Chandeliers - Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Blog - Light into your life

I will be leaving the Smoky Mountains tomorrow but before leaving I had to visit Kay at the Gazebo. She was one of the first dealers in Lotton Glass and we always have a great time talking about how things are going.


When I rang her door bell she didn’t answer but I did get to look through the window and there were many Lotton piece. It seems that most of them were by members of the Lotton family besides Charles. It looked as if her shop was fully stocked with other great glass and pottery pieces and when I picked up her card at the door I noticed that she now deals in Lalique and Sabino, as well as Lotton. I have to assume she is doing well and I will see her next year.


I decided to walk a block and look through the Morton Antiques Shop. This is owned by Kay’s uncle and one of the finest antiques shops that I visit. It is filled with Meissen, early American glass, Tiffany and most of the other names you would recognize. I looked at a few of the items that he had and believe me there wasn’t anything cheap. The gentleman that I ususally talk to wasn't there but his partner, who is his son, was. We started to talk about business and he said that over the last three months their business had really picked up. I asked him if there were any items that were doing particularly well and he said Chandeliers. In fact he said they couldn't keep the better chandeliers in stock for very long.


This got me to thinking because I am often offered chandeliers but usually pass on them because it is so hard to pack and ship them. Also if you break a piece on the chandelier how would you ever replace it? But after thinking back to where I could have purchased some great pieces and what they seem to be bringing in the markets today the risk may well be worth it. In fact I just completed buying an estate but passed on the chandeliers. When I return home I hope they are still there and can be added to my inventory.


The chandelier is a perfect example of what I have talked about in the past. I am not interested myself in buying 1000 items for a $1 and then selling then one at a time for $2. Yes you would double your money but the work and time be worth it, not to me. However don’t confuse that with a chandelier that might have 50 or 100 pieces to pack and ship. The difference is that the chandelier will be shipped to one person and the profits can be four or five times your cost. Now that makes sense to me. Always evaluate what your time and money are worth before you accept or reject a trade.

Antiques and Fine Art are still cream of the Crop

I am still amazed when I hear the sky has fallen. Just ask any Lotton collector if that is true? Even in this purported depression that the news media attempts to convince us that we're in; Lotton Glass continues to increase in value.

Just a couple of weeks ago there was an auction in the Carolina's which included a couple of fairly nice pieces of Lotton Glass. Warner Smith, the founder of the Lotton Glass Club, called and asked me what I thought they would bring? I went to the auction site and after examining them said "they should bring at least $400 each." After the auction, I received another call from Warner and he was laughing. "You were a little low" he said, "they brought almost $2,000 each and that is very near, if not more than, retail." Wow! I think others are beginning to see what I saw more than two years ago. This glass will be as well known as Tiffany in future years. Today’s prices will be a thing of the past and pieces that can be purchased today for a few hundred to a few thousand should be selling in the $10,000 to $50,000 range.

This story doesn't end here. There was another auction of a fairly common piece of Lotton Glass that was just completed on eBay. Again, Warner and I discussed it and his feeling was that if he could buy it for $300, it would be a good buy (but not a great buy). Are you ready for this? The vase that I thought might bring $400, sold for an amazing $1,100. So what does this tell you? Lotton Glass will be, if it isn't already, one of the world’s premiere art glasses. There are a lot of pieces of Lotton Glass out there and you may find a fertile field of them at garage sales and estates sales. Even flea markets may prove to be a place where these pieces can be found. Their value still isn't fully understood and prices may still be available below the going market for collectors.

Our search, as 31 Club members, for the opportunities to make money should require us to pick the best items when we are searching. I think that Lotton Glass will qualify as one of “the” Art Glasses in the future and will be held up as a true treasure. In upcoming blogs, I plan to feature some of what I think qualifies as the “best of the best” items where you can help increase your bank account by finding these items to include in your inventory.


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Contemporary Glass Today

In past blogs I have mentioned how I thought Lotton glass would be as valuable as Tiffany's in the future. I still believe this to be a fact, but what if I told you that today, right now, there are contemporary glass artists that command prices equal to Tiffany? A contemporary artist is one that was working after 1975. Do you believe me? Well it's true and I will share a few of them with you today.

First, and perhaps best know, is Dale Chihuly. His work appears in museums around the world and he is a prolific producer of wonderful, whimsical pieces. He was born in 1941 and is still active today. He once made a chandelier that was more than 200 feet long. He broke away from traditional styles and produced pieces that utilize the natural flow of glass and combined that with very vivid color. His work is stunning! I found one of his pieces that sold for $48,850 at auction and I believe that he has sold several pieces privately for amounts larger than those sold at auction. His work gives new meaning to the word contemporary.

He isn't the only artist excelling in today's marketplace - another is William Morris. His work commands prices in excess of $30,000. I have seen some of the glass that he has formed and it is quite unusual. He had a connection to Dale Chihuly. My personal favorite, however, is Mark Peiser. You can find some of his average pieces on eBay but they don't represent the quality he exhibits when he undertakes his landscape masterpieces.

I have a story about my first encounter with Peiser's work. I was scanning one of the Cincinnati Art Gallery auction catalogs when I noticed a piece of glass that looked as if you could walk into it. The piece consisted of a forest with fallen trees laying on the ground with moss and flowers surrounding them. It was so real, my eyes could hardly take in what I was seeing. Knowing nothing about Mark Peiser, I decided I had to have this piece. If memory serves me correctly, the estimate was just a few thousand dollars and I was willing to bid up to the high estimate to acquire it. While waiting to bid I could feel my blood pressure rising as the number for this item approached. I didn't have long to wait as the initial bid exceeded the high estimate and the bidding didn't stop until it reached almost $20,000. Needless to say, I am still looking for one of those pieces for my collection.

There is a great book entitled “Masterpieces of American Glass” by Jane Shadel Spillman and Susanne K. Frantz that would be a great addition to your resource library. This book contains work by the above-mentioned artist, plus many more that you should watch for. There is contemporary and then there is “contemporary” - wouldn't you agree?

The Advantage of Knowing Your Buyers and Making Private Sales

Charles Lotton, 1977, pulled feather vase sold through 31 Gallery & Marketplace in 2007.

Even in uncertain economic times like these, good customers are looking to increase their collections.

