Tag Archives: Pier Show

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

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
Reply

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.

There was action at the NYC Pier Antiques Show, March 17-18, 2012

Posted on by
Reply

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.

Big crowds lined up on Saturday morning for the opening of the show

Stella Show Management held their semi-annual NYC Pier Antiques Show this past weekend, March 17-18, 2012, with generally excellent results.

Some of the Saturday crowd

Attendance was excellent on opening day, Saturday. Interest was heavy and sales commensurate. My booth was the busiest it’s been at any show I can think of in the last 10 years. At one point in the morning, there were six bona fide buyers in my booth, all wanting my attention at the same time. My friend Tony and I could not handle the questions fast enough. I didn’t even realize I hadn’t eaten lunch until about 3:15 PM, when there was a break of five minutes. It was a good day by the time it ended at 6 PM, but I was frazzled and needed a drink.

My booth

Sunday was another story. The show opened at 10 AM (a big mistake). Nobody gets to a show early on Sunday, so it would have made good business sense to open at 11 AM. The number of attendees would have been the same by the end of the day. Everyone would have sold the same. The only difference would have been that the dealers (and the staff) would have gotten a needed extra hour of rest. (Irene. Are you listening? Please open the next show at 11 AM on Sunday. Everyone will thank you. I promise.)

One of the fine Tiffany Studios items sold at the show

Where was I before my rant? Oh, Sunday. Attendance was lighter on Sunday, but still pretty decent. The pace of the day was much more manageable and sales continued for me. How’s this comparison? The Original Miami Beach Antiques Show in February was a good show. It had a two-day setup and five-day public opening. For significantly lower expenses and a much smaller time commitment, I did 85% of the business at the Pier show that I did at the Miami Beach show. That’s quite an accomplishment. For me, it was the best show I’ve had at the Pier in many years. (And that was with two of my best NYC clients not buying anything from me.) Sales were diverse, from Tiffany glass and a lamp and an inkwell, to French cameo glass, to Icart etchings.

The Fashion Alley section of the show

In asking around to many dealers, I got the following responses. A dealer in Art Deco furnishings, jewelry and furniture, told me she had the best Pier show in many years. (Sound familiar?) A dealer in furniture and bronze exhibited at the Pier show for the first time. Many, many items in his booth were marked sold, and this was after a fabulous show in Miami Beach. He told the show promoter, Irene Stella, that he’s looking forward to the next Pier show. A couple of dealers in art glass said they had decent, but not exceptional, shows. A dealer in lamps said his show was good with sales of both lamps and glass. Two other glass dealers told me they had good shows. Most responses were favorable.

But no one show has all winners. One new dealer in lamps told me his total sales were zero (ouch!). Another dealer told me that most of the dealers he had spoken to had poor shows. Who did he speak to? They definitely weren’t the ones I spoke to.

If I add up all of the anecdotal information I’ve been gathering at antique shows, auctions, and general scuttlebutt, the market in antiques is really heating up. For example, my friend, Jim Julia, just had a gun and knife auction last week. He’s had some great sales, averaging about $10 million. His best gun sale to date grossed $12 million. Last week’s sale hit $18 million. According to Dudley Browne, the lamp and glass coordinator, people were throwing money at some of the items. Bidding was wild and wooly. It just warms the cockles of my heart.

One of the more interesting booths at the show that make it so eclectic

The next NYC Pier Antiques Show is scheduled for November 17-18, 2012. If I were you, I’d starting making my plans now. You won’t want to miss it.

Our next show is the The Whitman Coin & Collectibles Expo, at the Baltimore Convention Center this coming week, March 22-24. It’s an experiment that I hope will work. I’ll be the only antiques exhibitor at the show. If the dealers and the public are in a good mood, I may wind up making some sales. Keep your fingers crossed. I’ll keep you posted.
_________________________________________________________________

Fine Gallé blownout plum vase

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 Louis Icart etchings. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show is open now and closes tomorrow, Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Posted on by
Reply

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 Palm Beach Jewelry, Art and Antique Show ends tomorrow, so I won’t post the results of the show until this Thursday.

Saturday afternoon in my booth

The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show opened on Friday night, February 18th, at 6 PM, for a preview party. There were lots and lots of people at the party and many questions. The problem was that most of the questions were from people who wanted to appraise their own items. I don’t mind answering questions if a person is up front with me. What gets my goat is a sneaky person, pretending to be a buyer, plying me for information for his/her own appraisal. Of course, the evening ended with no sales. Nothing like a preview party to put me in a bad mood.

