Here Be Old Things

Our big New Jersey tag sale adventure: part two

Allan Gould string chairs, AKA "The Ugly Chairs"

This Saturday, Phyllis and I made our second trip over to New Jersey to start pricing the Tenafly sale. (You can read Phyllis' post about the day at Reclaimed Home.) "We better enjoy this," I told Phyllis, "because we'll never have it this good again." The couple who own the house have pretty much sorted and organized everything, so a lot of our work was already done. They live so clutter-free that we kind of missed the thrill of opening a dusty trunk and finding something really valuable and cool inside, like (my fantasy) a long-lost Tiffany lamp; on the upside, they're so clutter-free that we were spared the horror of opening of a dusty trunk and finding something really scary and rank inside. 

Bloggers about old things now offering estate sales (because . . . why not?)

"Do you put on estate sales"?

Believe it or not, that's the #1 ranked question that shows up in my inbox here at Here Be Old Things. And the answer is: "Well . . . sure!"

My friend Phyllis over at Reclaimed Home has run a couple of tag sales, and early this summer we started talking about teaming up. We're both artsy types trying to forge new careers (or at least make money), and we both have lots of experience in the antiques, collectibles, and flea market worlds. After an initial brainstorming session, we exchanged occasional emails joking about how we were really, really going to post on our blogs and start looking for business. Right away. Or someday soon. Maybe tomorrow.

Time passed. But I swear, some force in the universe is intent on forcing us both into the estate and tag sale business, because the requests keep coming. Tomorrow Phyllis and I are going to meet our first potential client in New Jersey. I'll post news and photos of our adventure.

And to all you "new-york-jersey-long-island-connecticut-estate-tag-sale" Googlers out there who just found this page, the answer is: Yes. Email me. Let's pick a date.

New flea market in Brooklyn (wait, wasn't that the title of my last post?)

What is it with Brooklyn? Does everyone over there long to be a flea market dealer? Another flea has come to my attention this week: the OLPH $upa Flea Market in Sunset Park. It's been operating for about a year, and you can see how well attended it is by the photo above–sometimes over 100 dealers at a market. 

I'm guessing that the "$" in "supa" means value, a place where you'll find a lot of new mixed in with the old. There's probably fewer hipsters selling Danish teak, more middle-aged homeowners hawking their old record collections. The goods run the gamut from collectibles, antiques, jewelry, perfumes, coins, comic books, clothing, shoes, housewares . . . or in the words of the promoter, "NAME IT!"

If that is making you salivate, just wait until you see the Spanish, Italian, Vietnamese, Mexican and Chinese food on hand. And while the hipsters that run the Williamsburg Flea have offered free drinks to lure shoppers, the $upa Flea is offering . . . a blood drive! Now that's value: a place you can not just buy something, but give something, too.

$upa Fleas run roughly once a month. The next is on Sunday, September 27th, 2009. Since their site isn't up yet, if you want to check the schedule, or book a space (they're looking for food vendors, too) contact John G. Connolly Jr., (917) 312-9855, or email SupaFleaMarket09@aol.com.

The next OLPH (Our Lady of Perpetual Help) $upa FLEA Market! Fundraiser & Blood Drive is Sunday, September 27th, 2009 7:00 am–5:00 pm. Find it at Notre Dame Hall, 545 60th Street  (between 5th & 6th Avenues), Sunset Park Brooklyn. See the Flea Markets Guide for more info.

New flea market opens in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

This announcement is getting to feel redundant: yet another flea market is opening in Brooklyn . . . yeah! Hard to believe that just a year ago, all the markets were being pushed out. The weekly Williamsburg Flea Market debuts Sunday, June 14th. (NOT the 7th, as originally planned.) If that simple fact alone isn't enough to entice you out, they're offering complimentary drinks. Drinks early on Sunday–now that's a flea market you can really appreciate.

Vendors will offer artwork, antiques, new and vintage home furnishings, clothing and accessories, food, books, records, crafts and more. Hours are Sunday, 10 am–6 pm, rain or shine.