Having a buyer in mind before we buy an item greatly reduces the time it will take to sell it. When our time in the Antique & Collectible Business is spent servicing past customers, we won’t have to give away our found treasures at low prices. If we can find the right items for them, we’ll be able to turn our money quickly and keep it circulating. This should be one of our main goals.

At least 75% of the sales in the higher end Antiques and Fine Arts are made between private individuals.

Since I introduced Lotton Glass as the “next” Tiffany, many people have asked me to call them if I ran across a nice piece of this wonderful glass. Well, this happened two days ago. One of our members let me know he wished to sell a very special John Lotton 15” vase. I knew of a customer who just might be interested for the right price. Bingo. Another sale made and everyone is happy.

As the 31 Club grows larger, private sales between members will increase.

In private sales, the seller will receive more money for items, and the buyers will pay less. That works for me. How about you? I think we’ll have a large number of very satisfied customers.

The average sales price for items sold in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace is beginning to increase.

We are seeing more sales averaging $3,000 – $4,000 thousand and fewer items selling in the lower prices. You’ll make more money dealing in higher end items, and if you read yesterday’s blog, you’ll understand just why the higher end more rare items are where we want to be, especially in uncertain economic times.

Members Are on the Hunt for Great Items

Right now, I can mention several items that there have buyers just waiting for members to find the right piece for them. These include paintings by Carl Brenner, Patty Thum, Paul Sawyier, Pauline Palmer and Harvey Joiner. (By the way, we are working on acquiring one of Joiner’s paintings that’s presently in Canada.)

Customers of ours are looking for more great glass by Charles Lotton and John Lotton. A customer is looking for three Springfield Rifles to present to each one of his sons. George Ohr Pottery and Rookwood Pottery have buyers waiting for the right piece at 31 Club.

Utilizing the 31 Club Wish List in combination with the Associates Program will catapult your profit making ability.

Let’s see how this works: The Wish List gives you the opportunity to advertise the items you want to buy at no charge. Free Advertising. Say you’re wanting to by Rookwood Pottery, but you’re only able to purchase $300-$400 items. Along comes someone who sees your list and that you buy Rookwood, but they have a rare piece and want $2,000 for it. You know you can sell it for double that or more, but you don’t have the $2,000 to buy it. Are you going to throw away a perfectly good buy? No.

That’s when you use the Associates Program. We buy it, we sell it, and you get 35% of the net sale. Let’s plug some figures into that. Say we netted $4,500 when we sold that Rookwood vase you called us about. You’ll have made $1,575. And you never invested a dime or did anything to sell it. Now, add a zero onto all those figures and see how you feel. Think about this very hard and imagine the possibilities. I’ll be glad to hear from you when this hits you over the head. When it does, feel free to share your excitement with me at info@31corp.com or call me at 847-784-8544 if you have questions.

Now, go take on this fine day.

*******

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The Marks of Quality: Steuben Glass

Steuben Cintra Bowl is offered at 31 Gallery & Marketplace

by Daryle Lambert

Steuben is one of my favorite glass companies and because the mark is often difficult to find, these fantastic pieces are often overlooked by dealers. If you are prepared and have a comprehensive knowledge of the different patterns in Steuben, this won't happen to you and the next story of a great discovery of Steuben may well be yours.

Steuben Can Be in Marked Several Ways:

An acid etched clover-like mark with a ribbon running through it with “Steuben” written in the ribbon. This mark was used from 1903 – 1932.

The same clover-like mark in relief with “calcite” written on the ribbon. This was used from 1915-1932. These marks are rather small and can be easily overlooked.
Steuben also used “Aurene” or “Steuben Aurene” on its pieces from 1904 – 1932. Often you will find lamp shades with these marks.

All Steuben should have ground pontils (The bottom circle where the glass rod is snapped off from the pieces and polished smooth.)

Steuben should ring when you flick it with your finger nail. All good crystal will ring like this, and this simple test is a good test of quality.

The great thing about Steuben is there was a lot of it made so your chances of stumbling upon it are pretty good. Steuben also made many different types of glass, and in the early days, much of it was colored. Today, the modern pieces are usually clear.

Steuben was founded by one of the true pioneers of Art Glass, Frederick Carder. If you find pieces with “Carder” marked on them, you have found a real treasure. Not too long ago, I found a Steuben piece in a basement and purchased it for $20. I still have it, because my wife wouldn't let me sell it until now, and today it is listed in our market place.

To give you an idea on some of the values of Steuben, these listings from Kovel’s Price Guide will help. Candlesticks - alabaster stem and green foot $1610; Figurine - Excalibur, sword in stone $2100, Lamp - Acanthus Leaf $2415. I have no idea why Kovel's didn't list more expensive items in their book, but rare Steuben pieces can bring tens of thousands of dollars.

If you'll spend some time getting acquainted with Steuben Glass, you'll be able to spot this fine glass. I especially recommend studying the more rare pieces.

In our Blog a few days ago, our 31 Club Member, Julie, shared a photo of her great Steuben find. Today, it is offered in our Gallery & Marketplace. You can see it here.

Julie did one of the things I think is most important to do to be successful in the Antique, Fine Arts and Collectible business. She bought multiple items. One ended up being the real shining star, while the rest are far above average. The Steuben will sell quickly and more than recoup all of her investment from the entire lot she purchased. She can take some extra time getting a fair price for the others without having her money tied up.

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Find Your Passion. I Love Daum Nancy Glass

Rare Daum Nancy Roulot signed 9" Vase available at 31 Gallery & Marketplace

What is your passion? In the Antique & Fine Art Business, this is very important to know if you want to be successful. Over time, my passions have changed along with my collections. As a child, I started collecting coins and when I sold the collection, it paid for my college education. This was a true blessing because I already had a wife and child at the time. I later developed a passion for Griswold cast iron, and when it came time to buy a house, the sale of my Griswold collection provided for the down payment. Since then, I have collected, if you want to call it collecting, many things. In reality, I’ve been able to keep beautiful things until I sold them at a price I was satisfied with.