Sunday afternoon at the show

Attendance was excellent on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was a nice day — busy, lots of questions, and sales in different categories. A good start to the show, but only a start. The Sunday crowd was the usual — fewer knowledgeable people and fewer sales, but not a bad day. So as of Sunday, the show is going okay. If sales develop on Monday and Tuesday, the show will work out fine. If nothing happens in the next couple of days, my show will be mediocre. Some of you may remember that last year I did 75% of my business on the last day. No idea what will happen this time.

Louis Icart Orchids, one of the sold items at the show

Tune in this Thursday for the results. I’ll ask around and see what other dealers have to say. I did see some nice action in some of the booths, so I expect that some dealers will be very pleased.

Happy to be returning to New York this week and thankful the winter is almost over. Our next show is the Pier Show in New York City on the weekend of March 17th and 18th. It’s always fun, so start planning your trip to the Big Apple!

In the meantime, we’re still in business, so don’t be bashful. Call or write!
_________________________________________________________________

Incredible Daum egg with swan decoration, 5½ inches long

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 Louis Icart etchings. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

The NYC Pier Antiques Show opens this Saturday, November 19, 2011

Posted on by
Reply

Recently I’ve had less time to write about the interesting things happening in the antiques world, because I haven’t had a show in a few weeks. When there’s no one in my booth at a show, I keep busy by writing blog posts. 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.

Print this coupon for a $5 discount or free for students on Sunday

The NYC Pier Antiques Show opens this Saturday, November 19, 2011, at 10 AM and continues until Sunday, November 20, 2011, at 6 PM. It’s a short show, and intense as a result. The crowds are usually deep and the action fast. If people don’t make their purchase decisions quickly, they risk losing to someone else, and often do. The selection of items for sale is so eclectic, there’s something for everyone. Besides high end glass and lamps (me), there’s everything else — silver, jewelry, Asian, ceramics, art, clothing (yes, they have Fashion Alley), famous autographs (15 dealers) and more miscellaneous than you can imagine. Many people come with their decorators because the selections are so varied and interesting that they need professional help. My booth is near the entrance, so I see all of the many packages and purchases as they leave the show.

Magnificent Tiffany Studios green Linenfold counterbalance floor lamp, just in

I’m bringing some truly fine items that I’ve recently purchased, in addition to the usual strong assortment of Tiffany Studios lamps and glass and French cameo glass. I just bought a very nice, large Andre Gisson oil painting that hung in a home for many years. It was purchased by the grandfather of the present owner.

Andre Gisson oil painting, 24" x 36", fresh to the market

This is a show that is worth traveling to from any distance. I’ve said it before, but people travel from Europe and Japan, as well as from all over the US. It’s the excuse you’ve been waiting for to come to New York City. If you want to see a great antique show and enjoy New York City at the same time, this is the weekend. The weather has been great in New York recently and should continue until the weekend. Broadway has great shows running. Museums and galleries have superb exhibitions going on right now. The restaurant choices in the city are mind boggling. So what are you waiting for? Make your plans right now. Stop into my booth and let me know you came to New York because you read my blog.

Fine R. Lalique Monnaie du Pape vase with sepia staining

In the meantime, check the listings on my website, which I will update as often as I can. I regularly add Tiffany vases, lamps and desk accessories, as well as French cameo glass by Galle and Daum Nancy and Louis Icart etchings. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

What recession? There’s no recession in the art and antiques market.

Posted on by
2

Recently I’ve had more time to write about the interesting things happening in the antiques world. When there’s no one in my booth at a show, I keep busy by writing blog posts. So for the next few weeks, I will 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.

This Gustav Klimt painting sold at Sotheby's New York for $40,402,500 on November 2, 2011

If you just listen to the news, you would think that the sky has fallen. The housing market is bad in many parts of the country, with many homeowners underwater. Unemployment is currently 9%. The Occupy Wall Street movement has spread. The financial troubles in Greece, Italy and the rest of Europe make stock market investors shiver.

But I’m looking out of my window and see that not only has the sky not fallen, but the sun is shining. There appear to be some good anecdotal economic signals. Sales of luxury cars are improving. Reservations are difficult to get at top restaurants. The antiques business is solid, with new auction records being set for art and antiques. Sotheby’s New York Impressionist & Modern Art sale realized a strong $199,804,500 just a few days ago.

