Martinware does well at Skinner’s European Furniture & Decorative Arts sale, July 9, 2011

Lots of interesting things have been happening in the antiques world recently. Since I have a bit more time to write about them during the spring and summer, I will be posting new blog entries twice a week, instead of once — Mondays and Thursdays for the next few weeks. So make sure you come back often and tell your friends about my blog!

Skinner’s held their European Furniture & Decorative Arts sale on Saturday, July 9, 2011. In among the diverse offerings were two lots by the Martin Bros. of London & Southall, England. Works by the Martin Brothers have been popular and highly sought after for decades. What’s interesting is that the earlier items from the 1870s and 1880s are fairly undesirable in today’s market. Why, you may ask? Because they’re not “grotesque” — a big compliment in the world of Martinware. Early stoneware items were, for lack of a better word, ordinary. They mostly depicted realistic looking flowers and birds. At some point in the mid to late 1880s, the brothers started producing wares that were strange and zany with fantastic creatures. They also created bird tobacco jars with wonderfully eccentric faces. These are the types of grotesque items that today’s collectors eagerly seek.

Martin Bros. ewer with fish decoration, Skinner's lot #64

Skinner’s lot #64 was a Martin Bros. ewer from 1884, with fish decoration. The decoration shows the direction that they would begin to take a few years later. In this example, the fish are realistically depicted. As a result, I assumed the lot would not do well, but it did. Realistically estimated to sell for $2,500 – $3,500, it reached $4,148, including buyer’s premium.

A later Martin Bros. vase with 'grotesque' fish decoration, not in the Skinner's auction, but illustrated for comparison

Rare miniature Martin Bros. bird jar -- Skinner's lot #65

The next lot, #65, was a rare miniature bird tobacco jar, with removable head, only 3½” tall. It more than quadrupled it’s pre-sale estimate of $1,200 – $1,800, to sell for $9,480, including buyer’s premium — impressive for such a tiny example, but not surprising.

For the complete results of the auction, click on the following link. Skinner’s Decorative Arts results.

Rare Louis Icart etching Miss America

Check out my new acquisitions. I just listed a very rare Louis Icart etching, entitled “Miss America”, plus a gorgeous Daum Nancy pink floral vase; a rare Tiffany Studios desk lamp in the Spanish pattern; several fine Daum vases; a Daum lamp; several Galle vases; and several more Tiffany Favrile vases. Soon I’ll be listing a wonderful Tiffany Studios 7-light lily lamp with beautiful shades and a fine patina. Also coming soon will be several wonderful European ceramic items by Clement Massier, Zsolnay and Amphora. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Illinois art forger sentenced to 9 years in prison

Lots of interesting things have been happening in the antiques world recently. Since I have a bit more time to write about them during the spring and summer, I will be posting new blog entries twice a week, instead of once — Mondays and Thursdays for the next few weeks. So make sure you come back often and tell your friends about my blog!

Michael Zabrin. Photo courtesy Chicago Tribune

Over the years, I’ve had many opportunities to buy limited edition etchings, lithographs, etc., by big name artists like Marc Chagall, Salvador Dalí, and Pablo Picasso. I was always concerned about reproductions that I knew existed (and were even rampant). I didn’t have the knowledge to tell the difference, so I always avoided them. Reproductions of Louis Icart etchings also existed, but in that world I’m an expert, so I’ve dealt in them for over 30 years. Now comes news of the arrest, conviction and sentencing of one of the main culprits in the world of limited editions art — Michael Zabrin of Northbrook, Illinois.

Zabrin was first arrested and convicted in 1992, after pleading guilty to selling $800,000 worth of reproduction “limited edition” prints. One year after his supervised release ended in 1998, he was back at it. According the the grand-jury indictment, from July, 1999 to October, 2007, he and fellow associates, Oswaldo Aulestia-Bach, Elio Bonfiglioli, Patrizia Soliani, and Jerome Bengis, conspired to produce and sell these reproduction prints through various outlets, including eBay and dealers in Florida, New York and Australia.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the fake artwork was sold throughout the world in prestigious galleries in Paris, Tokyo, and Barcelona, for example. Of course, Zabrin included his home state of Illinois, with galleries on Michigan Ave. in Chicago.

