Making sense of the new order at the antique shows in Miami this February

Posted on January 5, 2017 by Philip Chasen

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 Miami antique shows will be turned on their heads this year. Here’s my take on what’s to come, but first a little background.

Our booth at a previous Miami Airport show

The date order of two important antique shows in Miami has always been the Airport show first (that’s the one at the Miami Merchandise Mart), followed immediately by the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Over the years, the Airport show shrank until it finally failed and was immediately replaced by a cloned show. The public wasn’t able to tell that anything had changed, but it had behind the scenes. For more about the details, click here for one of my previous blogs. As the Airport show shrank, so did the attendance. Many dealers and many attendees skipped the Airport show altogether and arrived in Miami only for the second show.

An artist’s rendering of the future Miami Beach Convention Center

In the meantime, the second show, the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show, was forced out of the Miami Beach Convention Center because of construction. Click here if you want to read about the details. The transformed new show will change its venue to the Miami-Dade County Fair Expo Center and its name to the Original Miami Antique Show, removing the word Beach from its title. Its dates of February 10 – February 13, 2017 will still follow the Airport show.

Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition Center

So what has happened and what will happen? Many of the dealers weren’t thrilled by the move to the new venue and have jumped ship, electing instead to exhibit at the Airport show and skip the second show, the Original Miami Antique Show. Other dealers, including myself, are going to give both shows a chance.

Rosemary Krieger, owner and promoter of the Airport show (now named the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show), told me that the upcoming February, 2017 show has gotten much larger, with plans to get even bigger next year. Last year only 60 dealers exhibited at the Airport show, while this year the entire first floor will be full with 200 dealers. The second floor will have a special exhibition of Art Deco photography (for sale) presented by the Art Deco Buenos Aires Argentina Institute. If things go well this year, the show will expand to the second floor next year, bringing it back full circle to where it was years ago. That would be an exciting and ironic turn of events.

I’m on the fence about the newly relocated Miami Beach show. If the public and the dealers reject the new venue, the show will fail, and the Airport show will benefit. If it does well, the shows will be similar to what they’ve traditionally been. I suggest when you make your plans to visit the shows in Miami next month, you arrive early to include the Airport show. If you miss the first show, you may miss what could become the more exciting and important of the two. Tune in in next month and I’ll let you know how it all shakes out.

The Hammerstein Ballroom at the Manhattan Center

In the meantime, come visit me at the new NYC Big Flea Antiques Market at the Manhattan Center, Historic Hammerstein Ballroom, 34th St. and 8th Ave. in New York City. We’ll be there Thursday – Saturday, January 19-21, 2017.

I just listed this killer Daum Prairie pitcher for sale on my website

I’ve been listing on my website many of the new items I’ve recently purchased and I’ll be listing more in the near future. Please check my site as often as you can.

Click here to check my website for the latest items and to look around. I will update it as often as time permits. We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. 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.

A new Miami Airport Show will take the place of the canceled show

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Philip Chasen

Last year in front of my booth

Last week U.S. Antique Shows emailed two show announcements. The first one canceled the March 2016 NYC Pier Show. The second canceled the January 2016 Miami Airport Show. I wasn’t too concerned about the March Pier Show because it was fading fast, but I certainly was concerned about the January Miami Airport Show. Last year was fabulous for me, so the cancellation put a big hole in my schedule (and budget).

miami-airport-1-2016 Enter stage right, Rosemary Krieger to the rescue. Rosemary’s company, Dolphin Promotions, the former owners of the Miami Airport Show, were creating a new show, the Miami Antiques + Art + Design Show, to take the place of the canceled show. Whoop de doo! The stipulation was they needed at least 100 dealers to sign up or there wouldn’t be a show. Initial interest has been very good, so Rosemary sent me an email confirming that the show will go on. Yahoo! Dealer participation is the key, so I need all of you dealers reading this blog to sign up for the show. You can contact Rosemary by email at rosemary@dolphinfairs.com or by phone at 708.366.2710. Click here for the landing page of the new show. Last year was significantly better than previous years, so let’s make this happen. Sign up and support the show!!

Our next show will be at the Winnetka Community House in Winnetka, IL, November 6-8, 2015. We used to exhibit at shows in the greater Chicago area 4-6 times yearly. Most of them have disappeared, so we now only exhibit in Chicago twice a year, once in the fall in Winnetka and once in the spring in Glencoe at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. Too bad, because we like Chicago and have lots of friends and clients. We’re really looking forward to seeing you at the show, so please put the dates in your calendar.

The August 7-9, 2014 Chicago Summer Antiques Show in Rosemont, IL may close

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Philip Chasen

The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center on River Road, in Rosemont, IL

The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, used to be the location of a three-times-a-year antique show sponsored by Dolphin Promotions. At one point the show was huge, with a really outstanding group of dealers. But as the years have gone by, the show got smaller and smaller. It was reduced to twice a year and now maybe once a year.

Saturday afternoon in my booth, last year

There’s a general problem in the industry, which I believe started with eBay. Some dealers dropped out of shows to devote themselves to selling full-time on eBay. Then the problem was compounded by the graying of the dealers, with very few younger dealers coming up to take the places of the older ones as they retired or died. Additionally younger buyers don’t seem very interested in antiques — they’d rather buy electronics. The results are fewer and smaller antique shows, in general. Dealers have to work harder to do the same business, but it’s there. Send postcards and emails to your clients. Call them and encourage them to visit the shows.

