Why do antique shows have preview parties?

Posted on April 23, 2010 by Philip Chasen

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

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.

Setting up at the Los Angeles Antiques Show, April 19, 2010

Posted on April 20, 2010 by Philip Chasen

The Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Air Center

I’ve never before exhibited at the Los Angeles Antiques Show at the Barker Hangar. It’s an interesting building — corrugated tin exterior with an arched roof. It’s not a huge building, so the shows there aren’t very big, but there is a nice feeling of intimacy.

My booth is a big mess, but it will be beautiful by the time the show opens.

The level of the dealers and merchandise at this show is very high, with more than a few foreign dealers, especially from England. The problem this year is that some of the English dealers are stuck in England because of the flight ban caused by the Icelandic volcano eruption. I really feel for them because I was in a similar situation this winter. Some of you may recall that I was prevented from flying to the Palm Beach Antiques Show because of a severe snowstorm in the northeast. The difference is that I had an option — I could drive through the storm. Unfortunately, the English dealers have no other options. There’s a possibility they might arrive in time for most of the show, but that’s yet to be determined.

The main aisle will look a lot different by Wednesday evening's preview party.

It’s a pleasure to exhibit at shows at this level. One of the dealers spent the whole day having a custom wood floor installed in his booth, as well as 150 spotlights. He’ll have a gorgeous booth at the end of the day, but I hope his sales are good enough to cover his expenses.

The show gets underway on Wednesday night, with a preview party — always my favorite. NOT! They’re usually a waste of a dealer’s time, but one never knows. Maybe I’ll sell a few things and change my attitude. I’m not optimistic about the preview party, but I’d loved to be proved wrong.

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.

The Los Angeles Antiques Show is coming next week, April 21-25, 2010

Posted on April 15, 2010 by Philip Chasen

The Los Angeles Antiques Show, April 21-25, 2010

The 15th Annual Los Angeles Antiques Show will be held next week, April 21-25, 2010, at the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Air Center. The show has developed a reputation as the finest show in the greater Los Angeles area. What the show lacks in size, it makes up for in quality. The list of exhibitors is impressive, with a few new big names, including Bernard Steinitz of Paris, specializing in 17th to 19th century European furniture and decorative arts. London dealers are also well-represented in the show, making it truly an international event.

My booth at a recent show

I once railed about the lack of a singular important show in the greater Los Angeles area, and was told by a client, that this is the one. The quality will be ultra-high and the merchandise vetted, insuring that the public will be treated to a special event. This will be my first time exhibiting there and I’m excited about the prospect. It’s difficult to get the right people to attend a show in the Los Angeles area, so a special show is what’s needed, and this one fills the bill. The notable list of supporters of the show includes celebrities David Arquette, Courteney Cox and Tobey Maguire.

The Los Angeles Antiques Show is open to the general public from April 22-25, 2010. Show hours are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $15 and includes return entry and show catalog.

Look for my post on the results of the show on Monday or Tuesday, April 26 or 27. I’ve got my fingers crossed it will be a rave review.

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 of the Arlington Racetrack Antiques Show, April 9-11, 2010

Posted on April 13, 2010 by Philip Chasen

My booth at the Arlington Racetrack Antiques Show

The Arlington Racetrack Antiques Show was held this past weekend in Arlington Heights, IL, a suburb of Chicago. It’s a small show that unfortunately has been getting smaller as time goes by. Shawn Hastings is the new promoter, having bought the show from Rosemary Krieger of Dolphin Promotions. The show used to occupy the entire first level of the racetrack, as well as a small area on the second floor. Now the show occupies approximately 50% of the original space, and that’s too bad. Real collectors show up for this show, so I would think that the show would stabilize or grow. If dealers do well at a show, the word gets around and other dealers want to exhibit there. It starts a beneficial cycle, where more dealers exhibit and more attendees come and the show gets better and better. I’ll start the ball rolling and see if I can facilitate it.

