Tag Archives: New York City Pier Show

The NYC Pier Antiques Show opens to the public this Saturday, March 15, 2013

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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.

pier-show-3-2013

The fantastic NYC Pier Antiques Show opens to the public this coming Saturday, March 16th, at 10 AM and continues until Sunday, March 17th, at 6 PM. This is an exciting show, with an incredibly diverse group of dealers. There will be $25 items, as well as $100,000 items, from vintage clothing, jewelry, collectibles, silver, Asian, and of course, the best French and American art glass and lamps.

The line was long before the start of a previous Pier show

The line was long before the start of a previous Pier show

The show is only two days long, so it’s more action-packed than most longer shows. People have to make up their minds quickly or risk losing the items they were considering. I’m always surprised (and pleased) with the distance attendees travel to visit the show. Japanese buyers attend regularly, as well as Europeans, Canadians, and of course, Americans from many states. Not many shows are worth the trip from almost anywhere, but this one is. My booth is near the entrance, so you can’t miss me. Please stop in and introduce yourself.

I'll have this great Gallé blownout vase for sale at the show, one of several

I’ll have this great Gallé blownout vase for sale at the show, one of several

I’m bringing an incredible selection of fresh merchandise, including wonderful French cameo glass, Tiffany glass and lamps and much more. You will enjoy the show, so make your plans, even if they’re last minute. Come early and stay late, because the Big Apple is a great playground!

Tune in Monday for the results of the show!

This wonderful Tiffany Favrile red Tel-El-Amarna vase will be for sale at the show

This wonderful Tiffany Favrile red Tel-El-Amarna vase will be for sale at the show

Click this link to view some of the new objects I recently purchased. I recently listed over 25 new items. French glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

Fine Galle Plum blownout vase, just in

Fine Galle Plum blownout vase, 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.

This superb Galle fuchsia blownout vase has great color and just arrived

This superb Galle fuchsia blownout vase has great color and just arrived

Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. I regularly add Tiffany vases, lamps and desk accessories, as well as French cameo glass by Galle and Daum Nancy and etchings by Louis Icart. Here’s the link. Philip Chasen Antiques.

The results of the NYC Pier Antiques Show, November 17-18, 2012

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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.

First a final update on Hurricane Sandy. We got power back 13 days after the storm hit and we got TV, Internet and land telephone back 18 days after the storm. Then we were introduced to irony. While everyone was dealing with no power, we had power from our generator. While some were dealing with flooding, we were dry. Three days ago the heat and hot water magically stopped working. I called the oil company for service, but they were so busy they couldn’t come until the next day. So we went one night without heat. The next day, the serviceman came to fix the problem. As soon as he left, a pipe from the hot water heater burst, causing a major flood in the basement. Servicemen (plural) returned a few hours later to fix the problem, but then we needed a “dryout” crew to clean and dry the basement (paid for by the oil company). So while everyone was dealing with heat, we had none. While everyone was dealing with a dry basement, we had a wet one. If that isn’t the definition of irony, I don’t know what is. The good news is that everything is returning to normal and normal feels great.

My booth

Back to business. The NYC Pier Antiques Show ended yesterday, November 18, 2012. In asking around, most dealers told me they only had fair shows, but there was a wide range of opinions. Two dealers told me they had the best shows ever at the Pier. Another told me he only made one sale, and that was to me, pre-show — not a single item sold to the public. Ugh! Another dealer described his show in one word — “terrible”. There’s always a normal distribution curve of dealer results, but this time it was skewed a little toward disappointing. Some sales were strong at the show, including Handel and Pairpoint lamps — a welcome change.

A wonderful Tiffany red Favrile vase, sold at the show

Personally, my show was moderately good, but less than the previous two shows. It could get better if sales develop later this week, as suggested by several clients. Sales and interest were best in French cameo glass (Daum and Le Verre Francais), Tiffany glass, a Pairpoint puffy lamp and a good painting.

