The results of Heritage Auctions’ Illustration Art auction, October 12, 2018

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.


Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas, held an Illustration Art sale on October 12, 2018, with total sales of $1,745,893 for the 398 lots offered. Works by Patrick Nagel and Alberto Vargas led the sale, taking the first five places.

Patrick Nagel Untitled, Heritage lot #71155

The top lot of the sale was #71155, an untitled acrylic on canvas painting by Patrick Nagel. It sold for an incredible $162,500, including buyer’s premium — approximately double its high estimate of $80,000. I continue to be befuddled by his desirability and prices. I just don’t see it.

Alberto Vargas Trick or Treat, Heritage lot #71151

On the other hand, I understand Alberto Vargas. Lot #71151, a mixed media painting on board entitled Trick or Treat, a Playboy interior illustration from the October, 1967 issue, sold for $100,000, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $40,000 – $60,000.

Gil Elvgren Vision of Beauty (Unveiling), Heritage lot #71115

While the prices of works by Patrick Nagel is on the upswing, prices for Gil Elvgren’s works are on the downswing. A beautiful 1947 painting by Elvgren, entitled Vision of Beauty (Unveiling) sold below its pre-sale estimate of $60,000 – $80,000, realizing only $45,000, including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, click here. You will have to sign in for the prices (free).


No shows until January 18, 2019, when we’ll exhibit at the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC). It precedes the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show.

I’ll be listing new items soon, especially Tiffany desk set items, which make great Christmas gifts. Look for them soon.

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.

Works by Patrick Nagel led Heritage Auctions’ Illustration Art sale, April 24, 2018

For the foreseeable future I will publish once a week on Mondays.


Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas, held an Illustration Art sale on April 24, 2018, with total sales of $1,357,487 for the 451 lots offered. Works by Patrick Nagel led the sale, taking the first and fourth places.

Patrick Nagel acrylic on canvas painting Nude on Back with Black Stockings, Heritage lot #71150

The top lot of the sale was #71150, a 1983 acrylic on canvas painting by Patrick Nagel entitled Nude on Back with Black Stockings. It sold for $106,250, including buyer’s premium — approximately double its low estimate of $50,000. I don’t understand Nagel’s work or why it’s so desirable, but someone does.

Alberto Vargas, Martini Time, Heritage lot #71202

I do understand the appeal of Alberto Vargas. His paintings scored the second, seventh and eleventh highest prices of the sale, $87,500, $27,500, and $18,750, respectively. Lot #71202, Martini Time, a watercolor and pencil on paper from 1935, sold for $87,500, including buyer’s premium, well above its high estimate of $50,000.

Gil Elvgren Perfection, Heritage lot #71058

Gil Elvgren has scored the top slots in other illustration art sales, but had to settle for the fifth and eighth ones in this sale. His 1948 painting Perfection sold for $57,500, below its pre-sale estimate of $60,000 – $80,000. Recent results for Elvgren’s works have weakened.

For the complete results of the sale, click here. You will have to sign in for the prices (free).


The Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart will open next week, May 18-20, 2018. We’re pretty excited about it and you should be too. Please make your plans to attend!

We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. 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.

The results of Heritage Auctions’ The Estate of Zsa Zsa Gabor auction, April 13, 2018

For the foreseeable future I will publish once a week on Mondays.


Heritage Auctions, Dallas, TX, sold The Estate of Zsa Zsa Gabor at auction on April 13, 2018. Sales totaled $909,209 for the 480 lots offered. Interestingly, there were no estimates because the sale was totally unreserved. That meant that every item sold with no minimum price. Conceivably an item could have sold for $1 + buyer’s premium, but in actuality the lowest price paid was for lot #65328, three letters written to Zsa Zsa, which sold for $175, including buyer’s premium.

The estate was consigned to Heritage Auctions by her ninth husband, Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt. He became her sole remaining heir after the deaths of her sisters and daughter. Zsa Zsa Gabor died on December 18, 2016, at the age of 99. Click on Zsa Zsa Gabor’s name for a link to her very interesting Wikipedia page. Click on von Anhalt’s name for a link to his Wikipedia page. His is quite the story, starting with the purchase of his title.

Margaret Keane Portrait of Zsa Zsa Gabor, Heritage lot #65140

The top lot of the sale was #65140, an oil on canvas painting by Margaret Keane, Portrait of Zsa Zsa Gabor, which sold for $45,000, including buyer’s premium.

Pal Fried portrait of Zsa Zsa and her daughter, Francesca, Heritage lot #65047

Zsa Zsa possessed many paintings by her fellow Hungarian compatriot, Pal Fried, all of which were included in the sale. Lot #65047 was a beautiful, oversize portrait of Zsa Zsa and her daughter, Francesca. It was sold for $7,500, including buyer’s premium, purchased by yours truly.

Heritage lot #65191

In a creepy, ghoulish section of the sale, someone paid $1,187.50 for each of two lots of Zsa Zsa’s pill containers, #s 65212 and 65192. I’m sorry, but that’s nuts. Can’t we leave the woman with a little dignity?

