Tag Archives: Golden Nugget Flea Market

Weekend Treasures – June 2024

It has been a while since we shared some of our weekend treasures. Rainy weekends and life have really put a dint in our easy breezy travels.  However, this past weekend proved fruitful.

Weekend Treasures

Alfred Dunhill, Silent Flame Table Lighter – Gold Finish

On Saturday, I headed out to one of my favorites, the Golden Nugget Flea Market in Lambertville, NJ. My first buy was an Alfred Dunhill Silent Flame table lighter with a gold finish. These were produced between 1935 and 1944 by Parker of London Ltd., New York City. The original 1935 patent lists it as an electric cigar lighter.

Marketed as “Aphrodite” it is sometimes called the “Fan Dancer” after the famed entertainer, Sally Rand.  And, it was extremely popular during the Art Deco period.

Weekend Treasures

Alfred Dunhill, Silent Flame Table Lighter (photo via table-lighters. blogspot.com)

These are not particularly difficult to find but are still quite collectable and can be costly. The exception is the rare Superman version which can sell for thousands. This one was extremely reasonably priced so I snagged it.

The next treasure I picked up is this reverse painted frame. What drew me to this is the accent color.  It’s difficult to see, but what looks almost black, is ruby red. It is truly stunning in person and a fitting tribute to the Joan Crawford photo that was included.

So ends day one of weekend treasures.

Weekend Treasures

Alfred Dunhill, Silent Flame Table Lighter – Chrome Finish

Since it was a nice morning on Sunday, back to the Golden Nugget. And what did I find? Another Alfred Dunhill, Silent Flame Table Lighter. But this time, in the chrome finish. Even more reasonably priced than the prior one, home it came.

Weekend Treasures

New York World’s Fair – Views

Anthony has a collection of the 1939-1940 World’s Fair memorabilia. I got this souvenir booklet although I was sure he had one already. It is in excellent condition (and doesn’t smell – always important when buying ephemera) and it was only $5.00.

Weekend Ttreasures

New York World’s Fair – Centerfold

My best buy, and the treasure of the weekend is this Chase Stratosphere Ash Stand. Designed by Walter von Nessen, it stands about 26 inches high and weighs about 7 pounds. Not fun to lug around in an open air flea market on a hot and  cloudless day. But more importantly, it is complete with the ashtray insert.

Weekend Treasures

Finding a treasure

This is not an easy piece to find, and even harder to find complete. The Stratosphere normally sells for well into the hundreds of dollars. Asking price? $45.00. A no brainer but I still checked with Anthony and got a resounding, “YES!”

When I bought it, it was complete. Then it wasn’t. And then it was. Let me explain.

So, I bought it when I was about halfway through the market. I got back to my car, packed things up and headed home. But when I got home, the astray insert, the hardest and arguably the most valuable part, was missing. I checked my car and it was not there. I figured I left it at vendor’s table. The only way for it to be missing is if the top was open and it slipped out. The only place it was open was at the vendors.

Now there were two issues I faced. The first is that there is no way to call a vendor table in the middle of a field.

The other issue with this flea market is that many vendors arrive by 5 in the morning and tend to leave by 10:00 – 10:30.

It was 10:15.

Luckily, I live relatively close, about 25 minutes away. To say I tore back there is an understatement. 17 minutes later and I was happy to see the vendor still there. Well, his table was there but he was not.

I spent the next ten minutes retracing my steps around the market in case I didn’t lose it there. This included looking under parked cars.

Not finding it, I headed back to the vendor and still he was not there.  I knew if he found it, he would have set it aside. I looked into his (open) van. Nothing. I looked all over, and under, the table. Nothing. And then I saw a small paper bag that seemed out-of-place. I took a chance and there it was! The heavens opened and the angels sang – AAAAAAA!

Weekend Treasures

Chase Stratosphere Ash Stand – complete with insert

I asked the vendor next to him to let him know I came back and got it.

The lesson to take away from this is to check and double check things with pieces before you leave the vendor and before you leave the market or store.

Weekend Treasures

Stratosphere – temporary home

So, there you go. Another successful hunt for weekend treasures.

Chris & Anthony (the Freakin’ ‘tiquen Guys)

Driving-for-Deco Weekend Find – Marcel Vertès

Spring and summer weather makes it so much easier to go looking for a driving-for-deco weekend find. And, getting a couple of pieces of genuine vintage art, in this case by Marcel Vertès, makes it even better! Also, we get to learn about a new (to us) artist!

Therefore, its no surprise, I went to one of my favorite flea markets, The Golden Nugget. And there I came across two lithographs. Two large lithographs!

Marcel Vertès Dancing

Marcel Vertès: Dancing – Club Scene (collection of the author)

Marcel Vertès Dancing

Marcel Vertès: Dancing – Gentleman’s Club (collection of the author)

The first is a party scene with people dancing to some unheard music. And the second features a less frenetic party focusing on two gentleman dancing with each other.  However I was alone on this hunt. So, I sent Anthony some quick pictures. And he liked them enough for me to start the bargaining stage.

Signed and numbered, the signature was difficult to read. The vendor told me the artist’s name was Vertès. But added, they are not in the best condition. And consequently, they sell for around $200 per picture online.

The original Marcel Vertès signature.

And a quick web search (and sending Anthony this new info) confirmed his statements.

The vendor told me he bought them at an auction. But, he only bid on them to annoy another bidder who really wanted them. And, he doesn’t like them, he doesn’t want to pack them up, and doesn’t want to take them home. Asking, what his best price would be? And pleasantly surprised as he stated $100 each, just what he paid for them. But if I wanted both, $75 each. Cha-ching!

