aggressive estimate of $30,000 – $50,000.

Tiffany & Co. mixed metal chocolate pot, Julia lot #1409

The sale included some nice silver, including Tiffany & Co. mixed metal objects. They were met with enthusiasm, with lot #1409, a mixed metal chocolate pot more than tripling its low estimate of $10,000, realizing $40,290, including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, click here, but not immediately. The results are expected to be posted sometime on Monday or Tuesday. You will have to sign in (free) in order to see the prices.

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.

No more shows in 2016. Our next show will probably be the NYC Big Flea, the weekend of January 21, at the Lexington Avenue Armory. If not, 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. It’s all happening because the Miami Beach Antiques Show will not be at the beach, instead moving to a new location in southwest Miami. It will all make for an interesting winter season.

What’s new at Philip Chasen Antiques?

Posted on November 14, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Tiffany Favrile 7″ diameter shade

It’s been a while since I’ve listed new items on my website, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been busy. Just the opposite. Between buying and selling and traveling for business and pleasure, I’ve been too busy to update my listings. But that’s beginning to change. I’ve already started to list some of the great items of French and American glass I recently bought. The Tiffany Favrile glass all comes from the same important private collection that I’ve been buying from for the last few years. Following are just a few examples. Please check my website now and every day, as I continue to add new items. If you’re impatient, please email me, philchasen@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to discuss it with you.

Gorgeous red Tiffany Favrile Tel el Amarna vase

I bought several fine Tiffany Favrile vases from a NYC collection and a 7″ diameter Favrile glass shade and a 4-branch candelabrum from a Washington, DC collection. There are some really great examples here.

Daum pillow vase with Swan>/i> decoration

Daum pillow vase with Swan decoration

Just this past weekend I bought several very fine Daum Nancy vases, including a very rare Swan vase, a gorgeous scenic vase and a covered perfume. I’ll be listing them all as soon as possible, but right this minute only a few have been listed. I’ll be listing more this week. Please check my site as often as you can.

A. Walter pate-de-verre tray with beetle

No more shows in 2016. Our next show will probably be the NYC Big Flea, the weekend of January 21, at the Lexington Avenue Armory. If not, 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. It’s all happening because the Miami Beach Antiques Show will not be at the beach, instead moving to a new location in southwest Miami. It will all make for an interesting winter season.

Setting up at the Antiques + Modernism Winnetka show, November 1, 2016

Posted on November 3, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Our booth is about half done

We are in Winnetka, IL, this week to exhibit at the Antiques + Modernism Winnetka show at the Winnetka Community Center. Yesterday was the first day of setup. Today we’ll finish in time for the preview party this evening. I’m not a fan of preview parties (as those who read my blog already know), but at least this one comes with good food and drink. I hope to sell something this evening, but the odds of that are very low. I’ll let you know in Monday’s blog.

Haig Mathew Klujian (right) of Mathew Klujian & Sons

The show is high quality and very diverse, so if you like antique shows, you’ll like this one. This is the only show left in the greater Chicago area in the fall. The only other one left will be in May at the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago. Please visit the show and show your support. Shows that don’t get support fail, so let’s try and prevent that. Please visit my booth, C20, and say hello.

I’ve been negligent in listing new items, but that will soon be coming to an end. I’ve taken photos of many new items and I will start listing them shortly. Please check my site as often as you can.

The Antiques + Modernism Winnetka Show opens this Friday, November 4, 2016

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Philip Chasen

The Winnetka Community House

We’ll be traveling to Chicago this week to exhibit at the Antiques + Modernism Winnetka show at the Winnetka Community Center. It’s one of two shows we have left in the greater Chicago area. The only other one will be the new Chicago Antiques, Art & Design Show at the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago. As you may recall in a previous blog post, the spring show at the Chicago Botanic Garden has been canceled and the new show at the Merchandise Mart is being revived, May 18-21, 2017.

We’ll have this wonderful 19″ Daum Parrot Tulip vase at the show

It’s an interesting show with high quality, diverse exhibitors from around the US, selling everything from paintings to furniture to art to jewelry to glass and lamps (me). We’re coming loaded for bear with a fantastic collection of French and American glass and lamps. You will not be disappointed with the show. It’s worth a trip from anywhere in the greater Chicago area. If you like antique shows, this is the only game in town until the spring. Please visit my booth, C20, and say hello.

Northeast Auctions, Portsmouth, NH, sold a beautiful Burgun & Schverer French cameo glass bottle at auction, October 25, 2016

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Burgun & Schverer (B&S) internally decorated bottle, Northeast lot #200

Northeast Auctions, Portsmouth, NH, held an auction, October 17-18, 2016. Included in the sale was a beautiful Burgun & Schverer French cameo glass bottle with silver mounts and internally decorated bleeding hearts decoration, lot #200. It sold for $4,320, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $1,500 – $2,500. I was the underbidder. I would have bid higher, but the bottle had some minor condition problems, including a chip to the inner rim of the bottle and a chip to the stopper.

Following is a link to a prior blog post on B&S glass, so you can appreciate its importance and desirability. Click here.

For the complete results of the Northeast Auctions sale, click here.

