Steuben – Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Blog - Can You Identify?

Steuben Horn of Plenty

I have always loved great glass and if it is American, I love it even more. This is why I am drawn to Steuben of Corning, New York. This company was founded by Frederick Carder and T.G. Hawkes, two of the best known people in the glass industry. Last week, I was fortunate enough to buy what I believe is an unusual piece of Steuben. It can be seen in the Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Marketplace. www.darylelambert.com.

Steuben crystal vases aren't that familiar to me but this piece is a large Horn of Plenty in yellow that is highly etched. It is mounted to a marble base by a bronze hand and the signature Steuben is on the tip of the horn where it is inserted into the bronze holder. This piece has a great look and I feel certain that it is an ordered piece.

A book that I recommend our members buying is Glass: Art Nouveau to Art Deco by Victor Arwas. This book is a must for the serious buyer of glass and you should have it in your library. I keep recommending books to add to your reference material and each book will pay for itself many times over with the information that you acquire. In most cases, it is as good to have a used book as one that is new, saving you a lot of money.

One secret to Steuben is that the marks are sometimes almost impossible to find. Because I knew it should be signed, I have spent several minutes examining a piece before locating the signature. Here is a tip. When you find a great piece of glass that you know should be signed, take that extra time to inspect it. Also, spending extra time looking for the signature will make you aware of any damage that might exist on the piece. Damage is fatal to glass so take your time because when we are contemplating the purchase of an expensive piece of glass, its loss due to damage would set us back a pretty penny.

Hopefully, I will be bringing back additional fantastic finds from Nashville to share with you in the future but in the meantime I am still waiting to hear and share more of your stories.

By the way, I was offered six pulled feather Steuben lamp shades today and if any of you are looking for that many matching shades, please contact me. It isn't often that you find six shades at one time and these are beautiful.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club. Join Us Today
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Meissen Bowls – Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Blog – New Marketplace.

Messien - Thanks to Mooraboot.com

I have been writing that the Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectible Club was going to come alive and it is doing that before my very own eyes. Over the week or so, Ondre will be listing the items that were purchased last week in Evansville, Indiana at Sohn's auction for all to see. I believe it would be well worth your while to visit the MARKETPLACE to see all the wonderful offerings there.

Over the next few weeks, not only will the Club have many new listings but its members will also have the opportunity to sell their items on the site through the classified section. Today, I decided to check out the new listings that Ondre put up and guess what? We listed six Meissen bowls and when I went to eBay, I found the very same pattern on a cup with saucer that sold for $162 with 9 bids.

We want the buyers to be satisfied with their purchases in the marketplace and I believe that these bowls will sell quickly. The secret to our and our members’ success will be turning inventory quickly and then reinvesting those proceeds and starting the process all over again. By compounding our money, the amount that we have to reinvest will grow quicker than if we got full retail for our treasures but had to wait months to see them sell.

I will be attending the Antique Show in Nashville, Tennessee from the 10^th - 14^th and if anyone wishes to talk to me at the event, my cell phone number is 847-867-7162. This event will be near the Opryland Hotel and I will be looking to buy quality items there, so if you're in the vicinity and have an item that might appeal to the Club, bring it on over.

Cecil will be meeting me at the show and for anyone who would like to meet the person that I turn to for advice and knowledge, you can join us in our search for treasure at this show. This will give you the opportunity to see that anyone can be successful at antiquing if they just spend the time necessary to find the items that others are wanting but not willing to put in the time to find. They would much rather pay you to do the work of researching and digging them out. Your compensation can well be worth the effort. A great example is when I turned $16,000 into $115,000 by finding a painting that a very large company wanted for their office wall.

I feel like even though we have spent a few years getting started, the Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Club is just taking its first steps. So let’s do this together and show the world that there is still opportunity available for honest people and that God will bless those who use the skills he has given them. Don’t forget the story about the three sons and how they used their father’s money. One of the sons buried the part he was given and upon the father’s return, he took all that money back. But one son took his part and invested it wisely so the father gave him much more to invest. I believe we want to be like the last son, don't you?

