Tag Archives: Pier Show

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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Results from the NYC Pier Show, March 13-14, 2010

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Sunday afternoon at the NYC Pier Show, March 14, 2010

Sunday afternoon at the NYC Pier Show, March 14, 2010

The weather in NYC was miserable this weekend, especially Saturday. Heavy, steady rain accompanied by strong wind, made for a rough day. Ordinary inclement weather is usually good for attendance and business at shows, but awful weather can have a negative effect. Attendance was down from the previous show, but still decent. The show didn’t have its usual buzz and snap. Business was off on Saturday from the previous show, but not drastically.

Very attractive Gallé 10-inch scenic vase

Very attractive Gallé 10-inch scenic vase

Sunday’s weather was slightly improved — just nasty, but not raining cats and dogs and not nearly as windy. Attendance got off to a very slow start because the show opened at 10 AM. There is no good reason whatsoever for a show to open at 10 AM on a Sunday, especially with the change to Daylight Savings Time. Everyone’s body clock told them it was 9 AM. Anyway, most people sleep late on Sunday. For the first hour and a half, dealers were all sitting around waiting for the first person to come and ask a question. Everyone would do the same business if the show hours were 11 AM – 5 PM on Sunday and the dealers would all be elated. (Hello Irene. [Irene Stella is the promoter of the show.] How about it?)

Superior quality Tiffany 12-inch blue Favrile vase with green hearts and vines

Superior quality Tiffany 12-inch blue Favrile vase with green hearts and vines

Business picked up a little on Sunday, but overall sales were somewhat disappointing. Sales were diverse at the show, with Tiffany, Quezal, Gallé, Daum, and Icart garnering the most interest. In speaking to several other exhibitors, most were satisfied with their results, but none were ebullient.

Now here’s something not to do at a show. Les Fisher, an Italian restaurant owner from the south shore of Long Island, came into my booth on Saturday. He decided to buy an expensive Art Nouveau bronze, and after a bit of negotiation, he agreed to purchase it if I gave him time to pay it off. I do that with lots of people, so I had no problem with the arrangements. He shook my hand, told me he would be in on Sunday, not only with a significant deposit, but lunch from his restaurant. Very nice. The only problem is that Les never showed up, never called, and never answered two phone calls. Not only is that not nice, but irresponsible, inconsiderate and rude. The item was marked sold for several hours and as a result, might possibly have resulted in the loss of the sale to another client. The courtesy of a phone call would have been the least that he should have done.

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 entry.

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

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The NYC Pier Show, March 13-14, 2010

The NYC Pier Show, March 13-14, 2010

There are only a few shows each year that get people excited. The NYC Pier Show is one of them and it’s coming this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, March 13-14. Last fall’s show was a resounding success with incredible attendance. I haven’t seen the aisles as packed in years. It appears that the antiques business in general seems to be a leading indicator of the direction of the entire economy, and that’s up. On the New York Stock Exchange, Sotheby’s stock is near a multi-year high.

16 inch Tiffany Favrile Jack-in-the-Pulpit vase

16 inch Tiffany Favrile Jack-in-the-Pulpit vase

What’s so special about the show? Mostly it’s great fun, because there’s an enormously eclectic group of dealers from high end Tiffany glass and lamps (that would be me) to vintage clothing and everything in-between. The expenses for exhibitors at this show are quite reasonable for the level of exposure. It allows many interesting dealers to exhibit, who might not otherwise be able to afford to exhibit at fancier shows. The show is frequented by many decorators who find the most unusual items at the show for their clients. Buyers fly into town from all over the world, including Japan and Europe. It’s a great excuse to come to New York and enjoy the show and the city. You won’t regret it! And wait until you see some of the characters who attend. They’re a hoot!

Wonderful Tiffany Favrile 12 inch decorated vase

Wonderful Tiffany Favrile 12 inch decorated vase

I’m bringing lots of new acquisitions that are special. How about a 12″ blue decorated Tiffany Favrile vase of the finest quality? A Tiffany Jack-in-the-Pulpit vase? Or an Argy-Rousseau Poppy vase? This is just a taste of the wonderful items I’m bringing.