Now he’s been sentenced to nine years in prison. That should cool his heels for a while. He’ll be 67 when released, if he serves the full term. One would hope that he will have learned his lesson by that time, but some people seem to have larceny in their genes, so I’m not optimistic. Hopefully, the fear of being imprisoned again will keep him on the straight and narrow.

Leon Amiel, Jr., 39, on right. Photo courtesy Chicago Tribune.

James Kennedy and Leon Amiel, Jr., were associates of Zabrin’s in the fake art schemes. On June 15th, U.S. District Judge Joan Gottschall sentenced Amiel to two years in prison for his part. He faced a possible six years, but the judge was lenient, citing “his commitment to family as well as mental problems and a family history of emotional and physical abuse.” Kennedy is due for sentencing this month, after which federal officials will destroy 20,000 fakes. Those that have already been sold will continue to be a problem for years to come.

Rare Louis Icart etching Miss America

Check out my new acquisitions. I just listed a very rare Louis Icart etching, entitled “Miss America”, plus a gorgeous Daum Nancy pink floral vase; a rare Tiffany Studios desk lamp in the Spanish pattern; several fine Daum vases; a Daum lamp; several Galle vases; and several more Tiffany Favrile vases. Soon I’ll be listing a wonderful Tiffany Studios 7-light lily lamp with beautiful shades and a fine patina. Also coming soon will be several wonderful European ceramic items by Clement Massier, Zsolnay and Amphora. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

The Chicago Merchandise Mart International Antiques Show preview party, April 28, 2011

Results of the show Tuesday afternoon, as the show ends Monday, May 2.

My booth during the preview party

I started writing this blog from my booth at the preview party of The Chicago Merchandise Mart International Antiques Show. I’m glad to say that I couldn’t finish writing it there because it was fairly busy later in the evening. At first there were quite a few people, but very few questions and little interest. Things picked up during the latter half of the party, resulting in a couple of sales and one item on hold. Pretty good for a preview party. The preview party in Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago was also good. To the credit of the Merchandise Mart, the food and drink were excellent and plentiful, as always.

Some of the unique items in the booth of M.S. Rau of New Orleans

This is really a show you should make the time to visit. There are very few shows in the US with the same quantity and quality of dealers. M.S. Rau of New Orleans has an enormous booth filled with one-of-a-kind rarities. Green River Stone Co. has wall plaques of river animal and plant fossils over a million years old, removed directly from the river. The diversity of dealers in this show is wonderful, from Asian to art to Chanel purses to silver. There are no junk dealers in this show.

Green River Stone Co. fossils

You’ll surely like what I’ve brought, including many items which will be exhibited for the first time; European ceramics by Clement Massier, Dalpayrat, Zsolnay, and Amphora; Daum vases including a very rare and fine mushroom example, Galle vases and Icart etchings. I hope you come and visit. The hours are Friday 11 AM – 7 PM, Saturday 11 AM – 7 PM, Sunday 11 AM – 6 PM and Monday, 11 AM – 3 PM.

One of the fine new Daum Nancy vases I will be exhibiting for the first time.

Check out my new Tiffany, Daum, and Gallé acquisitions. I just listed a couple of important Tiffany vases, straight from a private home. I also listed about ten Daum and Gallé vases plus about 10 Tiffany Pine Needle and Grapevine desk pieces. I’ll be listing even more Pine and Grapevine pieces within the next few days. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

The results of the Los Angeles Antiques Show, April 14-17, 2011

Heidi Klum and Thomas Gottshalk viewing etchings in my booth

The Los Angeles Antiques Show ended on Sunday, April 17, 2011, with most exhibitors smiling. The show, very professionally managed by Rosemary Krieger and her Dolphin Promotions staff, ended a four-day run, which began with a preview party last Wednesday night.