From Manhattan, stroll over the Williamsburg Bridge. The flea is a 10-minute walk from the Bedford stop on the L train, or from the Marcy stop on the JMZ line.

Nice logo, eh? And I thought the Brooklyn Flea upped the ante. Check out more Brooklyn flea markets here.

East Village flea market reopens!

In 2007 I wrote about the demise of the East Village flea market in the Mary Help of Christians schoolyard. Well, good news! It has risen from the dead. Today I got this helpful tip:

Mary Help of Christians Market Vendors have relocated. The market vendors have reformed for a great cause, to raise funds for the schools in the area that have lost funding for several programs. The Earth School, Thompson Square Middle School and P.S. 64, have welcomed the market to help raise sorely needed funds.

Running for a few weekends in the fall of 2008, the market resumed for the spring of 2009 and has since opened as of May 9th at 4th St. between Avenues B and C. It will be running until June 14th and possibly longer.

Open Saturdays and Sundays 7am - 7pm. New vendors are welcome to contact Jeanette at 212-979-2186 or Deb 347-216-4691. All are welcome to come and show your support for the schools and the vendors. See you at the Schoolyard!

Artist & Fleas market in Williamsburg goes vintage

 
I remember a full 50% of the items above from my childhood. Those hipsters over in Williamsburg are making them cool again with the premiere of Artists & Fleas Vintage Market. Established in 2003, Artists &Fleas is a weekly market that showcases emerging designers and local artists. Their vintage push is next door to their regular space, Saturdays and Sundays from 12–8 pm (AND they stay busy with a market in McCarren Park). Go check it out, or better yet, dig through your closets, sign up to be a vendor, and go convince some kid how cool Mom's old casserole pan is. Cackle, cackle.

Diane Arbus suit settled: dealers across the nation shudder

Bayo Ogunsanya's lawsuit against Robert Langmuir has been settled out of court. The story broke yesterday in the Maine Antique Digest. While he is not allowed to give any particulars, Ogunsanya states that he will be allowed a percentage of Langmuir's gross sales when the Arbus photos are sold.

This affair drew a lot of controversy last spring. Langmuir bought an initial set of photos from Ogunsanya, followed his hunch, did some research, discovered that they were early Diane Arbus photos of Hubert's Dime Museum and Flea Market freak show in Times Square, then went back to Ogunsanya to buy the rest of the collection. In a sort of dealer's fantasy trifecta, he put the photos up for auction at Phillips, where estimates ranged up to 120k each, a book was published about the adventure, AND a producer was trying to get a movie made with Phillip Seymour Hoffman playing Langmuir.

Ogunsanya raised a ruckus, protesting that he had been robbed. The Phillips auction was pulled the night before the sale, (either because because of the lawsuit, or because Phillips hesitated over the price of the guarantee based on other Arubs results that week), and, sadly, Hoffman snubbed the movie proposal.

Ogunsanya said "It was a case that [Langmuir] couldn't win, and he probably hurt himself by delaying the settling of it, because of the market. Hopefully, he will be selling them for as much as he can get and soon too. But the economy is what it is."

Yes, the economy is what it is. Most readers who weighed in felt that Ogunsanya had had the same chances as Langmuir to do his research, and that it would send a big chill through the antiques and collectibles world if every lucky dealer who stumbled on a big find had to share gains. Well, feel the chill. Or, if you're on the other side of the deal, feel like a lottery winner. Opinions?

Arbus Suit is Settled [Maine Antique Digest]
Man who sold Arubs photos to another dealer says he was cheated of their true value [Here Be Old Things]

Top 10 flea markets in Europe?