Saturday afternoon at the show

Attendance was good on Saturday, and almost as good on Sunday, but sales and interest were better for me on Sunday. Brooke Shields, Justin Timberlake, and Joan Rivers visited the show. (I’m a sucker for celebrities. I think I inherited it from my mother.) The problem was they didn’t come to my booth and buy anything. What’s wrong with them?

No more shows in 2012, so we’ll be spending the time buying treasures for the 2013 antiques season which begins with the Birchwood Manor Antiques Show in Whippany, New Jersey, January 5-6, 2013. (We might also find a little time for R&R.) After that we’ll be traveling south for the important Miami shows in late January and early February. In the meantime, we’re still in business, so keep the inquiries coming. Let me know what you’d like to buy, sell or trade. If you need a Christmas present, NOW is the time. I’ll be adding many new items to my website this week.

Just purchased this unbelievable Gallé seagull vase — one of the best Gallé vases I’ve ever owned

Click this link to view some of the new objects I recently purchased and listed. French glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

Wonderful Schneider controlled bubble vase with wheel-carved Art Deco handles, recently acquired

Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. I regularly add Tiffany vases, lamps and desk accessories, as well as French cameo glass by Galle and Daum Nancy and etchings by Louis Icart. Here’s the link. Philip Chasen Antiques.

The NYC Pier Antiques Show starts this Saturday, November 17, 2012

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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.

We were viewing the important original Tiffany Studios decorations in St. Michael’s Church prior to my lecture on French Cameo Glass.

If you missed my lecture on French Cameo Glass this past Tuesday at St. Michael’s Church, you missed a good one. But fear not, because my son, Billy, recorded my lecture and is working on combining it with my PowerPoint presentation. When it’s done, it will be posted on YouTube in sections. My lecture started with the basics and continued to the most advanced techniques. It will be important reference material for anyone interested in French cameo glass.

The line is usually long before the start of the show

The NYC Pier Antiques Show opens this Saturday, November 17, 2011, at 10 AM and continues until Sunday, November 18, 2012, at 6 PM. There was some concern after Hurricane Sandy that the show might have to be cancelled or postponed, but the Pier was put back into shape quickly, so the show will go on (a New York Broadway tradition!). Stella Show Management did a great job making sure everything was set.

Because the show is only two days long, it’s more intense than many longer shows. There’s more action because people have to make up their minds faster, or the items they were considering may be gone. The selection of items for sale is very eclectic, from silver, jewelry, Asian, ceramics, art, and vintage clothing to glass and lamps (me and several other dealers). The show is so important that many buyers fly in from all over the world, including as far away as Japan. My booth is near the entrance, so you can’t miss me.

I’m bringing an incredible selection of fresh merchandise, including wonderful French cameo glass, Tiffany glass and lamps and much more. You will enjoy the show, so make your plans, even if they’re last minute. The Big Apple awaits you!

Wonderful Schneider controlled bubble vase with wheel-carved Art Deco handles, recently acquired

Click this link to view some of the new objects I recently purchased. I recently listed over 25 new items. French glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

I’ll have this rare, special Tiffany Studios red decorated Favrile vase for sale at the NYC Pier Antiques Show

Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. I regularly add Tiffany vases, lamps and desk accessories, as well as French cameo glass by Galle and Daum Nancy and etchings by Louis Icart. Here’s the link. Philip Chasen Antiques.

Please visit my lecture on French Cameo Glass this Tuesday night, November 13, in NYC

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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.

Workers came from Massachusetts and elsewhere to aid in the power restoration

First a storm update. Things are looking up. Power was restored today to my neighborhood — 12 days after the storm. Hallelujah! We still have no Internet, TV, or land phones (and that could take up to two months to restore). Many gas stations have no lines, but an odd-even system is in place, so it can only be bought every other day. All in all, though, the situation is vastly improved.

A rare Gallé Elephant blownout vase that will part of my lecture

Back to business. I’ve been invited by the Metropolitan Glass Club to lecture about French Cameo Glass. The lecture will be held at St. Michael’s Church on W. 99th St. between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue in New York City at 7:00 PM, this Tuesday, November 13, 2012. Wine and cheese will be served at 6:30 PM. All are invited.