If you follow my blog, you know I’m not a fan of preview parties (that’s saying it mildly). For the most part, the attendees are there to see and be seen. Most preview parties benefit a specific charity, with the guests usually having little interest in purchasing antiques. After the Los Angeles Antiques Show preview party, I may have to stop bitching (or at least slow down). This was a high-powered party with a lot of famous, wealthy, and powerful people. There were more beautiful women than usual, many of whom were all legs (not that I noticed). Heidi Klum (lovely in person) and Keanu Reeves were in attendance, as well as billionaire businessman, Eli Broad.

Sunday afternoon in my booth

Sales were good at the preview party, a phenomenon I am not used to, but could get used to pretty easily. I’m throwing down the gauntlet – a challenge to preview party guests at all shows — buy something from me and I will stop bitching about preview parties. Wouldn’t that be a kick? Me writing about looking forward to a preview party? Not likely to happen.

I hoped the excitement would continue to the show, but attendance was very light to moderate most days and never came close to the preview party. The good part is that the right people showed up, so sales continued slowly and erratically (Saturday was a complete bust). As usual for most shows, the hours and days were too long and brutal – 4 hours at the preview party, 8 hours on Thursday, 10 hours on Friday, 8 hours on Saturday and 6 hours on Sunday, for a total of 36. Both dealers and the public would have been better served with shorter hours and a later starting time of noon.

Lia, Arnold Schwarzenegger and me

Sunday was fun with a couple of nice sales and visits by celebrities, include Jaclyn Smith (who at 63 still looks great), Arnold Schwarzenegger, and jeweler Neil Lane. It would have been even more fun if they had made purchases. At least Arnold and Neil were kind enough to pose for photos.

In asking around, most dealers did well. One dealer in 19th century decorative objects had a great show. London dealers in jewelry and silver did very well. A dealer in Asian antiques had substantially improved results from last year. A dealer of fine antiques at full retail prices and another of fossils did not do well. Personally the show was a moderate success – better than last year and good enough to return next year. Sales were best for Tiffany Studios glass and objects and Icart etchings.

Check out my new Tiffany, Daum, and Gallé acquisitions. I just listed a couple of important Tiffany vases, straight from a private home. I also listed about ten Daum and Gallé vases plus about 10 Tiffany Pine Needle and Grapevine desk pieces. I’ll be listing even more Pine and Grapevine pieces within the next few days. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

The results of the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show, February 3-7, 2011

My booth at the show

There were definitely more smiles than frowns after the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show ended on Monday evening. Attendance was fairly good, but definitely affected by the horrible weather up north. Several people I spoke to said they were delayed by a day or two in arriving because of airport closings and canceled flights. Regardless, business was generally good. I asked many dealers how they did and very few said fair or poor. Most replied good, excellent, or even better. One dealer brought approximately $1 million dollars in jewelry to the show. He told me he sold out. That’s right, nothing left. He sold well to the public and then a dealer who specializes in buying complete booths bought whatever remained. Not bad for a few days work. Another dealer, who specializes in Tiffany lamps, sold so many lamps that he had his best show ever.

An important, huge 19 inch Gallé vase with two dragonflies

Personally the show went well, with sales strongest for French cameo glass (which remains strong), Tiffany Studios glass, lamps and frames (which also remain strong), and Icart etchings (a pleasant surprise). The buying also was good. Last week I bought some wonderful French cameo glass at the Miami National Antiques Show. This week I bought an important Galle dragonfly vase and some fine Tiffany Studios objects.

The results of the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show are usually a barometer for the antiques business for the rest of the year. Right now, things are looking up.

Packup on Monday evening at the show

This week we’re off to Sarasota to try another show. We haven’t had the best luck there, but the timing was right, coming the week after the Miami Beach show and before the West Palm Beach show. Last year we had a scary, unwelcome Noreaster adventure on the way to West Palm Beach for the show. This year we decided it’s best to play safe, stay in Florida, exhibit in Sarasota, and avoid the unfortunate weather in the Northeast. If you live on the west coast of Florida, I hope you’ll take the time to visit the show. The dates are Friday to Sunday, February 11-13. I’m bringing the same top-notch objects I will be bringing to West Palm Beach the following week.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Tiffany, Daum, Gallé, Webb and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve recently listed many of them on my website, including Daum swans and rain — more each day, including a Tiffany Favrile millifiori vase. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