Tiffany Favrile blue decorated mini vase

I spoke to many dealers at the show and asked how they did. Almost to a person, everyone said they had a good to outstanding show. One dealer told me he had his best Arlington show ever. Not one single dealer told me he had a poor show. That’s the kind of news everyone likes to hear. It means there’s no more talk of recession and no negativity. The new management increased the advertising budget to include television, and that’s always good. Attendance at the show was only moderate, but the right people showed up.

Tiffany Favrile black decorated vase

On a personal level, I would like to thank all of my loyal clients, some of whom I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for twenty years. Most of my business was to these clients, which on one hand is great, but on the other, gets me nervous. Thank you, thank you. You know who you are. I always need new clients. There were some, but not enough. Interest at the show was strongest in Tiffany Favrile glass and French cameo glass.

I’m looking forward to two super shows in a couple of weeks, the Los Angeles Antiques Show at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, April 22 to April 25, and the Chicago Merchandise Mart International Antiques Show, April 30 to May 3. More on those in future blog posts.

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.

Cottone Auction a barnburner in Geneseo, New York, March 27, 2010

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Philip Chasen

It’s difficult to find a high quality, diverse auction nowadays, as auctions have become more and more specialized. Cottone Auctions put together a fabulous sale on March 27, 2010 and got the results to go with it. Geneseo, New York, is a rural town in the northwest section of the state. One would think it would be difficult to get high-quality, fresh goods in that area. But guess what? They’re doing it. Apparently upstate New York, which includes Buffalo and Rochester, is fertile territory for great consignments. The sale included great paintings, Tiffany, Handel, Duffner & Kimberley lamps, French cameo glass, Imperial Russia china, silver, furniture and more.

Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington

The top lot of the sale was an 18th century Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington, that closely resembles the Stuart portrait of Washington that hangs in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. The painting was in undisturbed original condition and came with impeccable provenance. The bidding started at $250,000 and ended at $1.06 million, with a west coast bidder on the phone losing to a Pennsylvania dealer on the floor.

Tiffany Studios Magnolia floor lamp

The top Tiffany lamp at the sale was a Magnolia floor lamp that descended in the family of Merton Armstrong, co-founder of the Sterling Alarm Company. Some of Armstrong’s lamps were purchased directly from Tiffany Studios in the 1920s and ’30s. The lamp sold for $661,250 — not a record for a magnolia lamp, but very respectable.

Tiffany Studios 20 inch diam. Dragonfly table lamp

A very good 20″ Dragonfly, on a great lily pad base, sold for $172,500, in large part due to the rarity and desirability of the base.

Click this link for some of the highlights of the auction. Cottone Auctions.

Remember to come see me this week if you’re in the greater Chicago area. I’m exhibiting at the Arlington Park Racetrack Antiques Show, Friday-Sunday, April 9-11, 2010. You won’t believe all the great things I’m bringing.

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.

Color variations in original Louis Icart etchings

Posted on April 5, 2010 by Philip Chasen

Many times I write about antique shows or auctions, but occasionally I like to teach. I taught in the NYC public schools for over eight years in the 1970s, so I guess I still have the teacher in me.

Louis Icart examining Joy of Life, hot off the press

As I specialize in the artwork of Louis Icart, I often write about him. In order to better understand today’s topic, I’ll give a brief refresher course on the process of etching.

The artist starts with a copper plate and uses a combination of drypoint etching tools, and/or acid, to create the artwork directly on the plate. The plate is then hand-inked and covered with a sheet of paper. Together they pass through an etching press that applies tremendous pressure and transfers the image to the paper. If the etching is colorful, the plate is inked again with different colors, and the same sheet is passed through the press again. Registration of the paper is accomplished with tiny pinholes that align the colors. Manipulation of the ink when it’s wet (with wooden tools) is also done to achieve different effects. The result is that even though the artwork is the same on the plate, the final etchings can and do differ.

