In 1927 when René Jules Lalique released his Bacchantes vase, he was 67 years old and riding a wave of success that had lasted an impressive four decades. His eponymous glassworks, based in Alsace, France, had received extraordinary acclaim at the 1925 International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts in Paris - an event which both established and gave a name to the Art Deco movement. Having launched his career in the Art Nouveau period of the late 19th Centur

Tackling the field of pottery collecting in a two-page article is akin to filling a pool with a teacup. As broad a category as any, pottery generally refers to any object shaped from clay and dried (or fired) to fix the form. Humans have been creating functional (and functionally beautiful) pottery objects for over 13,000 years, and while methods and materials have largely remained the same, design, style and form has changed dramatically across cultures and generations. A re

Across a career spanning nearly 70 years, it is fair to say that renowned interior designer and antiques dealer Jay Suiter has seen it all. When he transferred from the Art Institute of Chicago to UCLA to study interior design in the late 1940s, America was adjusting to a new normal after the end of World War II. A booming economy and a growing dominance in technology, business and the space race allowed Americans to return their focus to a more refined lifestyle. Not since t

A regular misconception about the art and antiques market is that prices are always going up. In fact, economic realities like “supply and demand” affect prices of paintings, collectibles and antique furniture as much as anything else. Additionally, small differences between unique items can offer big savings to savvy buyers. Here are a few examples in the collecting world that offer great buying opportunities right now. Slant-front desks As bulky personal computers with thei

Savvy art and antiques collectors look forward to more than just sunshine and warmer temperatures in June. Summer represents the peak of the picking season for those willing to invest the time and energy into a hopping calendar of estate sales, auctions and flea markets. With all of the hype and television shows surrounding the art of the true find, one might believe that nothing of value slips through the cracks anymore. Rest assured, fellow treasure-hunter, there is gold at

Most would agree that time is a precious asset - of which there is just never enough. Just two centuries ago, our only reference for the passage of time was a lengthening shadow, the chime of a clock or (for a few) a coveted pocket watch. In the 21st Century, however, time is numbered in nanoseconds, reminders are ever-present, and it is even malleable. Participating in a live, online auction? Your clicked bid can competitively compete with bidders sitting in the auction gall

Just as winter brings cooler temperatures, the auction world heats up for the busiest season of the year. Check out these recent prices - hot off the auction block. Collectors are drawn to the organic shapes and vibrant colors of Dale Chihuly’s work. This small, Seaform bowl and nesting ball crossed the auction block at $3,250. The sophisticated but simple lines of this chair (by noted designer T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb) appeal to today’s lifestyle, resulting in an

Every January, in New York’s tony Upper East Side neighborhood, a seasoned group of antiques enthusiasts buck the snowbird trend in favor of the most prestigious two weeks on the American collecting scene: The Winter Antiques Show. Held in the historic and stunning Park Avenue Armory, the Winter Antiques Show is the star and centerpiece of Americana Week - a convention (of sorts) of scholars, collectors, dealers and auctioneers who gather for a series of auctions, lectures an

In a world full of creative repurposing, the transformation of industrial tools, equipment and salvaged architectural items to interior design has become almost commonplace. But, before upcycling was hip, Americana collectors were rescuing and repurposing all manner of antique utilitarian objects. Among the myriad of objects successfully transitioning from function to form, weather vanes are some of our most favorite. One of the earliest instruments of meteorology, weatherv

Ron Pizzuti is not easily intimidated. A successful real estate developer, Pizzuti possesses the perfect combination of tenacity and charm, with a straightforward nature that quickly fosters a sense of familiarity; traits that have undoubtedly contributed to the tremendous growth and reach of the company he founded nearly 40 years ago. However, the notoriously tough real estate industry, Pizzuti learned long ago, has nothing on the art world. From his earliest days in develop