Louis Icart etchings are on sale, just in time for Christmas

Rare Louis Icart etching Bubbles

I last held a sale on Louis Icart etchings about a year ago. It went well, so I decided to hold another one. The timing before Christmas is good for collectors, decorators or anyone looking for a great present. The sale starts today and will continue for exactly three weeks, finishing on December 8, 2010. The next day, prices will return to normal. This is a serious sale with prices slashed to wholesale levels not seen since the 1970s. Contact me soon as the selection will get smaller as the sale nears the end.

Rare Louis Icart etching Before the Raid

Total service is available, from custom French mats to silk mats with 24K gold leaf frames, all done to museum standards. If you’re in a hurry, there’s overnight shipping, but try to avoid that as the cost can be dear. Every etching comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Rare Louis Icart etching Guest

Every single etching is on sale, including some very rare and desirable ones that I’ve recently acquired. The list includes Bubbles, Guest, Before the Raid, Leda and the Swan and Masked, among others.

Rare and very desirable Icart etching Leda and the Swan

Conservation (cleaning and restoration) services for your Icart etchings are also available. Light darkening and foxing can be reversed in most cases. The cost is $250 per etching if the etching is glued between a mat and a board. $200 if there is no mat, but the etching is glued to a board. $150 if the sheet is loose. Shipping and insurance are additional.

For the complete listing of available etchings, click this link. Available Icart etchings.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve listed them all on my website. I’ve listed another twenty items in the last few days, including Tiffany, Quezal, Steuben, Van Briggle, Fulper, George Ohr, Daum and Gallé. Here’s the link chasenantiques.com

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The results of the NYC Pier Antiques Show, November 13-14, 2010

The lines outside of the show at 9:45 AM on Saturday morning

Stella Show Management held their semi-annual NYC Pier Antiques Show this past weekend, November 13-14, 2010. Attendance was excellent on Saturday and very good on Sunday. The weather was probably a factor, as it was uncharacteristically mild for a mid-November weekend. The two-pronged line extended far out of the door 15 minutes before opening at 10 AM on Saturday.

My booth on Saturday afternoon

Personally, my show was good, with interest and sales in many categories, including Tiffany glass and desk pieces, French cameo glass, Vienna bronzes and Icart etchings. In asking around, I heard results from good to fair. No one was effusive and no one was glum. Most dealers were satisfied.

Sold Daum Nancy solifleur vase with wild orchids and spider webs

In my last blog, I tried to convey some of the atmosphere of the show. In talking to another show promoter during the show, she referred to the Pier Show as “raw”. It made me look at the show through a stranger’s eyes. What I saw is a show that is not polished, with more functional displays than elaborate ones. That’s part of what makes the show interesting — it’s a very “New York” happening. Can I say “funky” anymore or is that passé?

The hours are long, from 10 AM – 6 PM, both Saturday and Sunday. It makes a lot of sense on Saturday, when there are lots of people all day, but it makes NO sense on Sunday. The hours should be 12 – 5 PM, but I can understand longer hours. At the very least, the hours should be shortened one hour on Sunday, from 11 AM – 6 PM. I spoke personally to Irene Stella about the change, but she indicated to me that the dealers needed the extra hour to park in the street and pay their bills. Excuse me??? I need an extra hour’s sleep and rest and not help with parking or paying my bills. To those other dealers who read my blog, please let Irene know you agree with me. From 10 – 11 AM, I did not answer a single question from even one person, nor did I open a single cabinet. The show didn’t even start to fill up until about 11:30 AM. Irene, please change the hours. OK, enough of my bitching.