Photograph of the market at Lille from The Guardian, by Philippe Huguen/AFP

Two years ago, The Guardian published their picks for the Top 10 European flea markets. Incredibly, they didn't list Le Marche aux Puces de Saint-Ouen or its smaller cousin at la Porte de Vanves. There's also a glaring admission of . . . ha, that's a teaser. I can think of two very large, little-known fleas in Europe that I'm going to write about in the coming days. Until I can get my act together, though, read The Guardian's descriptions carefully. Some of these look legit, but a few are junk markets:

• Flea market in Waterloo, Belgium
• Carmagnola market in Turin, Italy
• brocante south of Cardedeu in Cadaques, Spain
• market at Cormano near Milan, Italy
• Jeu de Balle in Brussels, Belgium
• Mercatino di Torino near Alba, Italy
• Mercantic in Barcelona, Spain
• Borgo D’Ale at Lake Maggiore, Italy
• Ciney Antiquities, an annual brocante at the Ciney Expo in Namur, Belguim
• Annual May attic sale, or "vide-greniers," in the village of Auriac-sur-Vendinelle, Mirepoix in southern France
• La Grande Braderie de Lille, in Lille, Northern France, during September, which attracts over a million visitors

I've been to the Brussels flea and I thought it was small and disappointing. Any opinions?

The death of my career marked by Modern Posters auction at Posters Please

I remember when my grandmother used to point out some tchotchke in a store and snort, "that's an antique?" And I'd think, well, of course it is, Grandma.

Last Thursday, a young crowd went crazy over relics of my own recent past. While I and my advertising art-director and copywriter friends scramble for jobs in a dying-industry-meets-dead-economy-end-of-the-world-as-we-know it-Mad-Max (I could go on) scenario, the ads and posters we used to admire in awards annuals brought in prices that pleasantly surprised Posters Please.

The auction was described as offering low-cost but still valuable items. One lot was this Milton Glaser poster . . . that's an antique? Well of course it is, Grandma.

Here Be Old Things inaugurates a page on New York City area auction houses

Check it out: a new button the left that links to a list of auction houses in the New York City metro area. I compiled it from a list the New York Times published in 2007 (wow, time flies). I tried to make sure the businesses were still viable, but if I'm wrong, or if you see any that I've left out, please let me know in the comments section below. Happy auctioning!

New York City Auctions: March 23–29, 2009

Lot 10: Hand-colored folding plate from "An Affecting Narrative of the Captivity & Sufferings of Mrs. Mary Smith" at Swann Galleries

Events and Exhibits in New York City during Asia Week 2009

Matsuo Basho: Hibiscus with Haiku. At the Japanese Art Dealers

Bad news: Haughtons' International Asian Art Fair was canceled this year. Good news: now you won't have as much ground to cover. There's still a lot to see, and The Magazine Antiques has compiled an Asia Week "to-do list" of alternative events.

• March 14: Asian Art Dealers of Upper Eastside NY: Inaugural Open House, noon–8:00 pm
• March 14–18: Arts of Pacific Asia Show
• March 15–17: Arts of Japan: An Exhibition by the Japanese Art Dealers Association
• March 16: public symposium at the Japan Society: Japanese Art in America: Building the Next Generation
• March 17: opening at the Met: Art of the Korean Renaissance, 1400-1600
• Now at the Asia Society: Asian Journeys: Collecting Art in Post-war America
• Now at the Guggenheim: Noguchi: The Bollingen Journey 1949-1956

Local blogger now offering estate and tag sale services in the New York City area

One of my favorite blogs is Reclaimed Home, which is about "low impact housing and renovation options for thrifty New Yorkers." The author, who includes witty pieces about her personal life, always seems to be up to a LOT: renovating her own homes (yes, plural) in Bed Stuy and Beacon, selling at the Brooklyn Flea, scouting out cheapo property in the region (I like this post on aesthetically pleasing mobile homes) . . . and now moving into the tag and estate sale business. This weekend she's putting on her second effort this Saturday, March 14, up in Beacon. The sale is a mix of antiques and vintage items left over from other sales, clean-outs, and shop inventory reductions, plus some consignments from local dealers. Get a preview of the weekend's goodies on Reclaimed Homes' Flickr page, and then check it out. The address is 69 Verplanck Avenue, Beacon, New York, and the sale runs 8:30am-4:30pm.I know no one wants to say the "S" word anymore, but this isn't shopping, it's recycling!

