The market for Tiffany Studios lamps and glass is alive and well

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.


December is Design month, with every major and not-so-major auction house in the entire world holding a Design sale. My desk gets piled high with all the catalogs. It’s tough to keep track, but trends do appear. The most obvious is that the market for Tiffany Studios’ lamps, glass and objects is alive and well. Today I’ll only focus on the recent sale at Sotheby’s New York. I’ll write about other sales in the weeks to come.

Sotheby’s held a Dreaming in Glass: Masterworks by Tiffany and La Farge
sale on December 12, 2018, with total sales of $9,060,000. The majority of the 48 lots sold above their high estimates, with 100% selling.

Tiffany Trumpet Creeper table lamp, Sotheby’s lot #327

The top banana of the sale was lot #327, an important Trumper Creeper table lamp. It almost doubled its high estimate of $1,200,000, realizing $2,295,000, including buyer’s premium.

Tiffany Cypriote vase, Sotheby’s lot #319

Lot #319 was the top lot of the glass vases. It sold for $87,500, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $30,000 – $50,000. The paperweight-technique vase had a thin layer of Cypriote decoration over clear glass.

John LaFarge window Dawn Comes on the Edge of Night

The one lot in the sale by John LaFarge was an important window entitled Dawn Comes on the Edge of Night. It sold near its high estimate of $700,000, realizing $765,000, including buyer’s premium.

For the complete results of the sale, click http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/2018/tiffany-dreaming-in-glass-n09958.html.


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 just 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.

I recently bought and sold a wonderful original oil painting by Louis Icart

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.


The translation of the caption is Still life with grapes, pears and a bouquet of dahlias by Louis Icart

    • I recently bought and sold a beautiful, large (39″ x 51″), original Louis Icart oil painting, with impressive provenance. Louis Icart had given the painting to his wife as a gift. He inscribed it on the back of the canvas

Au Fanny. L.I. Au jardin des Hesperides

    • (To Fanny. L.I. In the garden of Hesperides), a reference to Greek mythology.

The owner had had personal interactions with Fanny when he was young.

I remembered Fanny from my young age, she passed away when I was 8. I used to meet Fanny each week-end, when visiting my grandmother. They used to be very good friends.

She was doing nice paintings, and loved to make fakes, I remembered a Picasso in the living room to turn to not be a real one when my grand mother passed away.

She was such a graceful lady, with a big sense of humour and a great painter.

It’s rare to find subject matter like this and even rarer to find any provenance. Most of Icart’s oil paintings include a young lady or two lounging about. If I couldn’t agree on a price with the buyer, I would gladly have hung it in my house. It was a privilege to own it for a short while.

Unfortunately I’m not at liberty to discuss the price as I sold it to a dealer, who in turn sold it to a collector.

Do you have any original oil paintings by Louis Icart? I’m interested in knowing about them and perhaps purchasing them. Please email me.


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.

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.

The Original Miami Beach Antiques Show has modified its dates for January, 2019

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.


I was unable to post a new blog last Monday as we were in Europe on a buying trip. Next week I’ll post about some of our purchases.

An artist’s rendering of the Miami Beach Convention Center

As some of you know, the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show is finally moving back into the Miami Beach Convention Center after 2½ years of construction. The show usually runs from Thursday to Sunday, but the promoters were forced to change their dates to Sunday – Wednesday. That upset some dealers who canceled their spaces in a mini-rebellion. The promoters got the message and decided to open half a day on Saturday. The latest news is that the show will open a full day on Saturday. So now the show is near-normal, with a full weekend followed by two weekdays. I hope some of the dealers who canceled will reconsider with the new dates.

Now the official new dates are Saturday, January 26, 2019 to Tuesday, January 29, 2019. The dealers will have three days to set up, Wednesday, January 23, 2019 to Friday, January 25, 2019.

Here is the announcement from the show promoters with the official hours.

Please note, our adjusted show dates and hours below:
Saturday, January 26: 11:00am – 8:00pm
Sunday, January 27: 11:00am – 7:00pm
Monday, January 28: 11:00am – 7:00pm
Tuesday, January 29: 11:00am – 5:00pm
*The show will no longer be open on January 30, 2019. The last show day is Tuesday, January 29, 2019*


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.