At my lecture, you’ll find out why this Burgun & Schverer vase is so special

My lecture is entitled French Cameo Glass: A-Z. I can’t say I’m thrilled with the title, but I am thrilled about the lecture. I spent an inordinate amount of time creating a Powerpoint presentation with lots of photos. The lecture will cover everything from the very basics of French Cameo Glass to advanced techniques, including sections on determining value and spotting reproductions. There will be things you’ll learn, even if you know quite a bit already. Hope to see you there.

Don’t miss this week’s NYC Pier Antiques Show

In the meantime, the news is good about the NYC Pier Antiques Show. Pier 94 has power and heat and is dry. The show will go on as planned this coming weekend, Saturday and Sunday, November 17-18. It will begin on Saturday at 10 AM and continue through Sunday at 6 PM. You should make every effort to come because it will be a good one. They always are!

Wonderful Schneider controlled bubble vase with wheel-carved Art Deco handles, recently acquired

Click this link to view some of the new objects I recently purchased. I recently listed over 25 new items. French glass for sale. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show.

I’ll have this rare, special Tiffany Studios red decorated Favrile vase for sale at the NYC Pier Antiques Show

Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. I regularly add Tiffany vases, lamps and desk accessories, as well as French cameo glass by Galle and Daum Nancy and etchings by Louis Icart. Here’s the link. Philip Chasen Antiques.

The results of the NYC Pier Antiques Show, March 12-13, 2011

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Noon, Sunday

The NYC Pier Antiques Show ended yesterday with mixed results. I heard complaints from several dealers and better news from several others. No dealer I spoke to was ebullient, but I did notice quite a few people walking out with purchases on Sunday afternoon.

You would think that New York City would be the best city for me to exhibit, but for whatever reason, it isn’t. Maybe there are too many shows here, or maybe there’s too much competition (but I don’t believe that one), or maybe the collectors are jaded because New York has so many shows and auction houses. Give me Chicago or Miami Beach. The reception is frequently better.

My booth

Saturday was not a day to write home about. Attendance was decent, but not at the level of some recent shows. The crowd didn’t seem enthusiastic, which probably explains why business was mediocre. Sales on Saturday were across the board, with no one area garnering extra attention. But one day does not make a show.

Sunday started very slowly at 10 AM. Why the show opens at 10 AM on Sunday is a mystery. By noon, attendance was only moderate. Noon – 6 PM would be best, but starting at 11 AM would serve everyone well. The dealers would get an extra hour’s rest and the public would still have plenty of time to shop. By 2 PM, attendance and interest had picked up considerably, but with all that interest, there was only one good sale of Daum glass — disappointing, considering all the interest. All in all, a less than stellar show, but still worth doing because it’s quick, local and reasonably priced.

The next edition of the show will be held in the same location on Saturday and Sunday, November 19-20, 2011. Mark it in your calendar and make your plans. The next time I’ll exhibit in New York City will be in the fall at the AVENUE Antiques at the Armory show, Park Ave. & 67th St., September 22-25, 2011. It’s a fancy, expensive show that I hope will attract different attendees than for the Pier Show. It’s a gamble, but one that I hope will work out.

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 just listed some important Tiffany vases, straight from a private home. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

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

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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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The NYC Pier Antiques Show is coming this weekend, November 13-14, 2010

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Fashion is part of the New York City Pier Antiques Show

Twice a year, Stella Show Management holds the NYC Pier Antiques Show at Pier 94 on New York City’s Hudson River and 56th St. Everyone I know looks forward to this show because New York City doesn’t have another one like it. Of course, there are plenty of shows in NYC, especially fancy ones at the Armory on Park Ave. and 67th St., but the Pier Antiques Show is one-of-a-kind. The only show that was similar is no longer in existence. It was a show in the Exposition Rotunda of Madison Square Garden on 8th Avenue and 31st St. The attendance and enthusiasm for that show were tremendous.