Stella Show Management continues to put together high quality full shows in a world where many shows are shrinking dramatically. Their publicity is good, so they maintain consistently strong attendance. I wish them continued success.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve listed them all on my website. I’ve listed another twenty items in the last few days, including Tiffany, Quezal, Steuben, Van Briggle, Fulper, George Ohr, Daum and Gallé. Here’s the link chasenantiques.com

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Results of the Chicago Merchandise Mart Fall Antiques Show, October 1-4, 2010

My booth on Sunday afternoon

The Chicago Merchandise Mart Fall Antiques Show finished yesterday. Most of the dealers I spoke to were pleased with their results, but for the most part, they were below the results of a year ago. Attendance was good at the show, but selling was not quite as strong as before. No one I spoke to was ebullient, most were satisfied, and one dealer was quite unhappy.

A fantastic Daum Nancy ewer with poppies

Personally, I was pleased with my show, but my results were also below a year ago. Interest was best in Tiffany lamps and frames, Daum Nancy glass, and Icart etchings. I am always thankful to my loyal clients who buy from me repeatedly, and very gratified for the new clients I made at the show. This was a good show, not a lucky one, as I sold items to more than a few clients.

A rare Tiffany Linenfold floor lamp with hoof feet

The Merchandise Mart shows are amongst my favorites of the year. Setup and packup are always pleasant and efficient. All of the staff at the Mart, from the porters to the office, bend over backwards to be helpful. Downtown Chicago is great. Now if I can only convince them to get rid of the preview party, I’ll really be happy. Four hours of torture for me that always puts me in a bad mood.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Daum, Gallé and R. Lalique acquisitions. I’ve listed them all on my website. Here’s the link chasenantiques.com.

A day in the life of an antiques dealer

Fine 8½ inch Grueby vase

Fine 8½ inch Grueby vase

I exhibit at shows around the country and one question that is often asked of me is “How do you get these things?” Well, here’s one day in my life that will partially answer the question.

Yesterday, Saturday, was planned in advance. There were three auctions around the country where I was going to bid. That’s usually a simple matter of arranging with the auction houses to leave bids (called absentee bids) or bidding on the telephone. I don’t usually like to leave absentee bids because a dishonest auctioneer can run the bid, which means he will execute the maximum bid, rather than bidding competitively with the audience. An honest auctioneer won’t do this, but even after many years in the business, it’s difficult to ascertain the truly honest ones. I will leave absentee bids at auction houses that have proven their honesty to me.

So far, so good, until a fly got into the ointment. One of the auctioneers changed some of the usual rules. He decided not to permit any phone or absentee bids whatsoever. From a business point of view, that doesn’t seem to make any sense. There are bidders who don’t have the ability or the desire to travel big distances to bid on an item. This auctioneer was closing the door on all bidders around the United States and the world, who were not within traveling distance. That makes even less sense in today’s Internet world, as bidders from remote locations have the ability to find an item and bid on it. Auctions are supposed to be competitive events where the highest bidder gets the item. To be fair, there is something positive to be said for this rule change. Those people who are willing to travel to personally attend such an auction are qualified and determined. After making the trip, they’re not going home empty-handed. They’re going to bid strongly, including on items they didn’t intend to until they showed up in person.

OK, back to Saturday’s plan. My wife and I were willing to drive 4½ hours to upstate New York to attend an auction with six Icart etchings, a Gallé faience vase and a Rookwood iris glaze vase with fish. The logic was that I’m a strong bidder and there was a decent likelihood that I could go home with most or all of these items at good prices. So we left Long Island at 10:45 AM and started driving upstate. At about 11:30 AM, I got a call from auction house #1 and successfully bid on a fine Grueby vase (see photo above), but was forced to pay more than I had originally planned. But the vase is such a nice example that I’m happy to get it.

We arrived at the auction house in upstate New York at about 3:30 PM and viewed the items. They were as represented, so now we had to amuse ourselves until the auction started at 5 PM. Unfortunately there was nothing in the area to do, so we aimlessly drove around until the auction began. In the meantime, auction house #1 called again for me to bid on a very nice Gallé vase. The estimate was $1/1500. I was prepared to bid $1800 plus the buyer’s premium, for a total of about $2100. The bidding began at $500 and I bid $550 and then, amazingly, the bidding stopped. I bought the vase for $550 + buyer’s premium, for a total of $649. ?#%@#&?? I never look a gift horse in the mouth and this was a nice gift.