One variation of Attic Room

Another variation of Attic Room

Above are two images of the Icart etching “Attic Room”. This is one that Icart intentionally issued in a variety of color combinations. Notice the completely different colors in her dress, the birds, the lampshade, the walls, the dresser, etc.

In an extraordinary example, Icart produced a one-of-a-kind color variation of the 1927 etching “Speed”. He gave this as a gift to his daughter, Reine, with a hand-written notation on the etching. Notice the beige dog in the front and the red shoes. To my knowledge, no one has ever seen another example of this variation.

A typical example of the 1927 version of Speed

A unique variation of Speed, a gift for Icart's daughter, Reine

For a nearly complete list of the Louis Icart etchings I have for sale, please click on the following link. Icart etchings for sale.

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 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.

Results from the new Atlantic City Antiques Show, March 27-28, 2010

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Philip Chasen

My booth at the Atlantic City Antique Show, 3/28/10

I stopped exhibiting at the Atlantique City Antiques show a couple of years ago, as the show had deteriorated in terms of the number and quality of exhibitors and the attendance. I correctly predicted that the show would ultimately fail. After the demise of the original show, Allison Kohler of JMK Shows revived the show, which was held this past weekend. She asked me to exhibit there, which I did, even though I was quite reluctant. I wanted to support Allison and hoped the new edition of the show would be successful. Unfortunately for me, the show did not go well. Sales were few and far between, but I was able to buy well at the show, so ultimately it won’t be a loss. If I had to rely on sales alone, I would have lost money at the show, a rarity for me.

12:45 PM, Sunday, at the Atlantic City Antiques Show

Attendance at the show was moderate on Saturday and slow on Sunday. It never appeared crowded, but that’s partly due to the huge size of the exhibit hall. Parking spaces were at a premium as Mary Kay Cosmetics and a cheerleading competition were holding their conventions simultaneously at the Convention Center. The show was too quiet most of the time. Pleasant, quiet music over the PA system would have been helpful, especially to mask the noise coming from the cheerleading competition next door.

I spoke to a number of exhibitors at the show about their results. One dealer told me she did very well. Another said he sold well to the dealers pre-show, but did not make a sale to the public once the show opened. Another told me he did better at this show than the Pier Show a couple of weeks earlier. Most dealers told me their shows were OK and a few told me their results were poor. Interestingly enough, most dealers said they were signing up again for next year, even those that lost money. They wanted to give the show another opportunity but I’m not one of them. Personally, Atlantic City doesn’t seem to be a good fit for me, so I won’t be returning. I wish Allison, JMK Shows, and all future exhibitors the best of luck in coming years. Hopefully with enough tweaks, sufficient advertising and good word of mouth, the show will improve each year. Meanwhile, I’m looking in another direction, toward my upcoming shows in Chicago and Los Angeles. I’ve got many friends and clients there, so I’m looking forward to visiting next month in April. Here’s the link to my exact show schedule. Philip Chasen Antiques show schedule.

I’m taking a lot of time to add new items to my website. I’ve already listed new items under Gallé glass, Daum Nancy glass, Tiffany Studios glass and Marblehead pottery, to name a few. 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.

The NEW Atlantic City Antiques & Collectors Show is this weekend, March 27-28, 2010

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Philip Chasen

The original Atlantic City Convention Hall

The Atlantique City antique show used to be a big deal. It started in the original Convention Hall on the boardwalk. Attendance was so heavy that people would form two lines, each a mile long, in opposite directions on the boardwalk. The huge show was always packed. It was a very diverse show, with a strong emphasis on antique toys, although I’m not sure how that happened.

The new Atlantic City Convention Center

Upon completion of the new Convention Center, the show moved and continued to thrive for a few years. As time passed, the show started to flounder and began to shrink. A vicious cycle started as fewer dealers exhibited, followed by fewer attendees, round and round until the show failed.

Allison Kohler, the owner of JMK Shows

Fast forward. In stepped Allison Kohler of JMK Shows to revive the show. I emailed Allison a couple of questions. Here are her answers.