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club. Join Us Today
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Portrait Paintings – Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Blog – Name and Name.

Harvey Joiner Portrait

I am often questioned about paintings that display portraits of men and women plus those special ones of children. Unfortunately, there are two parts to valuing a portrait painting, one being the subject person and the other, the artist. Both of these elements can add substantially to the value but with neither being known, I can say in general that it is best to leave that painting for others to buy.

First, the person being represented by the painting is usually not known and this will greatly depreciate its value for most buyers. If the person posing, however, is a person of great reputation, then the painting may have unlimited value. Let’s suppose you found a painting of Abraham Lincoln that he had posed for, you lucky person, you may have just become a millionaire. Sometimes the person pictured in the painting will not immediately be recognizable but with the proper research they can often be identified. The quality of the painting does have some bearing but not as much as in other fields in the art world.

The second factor to be considered when valuing a portrait painting is the artist. Often artists with great talent traveled across the country painting portraits to provide income for themselves. You will find these artists didn't sign their work most of the time, but due to the fact that they were very prolific painters, the professionals can compare paintings and attribute them to certain artists. I don't think that you will find many guides to the early portrait painters and often the only answers that you can get will be from consulting the experts. However, to the trained eye, a painting is like a fingerprint of the artist who painted it. I am always amazed when I see one of the appraisers on the Road Show say that is a painting by so and so. I think “but we will have to do a little research”, meaning you are going to put out a buck to prove that you have a real treasure.

Don't get sucked in by a portrait if it can't be identified because often the frame is more valuable then the painting. I say this tongue in cheek but it is true and I have often purchased a portrait where the frame was worth $500 or more while the painting had little or no value. This isn't an area of the art world that I would recommend you spending a lot of time on but if you come across a great piece, search out the advice of an expert.

There are exceptions to this advice as there always are. Two subjects that can often stand on their own are children and soldiers. Children’s portraits can bring huge money. Just the other day I saw on the road show where a painting of a little boy, maybe five years old, dressed in a dress, wearing a necklace and holding a rose was quite valuable. My first thought was that if I had Joshua painted that way I would be afraid to turn my back on him. Wow! How things have changed.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club. Join Us Today
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Auctions vs. eBay and Malls – Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Blog – Thanks Vicki.

I love a little Sizzle

Yesterday was a very interesting day as Ondre, Bob, Gary and I spent most of the morning planning the future direction of the Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectibles Club. The new members only section is coming alive with Ondre and Bob's leadership and hopefully most of the members now have their new ID's and temporary passwords. If you are a member and haven't received the email about your password and ID, you should contact us as soon as possible. Without being able to sign in, you will be missing the excitement that is occurring for our members.

Gary is working on getting the site ready to present to the public by researching some different ways that we can connect with the public and also preparing content on the site so that people will better understand it. All of what Ondre, Gary and I are doing would be of no avail if Bob weren't giving us the structure needed for the site.

Ondre took photos of some pieces that the Club purchased last week and they will begin to appear in the marketplace. Hopefully soon, the members will also be displaying their treasures for the public to purchase in the upcoming classified section. Bob has purchased the Affiliate Program that we will be using and it should be downloaded soon. Then, anyone who is approved will be able to add this to their profit centers.

This is just a little update for the members and potential new members of what is happening at the office. I think some of you may be confused and asking, “but what does that have to do with Auctions vs. eBay and Malls?”. The answer to that question is “nothing”, but after our meeting I received a comment on the blog from Vicki where she stated that quality items that she owned weren't selling in the mall or on eBay at prices that she thought they should. After tumbling that though in my mind all day yesterday, I came to some conclusions that might help explain this occurrence.