Louis Icart original etching <i>Bubbles</i>

Louis Icart original etching Bubbles

Back to the live auction. First came the Gallé faience vase, a large early example that ordinarily I would have no interest in. This vase was for collectors of Gallé esoterica, and I don’t know many such collectors, so I wasn’t going to bid much. I was outbid and relieved. Then came the Rookwood vase. Rookwood sales have been few and far between recently, so again I wasn’t going to bid a lot. I was outbid again. Then at 6 PM, the auctioneer began selling the Icart etchings. First up was the best one, Bubbles. I had hoped to buy it in the $1,500-2,000 range. I bid $3,000 and was outbid by a young couple in the back, who paid $3,100 + buyer’s premium, for a total of $3,472. Disappointment! Pals, another good one came up next. Again outbid by the same couple. Drats! The third one was Silk Robe, another good one. Same result. Triple drats! This evening is not going quite as planned. I started thinking I was going home with nothing when Orchids came to the auction block. This time I was the successful bidder. Yay! Mockery and Don Juan were next and I was able to buy both. The trip wasn’t a total waste.

Daum Nancy covered salt, similar to the one sold at a Florida auction

Daum Nancy covered salt, similar to the one sold at a Florida auction

We were able to leave fairly early at about 6:45 PM and started driving home, though at times through torrential rain. At 8 PM, auction house #3, in Florida, called me to bid on a Daum Nancy covered salt. It was the only good item in a small auction. It wasn’t well advertised and I only found out about it because the auctioneer sent me an email asking for an authentication. So I knew I could sneak up on this item and get it for a bargain. Wrong!! Again outbid, as the salt sold for $1,232.

Home at 10:45 PM, 12 hours after we left. Expenditures — 12 hours time x 2 people, gas, tolls, wear and tear. Bounty — 1 Grueby vase, 1 Gallé vase, 3 Icart etchings. It looks so easy when people visit us at shows and see all the merchandise nicely set up. Multiply this story by the hundreds of items that we display and you have a partial answer to the original question, “How do you get these things?”

Today I’ll be adding to my website several new Galle vases that I’ve recently acquired. I added a few the other day and today more. Please take a look. 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.

Results from the Los Angeles Antiques Show, April 22-25, 2010

Bernard Steinitz, from Paris, set up a great exhibit in a fully walled room

Bernard Steinitz, from Paris, set up a great exhibit in a fully walled room

The Los Angeles Antiques Show is a small, but very upscale show, with a high percentage of European dealers, some of whom were really impacted by the travel ban caused by the smoke from the Icelandic volcano. A couple of the dealers set up fantastic booths, that had to cost tens of thousands of dollars, especially coming from Europe. I wish I knew how they fared.

My booth at the Los Angeles Antiques Show, 4/25/10

My booth at the Los Angeles Antiques Show, 4/25/10

The show started off slowly on Wednesday night, with the usual preview party — many guests, very few sales. Opening day attendance on Thursday was poor, which was surprising. Friday was quite slow too, but that’s usual for a four-day show. I was told that attendance and business would pick up on the weekend and it did. Saturday was a decent day, but far from a barnburner. Attendance on Sunday was moderate, with commensurate sales. Overall, the show was decent, with interest across the board from Tiffany to Icart to Grueby pottery. As the show is a big investment in resources and time, I’m not sure I’m willing to try it again. I’ll make that decision later.

Icart Eve

Icart Eve

Icart Venus

Icart Venus

A little humorous aside. Louis Icart produced an etching called “Eve”. As everyone familiar with Icart knows, the mate to “Eve” is “Venus”. A decorator, who was not familiar with Icart, came into my booth and admired Eve. I told her that I had the mate to Eve, so she asked if it was “Adam”. I haven’t had that good a laugh at an antique show in a long time. (Now that I read it, I think this joke is only funny to devotees of Icart. The rest of you will just have to take my word it’s funny.)

I’m taking a lot of time to add new items to my website. In the last few days I’ve added to the Gallé glass and Icart etchings listings. 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.