A bit more research and I found out they are a part of the “Dancing” series.  And as for the condition? Well, let’s just say they are lovely as they are. But in pristine condition, they have highlighted red, pink, yellow and turquoise watercolor accents.

These are fairly hard-to-find.  And, the condition is therefore not an issue for us.

Significantly, as I delve into this artist’s history, he is known for some highly – let me put this delicately – adult subject matter. And as we try to keep things PG, I am leaving out quite a bit of illustrative references.

Born August 10, 1895, in Ujpest, Hungry, Marcel Vertès was a painter, printmaker, ceramicist,  illustrator and costumer of Hungarian-Jewish origins.

His career started in Budapest, Hungary. There, he sketched corpses, criminals, and “ladies of the evening” for a “sensational” magazine. In addition to illustrating for anti-Hapsburg propaganda publications.

He relocated from his native Hungary to Vienna, Austria.  And then to Paris, France after World War I.  In Paris, he settled in the Latin Quarter and studied at the Académie Julian.

Vertès Art

1927 untitled street scene (photo via invaluable.com)

Like Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Jean-Louis Forain, Vertès established himself as a prominent 20th century figure of the Parisian art scene. Undeniably his fascination with the vibrancy of 1920s night-life inspired him.  And he lithographs and drawings focused on  street scenes, intimate portraits of women, as well as images of circus and cabaret acts. And, selling illustrations to the Gazette Du Bon Ton and to Rire, a satirical magazine.

 

Vertès Dancing

Dancing folio cover (photo via 1stDibs)

 

Increasingly popular, Vertès was commissioned by Maurice Exteens in 1925 to illustrate two albums of lithographs. One in black and white called “Maisons” and one in color (and the more popular), called “Dancing”.

“Dancing” encompassed a witty look at the world of brothels, nightclubs, and discretely unfaithful lovers. These albums cemented his fame.  At this time, Vertès also contributed illustrations to Cherri Colette. (Photos from Lockportstreetgallery.com)

L’Europe Galante, by Paul Morand, (Photos from varshavskycollection.com)

and Le Cirque by Ramon Gomez de la Serna. (Photos from lockportstreetgallery.com)

 

His first trip to New York in 1935 was to make contacts beyond his beloved Paris. Then, just two years later, opened his first one-man show in New York City. But his world became upended with the event of World War II. And with little choice, Marcel Vertès left for New York with his wife, Dora.

They escaped the Nazi invasion of Paris by two days.

In New York, and with a reputation that preceded him, Vertès continued his work. Finding additional success as a book illustrator, costume and set designers for films, theatres, and musicals.

Vertès Mural

Vertès Mural in the Café Carlyle (photo from tillettlighting.com)

He created the original murals at the Café Carlyle in the Hotel Carlyle and in the Peacock Alley in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York.

Vertès American Art League

Vertès American Art League (Logo from Facebook)

The American Art League, sponsored by American Federation of Arts, show-casing his work.  “As They Were” was shown in museums across the country in a celebrity portrait exhibition.

He collaborated with fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli to create her “Shocking de Schiaparelli” perfume campaign. (Photos from fragranceads.com)

And, Vertès won two Academy Awards for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design for the film, “Moulin Rouge” (1952).

Vertès 1952 Moulin Rouge Pressbook cover.

1952 Moulin Rouge Pressbook cover

Vertes screen credit from the 1952 film Moulin Rouge. Frame capture from the DVD.

Vertes screen credit for Moulin Rouge. Frame capture from the M-G-M Home Entertainment DVD.

As an interesting side note: Vertès earned tuition money in Paris by forging the art of Toulouse Lautrec. This “experience” was used in the film. And it is his hand used as the hand of Toulouse Lautrec drawing.

Vertes hand doubles for José Ferrer in Moulin Rouge. Frame capture from the DVD.

Vertes hand doubles for José Ferrer as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1952’s Moulin Rouge. Frame capture from the M-G-M Home Entertainment DVD.

Costume for Zsa Zsa Gabor influenced by Toulouse Lautrec (Photo via web)

It is his images featured in the film. (Given appropriate credit.) Vertès appeared in the British, Parisian, and Italian production credits as Color Production Designer, and Costume Designer, along with Schiaparelli. (They shared the British Academy Film award for Best Costume Design for Moulin Rouge.)

In 1955, he became an officer of the Legion of Honor when he designed for ballets at the Paris Opera. Ever eclectic, he designed all the sets for the 1956 Ringling Bros.-Barnum & Bailey Circus’ show. As well as his illustrative contributions for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar magazines.

Marcel Vertès

Priscilla Mais (photo from Amazon)

Little is known of his private life.  A presumed paramour, Priscilla Mais, wrote of him in her diary describing him as a…:

“…loner who belonged to no movement, fragile, moody, stubborn, impatient,”

 

Of his wife, Vertès wrote:

“Dora saw everything, but never said anything that could hurt me.”

By all accounts, he was a complex man with a wicked sense of humor. He drew what he saw honestly and with imagination. His creativity encompassed sketching and painting to film and fashion and ceramics.

Additionally, he remained happily married while “involved” with several other women.

Vertès signature

Vertès signature (Photo via 1stDibs)

After 10 years in the USA, Marcel Vertès and Dora returned to Paris.  To clarify, he travelled to the US on occasion but he lived in Paris until his death on October 31, 1961, at age 66.

… 

Keep hunting and learning!                                                                                                               Chris & Anthony (the Freakin’ ‘tiquen Guys)