The Antiques + Modernism Winnetka show starts this weekend, November 2, 2018

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.

November 2-4, 2018
Fri: 10 AM – 6 PM
Sat: 10 AM – 5 PM
Sun: 11 AM – 5 PM

We’ll be traveling to Chicago this week to exhibit at the Antiques + Modernism Winnetka show at the Winnetka Community Center. It’s one of two shows we have left in the greater Chicago area. The only other one is the Chicago Antiques, Art & Design Show at the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago in May.

We’ll have this rare Gallé vase with a beetle and oak leaves at the show

It’s an interesting show with high quality, diverse exhibitors from around the US, selling everything from paintings to furniture to art to jewelry to glass and lamps (me). We’re coming loaded for bear with a fantastic collection of French and American glass and lamps. You will not be disappointed with the show. It’s worth a trip from anywhere in the greater Chicago area. If you like antique shows, this is the only game in town until the spring. Please visit my booth, C20, and say hello.

We hope you can visit. It will be worth the effort.


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.

Christie’s London Design sale grossed £2,869,062 ($3,750,432), October 17, 2018

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.


Christie’s London held a Design sale on October 17, 2018, with gross sales of £2,869,062 ($3,750,432). Included in the 212-lot sale was a Tiffany lamp and a few fine French cameo lamps, vases and sculpture. Following is a review of some of those items.

Tiffany Spider lamp, Christie’s lot #131

The sole Tiffany lamp in the sale, lot #131, was a good, but not exceptional, example of a 15″ diameter Spider table lamp, in gold doré. It sold for £27,500 ($35,948), including buyer’s premium, within its estimate of £15,000 – £25,000.

Daum Nancy Mimosa vase, Christie’s lot #284

An exceptional Daum Nancy 17½” Mimosa vase, lot #284, also sold within its estimate of £25,000 – £30,000, realizing £30,000, ($39,216), including buyer’s premium.

Leo Laporte-Blairsy bronze sculpture La Voie Lactée, Christie’s lot #273

A wonderful bronze sculpture by Leo Laporte-Blairsy entitled La Voie Lactée (The Milky Way), with glass by Daum Nancy, sold for its high estimate of £43,750 ($57,190).

Christie’s doesn’t allow a static link for its results, so you’ll have to do a little searching. Start with this link Christie’s results and then search for the London Design sale of 17 Oct 2018.


We will exhibit at Antiques + Modernism Winnetka (IL), next week, November 1-4, 2018. We hope you can visit. It will be worth the effort.

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.

Tiffany Studios lamps sold well at Cottone Auctions Fine Art & Antique Auction, September 29, 2018

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.


Cottone Auctions, Geneseo, NY, held a Fine Art & Antique Auction sale on September 29, 2018. Included in the 352-lot sale was a nice selection of lamps, glass and accessories by Tiffany Studios. Following is a review of some of those items.

Tiffany Studios 22″ Nasturtium table lamp, Cottone lot #106

The top lot of the sale was #106, a fine 22″ diameter Nasturtium table lamp. It sold well above its estimate of $60,000 – $80,000, realizing $134,520, including buyer’s premium.

Tiffany Studios 18″ Oriental Poppy table lamp, Cottone lot #97

The second best result was achieved by lot #97, a smaller 18″ Oriental Poppy table lamp. It also exceeded its estimate of $60,000 – $80,000, realizing $112,100, including buyer’s premium. (In case you haven’t noticed, red flowers are quite desirable.)

Tiffany Studios Octopus inkwell and stand, Cottone lot #101

A rare Tiffany Octopus inkwell and stand, with a gold Favrile insert, sold within its estimate of $3,000 – $5,000, realizing $5,192, including buyer’s premium. I didn’t participate in the sale, but if I had, I would have been the buyer. I think it’s a $10,000 inkwell.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.


No shows for another three weeks, when we will exhibit at Antiques + Modernism Winnetka (IL), November 1-4, 2018. We always look forward to our twice yearly exhibits in the greater Chicago area. But remember 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.