Our next show in Winnetka, Illinois, is next week, 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!

Horta Auctioneers sold French cameo glass in Brussels, Belgium, October 17-18, 2016

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Horta Auctioneers, Brussels, Belgium, held an important sale, October 17-18, 2016. Included were quite a few lots of French cameo glass, including some very large examples, possibly from the same collection.

Monumental Gallé scenic vase, Horta lot #209

Top lot of the French cameo glass was #209, a huge 20″ tall scenic vase by Emile Gallé. Besides its enormous size, the decoration was very colorful and highly detailed. It sold below its aggressive pre-auction estimate of €25,000 – €30,000, realizing €24,000 ($26,125), including buyer’s premium. Sounds fair for such a huge vase. The problem for me personally would have been shipping, transporting and displaying such a gigantic vase at a show.

Monumental Daum Columbine vase, Horta lot #139

Lot #139 was another of the very large vases, this time by Daum, 21″ tall, with columbine decoration. It too sold below its estimate of €4,500 – €6,000, realizing €5,040 ($5,486), including buyer’s premium. (Remember the estimate does not include the buyer’s premium.) Personally I don’t have much luck selling very tall, narrow vases, so I tend to avoid them.

Monumental Le Verre Francais vase, Horta lot #145

Le Verre Francais made some very large vases, but 27½” is ridiculously large. The decoration on this example was nothing special, but the vase still sold within its pre-auction estimate of €4,500 – €6,000, realizing €6,000 ($6,531), including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

Our next show in Winnetka, Illinois, is just around the corner, 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!

New Orleans Auction sold French cameo glass at its October 15-16, 2016 sale

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Philip Chasen

New Orleans Auction Galleries held an almost 1000-lot sale, October 15-16, 2016. Included in the sale were quite a few lots of French cameo glass, mostly low quality. I was interested in two of the lots, but unfortunately I missed the sale.

Gallé scenic vase, New Orleans lot #149

Lot #149 was a large, 14″, Gallé scenic vase with very good color and a rare shape. It was estimated to sell for $1,500 – $2,500 and realized $3,500, including buyer’s premium. That was a fair price, so I probably would have been the buyer.

Argy-Rousseau? moth paperweight, New Orleans lot #928

Lot #928 was possibly an Argy-Rousseau pâte-de-verre moth paperweight. It sold for very little money, $812.50, including buyer’s premium. The problem with this lot is that it may or may not have been authentic, as this particular paperweight has been reproduced. From the photo it was very difficult to ascertain its authenticity. My guess was 60/40 that it was a reproduction. In person I would have had no problem. So if I had bought it and determined it to be fake, returning it would have been a hassle. In retrospect, it was probably a good thing I didn’t buy it.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

This is why you buy from me

Posted on October 17, 2016 by Philip Chasen

Daum Mushroom vase, Christie’s lot #327

Christie’s held its Living with Art sale on Thursday and Friday, October 13-14, 2016. Included in the sale was lot #327, a Daum Mushroom vase, a very desirable decoration. It’s a rare example where the decoration has been both wheel-carved and enameled. The problem with this particular vase is that it’s been cut down, probably to remove a big chip.

Daum Winter vase

The example above is a Daum Winter vase with the original top.

I emailed Christie’s for a condition report on this lot to see if they knew the vase had been cut down. Apparently they didn’t. Here is their report. “In very good condition overall. With some light surface wear, as to be expected with age and handling. The underside with a large shallow chip, but which does not interfere with the inscription.” In their defense, they did make an announcement in the saleroom because I told them of the problem.

daum-mushroom-vase-4 I guess that scared off all the buyers. The vase sold without reserve, so I bought it for $400 ($500 with the buyer’s premium). Wow! It’s a $10,000 vase in perfect condition. It’s for sale and you can buy it for 25% of the appraised value. $2,500 (or best offer) and it’s yours. The chip on the underside is unimportant and probably took place in the making when the pontil was removed. The top rim is altered, but the vase is still an outstanding and rare Mushroom vase. 25% – 33% is typically the selling price of high quality, but imperfect items. This is your opportunity.

And that’s why you buy from me. I vet all of the items I sell. You know what you’re buying, so you can buy with confidence.

Philip Chasen Antiques

The blog for chasenantiques.com

Tag Archives: French cameo glass

Exceptional results for two Emile Gallé lamps at Rago’s Mid-Mod sale, October 15, 2016

Sotheby’s Paris sold two French glass lamps in their Design sale, November 22, 2016

Tiffany Studios lamps lead the way in James D. Julia’s record $3.1 million Important Lamps, Glass & Fine Jewelry auction, November 18, 2016

What’s new at Philip Chasen Antiques?

Setting up at the Antiques + Modernism Winnetka show, November 1, 2016

The Antiques + Modernism Winnetka Show opens this Friday, November 4, 2016

Northeast Auctions, Portsmouth, NH, sold a beautiful Burgun & Schverer French cameo glass bottle at auction, October 25, 2016

Horta Auctioneers sold French cameo glass in Brussels, Belgium, October 17-18, 2016

New Orleans Auction sold French cameo glass at its October 15-16, 2016 sale

This is why you buy from me