My latest passion is for Fine Art, because it is the most difficult to master. I spend several hours a week just studying in the direction I want my passion in art to go. For example, I'm most interested in Kentucky artists and regional art. But don't misunderstand me, everything in my house, with the exception of my wife and son, are for sale for the right price. For example, my two Patty Thum paintings, that happen to be the only paintings I’ve brought home that my wife likes, could cost you a pretty penny, but they are for sale for the right price.

But, there’s been one passion that’s stayed with me for many years and that is Daum Nancy Glass. I fell in love with this art glass the first time I saw it. I particularly like the enameled acid etched pieces, and I look for these. Over the years, I have always kept a few pieces of this glass in my home, even though I have owned many that have been sold. I prefer Daum Nancy Glass to Galle, and I think the artistry of Daum is much better than Galle.

Financially speaking, Daum Nancy has been fantastic for me, and it can be for you too, once you become knowledgeable about it. One Daum vase I owned made the cover of the Cincinnati At Galleries sales catalog one year. It was a large piece of a winter scene depicting snow blanketing the ground with leafless birch trees filled with blackbirds. If I remember correctly, this vase brought over $15,000.

Today, however, we have to be careful about reproductions or outright fakes, but with Daum Nancy this is fairly easy. First look at as many pieces of the real thing as you can. This is easily done by visiting good Antique Shows. One of the greatest pieces to keep your eye out for are the Daum Nancy 1 inch to 2 inch range Miniatures, decorated with winter scenes and some flowers. I have sold these little beauties for over $2,500 and usually never pay more than $500 for them.

“Glass Art Nouveau to Art Deco” by Victor Arwas is a great book you might want to have. I’m sure there are many other books out there, but I have this one. Books on Glass, Antiques and Art are a must if you want to expand your knowledge in this field. It’s not necessary to purchase new books. I buy used, and it enables me to buy many books. Whatever older book you’re looking for, chances are you can find it used on Amazon.com.

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Check out the new Paintings and new items in our Gallery and Marketplace here.


Daum Nancy LINKS:

Passage Arts has some fine examples of Daum Nancy
http://www.arts1900.nl/Fransglasindexpagina.html

Google Images: Daum Nancy

The Lure of Satava Glass

Richard Satava Plum Nautilus Black Sea Foam Lidded, 19.50" high by 8.25" wide,is offered at Satava.com for $3,600

I am always looking for something to add to my inventory of knowledge, and I think I have found a winner. One of our members put me on to Satava Glass, and I can assure, I will be encouraging our members to take a look at it and to also be ready to purchase pieces if they become available in their search. You can see this wonderful glass highly skilled artist, Richard Satava, at http://www.satava.com/. Satava’s interest in glass began back in 1969 in California, and he opened his studio in 1977.

You might want to start sharing about this beautiful glass with your contacts, so they’ll be ready to purchase whatever you find – sort of like selling before you purchase -- and that isn't all bad. In fact, I am making my list of customers as I type this blog. I believe that if I can find some pieces at today’s prices, my customers can double their purchase price within the next year.

I have to admit, I fell in love with the nautical pieces, and I must have one of the Jellyfish pieces for myself. I hope to talk with Richard in the near future, because I won't be at peace until he shares with me how he makes the Jellyfish. If you find one of his pieces, and you’re not interested in it, please call me and give me a chance at it.

You should be aware there are others who now are making Jellyfish pieces, such as Christoper Lowry, however, in my opinion, no one matches the artistry of Richard Satava.

The 31 Club promised to keep its members ahead of the trend, and by announcing that this glass is one of the new featured items suggested by the 31 Club, we're doing just that. I would think that if you mentioned Satava to the average person today, they would say “Who?” But, that won't last long.

I want to encourage all of you to bring items that catch your attention to the 31 Club, so that its members can evaluate them, and if they pass our scrutiny, we'll recommend them for purchase. So many fantastic works of art go unnoticed because they are never fully brought to the public’s attention. Believe it our not, Tiffany was just another name until a lady in New York by the name of Lillian Nassau sponsored it and bought these wonderful pieces to the place where today, Tiffany is a household name.

The next ten days are going to be very difficult, as I travel to the Smokies, but I’m sure your staff is up to the task at hand. I can share with you that Cindy is a little nervous about how communications are going to proceed next week, but I assured her everything will be all right.

We may not be able to get to you as quickly as normal, but please be patient. I’ll be near a computer and also have my cell, but if I never put them down on this family vacation, I'm not sure that I will come back alive. My wife Vickie is small, but you’ve heard dynamite comes in small packages.

Have a wonderful week and be sure to remember what the 4th of July is all about.

God Bless you all.

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Get FREE MENTORING. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets that help you increase your profits. Then Learn to Grow Your Money Exponentially Buying and Selling only Antiques, Fine Art, and Collectibles with Daryle's Strategic Business Plan. Our Members are Newbies to Seasoned Dealers, making more money than they thought possible. Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club, today.

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Check out the new Paintings and new items in our Gallery and Marketplace here.

Working the Trends in the Antique and Fine Art Markets

Lotton Glass Lava & Cypriot Vases. Photo from Lotton Glass Club.

It’s come up upon the first year anniversary since I published my book and launched the 31 Club, and naturally, I’ve been thinking about the past year. I’ve shared a lot of my expertise with blooming enthusiasts, and it does my heart good to see many of you doing things you never thought you could do. It’s always helpful to visit the past for a brief time and examine what’s occurred, so let's do that.

When 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles was released, others were stating that the Antique, Collectible, and Fine Art Markets were doomed. I completely disagreed with the barrage of negative articles that came out about this topic, so we decided to go on a crusade to show that these markets, were in fact, healthier than ever. So we wrote about it and sent our articles all over. A look at the market today shows that there are record prices realized in almost every category of the industry, and while I don’t get to read everything around, I haven’t seen negative articles about our industry in a long time. But where is the market headed now? Remember the trend is your friend so let’s check out a few markets.

The American Art Market is still on fire. Paintings that were bringing in only a thousand dollars or two dollars may produce figures today that I'm startled by. I’ll start with some of the markets that I am most familiar with.

Paintings by Kentucky artists have reached heights that most who collect them never thought possible. Harvey Joiner’s paintings, just a few years ago, could be purchased for $400 to $500 dollars. The market trended upward, and the prices escalated to the $800 range. But, over the last 24 months, his paintings may now demand $10,000 to $15,000 and even the smallest 5 to 8 inch paintings can fetch $4,500 at auction.

