Daryle Lambert: What Makes Tiffany Shine

Louis Comfort Tiffany was one of the shrewdest businessmen of his time. Even though his ability to design products was outstanding, this wasn't where his real skills were found. By assembling the greatest glasssmiths, metal workers, designers and chemist under one roof, he was able to orchestrate all their talents into producing the most valuable works of art in his day. He made the statement that he wasn't producing items for the average man.

Even though his name has become associated with the best in art glass and bronze, he seldom touched the pieces that bear his name. He was the master overseer and gave the final okay on everything that was produced in his factories. If it came from Tiffany, it was marked with one of the Tiffany marks, whether it was glass, bronze or pottery.

Most people don't know that Tiffany was a fine painter early on, and there are many of his works still now. In fact, I am astonished that his paintings don't bring more money than they do. He also made some wonderful pottery, but next to his lamps and stained glass windows, they still seem to be undervalued to this day. But no doubt, he is still the premier name in the market for the wares he produced. The problem I personally have with his work, is that he was merely the supervisor of others under his direction that produced these wonderful items, not the maker himself. On the other hand, for example, Charles Lotton is involved in every step of each process in making his fantastic pieces.

Tiffany is perhaps the most forged or faked items in the markets today. Often the Tiffany information was etched into pieces of Steuben, Quezal, Loetz and many other art glass. If these fine pieces had been left alone, they would stand on their own as to their value, but by signing them Tiffany, their value is reduced.

In a book that I read, it said “it is better to know the glass than to see the name on a piece.” The name of the book is Louis C. Tiffany's Glass Bronzes Lamps: A Complete Collectors Guide by Robert Kock.

To prove that there is still pieces of Tiffany to be found, I will share with you two of my stories. I believe it or not almost every dealer that I know has similar stories about Tiffany in their past.

The first piece of Tiffany I ever bought was purchased for $40. I knew it was a nice piece of art glass, but I couldn't say it was Tiffany in my ad because it was unsigned. Putting it on eBay and hoping to get $300 or $400 for it, I waited for the auction to start. Within thirty minutes the bid was over $500, and to tell you the truth, I started to get excited. Emails filled my mail box with questions and I was even receiving calls. By the second day it was over $1000, and I was beginning to wonder where it was going to stop. I think the final bid was over $1800. Not bad for an unsigned small vase that I'm not sure even to this day that it was Tiffany.

The second story is even better than the first. I was called to a home to look at items that a lady was selling for her father. There were many wonderful things in the house to look at. Most of the items had been researched and I didn't think that I would be able to purchase much. As I looked around, my eyes lit on these two bronze lamp bases. One was a floor base and the other was a table base. I asked if they for for sale. The lady said that she didn't see why not, her husband was just planning to throw them in the trash. I carefully examined them and made a offer of $3500. That got her attention. Knowing now that they were better than something to be thrown in the trash, she said “i will let you know.” She called back in several days and did accept my offer, but let me know that she had contacted several other people and she was giving me a bargain.

I tried to find shades for these lamps but couldn't. I even offered almost ten thousand dollars for one shade and still got out bid. Then I finally decided to sell them without shades. These went on to be sold at auction for over $10,000.

Today's Photo is courtesy of a 2005 Auction Catalog from Treadway Gallery.
Discover how our book can be the tool that helps you become financially free simply buying and selling antiques, collectibles and fine art.

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If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us. Contact us here.

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Daryle Lambert: George Ohr Pottery

I enjoyed our make believe journey to North Carolina in the December 2nd Blog, so today I will continue that journey, going further south to Biloxi Mississippi, the home of the famous potter, George Ohr, also known as the mad potter.

This self proclaimed “greatest potter on earth” moved his operation to Biloxi in 1883 and began making his most unusual pieces. Ohr was a one man operation, never throwing two pieces alike. In fact, even though Ohr proclaimed to being a fantastic potter, his work meet with very little commercial success.

His best work he produced were pieces of very thin walls, twisted, folded and dented into fantastic and graceful shapes. These are the vases I enjoy more than his other works. He worked in browns or tan, along with molten green glazes. You might see some blue or pink in his work, but not as often as the brown and green.

He often told people that some day his work would be more valuable than gold. He was right on.

Since very little of his work was sold, most of his pieces accumulated in his shop. When fire destroyed most of his inventory in 1894, it was a real tragedy, since it is said that he produced more than ten thousand pieces during his career.

The story goes that a gentlemen passing through Biloxi and came upon George Ohr's shop and bought all the pieces that had survived the fire. What a wise choice that was. By marketing this inventory the world became aware of the greatness of this artist.

When I lived Owensboro, Kentucky, I visited a shop where the owner showed me a wonderful four or five inch vase that was twisted, then mashed to give the piece a very interesting look. When I asked the price and was told $800, this should have been a clue for to me to buy it right then and there. Having to always bargain, I offered $500, which was immediately turned down.

Yes this was a George Ohr piece, one of the best I have ever seen, whether then or now. I continued to look around the shop and forgot about this little vase. Am I sorry now that I didn't buy it? The answer is a resounding, "Yes". Today it could very easily bring from $7,000-$10,000.

Ohr's pieces are marked, and unless I had proof that he made the piece if it were unsigned, I would pass on buying it. The sky is the limit today on his better pieces, but since most people aren't even aware of him, keep your eyes open in your search. There are reproductions, and a lot of people trying to sell fakes, so be sure to do your home work or consult a expert when buying.