Marc Chagall painting La Mariée sold for $1,022,500 at Christie's New York on November 2, 2011

Here’s my take on what’s going on– no deep analysis, just my observations. There appears to be a dichotomy between the haves and the have-nots — between two dimensions that exist together, but do not interact. On the one side are all the people in the news who are in trouble. They’re worried about the next mortgage payment, not about purchasing antiques. On the other side is a quiet group, not in the news, of successful entrepreneurs, business people and professionals. They aren’t suffering, rather they’re prospering. They have disposable income and are the ones who are actively involved in supporting the art and antiques markets — and they’re not just Americans. Chinese buyers are paying extraordinary prices to repatriate their treasures and are dabbling in other areas. Russian buyers are still active, but less so than a few years ago. Brazilian buyers are starting to flex their economic muscles.

Tiffany Studios Wisteria lamp sold at Christie's New York for $578,500 on June 16, 2011

The Tiffany Studios glass and lamp market is solid. So is the French cameo glass market. That’s not to say that all areas are doing well. For instance, in markets that I have personal knowledge, art glass shades, Steuben glass, Rookwood pottery, Louis Icart etchings and some others are soft. In the early 1990s, the severe recession in the antiques market caused prices to drop precipitously. In some cases, prices dropped over 50% from their peaks (but recovered smartly in the second half of the decade). Nowadays, prices are increasing in many areas. Some collectors are investing, hoping that fine antiques will be a good addition to a diversified portfolio. I’m frequently asked about investing in antiques, but since I’m not good at predicting, I try to restrict my advice to factual information about quality, rarity and condition.

The Pier Antiques Show will be held on the weekend of November 19-20. Sometimes it helps me gauge the health of the market. December is also a big month for auctions. Every major (and minor) auction house holds a 20th Century sale. Those results should be telling. For me, the best predictor of the year to come are the results of the big Miami Beach Convention Center Antiques Show in early February. Buyers fly in from all over the world, so it’s possible to take the pulse of the international market. Here’s hoping good business will continue.

A fine Martin Bros. grotesque vase from 1903

In the meantime, check the listings on my website, which I will update as often as I can. I’ll be photographing all my new Gallé and Daum purchases and listing them on my website. Recently I listed quite a few Tiffany, Handel and Pairpoint lamps and a very rare Louis Icart etching, Mardi Gras. There are also several fine Daum vases; a Daum lamp; several Galle vases; and several more Tiffany Favrile vases. Coming soon will be several wonderful European ceramic items by Clement Massier, Zsolnay and Amphora. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

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

Posted on by
1

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 Pier Show is coming! The Pier Show is coming!

Posted on by
Reply

The NYC Pier Show, Saturday-Sunday, March 12-13, 2011

I don’t have a horse to help me get the message out, but I do have the Internet. Now there’s a thought. Paul Revere would have tweeted about the British. My son tells me I have to get with it and start using Twitter, so soon I’ll figure it out and get with the program.

There were two lines for the opening of the November, 2011 Pier Show

In the meantime, at least I write a blog and can tell you that the NYC Pier Show is coming this weekend, Saturday-Sunday, March 12-13, 2011. The show is a big deal, even by NY standards. There’s nothing quite like it, with very diverse offerings that are difficult to find in today’s shows. This is the way shows used to be, with the antique show in the Madison Square Garden Exposition Rotunda, coming closest. That show was held once a year and the anticipation was amazing. There was always an enormous line that formed when the show began. The lines at this show are huge too.

So what’s so good about the show? First is the diversity. You can buy vintage clothing (there are quite a few exhibitors), famous autographs (there’s a new section), costume jewelry, furniture, every conceivable type of decoration from vintage to modern, art, art glass (think me), Tiffany lamps (think me, too). More decorators visit this show with their clients than many other shows. Next is quality, with superb offerings from many of the exhibitors. Last is quantity. It’s a big show, with many exhibitors, so you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for.

Monumental 19" Gallé vase with two dragonflies

I’m bringing many new items that are new to my inventory. I’ve bought very well since the last time I exhibited at the Pier Show in the fall. I’m bringing great new Daum and Gallé items, Tiffany glass from a private collection, a super Tiffany Studios green Linenfold counterbalance floor lamp and lots more.

Travelers come from all over the world to shop this show, so make the time to come and visit. You surely won’t regret it. And what’s more fun than playing in New York City for the weekend, with its great restaurants and shows? I can think of worse things to do.

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

Posted on by
1

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

.