I have probably sold 30 of Joiner’s paintings over the last 5 years, and I’ll say I wish that I had them back at the prices I sold them for, but that isn't the way we work in the 31 Club program, is it. We take our profits and move on with our money, and keep it turning. That's the only way the compounding effect we are looking for will ever be achieved.

Regional Art

The same that we said about prices on Harvey Joiner can also be said about artists such as Carl Brenner and Patty Thum. Collectors are standing in line to purchase works by these artists that are not even their best. The trend in Regional Art is going straight up, so you might want to look into your local market and see if it's following the trend. If it is, don’t you think it might be worth your while to find some of it?

Art Glass

My friend, Warner, introduced me to Lotton Glass less than five years ago. At that time, we were able to purchase examples of Charles Lotton’s best work for under $500 for small and medium pieces, but what about today?

I pulled out some old auction catalogs from back then to see if there was perhaps a single piece of Lotton represented in the sales. I don’t think I found more than two pieces in any one sale. And there weren’t buyers lined up for these pieces. Flash forward to today and you find that both Early’s Auction and Cincinnati Art Gallery just completed sales with about 40 pieces of Lotton represented in each sale.

Usually when this many pieces of anything are sold at one auction, the prices are reduced, but not in this case. Most of the Lotton offerings brought close to retail. So, where’s the trend here? We can still look to make a wonderful profit on this glass if we can buy it right. Most good pieces of Lotton Glass are bringing in over $1,500 and as much as $7,000 or $8,000. I believe this same trend is being followed by most good Art Glass today.

Know What The Trend is and Follow It.

Know what’s in demand today and look to buy these items as you ascend the 31 Steps of our plan. Follow the trend and buy, buy, buy – according to the plan developed in 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antique & Collectibles. When you do, you’ll find you’ll complete these steps in this upward market faster than you could ever have imagined. See you in the winner’s circle.

Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club, today. Put a Turbo Charge on your Antique & Collectible Treasure Hunting Skills. Get FREE MENTORING. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets that help you increase your profits. Continue to Grow Your Money Buying and Selling Antiques, Fine Art, and Collectibles with Daryle's Strategic Business Plan. Our Members are Newbies to Seasoned Dealers who are making more money than they thought possible.

My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership.

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Orrefors Glass

7" High Orrefors Vase: Edvin Öhrström's "Graal" with Portraits of a Man & Woman, 1941 is offered at FreeFormUsa.com at $18,500

Have you ever assumed you knew something, only to later discover how mistaken you were? This doesn't happen to me often but it has happened in the last few months. I figured that I was somewhat knowledgeable on most good glass produced in the last hundred years, however, this proved to be false. Orrefors was a name I was familiar with but had always thought it was too contemporary for me. How wrong I was.

The Orrefors Company was founded in 1898 in the province of Samaaland Sweden. It was fortunate to have some of the best glass masters to be found anywhere, and they produced marvelous bowls and vases. Some of the best known artists to work at the Orrefors Company were Edvard Hald, Vicke Lindstrand, and Nils Landberg. There never has been finer glass workers than these artists, and most of the finer pieces are signed “Orrefors” along with the name of the artist or his initials.

I don't have a current book on Orrefors, but after writing this Blog, you can be assured that I will order The Best of Modern Swedish Art Glass: Orrefors and Kosta 1930-1970. This book has a price guide, too.

I did find some information on the company in my book by Victor Arwas, Glass Art Nouveau to Art Deco, and this proved helpful. You must be asking yourself why this particular company caught my eye. The easy and quick answer to this question is the price that Orrefors’ better pieces bring in the market place. This is just the kind of item that we’re searching for. The ones that few people know much about. And, when you find the right piece, the rewards can be quite substantial.

Here are just a few of the prices from Kovels Price Guide to give you a little taste of what's out there. Vicke Lindstrand did a vase featuring a shark killer, depicting a nude man diving, carrying a knife. This 12 ½ inch tall vase could have a value approaching $15,000 or more. Other Orrefors vases, one depicting a Pearl Diver, as well as one of an Oriental Princess both list at over $4,000. This isn't bad considering they both are only 8 inches tall.

Orrefors still produces glass today, and that is where I got confused. The modern pieces bring very little money, usually. These aren’t the pieces we’re searching for. You should definitely do your homework on this fantastic glass.

I learned a very valuable lesson with regard to Orrefors. Never judge all things about a particular subject with the limited knowledge that you’ve gained until you have done a complete study of it. I broke this rule. You see, I have seen hundreds, if not thousands of pieces of Orrefors. Usually it has been extremely inexpensive, so I assumed all Orrefors pieces were inexpensive. Boy, what a mistake I’ve been making. But, for me, the worst thing is considering how much money I might have walked away from. I’ll not be making that mistake again.

Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

Visit our Website, here.>

Links for Other Recommended Glass Books:

Orrefors: A Century of Swedish Glassmaking

Miller's 20th-Century Glass: Over 2000 Items - Identified - Valued

Miller's Art Glass: How to Compare & Value

Early's Spring Art Glass Auction Might Prove The True Test For Lotton Glass

Next weekend will be a true test of the Lotton Art Glass secondary market. Early's Spring Art Glass Auction, in Cincinnati, will conduct a two day glass auction containing up to 40 pieces of Lotton Glass. I believe this is the largest consignment of the Lotton's glass that has come to auction since I’ve been following its market. Early’s catalog shows that a good cross section of the artists’ work will be represented.

Charles Lotton’s Art Glass could become the most expensive contemporary pieces being produced today. If it does, you will have a chance to profit from its rise. This auction might well indicate the market direction for the next five years for this glass. It’s my personal opinion that no other glass on the market compares with the Lottons’ work, and each piece is fashioned by the artist that signed the piece.

From Tiffany to Daum, Early’s Glass Auction will feature a wide range of fabulous pieces. In years past, this auction been a glass lover’s paradise and attended by the most important people in the Art Glass Industry today. Lot numbers 575 and 585 will be items I’ve personally entered into the sale. The first is a Daum Nancy French Cameo Lamp and the second is a very old Vase with some very slight damage. These have been a part of my personal collection for many years, and I am certain they will meet the buying criteria set forth in my book, “31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles.”