First eBay has became the site for all bottom feeders, who lie in wait to pick off the unexpected prey that slowly drifts by. Here is what I mean by that. When a person lists his or her treasures on eBay, he or she expects that there will be a pool of buyers bidding against one another for the prize. This simply isn't happening in today’s markets. Most eBay sales are being completed with just one bid and the greater percentage of listings are going without a single bid. Without an active auction, market items aren't going to meet their true values. That's simply a fact. I wrote a couple of years ago that, with exceptions, eBay had become the least desirable way of selling your treasures, all due to its refusal to change with the markets. But that leaves the malls, so what is happening there, you're asking. I believe that answer is also simple. People now think that most of the malls are filled with items that can't be sold elsewhere. If the items could be sold on eBay or at public auctions, that is where the booth holders would have them.

Here is a personal story. I entered a rather large supposed antique mall and asked the person behind the counter if there were any items of quality that I might be interested in. His answer almost knocked me down. “If we have, it would probably be in that large case there.” I asked whose case that was and the gentleman said it was their eBay case. My eyes almost popped out of my head as I asked, “Why am I here if all the good things are on eBay?” I could see in his eyes that he was thinking “You must be stupid because we are trying to get the most for our dealers.” I hope that helps answer why mall sales have hit bottom.

You can see by my trip last week, where I intended to buy Tiffany, Loetz, Cut Glass and all the Hanna Barlow Doulton pieces in the sale but left without buying a single one of these pieces, that auctions might be where the action is today. I am hopeful that we have another alternative and a new business model with the Club’s Marketplace, so stay tuned.

Here is where our club can fill a void by matching up buyers and seller at fair prices where both will feel that their efforts have been rewarded. It is my intent to create markets where the collectors can visit and see numerous items that would fit their collecting needs but also where the sellers will be able to move their inventory in a reasonable amount of time at a fair value. The malls and eBay just aren't serving these needs and this is what gives us an opportunity to build something special.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club. Join Us Today
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“Let a Little Light Shine” – Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Blog – Miniature Lamps.

Miniature Lamps Can Light Up Your Life

I got a real lesson on miniature lamps last week by attending Sohn's auction where there were many of these little jewels sold. I just happened to be on the front row sitting with this wonderful lady who had traveled quite a distance to buy these small lamps. When the first one sold, she was the high bidder and, if I remember right, it brought a couple of hundred dollars. This caught my attention. She continued to bid on each lamp thereafter and was successful on almost all of them.

My curiosity got the best of me, so I followed her when the lamp sales had been completed and began a conversation with her about the lamps that she had purchased. To my surprise, she was just a collector who admired these lamps because there had been several in her home as a child. I feel certain that she spent $5000 or more on lamps by the time the auction was finished. I asked how she knew that they were real and not reproductions and her answer was “just by seeing so many of them”.

My interest had been piqued, so I went to the table where most of the lamps sat and examined several of them. Sure enough, I began to have confidence that with a little practice and some reading, I also could tell the difference. How many times had I passed these little jewels at garage and house sales thinking that they all were reproductions? I was amazed when I got home and searched eBay for miniature lamps and found that there were 687 listed, with many over $500.

Examining these little beauties, I began to find examples of all the larger varieties of lamps that people search for all the time. There were cut glass, satin glass, milk glass and every other description of glass you can think of that had been molded or blown into the little beacons of light. I was amazed to find a great book on miniature lamps by Frank and Ruth Smith called, of all things, Miniature Lamps.

I hope that you have learned a very important lesson from my experience, that being there are things that can be learned at auctions alongside the buying you do. I am sure that the time spent with that wonderful lady will be turned into money in my pocket. Whenever you attend an auction, make the time worthwhile. Don't sit there like a bump on a log but talk to people and you may learn something that will be priceless in your future.

I remember a little song when I attended Vacation Bible School many years ago “Don't put your light under a basket but let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club. Join Us Today
www.darylelambert.com

American Brilliant Cut Glass - Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Blog – Close to Diamonds.