Now to the Chicago Summer Antiques Show, in particular. The future of the show has been put in jeopardy because not enough dealers have signed to exhibit this summer, August 7-9, 2014. Rosemary Krieger, the owner of Dolphin Promotions, told me that unless more dealers sign up for the show, she’ll have no choice but to shut it down. That would be a great shame. There are solid, bona fide clients in the greater Chicago area that visit the show and buy. Rosemary changed the days of the show to 1. coincide with the powerful ANA World’s Fair of Money show (in an adjacent hall) and 2. end on Saturday, instead of Sunday, to give the dealers extra time to get to Baltimore for the big Baltimore Summer Antiques Show. Many coin dealers are wealthy and collect antiques. Additionally, many clients of the coin show also collect antiques. These same coin dealers and collectors visit the antiques show and buy. I know. I’ve sold to them. Rosemary has also arranged for the public to park free at the lot across the street. That used to be a complaint, but is no longer valid.

Call or write to Rosemary and tell her you want to exhibit at the show and call your fellow dealers and encourage them to exhibit. rosemary@dolphinfairs.com. 708-366-2710. Do it now, before it’s too late.

This wonderful Daum Nancy fall scenic vase is just in

It’s spring, so there are no shows, but we’re still very much in business. Click here to view my new website and look around. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps.

The Palm Beach Winter Antiques Show starts on Friday, January 20, 2012

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Philip Chasen

The cheese table at the preview party, about 7 PM

My booth is almost set up

The Palm Beach Winter Antiques Show begins on Friday, January 20th, at 11 AM and ends on Sunday, January 22nd, at 5 PM. It’s Thursday night, as I write this post, and the preview party is underway. 45 minutes into the party, there are very few guests, but there is a lovely spread of different cheeses, crackers and fruit, right in front of our booth. There also are waiters circulating with wine and hors d’oeuvres. So that part of the party is quite nice. The problem is preview parties themselves. I rarely sell anything at them and I don’t expect this one to be any different.

Another view of my booth, including a fabulous Tiffany Studios 10-light lily lamp

Setup went smoothly — easy entry to the ballroom and no untoward problems. The booth is very awkward because even though it’s a standard 10′ x 20′, it’s oriented the wrong way, with the smaller measurement to the front. But there is an aisle next to the booth, so people can enter from the front or the side. The booth looks great, with a carpeted ballroom setting being especially conducive to setting up and hopefully to selling too.

One of the many fine exhibitors at the show

We haven’t exhibited at this show before, but in speaking to some of the dealers who’ve been here before, the general quality of the show has gone up since the new promoter, Rosemary Krieger, of Dolphin Promotions, has taken over this year. The show is high quality and the public should be very pleased with the varied and powerful offerings.

Wellesley House, another of the fine exhibitors at the show

The results will be in by Sunday night and I’ll post them on Monday. Tune in again.
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The second show of our Florida show circuit starts next Friday, January 27th, with the Miami National Antiques Show (aka The Airport Show), at the Doubletree Expo Centre, Miami Merchandise Mart, in Miami. Make your plans to visit us at any of our Florida shows. They’re filled with the best dealers and a fabulous array of merchandise that you won’t find anywhere else. The big bonus is the weather. The temperature has been in the 70s every day (and 10 degrees in Chicago as I write this). No more excuses! Make your plans now.

A very rare Le Verre Francais mini vase, 3½" tall

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

Setting up at the Chicago Summer Antiques Show, August 26, 2010

Posted on August 26, 2010 by Philip Chasen

Set up went smoothly at the Chicago Summer Antiques Show. My booth was large enough that we weren’t stepping over each other.

The booth is almost all set up, August 26, 2010

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The show is small, but good quality, with several high-end dealers. There’s a nice, diverse selection of furniture, paintings, silver, glass and lighting. Rosemary Krieger, the promoter of the show, is determined to restore the show to its former glory. She hopes that her advertising and other incentives, like free parking, will bring in the buyers. If the exhibitors do well, word will get around and more dealers will want to exhibit there the following year. It’s the beginning of an upward cycle. It’s not easy to accomplish, especially when the economic news is not ebullient. But I’m a firm supporter of the show and of Rosemary Krieger, so I’m wishing her the best.

Fabulous Kauba bronze 'How Kola' that I'm exhibiting for the first time

The show hours were changed to make it very favorable for both exhibitors and the public. The new hours are noon – 7 pm, Friday and Saturday, and noon – 5 pm on Sunday. That’s more than enough time for the public to shop and very fair to the dealers. Kudos to Rosemary and a request to other promoters to do the same. The public are the clients of the dealers and the dealers are the clients of the promoters. You hear that, promoters? Treat your dealers well, or you’ll lose them, and have nothing in the end.

A rare and beautiful Galle blownout water lily vase, on display in my booth at the show

Please take the time to visit the show and buy from your favorite dealers. Everyone wins. You go home with a beautiful purchase and the dealer goes home pleased with his sales. The show gets better the next year and everyone is happy.

On Monday or Tuesday, I’ll report on the results of the show. I’m cautiously optimistic.

I recently added over 10 Galle vases to my website, 7 Tiffany lamps, 1 Grueby vase, 1 Newcomb vase, Daum Nancy glass and a fabulous Burgun & Schverer internally decorated vase. This coming week, I’ll be adding many new items. Please take a look. Click on this link chasenantiques.com.

Please send me your comments or questions about art glass, lamps, Louis Icart, shows, auctions, etc. If it’s interesting, I’ll answer you in a future blog.

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.

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.

Philip Chasen Antiques

The blog for chasenantiques.com

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