The Charles Martignette collection of American illustration art

Posted on January 7, 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.

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

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

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Philip Chasen

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

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

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.

A Tiffany Studios Border Peony floor lamp led the way at Heritage’s Tiffany, Lalique & Art Glass auction, November 21, 2014

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Philip Chasen

Tiffany Studios Border Peony floor lamp, Heritage lot #60031

Heritage Auction held its Tiffany, Lalique & Art Glass auction on November 21, 2014, with gross sales of $1,441,233. Leading the way was a Tiffany Studios Border Peony floor lamp, Heritage lot #60031. It sold for $143,000, including buyer’s premium — about the mid-point of the pre-sale estimate of $100,000 – $150,000. The lamp was part of the Weider Health and Fitness Collection from Los Angeles, purchased in the 1970s.

R. Lalique Le Jour et la Nuit clock, Heritage lot #60229

R. Lalique sold well, with lot #60229 being the top selling lot of the group, and the second highest selling lot of the sale. However, it’s final price of $47,000 was below its low estimate of $60,000. Other lots did better, such as #60217, a purple Borromée vase selling for $46,875, near its high estimate of $50,000.

Daum Nancy Rain scenic table lamp, Heritage lot #60138

The top lot of the French cameo glass section of the sale was a pretty Daum Nancy Rain scenic table lamp. Selling as lot #60138, it too sold near the mid-point of its pre-sale estimate of $35,000 – $45,000, realizing $43,750.

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

I’ll be spending the next month and a half looking for treasures to bring to Florida for our southern circuit. The Florida shows begin with the Miami National Antiques Show on January 24, 2015.

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.

Louis Comfort Tiffany-designed necklace to be auctioned by Heritage Auctions on December 9, 2014

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Philip Chasen

Louis Comfort Tiffany necklace, Heritage lot #54124

Most people are aware that Tiffany Studios made lamps and many people know they made other items, including glassware and desk sets. But I suspect if you were to ask someone if Louis Comfort Tiffany designed jewelry, the answer would probably be “I don’t know.” or “No.”. Well, he did, and Heritage Auctions will sell a lovely example on December 9th. Lot #54124 in the Holiday Fine Jewelry Signature Auction is an amethyst, enamel and gold necklace, designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany, for sale at his father’s store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, Tiffany & Co. The necklace features a 35 carat amethyst, enhanced by several smaller amethysts, set in 18k gold, with enameled leaves and suspended by an 18k gold chain. It is marked Tiffany & Co.

Enamel detail

The pre-sale estimate is $30,000 – $50,000. In most auctions, the reserve is kept secret, but in this case Heritage revealed the reserve of $20,000. That means as soon as the bidding hits $20,000, the item is sold. It can stop at $20,000 or sky’s the limit. Anything less than $20,000 will mean the item will go unsold. It’s provenance will certainly help. It’s been passed down through three generations of New York women.

It will be on public view in NYC at the Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion on E. 79th St. for several days prior to the sale. I’m curious to see what happens as I specialize in the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany, but never his jewelry. I’ll let you know after the sale.

For the complete catalog, click here.

I’ll be spending the next month and a half looking for treasures to bring to Florida for our southern circuit. The Florida shows begin with the Miami National Antiques Show on January 24, 2015.

Norman Rockwell painting, The Song of Bernadette, to be sold at Heritage Auctions’ Illustration Art Signature ® auction, October 26, 2013

Posted on October 10, 2013 by Philip Chasen

Norman Rockwell’s The Song of Bernadette, Heritage lot #78138

Heritage Auctions’ will hold their Illustration Art Signature ® auction on October 26, 2013. Included in the sale will be Norman Rockwell’s famous painting The Song of Bernadette, which was originally commissioned to publicize the 1945 movie of the same name, starring Jennifer Jones. It is one of Rockwell’s most reproduced works. The painting is expected to be the top lot of the sale, selling for millions.

Jesse Wilcox Smith’s A Child’s Prayer, Heritage lot #78153

Other important artists included in the sale will be J.C. Leyendecker, Jessie Willcox Smith, Stevan Dohanos, Dean Cornwell, Gil Elvgren and Alberto Vargas.

Gil Elvgren’s Lucky Dog, Heritage lot #78071

Gil Elvgren’s works are usually met with enthusiasm and spirited bidding. Lot #78071 will feature Elvgren’s 1958 painting, Lucky Dog, considered by many to be one of his best. It is likely to exceed its pre-sale estimate of $50,000 – $75,000.

For more information on the sale, click here.

Wonderful 12″ Daum rain scenic vase, just in

Click here to view my new website and look around. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps.

Heritage Auction to hold historic Pierre-Auguste Renoir auction, September 19, 2013

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Philip Chasen

On September 19, 2013, Heritage Auctions will hold a sale entitled The Unknown Renoir, which will include fascinating memorabilia and personal artifacts. The 143-lot sale will include letters to and from Renoir, personal items, drawings, documents, and original plasters, to name a few. I suspect that some of the estimates will be blown away by enthusiastic bidders.

Original Renoir plaster, Grande Vénus Victorieuse, Heritage lot #89115

Heritage expects the top lot of the sale to be #89115, an original plaster, which is not copyright protected. Entitled Grande Vénus Victorieuse (Large Victorious Venus), the pre-sale estimate is $900,000 – $1,000,000. Whoever buys this lot will legally be able to cast it in bronze. If it’s done right, it could be quite remunerative, and surely interesting. Several other copyright protected, original plasters will also be in the sale, at significantly lower estimates in the $30,000 – $40,000 price range. They cannot be legally reproduced without permission from the copyright holder.

Lot of 56 original Renoir copper plates, Heritage lot #89109

Another lot that will likely lead to a flood of new Renoir etchings is #89109, 56 original copper plates. New etchings from original plates fall into a gray area. If they’re represented accurately, they’re worth a lot less than with a Renoir signature. The temptation to have a forger sign them will be difficult to resist.

Handwritten letter from Claude Monet to Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Heritage lot #89081

Lot #89081 is a really cool handwritten letter from Claude Monet to Renoir, dated February 16, 1914, thanking Renoir for his condolence note on the death of Monet’s son, Jean Monet, at the age of 46 — pretty amazing letter. My guess is the pre-sale estimate of $7,000 – $9,000 is conservative.

For the complete catalog, click here. You’ll find many of the lots intriguing.

Don’t have any shows for several weeks, so I’m devoting more time to updating my site. I’ve already listed about 10 new Tiffany, Daum, and Gallé vases. Click here to take a look. Then look for my totally redesigned website, with many changes and improvements, coming sooner than later. Can’t wait to show you and get your reaction!

Wonderful Daum Nancy scenic blownout vase, in rare purple variation, just in

Click here to view French cameo glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show. Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps.

Philip Chasen Antiques

The blog for chasenantiques.com

Tag Archives: Heritage Auctions