Tag Archives: pate-de-verre

Some French cameo glass treasures I’ve owned (and sold) in 2016

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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.

The market in French cameo glass continues to be strong, so I am continually buying and selling. Here are a few of the best items I sold since the beginning of 2016.

Daum Nancy Bleeding Hearts lamp

Daum Nancy Bleeding Hearts lamp

Most Daum lamps are acid-etched only, so any Daum lamp with both acid-etching and enameling is a desirable item. In my experience, floral lamps are rarer than scenic lamps, so when I had the opportunity to purchase this rare, colorful, beautiful Bleeding Hearts lamp, I jumped at it.

Burgun & Schverer Orchids vase

Burgun & Schverer Orchids vase

All Burgun & Schverer (B&S) internally decorated vases are the cat’s meow, but some are more special than others. This example, with gorgeous orchids and fine gilded detail, on a lavender-purple background, was one of the best.

A. Walter Lizard pâte-de-verre tray

A. Walter Lizard pâte-de-verre tray

I’ve always been partial to Almaric Walter pâte-de-verre figural objects, especially with lizards or chameleons. This example had beautiful form and color.

Daum Swallows vase

Daum Swallows vase

Swallows are rare subject matter for Daum. This example had extraordinary color and detail, gilded rays of sun, and a beautiful form — all the makings of a special vase!

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 results of Christie’s New York sale, FRENCH ART GLASS: AN IMPORTANT NEW YORK PRIVATE COLLECTION, March 23, 2016

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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.

Christie’s New York held a sale of important French glass, entitled FRENCH ART GLASS: AN IMPORTANT NEW YORK PRIVATE COLLECTION, on March 23, 2016. Sales totaled $1,948,375 for the 176 lots offered. Only three lots failed to sell, for an average of $11,262 per sold lot. I expected good results because this was a really fine collection and the market in French glass is buoyant. The collection consisted of mostly pâte-de-verre items, but included some cameo glass by Gallé, Daum Nancy and Muller.

Gallé Calla Lily vase, Christie's lot #29

Gallé Calla Lily vase, Christie’s lot #29

The top lot of the sale was #29, a huge Gallé blownout Calla Lily vase, in a rare color combination of white flowers and green leaves on a blue background. It easily exceeded its high estimate of $70,000, realizing $106,250, including buyer’s premium, even with open bubbles on the interior of the vase.

Argy-Rousseu Bird of Paradise table lamp, Christie's lot #69

Argy-Rousseu Bird of Paradise table lamp, Christie’s lot #69

A beautiful and rare pâte-de-verre table lamp by Argy-Rousseau, lot #69, was second best. Entitled OISEAUX DE PARADIS (Bird of Paradise), circa 1928, it sold for $81,250, against a pre-sale estimate of $35,000 – $55,000.

Argy-Rousseau Singes vase, Christie's lot #111

Argy-Rousseau Singes vase, Christie’s lot #111

I loved lot #111, a very rare Argy-Rousseau pâte-de-verre vase entitled Singes, with monkeys, on a gorgeous blue and purple background. It sold above its high estimate of $20,000, realizing $27,500, including buyer’s premium, but I thought it would sell for even more.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.

Click on this image to buy tickets

Click on this image to buy tickets

Can you believe our next show is next week! We’ll be in Glencoe, IL, for the Garden, Antique & Design Show, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, starting April 15th. It’s a beautiful show, with both antiques and gardening, that you’ll absolutely enjoy. We only have two remaining shows in the greater Chicago area, so come and say hi!

If you’re selling, please let me know. 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.

Pate-de-verre French glass by A. Walter and Argy-Rousseau, part II

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The same Argy-Rousseau Cicada pendant in two color variations, Catalogue Raisonné No. 23.30

The same Argy-Rousseau Cicada pendant in two color variations, Catalogue Raisonné No. 23.30

French pâte-de-verre (pronounced pot, as in pot of stew) glass is amongst the most highly collectible of all French glass. Joseph-Gabriel Argy-Rousseau was one of the early proponents of this style of glass. He designed the original models from which the molds were made for the actual production of the glassware. Once the mold was made, it was possible to produce multiple examples of the same item. However, no two items were identical, as the mold was refilled with glass powders by hand, producing color variations. Many times, totally different colors were intentionally used, so the same model item can be found in completely different colors.

1924 Argy-Rousseau Poppy vase, Catalogue Raisonné No. 24.05

1924 Argy-Rousseau Poppy vase, Catalogue Raisonné No. 24.05

Argy-Rousseau produced many more vases than Almeric Walter, one of the other important French pâte-de-verre artists. Walter preferred to work with three-dimensional models of animals and flowers. He is most famous for his creatures, including lizards, butterflies, and bees, to name a few.

A. Walter butterfly paperweight

A. Walter butterfly paperweight

G. Argy-Rousseau book cover by Janine Bloch-Dermant

G. Argy-Rousseau book cover by Janine Bloch-Dermant

A wonderful book on the glass of Argy-Rousseau was published in 1991 by Janine Bloch-Dermant, entitled G. Argy-Rousseau, Glassware as Art. Included at the end of the book is a complete listing (Catalogue Raisonné) of all of the work by Argy-Rousseau. Each item was given a number, like 24.05, which meant the item was the fifth design from 1924. I checked on Amazon and there are a few copies of the book available, new and used, starting at $56.46.

I’m taking a lot of time to add new items to my website. I’ve already listed new items under Gallé glass (including a blownout vase), Daum Nancy glass and Tiffany Studios glass. Soon I’ll be adding pottery by Newcomb College, Marblehead and Rookwood. 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 entry.

Pate-de-verre French glass by A. Walter and Argy-Rousseau

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A. Walter pâte-de-verre tray with lizard

A. Walter pâte-de-verre tray with lizard

I buy and sell a lot of French cameo glass, mostly from the Art Nouveau period, 1890-1920, and the Art Deco period, 1920-1940. Some of the highest quality glass from these periods is not cameo glass, but rather pâte-de-verre (pronounced pot, as in pot of stew). It was formed in molds from colored glass powders and heated in kilns until the glass solidified, a process called vitrification. Upon removal from the molds, the items were cleaned with hydroflouric acid, washed, polished and finished for sale. Decorators such as Henri Bergé and Joseph-Gabriel Argy-Rousseau created the original models from which the molds were made. Multiple copies of the same model can be produced with a mold, so the differences that are seen are in the colors. Depending on the choice of colors or the firing temperature, each example of the same model will differ in color, but not design. Collectors value some colors more than others, so the price will vary for the same model. Muted colors tend to be less desirable and therefore lower in price.

Argy-Rousseau pâte-de-verre wolf vase

Argy-Rousseau pâte-de-verre wolf vase

Argy-Rousseau’s production included vases, sculptures, boxes, and pendants, whereas Walter produced very few vases. Argy-Rousseau’s most desirable models include animals like wolves or lions, or women, like ballerinas.

A. Walter pâte-de-verre paperweight with snail

A. Walter pâte-de-verre paperweight with snail

Almeric Walter produced his best work after the end of WWI into the 1920s. He is most famous for his 3-dimensional sculptures, especially with animals like lizards or insects like bees. He preferred to use opaque glass, whereas Argy-Rousseau used both translucent and opaque glass.

The start of the Depression in 1929 impacted the production of pâte-de-verre glass dramatically. Interest and production waned significantly in the 1930s. The glassware was mostly forgotten for decades and rediscovered later. By the 1970s, it had become highly collectible and has been ever since.

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 entry.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail.com or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com