Much of the sale is devoted to her clothing, jewelry, furniture and personal possessions. For the complete results, click here. You will have to sign in to see the prices (free).


Our next show is now only a month away, May 18-20, 2018, when we’ll exhibit at the 2nd edition of the resurrected Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. It’s a wonderful venue for a show that deserved to be restored from purgatory.

We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. 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.

Works by Patrick Nagel led Heritage Auctions’ Original Illustration Art sale, October 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.

Patrick Nagel painting, Bold, Heritage lot #71116

Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas, held their Original Illustration Art sale on October 14, 2017, with total sales of $1,098,328. An acrylic on canvas work by Patrick Nagel entitled Bold led the sale with a $200,000 result. Personally I don’t understand it, but guess what? The bidders didn’t ask me and didn’t care what I thought. I wouldn’t have bought it at any price.

Hugh Joseph Ward illustration, Heritage lot #71171

I would love to have bought lot #71171. It was a wonderful cover illustration by Hugh Joseph Ward entitled Undercover Man for the April, 1942 edition of Detective magazine. It sold for $81,250, including buyer’s premium — the second best result of the sale.

Gil Elvgren 1968 calendar illustration, Swingin’ Sweetie, Heritage lot #71047

Works by Gil Elvgren frequently led previous Heritage’s Illustration sales, but not this time. It appears that prices for Elvgren’s works have been heading lower after peaking several years ago. The top Elvgren lot of the sale, #71047, a 1968 calendar illustration for Brown & Bigelow entitled Swingin’ Sweetie sold for $32,000, good for the fifth best result of the sale.

For the complete results of the sale, click here. You will have to sign in (free) for the prices.


No more shows until February 2, 2018, when we’ll exhibit at the Miami Airport show. That gives us time to beat the bushes to find new treasures and take some time to smell the figurative roses. November is usually a good month for business. Then business dies in December because most people are looking for less expensive Christmas gifts than we offer. Occasionally we make a Christmas sale, but that’s the exception, not the rule. Cold weather and the New Year bring a new wave of enthusiasm.

I will update my site 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.

Patrick Nagel and Gil Elvgren led Heritage Auction’s Illustration Art sale, May 12, 2017

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.


Heritage Auction held its Illustration Art sale on May 12, 2017, with some superb results. Three works by Patrick Nagel and seven works by Gil Elvgren led the sale.

Patrick Nagel Seductive Female in Profile, Heritage lot #71136

Leading the sale was lot #71136, a large (48″ x 40″) Patrick Nagel acrylic on canvas painting entitled Seductive Female in Profile. It realized $125,000, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $60,000 – $80,000.

Gil Elvgren Fire Belle (Always Ready), Heritage lot #71071

The second highest price of $112,500 was achieved by a Gil Elvgren painting entitled Fire Belle (Always Ready) from 1956. It sold below its low estimate of $100,000 (without buyer’s premium). The seller took a bath as he paid $191,200 in October, 2011, in another Heritage Illustration Art sale.

Hy Hintermeister Rocket Pad Keep Out, Heritage lot #71097

Nagel and Elvgren dominated the top four spots, with Hy Hintermeister in 5th place, with a lovely painting Rocket Pad Keep Out selling for $37,500, against a pre-sale estimate of $8,000 – $12,000.

For the complete results of the sale, click here. You will have to sign in (free) for the results.


Our next show is the Denver World Wide Antique Show in mid-July, so we’ll take some time to smell the roses. I’ll be buying and selling in the meantime, so be in touch if you’re doing either.

I recently listed some new items on my website and I’ll be listing more in the near future. Please check my site as often as you can.

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.

Martin Brothers birds sell well at Heritage Auctions’ 20th Century Design sale, November 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.


Merry Christmas to those who celebrate and Happy Chanukah to those who celebrate.

Heritage Auctions held their 20th Century Design sale on November 18, 2016, with total sales of $1,368,204. Included in the sale were eight lots of Martinware, including several bird tobacco jars, which continued to sell well.

Martin Brothers bird, Heritage lot #79001

Top lot of this group was #79001, a grotesque bird with long beak. Collectors prize those birds with the most “expression” and this one fit the bill (pun intended). Its height of 14″ was also a big plus. It soared to $81,250, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $25,000 – $35,000.

Martin Brothers bird, Heritage lot #79004

I particularly liked lot #79004, another Martin bird with a great expression and a hat, 11¾” tall. It sold within its pre-sale estimate of $20,000 – $30,000, realizing $30,000, including buyer’s premium. I would have loved to have bought this bird, but the price was a bit too strong for a dealer.

Martin Brothers triple bird, Heritage lot #79005

Lot #79005 was a rare Martin triple bird, 7¾” tall. It sold above its high estimate of $30,000, realizing $40,000, including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, which included Tiffany, Handel, Gallé, Lalique, etc., click here. You will have to sign in (free) to obtain prices.