Rare Daum Nancy 'Rain' veilleuse

What makes this show different is the huge diversity, from vintage clothing and costume jewelry to unique decorator objects to autographs (think George Washington!) to high-end items (think me, among many others). Anticipation and enthusiasm run high for the show. Some of the first people through the door are a bevy of decorators. I can’t think of another show with as many decorators. They rush in and snap up the unusual items that decorators know how to place. Also in the initial rush are many dealers and collectors (including some from Europe and Japan), all looking to find that special object or objects. And they are usually successful. You can tell by the line of people waiting for taxis. More than half of them will be carrying packages. That’s an unusually high percentage of buyers. You can always tell how a show is going by the number of people carrying packages. If attendance is good, but there are few packages, the show is not going well for the dealers.

Rare Muller chandelier with roses

I’m bringing some really special items to this show. One of them is a great French cameo chandelier by Muller. One of Muller’s best subject matter is roses and this beauty is covered with them. What else? Well, I was in a house in Chicago and got some wonderful items you wouldn’t normally expect to see in my booth, including a large Satsuma decorated bowl in the shape of a nautilus shell with underwater decoration on one side, a beautiful English tea caddy, a Vienna bronze basket with a bird, etc. From another collection, I’m bringing some very fine Daum Nancy acid-etched and enameled vases that haven’t been seen before. Then there’s two KPM plaques of pretty girls, a couple of Quezal vases, and lots of new items that haven’t seen the light of day in many years.

The show runs only two days, so the action happens fast. It opens at 10 AM on Saturday and closes at 6 PM, with the same hours on Sunday. Most show promoters feel they need at least three days for exhibitors, but I beg to differ. A compact show creates excitement. There are more people walking around when items start to sell. That forces people to make up their minds faster and that generates electricity. Shows need electricity, not dripping water torture. Maybe it’s the wrong approach for the Midwest, but it certainly works in NYC.

If you haven’t yet made your plans to come, do it now. There are plenty of parking lots in the area plus taxis and public transportation. As long as you’re in the city, go to one of the great restaurants or museums. There’s lots to do and enjoy over a weekend in New York City.

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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Why do antique shows have preview parties?

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My booth at the April 2010 Los Angeles Antiques Show

My booth at the April 2010 Los Angeles Antiques Show

I don’t understand why fancier antique shows have preview parties. They are an enigma to me. Apparently show promoters feel they’re important. Perhaps if a show has the support of a non-profit organization, it will benefit the show. I just don’t see it. Let me try to analyze the different points of view.

From a dealer’s point of view, I’m totally in the dark. For the most part, preview parties are a waste of a dealer’s time. Almost nobody is there to look at antiques, much less buy antiques, so the evening is spent drinking (that part’s not bad) and scrounging for food. It depends on the show, so sometimes there’s plenty of food and other times not. At some shows, a box with a half sandwich and a couple of cookies is handed out to the dealers for dinner. What??? Give me a break — that’s insulting.

The Los Angeles Antiques Show preview party, April 21, 2010

The Los Angeles Antiques Show preview party, April 21, 2010

From the attendee’s point of view, it’s a fun night out. See and be seen. Eat, drink and be merry. Why not? Attend an elegant social event, get fed, drink and have a great time. This part I understand.

My biggest problem is with the promoter’s point of view. I guess they’re trying to give the show a certain cachet. But is that really what they’re accomplishing? I don’t think so. Whether the show benefits a zoo or a children’s charity doesn’t seem to have any impact whatsoever on the success of the show. A show’s success is measured by other criteria. Is the paid attendance excellent? Are the dealers selling well? Is there a waiting list of dealers who are trying to get into the show? Some of the most successful antique shows in the country do not have preview parties and are doing great — the New York City Pier Show, the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show, the Miami Beach Convention Center Antiques Show. So if a preview party doesn’t seem to have much, if any, effect on these criteria, why have them?

Have I ranted enough yet about preview parties? I wish they would go away and promoters would get down to the business of running high quality shows that the public wants to attend.

I’ll post the results of the Los Angeles Antiques Show on Monday or Tuesday.

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.