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.

The Miami National Antiques Show results

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2:30 PM on Sunday, 1/17/2010, at the Miami National Antiques Show

2:30 PM on Sunday, 1/17/2010, at the Miami National Antiques Show

I’m writing this blog at 2:30 PM on Sunday, so the final results are not yet in, but I have the preliminary results — the show is in trouble. Attendance was very light for most of the show, especially when I remember back 15-20 years, when the aisles were so crowded that it was difficult to move. Attendance at most shows in the US is down, but this one seemed down more than most. On a personal note, sales were good for me because the right people showed up. Almost all of my sales were to established clients (thank you to each and every one of you), with a couple to new clients. New clients are essential because established clients don’t remain clients forever.

Some shows enter what I will term a “death spiral”. It’s hard to say which comes first, but here’s the gist of it. Fewer clients show up to buy, so sales are disappointing. Disappointing sales lead some dealers not to return the following year. The following year the show is smaller and lower quality, so attendance goes down because of word-of-mouth. You get the point — one bad thing leads to another until eventually, the show collapses. So what can a show promoter do? Take the patient to the ICU and treat aggressively. That means NO business as usual. Give the right medication and treatment and save the patient. Take the Palm Beach Show Group as an example. They purchased the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show from Frank Farbenbloom. The show was OK when they bought it, but going nowhere. The new promoters were very aggressive in signing new, high quality exhibitors to the show, glamming up the look of the show and most importantly, advertising strongly. Now the Baltimore Show is on firm footing with high quality exhibitors, excellent attendance and good sales.

The Atlantique City Antiques Show entered a death spiral that wasn’t fun to watch. Each year the show got smaller and business got worse until finally the show collapsed. Allison Kohler of JMK Shows is reviving the show March 27-28, 2010 with many changes and hopefully a very large advertising budget. One big change is that the show will only be held once a year. Good move, Allison. I wish her the best of luck (and me too since I’ll be exhibiting there).

Rosemary Krieger is the very capable owner of Dolphin Promotions, the promoters of the Miami National Antiques Show. Rosemary, I know you read my blog, so take heed. This used to be a great show, so now you have to take dramatic action to renew and restore it and thereby break the cycle. Shorten the show to two days, Friday and Saturday, like the NYC Pier Show, so there will be bigger crowds and more energy. Greatly increase your advertising budget to include radio and TV. Increase free passes for the dealers to give out to their best clients. Make the parking free to the public. Sign new quality exhibitors with the promise of greatly increased advertising and a shorter show. Otherwise, my friend, the news is not good.

The Original Miami Beach Antique Show, January 21-25, 2010

The Original Miami Beach Antique Show, January 21-25, 2010

This week the eagerly anticipated Original Miami Beach Antique Show, opens to the public. It will be held at the Miami Beach Convention Center, Thursday, January 21, to Monday, January 25, 2010. It’s a huge show that attracts both exhibitors and attendees from all over the world. I’ve done business at this show with people from almost every continent. There’s always a lot of action, with millions and millions of dollars of merchandise changing hands. Many dealers save their best items just for this show. Give yourself at least two days to see everything.

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 many Tiffany Studios desk pieces. 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.

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

The NYC Pier show is this weekend!

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The NYC Pier Show, November 14-15

The NYC Pier Show, November 14-15

The NYC Pier Show is this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, November 14-15, 10 AM – 6 PM, both days. I always look forward to this show, because it has an old-fashioned combination that still works. The booth rent is reasonable enough for marginal exhibitors to still make a weekend’s wages. That permits dealers who sell vintage clothing or other fun inexpensive items to mix with dealers who sell very high end items. That eclectic mix gives the show a look that most other shows are missing.