In conjuction with Early’s Auction, The Lotton Glass Club Annual Meeting will be held in Cincinnati Thursday, April 10th, prior to the auction and will once again, have the honor of Charles Lotton appearing to speak before the club. If it’s possible to attend this event, be sure to make your reservations. Warner Smith, President of Lotton Glass Club will make introductions and present some Lotton Glass from his own personal collection.

I am sure Charles will show some of his new works, and these can be purchased before your neighbor finds out about them. Don't forget. while your there you can examine all the different glasses and perhaps buy a bargain. If you have a question about a piece you own be sure to bring it with you because some of the most important people in the Art Glass industry will be in attendance to help with any question.

The auction season is just beginning, so be sure to check the Antique Trader and Antique Weekly for auctions in your area. There are bargains to be had at almost every auction. Several of the 31 Club members have sent me auction listings and I’ve given my opinion of what to watch for from these lists. Members who would like assistance can contact me with their list, so take advantage of the help offered. Going to the auction with the proper knowledge will assure that when no one else is finding treasures, you will.

And be sure to get a copy of the auction results from Early's even if you have to copy it from the Internet.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to build a bank account to last a lifetime, buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

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Consolidated Glass - Ruba Rombic, Martele and The Valuable Lalique Look-Alike

Ruba Rombic Vase. Photo from The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Have you ever seen something that your mind says you have seen before? This might have happen to you if you ran across a wonderful unmarked Deco glass vase, reasonably priced. You might have even passed it over, thinking the piece was a reproduction of Lalique, or some other Art Deco company’s work.

I am sure that this has happened to me, because I wasn't up to speed on the wares of The Consolidated Glass Company. Now I’m wondering just how much money I have left on the table by not knowing more about this company and some their outstanding patterns of glass.

This Pennsylvania company was formed in 1884, producing lamps, tableware, and art glass. Their earlier pieces don't seem to warrant much collector interest today, but their Art Deco lines produced after 1925 are the most sought after today. The company closed its doors in 1967.

Martele is a line they produced that resembles Lalique, using the same frosted effect Lalique used in their glass production during the same time period. When used along with the Deco designs of the day, the result was a creation that had great eye appeal, and today, has piqued the interest of sophisticated collectors. The geometric designs of Ruba Rombic, designed by Rueben Haley, are as modern today as they were when first manufactured, and is the ultimate in Consolidated Glass.

I have been fortune enough to buy and sell several pieces of this glass, however they have always been the large vases with molded animals or birds. Usually these pieces are decorated in green, blue or tan colors with an ivory background. The pieces I have purchase for under $50 have usually sold in the $150 to $250 range, still making it a very worthwhile purchase within our criteria. Consolidated Glass can easily be confused with Phoenix Glass. Look into these two glass companies. If you're in the early steps of your 31 Steps, you might run across these and it could be a buy for you.

Decades ago, Depression Glass Collectors also collected Consolidated, and what is written in books about Consolidated's Ruba Rombic and other patterns, is mostly found in books geared for Depression Glass Collectors. And by the way, if you ever run across a book at a garage or estate sale called Phoenix and Consolidated Art Glass: 1926-1980 by Jack D. Wilson, I'd buy it cheap. It's out of print, and today on Amazon, there's only 9 used copies starting at $69, while on Abesbooks, there's 5 from $140 to $155.00.

Consolidated’s better pieces bring a whole lot more than their common ones. A decanter set in the Ruba Rombic patters may bring $10,000 today, while a water set made in the same pattern might command $5,000. The Martele patterns might not bring as much as the Ruba Rombic pattern, but I guarantee if you find a large vase in this pattern, you have indeed found a treasure.

This is one time that “look a likes” can bring big money, so keep your eyes sharp.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting today and start building a bank account big enough to last a lifetime. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

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Lotton Art Glass is a Rising Star in the Art Glass Market

Lotton Glass

Photo Courtesy of Lotton Glass Club.

Seldom do we get to see our forecasts come true in a short period of time, but my projection of Lotton Glass becoming the next art glass to have the investment value of Tiffany is playing out right before my very eyes. I made this prediction last June 13, 2007 in a news article.

After returning from Kentucky this week, I checked eBay for completed sales of Lotton Glass and was pleasantly surprised to see several miniatures Lotton vases that sold for impressive prices. One of the miniatures brought over $700 for a piece just 2 inches tall. The other miniatures commanded prices that have doubled or tripled from prices they were selling for just a few months ago when we, ourselves, sold several Lotton Miniatures.

Not to be outdone, Lotton’s regular size vases are also on a run up. One particular 9 1/2” tall John Lotton vase just sold for $7,200. When you consider that I bought a comparable vase, only 15” tall for half that price six months ago, wouldn't you agree that Lotton is on the move? I remember when Lotton Lamps would come to auction and receive no bids, but that isn’t true today. They are bringing higher prices with each sell.

This price move isn't being missed by the major auction houses either. Next month, on April 10th, The Lotton Glass Club will have its annual meeting in Cincinnati, preceding Early's Fine Glass Auction. Charles Lotton will be appearing to share his unlimited knowledge of Art Glass with us. Going across the auction block will be some of the best Art Glass ever produced, so try to make it if you can. This will be a two day auction, and a perfect place to rub shoulders with many of the experts in the Art Glass field. To obtain more information on these events go to the Lotton Glass Club Website. If you aren't fortunate enough to attend the Lotton Glass Club meeting nor the auction at Early’s, be sure to examine the sale on the Early auction website. More than 30 pieces of Lotton Glass will be presented at Early’s auction.

Not too long ago when I would mention Lotton Glass, I’d get the response, “What is that?” The story has definitely changed. In the past, checking for Lotton Glass at upcoming auctions was an effort in futility because it seldom came up for sale. Not today. And the pieces that are being auctioned are bringing sparkling results.

I also hear The Cincinnati Art Galleries’ upcoming auction will include 30 or more pieces of Lotton Glass. Be sure to keep up with this auction, too, as I am sure this trend in Lotton Glass is going to continue for some time.