New York City Auctions: March 16–22, 2009

Lot 122 Green River Sofa Table with Priscacara liops at I.M. Chait Natural History Auction

New York City Auctions: March 9–15, 2009

Lot 122 Untitled (Profile of a Woman) by Andy Warhol at Phillips 

NYSales.net: a new resource for tag sales in Connecticut, New Jersey, and on Long Island

Up until now, when I've searched for estate or tag sales in the region, I've turned to EstateSales.net, which is trying to be the national player in that niche. Well, now there's a new kid on the block: NYSales.net, which lists estate, tag, moving and yard sales exclusively in the tri-state metro area. It was started by a local who likes to rummage through books and other other items at estate and tag sales, and saw the value in consolidating as many ads as possible all in one spot. This weekend alone, he's listed almost twice the number of sales as his competitor. NYSales.net makes an effort to weed out virtual sales; the site is clean and easy to navigate. Hmmmm... wait. It lists antique shows and auctions. Looks like someone's moving on to my block, too.

New York City Auctions: February 23–March 1, 2009

Alexander Alexeieff: "The Flying Scotsman" travel poster at Bloomsbury

New York City Auctions: February 16–22, 2009

Lot 91 at Swann Auction Galleries: Marilyn Monroe by Lawrence Schiller

New York City Auctions: February 9–15, 2009

Lot No: 210, Philip Eustace Stretton: Thaddeus, at Bonhams

New York City Auctions: February 2–8, 2009

Sotheby's | 1334 York Avenue

• Important Jewels

Swann Galleries | 104 East 25th Street

• Vintage Posters

New York City Auctions: Jan 26–Feb 1, 2009

Lot 4 at Bloomsbury: John James Audubon, Northern Hare… Winter. 

Update on dispute over Diane Arbus photos

Many people come to this blog looking for information on Bayo Ogunsanya's case against Robert Langmuir over the Diane Arbus "Hubert's Freaks" photos. As you might remember, Ogunsanya sold the photos to Langmuir, and then claims he was hoodwinked, because Langmuir realized their true value but didn't clue him in. The photos, worth millions, were scheduled for sale at Philip's, but at the last minute, Brooklyn Federal Court blocked the auction.

In October, a motion to dismiss the case was denied. Whille most people who commented felt, basically, "Seller Beware"–that Ogunsanya had no case–the law appears to disagree. If Ogunsanya wins, will it change the way that dealers do business? Read this update from The Art Law Blog.

New York City area tag and estate sales: January 16–18, 2009

Here's a partial list of this weekend's surrounding sales, courtesy of EstateSales.net.

Reception for Razzia and the Art of Advertising at International Poster Center

The International Poster Center is holding a reception and party for its new exhibit, Razzia and the Art of Advertising, Thursday night (tomorrow) from 5 to 8. The artist will be there to sign posters. They say he's "synonymous with the retro-deco style of the 1980s." Yeah, I remember advertising in the 80s. First, no Photoshop, so art directors (like me) didn't have to do everything ourselves and could actually commission real artists like Razzia. Second, lots of drinking. Now everyone works too hard. Do I sound bitter? Maybe I'll go check this reception out, see if they have some free wine, and walk down memory lane.

Razzia and the Art of Advertising:

• January 15 to February 1
• Mon-Fri, 9-5; Sat/Sun, 11-6
• Opening Reception January 15, 5-8 pm
• 601 W. 26th St. (11th–12th), 13th Floor
• 212-787-4000

Christie's auction house starts staff layoffs

photo from Flickr/Daquella manera

Christie's has began "massive layoffs," according to Art Fag City, who sounds like they have the inside scoop. The blog says that on Monday, an email at 10 a.m. warning of staff cuts was followed by several staffers vanishing from the building by noon. Besides personnel, departments are being cut. A Christie's press release states:

Effective January 12, 2009, we have begun a company-wide reorganization review, which includes the possibility of significant staff reductions, not renewing many consultants’ contracts and the continuation of other cost reduction initiatives, that will ensure we remain competitive and profitable in 2009. Any staff reductions that might be necessary will be implemented globally in accordance with local regulations and in as considered and timely a manner as is possible.