Irene Stella came up with this winning formula years ago, when the show used only one pier. She expanded it to three piers because of the high demand from dealers to exhibit. It became known as The NYC Triple Pier Show and soon became a classic. Construction at the piers forced the show into the one larger pier, Pier 94, on the Hudson River at 56th St. Now the show has a “T” shape, with the higher end dealers to the left, the middle level dealers to the right and the “fun” dealers mostly straight ahead. It’s one of the few shows left that still has star power. There’s always a big line of patrons on Saturday morning before the show opens. They come charging in at precisely 10 AM, and the show gets off to a quick start. New Yorkers are enthusiastic, competitive and quick to make decisions, so frequently the action happens right away. Once sales start and items are marked sold, decisions get made even faster, to avoid disappointments.

If you’ve never come to the show, you should. It’s a real treat to see all the great items on display and also the characters who shop the show. Sometimes they’re more interesting that the items in the show.

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

Changes at Stella Shows and Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.

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The Modern Show, 7 West 34th St., NYC, October 16-18, 2009

The Modern Show, 7 West 34th St., NYC, October 16-18, 2009

Good changes are happening in the antique show world. Irene Stella’s company, Stella Show Mgmt. Co., has been promoting shows in the greater NY area for quite a few years. They have many successful shows under their belt, including the Pier Show in Piers 92 and 94, on the Hudson River in NYC. (The fall edition will be held November 14-15.) Stella Shows also manages Antiques at the Armory in the 69th Regiment Armory in NYC, the Chicago Botanic Garden Antiques & Garden Fair and the Modern Show, also in NYC.

Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc., (MMPI) of Chicago, manages the huge Merchandise Mart building in Chicago, which hosts the Chicago Merchandise Mart Antique Show twice yearly in the fall and spring. These two shows are the best in Chicago and amongst the best in the entire US.

Both promoters are heavy hitters in the antiques show promotion world, so it’s nice to hear of cooperation between the two. It’s my understanding that there will be major reconstruction of Piers 92 and 94, which will transform the two piers into one huge exhibition facility, and that MMPI is now in charge of Piers 92 & 94, and will be in charge of the combined facility. MMPI also operates a new facility for exhibitions at 7 West 34th St., in NYC, opposite the Empire State Building. Stella Shows will be holding their next Modern Show at this facility, October 16-18.

A collaboration of two top-notch promoters should bring about some nice changes to their shows. I wish them both good luck!

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 or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com

So-so results at the Pasadena Antiques Show

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The Pasadena Antiques Show, August 9, 2009

The Pasadena Antiques Show, August 9, 2009

It’s really tough work sitting at a show when there’s very little to do. Kinda  like Chinese torture.  The show opened on Friday. I wish I knew why. There were very few people and of those who showed, there seemed to be even fewer buyers. 8 hours of sitting. It’s easy when people are asking questions and making purchases, but not this Friday.

Irene Stella seems to have it right. She’s the promoter of the Pier Show in NYC. It’s a 2-day show. The public comes en masse and everyone makes their decisions quickly whether to purchase or not. It’s good for the public and good for the dealers. I would like to see the Pasadena show shortened to 2 days, but it’ll never happen.

Saturday was much more lively. Attendance was good, interest was good, especially in Tiffany Studios desk set items, and sales were decent. Now if only Sunday would be like Saturday, the show would have been good, but alas, no dice. Attendance wasn’t very good and interest was poor.

In my opinion, the main problem is that there isn’t just one important show in the LA area that everyone MUST attend. There’s one little show here and one little show there and as a result, LA is a difficult city in which to do well. It doesn’t matter how wealthy the residents are if they don’t show up. I say that because I’m always amused by show promoters when they try to convince me that I should do a new show in some city. “Do you know what the average income is within a 50-mile radius of the show?” I couldn’t care less, because that’s not what’s most important. It’s getting those people to attend the show that’s most important and that’s way tougher than it sounds.

On to Chicago in a couple of weeks and then Baltimore over the Labor Day weekend. That’s the one I’m looking most forward to. It’s big and important, so everyone shows up. It doesn’t guarantee I’ll do well, but at least I’ll have a fighting chance.

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 or 516-922-2090.