Information like this is what sets your 31 Club ahead of all the others in the search for treasure. Projecting the trends in what is hot and what is not will equip our members for their success in building their personal wealth, buying, selling and investing in antiques, collectibles and art. By discovering items that will become trendsetters for the upcoming years and presenting them to you before they are recognized by the masses as real treasures is part of what will help shape you into a savvy investor and enable you to accumulate an worth millions. If you haven’t yet joined us, what on earth are you waiting for. Join us today.

The 31 Club uses a wealth building plan that can help you accumulate enough funds to last a lifetime, buying and selling antiques, collectibles, and fine art. Join the 31 Club. Learn about Antiques & Collectibles. Learn How to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles and build lifetime wealth. The plan is in my book. When you join today, you'll receive my 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

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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.

Here's the original news article where I made the Lotton Glass Prediction: Author Predicts Lotton Glass to be the Next Tiffany.

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Jack in the Pulpit Art Glass Vases

12" Quezal Jack-in-the-Pulpit Vase
sold for $16,250 at Doyle New York September 2007

If you've ever heard someone refer to a glass vase as a "Jack in the Pulpit" vase, you might have wondered what that is, and where that name comes from. Jack in the Pulpit is a type of American perennial woodland plant, and it's the name art glass collectors all over the world use to describe vases fashioned after this wildflower.

In the early 1900's Louis Comfort Tiffany fashioned his famous iridescent glass, known as "farvile glass", into vases after this wild plant. Versions in blue are among the rarest of these Tiffany vases, followed by gold. Tiffany, however, was not the first to use this shape when he created his wares. Other English glass companies such as Stevens & Williams, Thomas Webb & Sons and Richardson had produced the Jack in the Pulpit shape prior to Tiffany.

This organic shape found its way into many American glass lines as well, including Fenton. Jack in the Pulpit vases can be found in less expensive glass such as Vaseline Glass. It continues to be a shape produced by contemporary glass artists, including glass master Charles Lotton, whose Jack in the Pulpit art glass has become part of many private collections.

David Issitt, a leading expert and writer on British Colored Glass, has researched and written in detail about the history of Jack in the Pulpit vases, and it makes a fascinating read, as well as a good place to view some fine early examples dating back to the 1850's.

Want to learn more about Antiques, Collectibles, and Art? Want to learn to buy and sell for profit? The 31 Club uses a wealth building plan that can help you accumulate enough funds to last a lifetime, buying and selling antiques, collectibles, and fine art. Join the 31 Club. Learn about Art, Antiques & Collectibles. Learn How to Invest in Art, Antiques & Collectibles and build lifetime wealth. The plan is in my book. When you join today, you'll receive my 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE, plus MENTORING from me whenever call me. Or, order 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles and your membership is FREE and you still get mentoring. Either way, you're in. I know it sounds crazy to get all this for about $20, but I assure you, I'm offering this. If you've read this far, why not hop aboard.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

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.

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Lotton Art Glass Bandwagon Begins to Roll, As Predicted

John Lotton Vase. Photo from Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Chicago.

I have been writing that the day was soon coming, when buying a quality piece of Lotton Art Glass would rank up there with the names of Tiffany, Steuben and others. Yesterday, January 21, 2008, just might mark the day that Lotton Glass began to take its place among the notable glasses of the ages, when a rather common 1995 John Lotton twelve inch vase sold at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers of Chicago for $2,800 plus the buyers premium, bringing a total of approximately $3,360. I believe the bandwagon has started to roll now on the best contemporary art glass of our day: Lotton Art Glass.

When common pieces of anything begin to reach levels in their pricing that better pieces brought only a short time ago, then watch out when you see exceptional pieces come to market. I believe that Glass produced by both Charles Lotton and John Lotton will see record prices this year.

The John Lotton piece, sold at Leslie Hindman, with white flowers and a clear crystal background, in my opinion, was a far cry from his better work. Better pieces of John Lotton's glass, which I have personally observed, have reached eighteen inches in height and had well-formed realistic, multicolored flowers. When you compare the piece sold at Hindman's to the really fine pieces that weigh in at close to 50 pounds, with up to four colors in the flowers, one might ask if these pieces might bring in $25,000. Indeed! The best is yet to come.

This move in price in Lotton Glass is of no surprise to me. In my book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles," released in May, 2007, I made the prediction that Lotton Glass would become the next Tiffany, predicted it in a June 12, 2007 news release, and have been writing about Lotton Glass on my Blog for the past six months. I've heard auctioneers speak about the value that will be found in Lotton Glass whenever a Lotton item becomes available for auction. Many of the Charles Lotton items we've had in our 31 Market Place & Gallery flew off the shelf before we formally announced their arrival or posted photographs. Yes, the bandwagon is starting to roll on the best contemporary glass of our day. I just had a visitor in my home that is one of the foremost authorities on glass in this county, and he agreed that nothing is going to keep Lotton out of the top tier of all glass that has ever been produced.

In a generation there may only be a few Painters, Glass Blowers or Potters that reach this elevated level of excellence, and I believe you will see that the Lottons will be propelled to these heights. If you already own some of their work, congratulations! If you don't, it's still not too late for you to participate in this amazing glass, at what I think, are still very reasonable prices, before their value escalates to heights that will make it only available to the very wealthy.

While we are at it, I would like to re-enforce my suggestion that it's time to sell all of your ungraded silver at these levels. Over the next few weeks, I think there is an excellent chance that the silver market will begin to slide, and this is a time to be on the side lines in the metal markets.

It is one thing to just give you fact that exists today, but it is quite another to find people who are willing to stick their necks on the line by making predictions for you when there is no monetary interest in it for them. That's what I do. The most important value you will receive from the 31 Club, is my willingness to stick my neck out there for you and call things as I see them. We are here to serve you. If there are topics you would like us to give an opinion on or questions you have, please e-mail us at info@31corp.com. And why not join the only Club that learns to build wealth trading in antiques, art, and collectibles. Join Today, here.

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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.

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Links:
Author Predicts Lotton Glass to be the Next Tiffany

Daryle Lambert Published News Releases

Daryle Lambert Published Articles

Daryle Lambert: Beauty Shines in Our Youth - Caleb Noble Glass

You never know where the next surprise will surface, and this one surfaced at the One of a Kind Show at Chicago's Merchandise Mart.