Q. What’s NEW about The NEW Atlantic City Antiques & Collectors Show?
A. We changed the name of the show to let people know they were going to have a new experience — it was important. People were very discouraged and disappointed the last few years. We made a number of changes to make for a better experience for the customer and the exhibitor. We lowered the price of admission. We lowered booth rents and made the booths larger. We also created 2 separate contracts to structure the show by merchandise, an antiques contract and a collectibles contract. We changed the structure of the show so no more Barbies next to Tiffany lamps, although there are still Barbies and still Tiffany lamps. We created what I believe to be a better flow and energy and a much better look to the show. The front section when you walk in is now a hard-walled section, with a number of quality vendors who will be participating for the first time in AC. All tables will be covered to the floor, no more cardboard boxes on tables, nothing flea markety/garage sale. We added a number of special features that pertain to our industry, not the circus. Glass, porcelain restoration, the appraisal center, the Doulton convention. We have 2 personalities who are very well known within their respective fields, bringing their support to the show. Harry Rinker, host of “Whatcha Got” is doing his radio show from the building Sunday morning. Also, Louise Irvine, a leading expert in the Doulton Field, will be on hand all weekend.

Q. What advertising have you put in place?
A. We have 80 banners around town that had been discontinued a number of shows ago, as well as signs at all the toll booths. I was down there last week for a meeting and they were already up. We have radio. We are also sponsoring the traffic and weather on a major radio station the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before the show. We are in a number of major papers with very good size ads –the New York Times, Baltimore Sun, Washington Post, etc. We have dozens of smaller papers throughout New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We have done a number of different dedicated email blasts from different databases. Four from the Antique Trader, one each week leading up to the show; Morphy’s Auction sent a dedicated email this past week and then the JMK Shows list. Those emails encompassed hundreds of thousands of names. We are in every trade paper that we are aware of in the United States and even the Antiques Trade Gazette in England. We have 100s of posters and over 100,000 distributed show cards. Many exhibitors helped participate in the distribution and hanging of the posters, for which we are very grateful. We have web advertising as well as social media sites. We have the Media Center of the Convention Center also working in conjunction with us to do even more PR. I believe they have channel 6 scheduled to come in on Friday and do a live segment and a number of other extra write ups, calendar listings, things to do this weekend, etc.

There will be extra services as follows:

– Expert Glass Repair Clinic by Paul Nulton – SATURDAY & SUNDAY.
– Expert Porcelain & Pottery Restoration Clinic – SATURDAY ONLY.
– Certified Appraisal Clinic – SATURDAY & SUNDAY, $5 per Item

I’ll be there with a great selection of the best quality Tiffany Studios items, including some new ones you haven’t seen. I’ll also have the best French cameo glass and Louis Icart etchings. Please come to the show and make this new edition a success.

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.

Superb results for French Cameo Glass at two Christie’s NY Sales, March 2 & March 16, 2010

Posted on March 22, 2010 by Philip Chasen

Christie’s New York held an Interiors sale on March 2, 2010, where lower-end items are sold, mostly from estates. These lower-end items would be considered higher-end at many other auction houses, but not at Christie’s or Sotheby’s. Included in the diverse sale were 27 lots of French cameo glass, many still left from the vast collection of Simon Pinhas. The results were strong, with a few of the lots bringing exceptional prices.

Daum vase with herons, Christie's lot 225, March 2, 2010

Lot 225 was a Daum bowl with a desirable herons in flight decoration. Medium size at 5″ tall, it was estimated at $2-3,000. On a good day, it should have sold for a maximum of $10,000, but on this day it sold for $32,500, including buyer’s premium — 10 times the high estimate. That’s impressive. Helllooo, bidders at Christie’s. I’ve got some really nice French cameo glass for sale for a lot less money.