My feelings remain very mixed on this. The prices the auction houses reeled in last year were a little sickening. Writing my High/Low reports got depressing–people just had too much money to throw at stuff like James Brown's dental floss (kidding, but it's close to the mark). It's nice to see the excess dampened–but why couldn't anyone look ahead and save some cash for a "rainy day employee salary fund." Any opinions?

Christie's Begins Massive Layoffs [Art Fag City]
Christie’s to Cut Jobs as Crisis Cuts Auction Sales (Update4) [Bloomburg.com]
Christie's Cuts Costs as Art Market Slows [New York Times]

New York City Auctions: January 19–25, 2009

 Lot No 1030Y at Bonhams: a pair of portrait miniatures on ivory

New York City area tag and estate sales: January 9–11, 2009

In the coming months, I'm going to add to the sidebar guide a listing of area tag and estate sale providers. Here's a partial list of this weekend's surrounding sales, courtesy of EstateSales.net. Do you go to estate sales in the area, and if so, how do you find them?

Brooklyn Flea roosts for the winter in Dumbo

More good news on the New York City flea market scene: the Brooklyn Flea, which lives outdoors at the Bishop Loughlin school yard during the summer (read: windswept by freezing winds during the winter) is sheltering indoors for the next twelve weeks.

The Antiques Garage flea market is holding fast in Chelsea

Remember August? Just a few months ago, expensive new apartment buildings had about finished displacing the antiques and flea market scene in Chelsea. The Antiques Garage, the most authentic flea market left in New York City, was losing its home to a developer who bought the land for $42.7 million. Closing day was slated for November 30.

New York City Auctions: January 12–18, 2009

Lot 60 at Christie's Open House sale, Morris Louis, "Bird"

New York City Auctions: January 5–11, 2009

Lot 123 at Cherrystone: United States 1869 Pictorial Issue 

Toulouse-Lautrec sale and exhibition at the International Poster Center

Who doesn't love Toulouse-Lautrec? Now is your chance to view his rarest work at the International Poster Center in New York City through January 11, 2009. "Toulouse-Lautrec: 100 Prints and Posters" is the largest exhibition and sale of the artist ever assembled.

If you're one of those lucky people with change still rattling around in your pockets, ask them to gift wrap one of Lautrec's famous posters (seemingly ubiquitous, he created only thirty) and bring it home to hang above the tree. Or snag a rare piece of ephemera like this 1896 Christmas card, made for the performer Mary Belfort and one of only five known examples, two of which are in museums. Also on display are working proofs (including one torn in half by the artist and taped back together by his assistants), original drawings, oils, and a ceramic rendering of the star Yvette Guilbert.

The International Poster Center is at 601 W. 26th Street on the 13th Floor. Hours are Monday–Friday 9–5:00; Saturday and Sunday 11–6:00. Closed Christmas and New Year’s Day. 

The auction houses are taking a break from next week to early January. I've got some leads on some new flea market and auction stories, which I'll break after the holidays. Until then, I'm lapsing into a sugar coma, and I hope you are, too. In the words of Toulouse-Lautrec: "Joyeux Noel!"

Tepper Galleries gets all gussied up

Holy shit, they wear suits over at Tepper Galleries?! NO WAY! I've never seen those guys in more than a shirt with the sleeves rolled up, puffing on cigars (maybe I'm exaggerating the cigars, but you get the idea). But it looks like this auction house is trying to go up against the big boys, now. First, there was the new awning. I started getting really nervous when they stapled a color cover on the xeroxed lot list. Now they've taken the Tepper Galleries website upscale, too. Just look at these mugs on the "about us" page.  It pains me to see these steadfast auctioneers in ties, and worse, studio-lighting.