When Cindy and I ventured out to the One of a Kind Show, it was mostly to see Doug Odom's outsider art exhibit. We weren't expecting to find much that would meet our criteria, because everything there was new, and of course, we primarily work with antiques. We were thrilled to run into glass artist, Charles Lotton, whose booth was kitty corner to Doug's, and a real surprise and treat for us. After visiting with Doug and Charles, we venture out and examined the more that 400 booths to see what was offered.

With a large rush of people moving between booths and down aisles, I suddenly realized Cindy had disappeared on me, so I back tracked a bit and found her mesmerized by a young 18-year-old glass artist as he worked on his new creation.

I stopped for a moment, to be courteous, and believe it or not, I couldn't get my eyes off of this young man as he worked that piece of glass. His name is Caleb Noble, and Cindy and I examined his case of dazzling glass jewelry pendants in awe. And not only is he talented, but his passion and enthusiasm for his work is so refreshing and a reminder to not give up on our youth today. There are ones out there that God has gifted and Caleb is definitely one of those.

Caleb spent some time with us and explained each step of his process. He doesn't use a kiln, but shapes and works his pieces by torch. These were some of the most outstanding glass works my eyes have had the pleasure to gaze upon in a long time.

Believe it or not, after looking at over 400 booths there were only two, other than Doug and Charles, that got my attention, The other one is a painter who I will write about in a later blog. You might think that by finding only two new artists at this show that I am rather choosy, but that's all right. Remember, we only want the best.

Today's Photos are of Caleb Noble and his glass jewelry pieces. I encourage you to take a look at some of his work, and I am certain that a little gift to yourself now might pay off big for you in the future. I'm willing to bet that anyone who wears one of his creations will have people asking about it.

You can see some of Caleb Noble's work here.

Club Member Update: I got a report on our club member, Andrew, and it breaks my heart to have to say it wasn't too good. His mother, Anne, asked us to continue to pray for him. Several of our members sent donations to the FD NOW fund, and Anne is extremely grateful to those who donated. For those who don't know Andrew, he is a young member of our 31 Club who is suffering from a very serious ailment, and If you would like to know more about him, please read my December 12th and October 15th Blogs.

Make sure your friends and loved ones have a copy of our book. You can sign them up for our 31 Club, and they'll get the book for free. Or order them the book, and get the membership for free. Either way, this makes a great Christmas gift for the special people in your life.

Discover how our book can be the tool that helps you become financially free simply buying and selling antiques, collectibles and fine art.

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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COMMUMITY IS WHERE IT’S AT - Can 31 Club Antiques & Collectibles Wealth Building Help? Let us know.

Your antiques & collectibles wealth building community is in action. I just received an E-mail from our members, Ann and her son, Andrew, asking if any of our members had a Microsoft Frontpage 2003 that they might donate to the program that has been set up for research to find the cure for the ailment Andrew suffers from.

You might remember my earlier blog about Andrew and the zest for life that he maintains. I will never forget the statement Andrew made to me when he and his mother came to visit me. He said, "I live in the moment." If this community can help, it would be so greatly appreciated.

This program is called FD NOW, an abbreviation for Familial Dysautonomia. What Andrew suffers from is a fatal neurological disease. To find out more about this you can call 1-847-913-0455.

We, the members of the 31 Club, are out front when it comes to researching and sharing our lives, our stories, and our information & knowledge with others. This is why I can say that, and this is just one recent discover we've made that won't be found in any book.

The couple we acquired three Charles Lotton Miniatures from shared this great story with us recently:

In 1972, when Charles Lotton was just getting started as a glass artist, he visited Lilian Nassau, a noted Tiffany dealer in New York who had an interest in his work. During that trip to New York, he happened to meet another couple, Howard & Paula Ellman, who right on the spot, purchased the very first Magnum Paper Weight Charles Lotton created. This wonderful, extremely large piece still adorns their home and as friends come by, they usually ask the Ellman's, "Where did you get that Tiffany?" The Ellmans also purchased several other pieces from Charles, three being the minatures.

Here's where the story gets most interesting. Upon looking at the paperweight, Mr. Ellman noticed that it wasn't signed. He told Charles that, one day, his work was going to be very famous, and he should sign and date each piece. Charles thought that this suggestion was a good one, so ever since, he has signed and dated each piece. I called Charles to ask him about this, and he confirmed this story.

Cindy is doing a wonderful job getting our message out and I think that you will be hearing more about Lotton Glass in the days ahead.

The Old Turkey is gobbling, and the apples are ripening, so that must mean we are approaching Thanksgiving. This Holiday doesn’t get as much attention as others, but there are still great pieces that advertised this Holiday, and they can bring you a pretty penny. Pre-1950 Pilgrim tin signs and cardboard stand ups could substantially fatten your wallet. Get the pun? Also, any original clothing would command a fairly healthy price.

Don’t forget Christmas is just around the corner, and you could be stocking up on items to sell for this Holiday. We encourage all our readers and members to consider our book/membership 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, as gifts for your friends and family members. It's not just a book, it's a living, breathing link into a community of like-minded people, willing to share their lives and resources year in and year out.

Over the next two months, this country will come together to celebrate the holidays. My hope is that all will give thanks to God for all that he has provided and continues to provide for us each and every day.

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 an Erte Bronze, Lotton Glass, and many many more high quality items priced reasonably with no buyer's premiums. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your piece to us. No high fees selling with us.

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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LOOKS CAN BE DECEPTIVE: Fakes & Forgeries

The way something looks doesn't mean that it is real. Most forgers take liberty to change the signatures that they were forging just enough that you could tell that it wasn't original.

Why am I telling you this today? This weekend I did an appraisal fair in Western Springs, Illinios for the Historical Society, and this story comes from that event.

A lady came to my station with a beautiful blue aurene bud vase for me to appraise. This was a rather large piece, and I thought perhaps it would be one of those special pieces we see once in a while.

Turning the piece over, there was the name you hope to see: Tiffany. However, I had never seen a Tiffany piece signed like this one. LCT TIFFANY INC FAURILE and perhaps ten numbers, it seemed a little strange to my eye. So, all I could do at the time was to tell her that if the mark was correct, then the value would be such and such. You see all that shine isn't always gold.