Doctor Wall and His Wife - Thanks for the Cut
Glass

What an education I received last week on American Brilliant Cut Glass. Attending the Sohn's Auction was a lady from the American Cut Glass Association [ ACGA ] and she was so nice to take her time to discuss cut glass with me. I just had to ask her about an old wives tale I had heard about cut glass. Does it break if exposed to heat or cold? Her answer surprised me a little. “Yes it does.” If you really want to know more about cut glass, you may want to join the ACGA at www.cutglass.com.

Just a little history about cut glass. Most of the artists that produced this wonderful glass came from Europe and brought their skills with them. However by the Brilliant Period from 1876-1906, Americans were making glass superior to the Europeans.

One of the companies that really thrived in America was Dorflinger and Co. Pieces that can be identified as being produced by them bring huge dollars. There was never a time when cut glass was inexpensive and usually it could only be owned by the wealthy patrons who could afford it.

The companies that produced the glass blanks weren't necessarily the ones that cut the patterns that we recognize today. In fact, not all great cut glass is signed by the company but if you are fortune enough to find signed pieces, that is even better. The best book that I have found on cut glass is Collecting American Brilliant Cut Glass by Bill and Louise Boggess. You should be able to find it on Amazon and if it is used, so much the better.

What makes the glass in cut glass so appealing, you may ask. The Americans found that if you used lead in the mix, the glass would have a clearer look and when cut would reflect the light like a diamond. This glass was cut with steel discs and often as many as 10 to 12 discs would be used on a single piece. I hesitate to give you this piece of information but only men were used as cutters.

There is no limit that a true collector will stop at in obtaining that piece of cut glass he desires and the lady that was a member of the ACGA said that it becomes almost an addiction once you get started collecting cut glass. Condition is paramount in valuing cut glass and any damage will seriously devalue a piece. This is probably one area of collecting that you won't find me in because as my wife, Vickie, says I am just too big of a klutz.

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Home at Last – Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Blog – Great Trip.

Daryle and Don - Look at that Glass.

Where did that beard come from?

Sunday had to be better than Saturday and it was. You can bet that I talked to everyone that would listen about our Club and the things that we were going to do together. The people at Sohn's Auction were wonderful and they helped me in every way. I could not have asked them to do more than they did. They even helped me load my truck. In fact, I felt like somewhat of a celebrity with all the attention I received. They are looking for future auctions and if you happen across one, Don would make it worth your while to give him a jingle. The items in this auction came from close to Atlanta so you can see they will go anywhere to get a great auction.

I have had very little contact with Ondre, Bob and Gary this week but you can be assured that I am eager to see what has been done since I left. Ondre is beginning to see the member sign ups but she hopes that the registrations will pick up. The Affiliate Program and the Classifieds are on their way and I can't tell you how proud we should be, as a Club, for the hard work that our team of Ondre, Bob and Gary have been putting in.

You are asking “Daryle but why was Sunday so much better?” Well, I still didn't get the Doulton Barlow pieces I wanted, but you will see some spectacular Doulton items in our marketplace soon. One of them is a 16 inch Doulton George Tinsworth vase. I am so tired that I won't try to tell you about all of my purchases now, the vase is just a little tease for later.

This I promise you. The market for good cut glass and art glass is on the move. Please keep your eye out for Loetz, Tiffany, Quezal and Steuben as well. There is real money to be made with these names and the prices are going up. Even the Cybis figurines were bringing two to three times what I had figured they would. I believe that this is going to be a great year because people are wanting to have something that they can hold in their hand, not stocks that lost fifty percent of their value with the owners not knowing where their money went.

Whenever I see the rules we are following put into practice, it just reaffirms my original thinking that the best of the best is what we want to deal in. This week I saw the top of the lines bring ten times as much as the average priced items and there never seemed to be a shortage of money to buy the best. Our book 31 Steps to Your Millions i9n Antiques and Collectibles has stood the test of time in what it teaches.

I have been up for nearly 20 hours so I think that it is time to lay this old head down but I have so much to share with you later.