New York City Auctions: December 15–21, 2008

Contemplating the reductions in auction spending, no doubt (okay, cheap joke). At Christie's, lot 286 in sale 2062, A Portrait of a Seated Woman by Rene Gruau.

New York City Auctions: December 8–14, 2008

At Bloomsbury. Lot 291: SCUDDER, Samuel Hubbard, The Butterflies of the Eastern United States and Canada with special reference to New England.

Outdoor Flea Market & Art Fair in the East Village

How badly do you miss the Avenue A Flea? Next weekend you'll find it resurrected at the Outdoor Flea Market & Art Fair at East Side Community High School. Vintage items, collectibles, clothing, jewelry, shoes, books, art, food, crafts and more will be for sale in the school's basketball courts and garden at 420 East 12th street (between Ave A and 1st Ave). The date is November 8–9th, 2008; hours 9–5. The flea is a benefit for the school's art students, who will be using the proceeds for a trip to Europe, where they will broaden their arts education . . . although I'm hoping there are a few aspiring dealers among them who will haul some goods home for a flea market next year, perhaps.

New York City Auctions: August 11-17, 2008

Wednesday August 13

• Doyle 10 am: Doyle at Home

Thursday August 14

• Doyle 10 am: Contents of Abandoned Safe Deposit Boxes
• Tepper 10 am: Fine and Decorative Estates Auction

New York City Auctions: August 4-10, 2008

Lot 318 Leonetto Cappiello, Mossant, at Swann Galleries

You'll find a reproduction of the above poster on the living room wall of every wannabe hipster in New York City. One-up your friends with the real deal.

Wednesday August 6

• Swann 10:30 am and 2 pm: Vintage Posters
  

Thursday August 7

• Tepper 10 am: Fine and Decorative Estates Auction

Antique Jewelry and Watch Show in New York City this weekend

The New York Sun published an article, Summer Antiques Fairs – and Finds, about the summer antiques scene in the city. Condensed version: there's not much of one. Most wealthy collectors are in the Hamptons, and smart dealers follow them. You'll find them in places like the East Hampton Antiques Show (earlier in July) and Antiques & Design in the Hamptons, August 15 – 17.

One of the only major fairs scheduled in the city is The New York Antique Jewelry & Watch Show, which starts today at the Metropolitan Pavilion. The Sun quotes Neil Marrs, a New York dealer who specializes in collectible jewelry from the '60s and '70s, as saying that this an opportunity for collectors to buy "fantastic stuff" at wholesale — not retail — prices.

"My colleagues and I all sell to the big department stores and boutiques up and down Madison Avenue. If some lady shows up with her husband and she wants a golden-diamond bracelet from the '50s, she can go to Bergdorf Goodman or she can go to this show and save $20,000."

Clarke Auction Gallery is selling a firehouse collection, and other summer auction madness

lot 29: Photos & Clips of "30 Inch" Firefighter Vance Swift, at Clarke

In summer the auction biz lightens up a bit. The big guys offer their "house" sales where they sell less important stock. It's Christie's, Sotheby's and Doyle's version of a stoop sale, if you can get your head around that. The city is empty and there's less competition, so if you drop in a place like Tepper Galleries, the bidding will be less intense and there will be some nice deals.

Collections that don't fit into the traditional categories are popping up. In August, Doyle is offering the contents of safe deposit boxes. And this weekend Clarke (C&C) is auctioning a firehouse collection. It's the massive contents of three 19th century firehouses which had been consolidated into the leaky storage room of a 1970's firehouse. Clarke has moved their usual Monday night auction to Sunday night to accommodate firefighting buffs. The firehouse auctions starts at 4 pm; the regular lots at 6 pm. There's a lot of cool history there – check it out.