You can see many of the George Ohr pieces in the book American Art Pottery ,by David Rago. If you're considering purchasing this book, or other books, why not order through us and help support our daily blog and the 31 Club.

Discover how our book can be the tool that helps you become financially free.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club Wealth Building and start your own race to your millions! Read more about The Million Dollar Challenge.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us. Contact us here.

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Daryle Lambert: Hale to Ale - Collectible Beer Cans

Being that I am a teetotaler, I really haven't had the opportunity to collect beer cans much. But "there's money in them there cans," as we would say in the South.. The canning of beer started in 1934 by American Can Company and continues to be the most popular way to serve beer today. Storage, breakage, and the ability to cool it faster seems to be the reasons for the change from the glass bottles.

Where I'm from, most of the people that wanted to enjoy this type of beverage simply brewed it for themselves, but I guess in the cities, beer served this way was the rage. Until 1934, beer came in kegs or bottles.

Most cans back then, from 1934 till 1962, were made from steel, but later ones are aluminum. It has been amazing to me how the thickness of these cans have been reduced while still being strong enough to hold the drink.

The style of the beer cans has changed from what were called the cone top, to what is now called the flat top. The earlier cone top cans bring the largest rewards. The true collector tries to find cans that were opened from the bottom, but for the life of me, I can't understand why someone would have done this, but I guess they did.

Remember that condition is of upmost importance in collecting these cans. No dents, paint loss or rust can be on them, if they are the early ones. Beer bottles are also collectible, but I will leave that subject for another time.

There are people that, believe it or not, make their living today picking up beer cans on the side of the road. You may have seen them. As the price of aluminum increased, it made it profitable to collect these cans and sell them back to the processors. Did you know that in some state their is a return policy and you can return these cans for up to fifteen cents rebate? Just to throwing in a little trivia. Did you know that aluminum was more expensive than gold before the discovery of bauxite?

But let's talk about values. When collecting these cans, you will find that there were many bottlers, as they were known in the early years. The ones that carry the highest values are cans used by the least known of these companies back then. For example, a can by Edelweiss Beer Company might bring a few hundred dollars today. can you imagine what the person that drank it and paid only five cents for the can full of beer would think if you told him the can alone today would be worth maybe three hundred dollars? Another great can to own is the Storz Gold Crest Beer Company can.

Most of the older cans will still be found at garage sales, and when you pick them up for five or ten cent each, they will definitely make you happy when the final price is registered on your on line auction. By the way, when I was a kid, I would go the the ball games and pick up cold drink bottles and sell them back to the stores. That's where my spending money came from up until I was about fifteen years old. --Daryle
Today's picture is courtesy of Gene's Can Shop

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club Wealth Building and start your own race to your millions! Read more about The Million Dollar Challenge.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us. Contact us here.

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DARYLE LAMBERT and the 31 CLUB ARE HERE FOR YOU. Just Ask.

Things can happen in the strangest ways. My friend, Warner, got a call from a gentleman named Ray, looking to sell two Lotton vases, and while they were visiting, Warner told him about the antiques & collectibles wealth building club I had formed, the 31 Club. Then, Ray told his neighbor, Nancy, about his conversation with Warner, and later I received a phone call from Nancy, asking if I would help her with some of the things she had to sell. Of course I will.

When I arrived at her home, another neighbor, Jan, came by with some paintings and prints that she wanted me to look at, and of course, I was more than willing to. The great news is that all three of these people joined our 31 Club.

So, the 31 Club has picked up three new members, and I believe that these friends and neighbors, working together, will all be greatly rewarded by joining with us. Ray might have a house sale for us to do, and Nancy has sereral wonderful paintings I hope to find a new home for at a fair price.

Our third new member, Jan, has a small painting she thought was by Robert Kipniss. She even had a certificate for it. Upon examining the piece for several minutes, I still couldn't find where it was signed. ask her if it were She said could never find one either.

Remember, never give up if you think that the outcome is still in doubt. I rubbed the corners of the painting lightly. and lo and behold, the faintest of signatures was there. That discovery perhaps took the value of this piece from $200.00 to possibly $3-5000.00. Not bad. And on top of that, she also had several Kipness prints. Friends helping friends. That is what the 31 Club is all about.

Not long after this visit I got a call from a Church friend named Jennifer, asking if I would call her sister in Pennsylvania . Of course the answer was yes. When I got her on the phone, she ask if the Altman print she paid $3 for had any value.

I am telling you a secret, because I havn't been able to get a hold of her yet. That print is worth about $585.00. That is more than a double no matter how you slice it.

I have added two new names to your memory list now. Harold Altman and Robert Kipniss. So be on the look out for pieces by both of these artist. Their prints, as well as paintings, can still be bought at bargain prices, and they can substantially increase your bank account. In fact, the 31 Marketplace and Gallery has some Robert Altman Prints that can be purchased at a fair price. Click here to view them.

I am so excited with the progress the 31 Club is making and every day, I see great strides being made in my dream of being able to serve others at God's direction.

For all you dog lovers, here's a little slice of my life recently. Joshua and I got a new dog named Bella, and boy, is she cute. Of course, Vickie threatened to throw both of us out of the house, because she had stated we would never have a dog. I slept on the bathroom floor to keep Bella from howling all night. There had been a few other problems that go along with having a puppy, if you know what I mean. But we do have a new member of the family, and she has already found her way to our bed. There's nothing better to see than a nine-year-old boy with his first dog.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club Wealth Building and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!"The Guy in the Red Tie" --- Daryle Lambert

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