“Still Only the Best” - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – Tiffany – Stueben – Daum Nancy.

Tiffany Red Farvile - Thanks to chasenantiques.com

The tide is turning but it is slow in coming and I have to say that you as a buyer still need to be very selective in your purchases. I have recommended that you begin to fill your inventories but it would be wise to forget quantity and focus on quality. Less is more in today's markets, so be advised.

I just received the Early's July sales results and in my opinion they were the worst that I have seen in many years of following this auction house. I believe the public is still somewhat reluctant to spend money on average offerings so they are keeping their hands down when medium or lower priced items come up for sale. This should be an indication that you should follow suit and not get sucked into purchasing merchandise that can't be resold. That being said, the top end of the sale did very well. A beautiful large Moser vase measuring 19 !/2 inches sold for $6500 against the estimate of $3000 to $5000. There happened to be one piece in the sale that I personally would have loved to add to my collection, a red favrile hooked feather Tiffany vase measuring only 4 inches. This vase in red is very rare, and with an estimate of $3000 - $5000 I thought that I might get a chance to own it, but it wasn't to be. With a hammered price of $5900, it was a little rich for me. Also there was an unusual scenic Daum Nancy vase that sold for $7250 plus a floral one that brought $6000. Perhaps the star of the auction was a Tiffany drop-head Dragonfly lamp that had an estimate of $12,000 to $150,000. It stopped at $120,000, but more than likely it sold.

This auction contained 535 offering according to the catalog so you can be the judge about its outcome by going to Early's website and scanning the results. I believe that this sale confirms my thoughts about what to buy now because only the best is bringing the money. I am hearing from many members that their average pieces just won't sell regardless of their asking price and for that reason I suggest to them that today isn't the time to start panicking but rather to wait on their lower and medium merchandise and focus on the special pieces they have. By reviewing what is bringing reasonable money at auctions, you will get targets as your search continues. Going to sites of the major auction house and also the regional ones, you will see where it would be wise for you to spend your money.

Don't forget our club will always partner with you in purchasing the better items so that you will have someone to share the risk with. We will also help you in the selection of which of these better items to buy. I hope that you haven't forgotten our Associates Program and its motto, “You eye it, we buy it, and when it is sold we split the profit.”

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