Banksy painting self-destructs after selling for $1.4 Million at Sotheby’s London

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.


This past weekend, in a delicious bit of black humor, a painting by the renowned street artist, Banksy, self-destructed immediately after selling at a Sotheby’s London auction for £1,000,000 (approximately $1,400,000). For the complete article in the NY Times, click here. And for CNN’s take, including a video, click here.


No shows for approximately one month until we exhibit at Antiques + Modernism Winnetka (IL), November 1-4, 2018. We always look forward to our twice yearly exhibits in the greater Chicago area. But remember 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 the Toomey & Co. Art & Design sale, September 16, 2018

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.


Toomey & Co. Auctioneers, Oak Park, IL, held an Art & Design sale yesterday, September 16, 2018. Included in the sale were a number of ceramic and glass lots by Newcomb College, Tiffany Studios, Gallé and Daum — the subject of today’s blog.

Newcomb College chocolate set, Toomey lot #214

Lot #214 was a Newcomb College chocolate set. It sold well, exceeding its high estimate of $12,000, realizing $16,250, including buyer’s premium. I’m quite fond of the work of Newcomb College, but I tend to buy only scenic vases, rather than floral items. It’s just personal taste and what sells best for me. I had no interest in this lot.

Tiffany Studios Grapevine carriage clock, Toomey lot #391

I tried to buy a very nice Tiffany Studios Grapevine carriage clock, but couldn’t because the price was too high for a clock with damage. Two glass panels were cracked and the door hinge was broken. It sold below it’s aggressive estimate of $4,000 – $6,000, realizing $3,250, including buyer’s premium.

Daum Prairie vase, Toomey lot #475

The best French cameo glass vase in the sale, a Daum Prairie vase did very well. It sold for $20,000, including buyer’s premium, against a pre-sale estimate of $5,000 – $7,000. Prairie vases are rare and very desirable, but this example didn’t have the best color and had some minor damage to one of the flowers, apparently from a slight impact somewhere in its history. I would have bid more strongly than I did if the condition were perfect. I was not the buyer.

For the complete results of the sale, click here.


No shows until Antiques + Modernism Winnetka (IL), November 1-4, 2018. We always look forward to our twice yearly exhibits in the greater Chicago area. But remember 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.

What is the future of antique shows?

I am now publishing once a week, on Monday.


Remember the Pier Antique Show in NYC?

What is the future of antique shows? Will they fail or survive? It’s an existential question for antique dealers like myself. We used to exhibit at more than twenty shows per year. Now we’re down to six. Important shows have folded, like the Pier Show in NYC, which I really miss. It’s amazing that we have no show in NYC.

The Baltimore Summer Antiques Show is held in the Baltimore Convention Center

The recent Baltimore Summer Antiques Show was the smallest it’s been in decades, as the attrition rate among dealers is high and increasing. Most antique dealers are in the age range of 60-80, with very few younger dealers coming in to take the places of the older ones retiring or dying. If 50-100 dealers a year drop out of important shows like Baltimore, the shows will reach a critical mass, below which they will fold. Personally I never saw this day coming until I had an inkling about 10 years ago.

Auction houses, on the other hand, are doing brisk business. Many of the baby boomers, who form the majority of collectors, are aging out. Their children consign their estates to auction, many without reserve. Auction houses don’t really care what they’re selling, as long as they’re selling. If items have no reserve, they’re guaranteed to sell and the auction houses are guaranteed to make their commissions.

Morphy Auctions in Denver, PA, is doing a brisk business

I never intended to retire from the antiques business, but the business may retire me. I’m switching tactics and trying my best to do more business from my website. If I could replace the income generated from antique shows with income from my website, I’d be a happy camper. Since a lot of the action has shifted to auctions, I utilize those too.

The future of the antiques business for me is murky. The changes are happening quickly and I’m trying to adjust accordingly. Only time will tell, so keep tuned.


No shows until Antiques + Modernism Winnetka (IL), November 1-4, 2018. We always look forward to our twice yearly exhibits in the greater Chicago area. But remember 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.