Returning home, I consulted my flash cards of real and fake marks and couldn't find this combination, so the search goes on. But you can be assured that I won't stop until the mystery is solved. These flash cards could be bought from the classifieds in the AntiqueWeek or Antique Trader at one time and they may still be available there.

In the past, there were many companies producing beautiful art glass, but the top of the line was Tiffany. Every so often, a forger would take a piece of Stueben or other glass and mark it Tiffany to increase its value. The strange thing is that today it might well be as valuable with the original name as the forged one.

Fakes and forgeries are widespread today, so be sure to consult with a person familiar with the marks of the company that is being represented. These people that are doing this have taken just a little fun out of our business, but if you're careful about this, it won't be a problem for you. This practice is showing up in all areas of our business: Pottery, Metal, Furniture, Glass, Paintings and many others.

By the way, I did see some wonderful things at the event, and the best might have been a mechanical bank in the form an elepant where the tail raised the trunk to deposit the coin. This wonderful piece still retained 95% of its original paint and was in mint condition otherwise.

I would like to thank MIR Appraisal Services,Inc for inviting me, and I hope to do many more events with them. If you need appraisals, you can find them in the Chicago phone book. They are located on Michigan Ave.
Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club 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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eBay - King of the Hill

Do you remember as a child when you played "King of the Hill?" How much fun was it to beat everyone else to the top. I can still feel the excitement as I pulled myself up that hill ahead of everyone .

But, once you were the King, and everyone else was trying to pull you down, it wasn’t nearly as much fun. I think that is where eBay is at the present time. They are in a position of having to defend themselves from newcomers.

I have been using eBay almost since its inception, and their changes have been in the process of capturing more and more of the market each year. This has been accomplished through acquisitions of their competitors and by an increase in their fee structure.

This has proven to be very successful for the company, but now, they are seeing new competition on the horizon. Companies like "OnlineAuction.com" have introduced the no listing fee format, and it is catching on. Why should this matter?

I believe it matters, because in my humble opinion, the number of unfinished listings, meaning sold listings, will be eBay's undoing, unless they change their policy. The sellers will soon realize that they are losing so much money on uncompleted sales in listing fees, that it can’t be made up by the profits on their completed sales. eBay has tried to combat this by encouraging the sellers to list their items without reserves, so that most of the sales will be completed. This, however, puts the seller at a disadvantage, because they can’t protect their items from selling at a price that isn’t acceptable to them. The way eBay has encouraged this is by making the reserve price too expensive to use.

So, I've been thinking about this, and have some thoughts of my own. Call them my predictions, if you want, or just one man's opinion. But, I believe eBay offered the month of September with no listing fees to see if the increase in final value fees would offset their losses in listing fees. I think eBay will soon eliminate all listing fees. Why? For months now, they have been inching up all of their other fees, the ones outside of the listing fee itself. Things like gallery photos and listing style fees just to name a couple. Their other service fees, such as PayPal, Pro Stores and eBay Stores, have also increased. If they can maintain their profit margins, without charging a listing fee and increase the number of listings, I think this will give them what they're looking for.

This would be a huge blow to other companies trying to compete. I am not sure that other companies that have chosen this route could survive. And, eBay can’t continue to increase their profits each month, if competition offers the seller and buyer a better deal. So the only solution for them is to make it unprofitable for their competitors, because of their dominance in the market place.

My next thought is about why eBay has a "sign in" for the completed sales section. You see, I believe, and I'm going to make another prediction here, is that they are considering charging for their archives service like Ask Art, ArtPrice, ArtNet and Priceminer.

I stated in one of my early blogs that the market will always find a way to correct itself, and the companies that are in control will either change or be replaced by others. We'll see if this play out in the coming months.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club 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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"EXCITEMENT ABOUNDS" - The Chicago Antique Market.

Can you believe that another month has come and gone? The 31 Club is approaching its three month anniversary and the excitement within the club is amazing. It is hard to get on the internet today and not come across something about our club and the new vision for the Antique and Collectible industry that it is presenting to the world.

Our members are making money and learning at the same time. Their input is so important to our future, that we ask every day if they know of ways that we can improve the club on behalf of its members. Your staff of Cindy, Chris and Clarke are tireless workers that will stop at nothing to provide the members with the best.

This weekend you will be represented at the Chicago Antique Market by Cindy, Joshua and myself, and we will be getting the message out about the 31 Club to all that attend. We will be sharing the new vision with as many people that will listen, and there will be a table where people can sign up. Come and visit with us either Saturday or Sunday.

There will be qualified buyers present if you have something to sell. Also, I will be appraising items that guests bring to me. This will be a wonderful time spent shopping, looking, eating, or listening to fabulous music.

A new feature this month will be the exclusive area where only the finest will be shown , on stage. This will be conducted by Boris Yovanovich. His twenty plus years in this business will provide a wealth of information for all that enter his space. There will be some of the best Art that has been presented at the market ever, and many other quality items. Boris specializes in one-of-a-kind items that are unique and desirable.

There will be a full mix of dealers with an unlimited array of choices for those with discriminating taste. This will range from high quality art to fabulous jewelry and vintage clothing. Also, you will find the best Art Pottery and Art Glass that can be found anywhere. Not to leave out high quality Posters, Oriental Rugs, Lighting, Prints and so. So many other things that you will find desirable in the many booths.

One of the dealers happens to be a friend of mine for over fifteen years. Can you imagine my surprise when I ran into them at the Market. Doris and Mike have the most wonderful array of items that you can find anywhere. Unbelievable Bakelite jewelry, Rookwood and Roseville pottery, and Native American items can found adorning their fabulous booth.

One of my favorite people at the Chicago Antique market is Maria Tirabassi. She is an artist that I think will rise to the top of the heap in the future. Her paintings are light and airy with an almost childish quality. I was passing her booth when her paintings caught my eye, and I stopped in my tracks to admire them. Asking the lady there if she was the painter, the answer was no, but she told me her sister was. I found out she would be in her booth later. I returned and found Maria to be a delightful person and definitely the one that had created all of these wonderful pieces of art. If you go to our website, you will find several of her canvases there.



I am so excited to be invited back to the market by Sally, and I can tell you that her enthusiasm is contagious, and I am infected.

Hope to see you at the market, and keep those letters coming!

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club 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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