Daum winter scenic vase, Christie's lot 217, March 2, 2010

Daum winter scenic vases have been desirable for many years, usually commanding a premium over other scenic vases. But on March 2nd, the premium got a lot higher. Lot 217 was a nice Daum winter scenic vase, 10″ tall. It carried a pre-sale estimate of $2-3,000 and should have sold for two or three times the high estimate. Bidders on this day pushed the price to $20,000, including buyer’s premium — an outstanding price for a winter scenic.

Use this link to view all the results for the French cameo glass at Christie’s Interior sale of March 2, 2010. French cameo glass at Christie’s Interior sale.

Gallé fire-polished vase, Christie's lot 25, March 16, 2010.

The party continued with a few lots of French cameo glass in the 20th Century Decorative Art & Design sale of March 16, 2010. Several items brought exceptionally strong prices, starting with lot 25, a Gallé fire-polished vase, 12″ tall. To my eyes, the vase was nothing exceptional and should have sold within the pre-sale estimate of $4-6,000, but apparently the bidders disagreed. They pushed the price to $30,000, including buyer’s premium.

Several other lots soared past their pre-sale estimates, including a Daum winter scenic vase in the style of Muller at $30,000, a monumental Muller vase with poppies at $35,000 and a Daum Art Deco vase with wheel-carving at $37,500. It’s a pleasure to see such strength in the French cameo glass market. Hopefully it will be felt everywhere, not just at Christie’s.

Here’s the link to the French cameo glass results at Christie’s March 16, 2010 sale. French cameo glass at Christie’s March 16, 2010 auction.

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.

Follow-up to the Miami National Antiques Show

Posted on March 19, 2010 by Philip Chasen

The Miami National Antiques Show, January 28-30, 2011

On January 18, 2010, I reported about the results of the Miami National Antiques Show, which was held at the Miami Merchandise Mart from January 15-17, 2010. Apparently I was too blunt, which for better or worse, is my usual style. I used some strong terms to describe what I saw as an unfortunate turn of events for the show, as this year there were fewer exhibitors and lower attendance, especially on Saturday. On a personal level, my show went fairly well, so I renewed again for next year. What I didn’t expect was that my blog would reverberate beyond the several hundred people who read it. Many inferred that I was predicting the immediate demise of the show. They questioned whether there would be a Miami National Antiques Show next year in January of 2011. The answer is a resounding yes!

Rosemary Krieger and staff, Charlie Walter (left) and Gordon Merkle (right)

Rosemary Krieger, the owner of Dolphin Promotions, the promoter of the show, has personally assured me that she is determined to insure the success and continuation of the show. She is starting her advertising campaign for next year well in advance of her usual time schedule, with aggressive advertising to the public. The campaign will include television, which has not been done for some time for the show. The previous advertising campaign included newspapers, trade publications and radio, but no TV. A number of people from the public remarked to me that they had not seen any of the advertising, so a return to television will be beneficial.

The Merchandise Mart is undergoing a complete renovation, which should be complete by the end of October, 2010, well in advance of the show in January, 2011. It will be renamed the Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC). The new facility, coupled with increased advertising, should bode well for the success of the show next year. As is usual, the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show will follow the next week.

Rosemary Krieger is a professional who does a fine job at all of her shows from Miami to Chicago to Los Angeles. Here’s wishing Rosemary the best of luck for continued success.

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.

Philip Chasen Antiques

The blog for chasenantiques.com

Tag Archives: Philip Chasen

Why do antique shows have preview parties?

Setting up at the Los Angeles Antiques Show, April 19, 2010

The Los Angeles Antiques Show is coming next week, April 21-25, 2010

Results of the Arlington Racetrack Antiques Show, April 9-11, 2010

Cottone Auction a barnburner in Geneseo, New York, March 27, 2010

Color variations in original Louis Icart etchings

Results from the new Atlantic City Antiques Show, March 27-28, 2010

The NEW Atlantic City Antiques & Collectors Show is this weekend, March 27-28, 2010

Superb results for French Cameo Glass at two Christie’s NY Sales, March 2 & March 16, 2010

Follow-up to the Miami National Antiques Show