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

I recently 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.

Poor results at Heritage Auction’s 20th Century Decorative Arts Featuring Art Glass sale, June 24, 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.


Heritage Auction held a 20th Century Decorative Arts Featuring Art Glass auction on June 24, 2016. I didn’t participate because the quality was quite low overall and the few lots that interested me had condition problems or excessively aggressive estimates. A fairly low percentage of the lots met their reserves and sold. Collectors and dealers today are more discriminating and found little to get excited about in this sale. Besides, June sales are historically weak.

Edgar Brandt and Daum floor lamp La Tentation, Heritage lot #63120

Edgar Brandt and Daum floor lamp La Tentation, Heritage lot #63120

The top lot of this section of the sale was #63120, an Edgar Brandt and Daum serpent floor lamp entitled La Tentation (The Temptation). It sold below its pre-sale estimate of $30,000 – $50,000, realizing $25,000, including buyer’s premium.

R. Lalique Los Angeles vase, Heritage lot #63277

R. Lalique Los Angeles vase, Heritage lot #63277

Top lot of the R. Lalique section of the sale was #63277, a rare 1936 vase entitled Los Angeles. It too sold below its low estimate of $10,000, realizing $10,000, including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, click here. You will have to sign in (free) to see the prices.


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.

Soft results for Gil Elvgren paintings at Heritage Auction’s Illustration Art sale, April 26, 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.


Gil Elvgren painting Gay Nymph, 1947, sold at Heritage Auctions in May, 2011 for $286,800

Gil Elvgren painting Gay Nymph, 1947, sold at Heritage Auctions in May, 2011 for $286,800

Heritage Auctions held an Illustration Art sale on April 26, 2016, with total sales of $1,695,956. Included in the sale were several pin-up paintings by acclaimed American illustrator, Gil Elvgren. His works regularly sold for over $100,000 at auction, with six selling for over $200,000. The average now seems to have cooled into the $60,000 range.

Gil Elvgren painting Roxanne, 1960, Heritage lot #71051

Gil Elvgren painting Roxanne, 1960, Heritage lot #71051

The top lot of several Elvgren paintings at the April sale was #71051, a painting entitled Roxanne, from 1960. It sold well below its pre-sale estimate of $100,000 – $150,000, realizing $68,750, including buyer’s premium.

Elvgren painting Charming, Heritage lot #71052

Elvgren painting Charming, Heritage lot #71052

The next lot, #71052, was the second best Elvgren of the sale. It sold within the more realistic estimate of $50,000 – $70,000, realizing $62,500, including buyer’s premium.

Three other Elvgren paintings in the sale sold from $47,500 to $60,000. It could be a bear market in Elvgren paintings or a great buying opportunity. Only time will tell.

For the complete results of the sale, click here. You will have to sign in for the prices (free).


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 Charles Martignette collection of American illustration art

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.


Charles Martignette

Charles Martignette

I’m preparing for our 5-week show circuit in Florida and North Carolina, so I don’t have the time to write a more thorough post. I think you’ll enjoy reading about the Charles Martignette collection of American illustration art. Charles put together the finest and most comprehensive collection ever assembled. Heritage Auction acquired the entire collection after his untimely death in February, 2008, and sold it over several years. Total sales for the 4,300 lots of art were $21.68 million. Click here for Heritage’s very interesting report.
Gil Elvgren was one collectors' favorite artists

Gil Elvgren was one collectors’ favorite artists


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.

Louis Icart oil paintings sell well at Heritage’s Art Nouveau & Art Deco auction, November 23, 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.


Heritage Auctions held their Art Nouveau & Art Deco auction on November 23, 2015, with total sales of $1,244,618. Included in the sale were three original oil paintings by Louis Icart. As many of you probably know, the market in Louis Icart etchings has been soft for quite a few years. What you may not know is that the market for his oil paintings has fared better. The prices are nowhere near the peak of the late 1980s, when the Japanese were spending heavily on Icart, but otherwise the market has been relatively firm. Although Icart was a prolific artist, there are far fewer oil paintings in existence than etchings.

Louis Icart oil painting of his wife, Fanny Volmers, Heritage lot #60121

Louis Icart oil painting of his wife, Fanny Volmers, Heritage lot #60121

Top lot of the three was #60121, a Red Period oil of his wife Fanny, signed and dated 1919. It sold for $16,250, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $12,000 — $18,000.

Louis Icart oil painting, Heritage lot #60133

Louis Icart oil painting, Heritage lot #60133

Second best of the three was a beautiful 1930s painting of two beautiful women with borzois, 19″ x 23½”. It sold above its high estimate of $9,000, realizing $12,500, including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, including the top four lots by Tiffany Studios, click here. You will have to sign in (free) to see the prices realized.


I’ve been quite busy buying and selling recently, partly because I’ve listed many new items on my website. I will continue to list more daily. 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.