In early 1950s Anthony started to sell his lamps, $300 to $800. In the early 1960s, Anthony decided to sell in New York City. Yes, Anthony's lamps went to $2000 and higher. Then it happened. The big Tiffany Dealers and collectors of Tiffany became worried and angry that they had invested high thousands for Tiffany lamps. They made up stories that I quit Tiffany, went to work with Handel. After Handel died, he stole his glass and went underground making his lamps. Well - Anthony was not born yet. Simply, Anthony put a big damper on Tiffany, Handel, and Duffner & Kimberly, the only 3 artists in stained glass. A Wisteria by A. Hart would sell $7500 - $10,000, a Tiffany Wisteria $150,000 to $287,000 - sold at Sotheby's, September 1979.
Then in August 1983, at 9 a.m. Channel 13 had a one hour program on discussing Tiffany and A. Hart lamps. Two lamps by A. Hart and two byTiffany. So much was said. Hart worked alone, never using help by anyone, as a painter paints his or her own painting. When Tiffany Studios came about, he employed 5000 workers, a factory consisting of assembly lines who cut glass, who copper folied the glass, who put the pieces together, who did soldering, who applied the chemicals, who finished the lamp. As far as Hart always said, no way is that Art, it is simply to make money.
As for Anthony in his early 20s, he worked as a coal miner in Winber, PA. for Berwind coal mines, the owners used the name backwards from Windber.
Then, Anthony worked oil tankers as a maritime seaman. Later he became a dance instructor for Arthur Murray Dance Studios in Getty Square, Yonkers and at a branch in Mt. Vernon, New York. Being a great dancer under the name Tony Dano, Anthony went on his own, with his partner Barbara Branka, neice to our baseball player Ralph Branka. Anthony specialized in the Tango and Bolero, worked the Tavern on the Green and other important clubs giving away champaign. Auditioning for Kiss Me Kate and the movie WInged Victory, Arthur Markey producer. Given the lead part in the dance group in both shows, Anthony gave up, the stress of the life style was too great of a burden because of his love of glass.
Yet then again in 1958, Anthony became a NYS certified auto driving instructor, opening two schools, one on Fulton St. and Jay St. in Brooklyn, NY, the other school at 37th Ave between 100 St. and 101 St and Jackson Heights. This was where Anthony met his 3rd wife to be. They both loved the same things. Her name was Christine, she taught Art (oils) at Pratt Institute & Fordham University in the Bronx. Both Anthony and Christine were very fluent in Fine Art and Antiques. Both became licensed as appraisers and Auctioneers, giving up the two schools, and moving to Long Island winding up with four auction galleries: 400 New York Avenue, Huntington, NY, St. James Long Island, NY, Glen Street, Glen Cove Long Island, NY and 999 Northern Blvd, Manhasset. They bought a new house in Stony Brook, Long Island NY. 2 Midfiled Street. This all took place 1964 to 1971.
With being so active just with the auctions, Anthony would seldom miss a day or night without working on his lamps. To overpower Tiffany Lamps was Anthony's dream. Never would Anthony copy Tiffany, Duffner & Kinberly and Handel.
Finally Anthony did something great. An artist named Pairpoint made table lamps, not leaded but a one case glass lampshade. If it fell off a table, it becomes dead. Yet Pairpoint puffed out certain parts of this solid glass dome, puffed out parts could be a grouping of flowers or fruits. They are beautiful. Then, finally Anthony did it puffing out in small bunches of flowers in leaded pieces. This really upset the Tiffany dealer and collector. Some times Anthony would worry about his darling wife & son, that something evil would take place.