Becoming a Collector of Vintage Bakelite Jewelry
Once you have decided you want to start collecting vintage Bakelite jewelry, you need to get started somewhere. And the best advice is to start […]
The Qings’ Little Masterpieces: Snuff Bottles
Contact with the West greatly influenced Chinese applied arts, none more so than the culture pertaining to tobacco-related habits. But while smoking was officially castigated, […]
History of Thanksgiving Day
As a fans of antiques and collectibles, whose interest in history is peaked by the things we collect, we thought it would be interesting to […]
Blue and White Oriental Porcelain: A Guide to Changes and Styles
“Of a strong build, suitable for export and of good material, with a clear white body often left unglazed on a flat base. The glaze […]
Hungary for Herend Classical China? Pristine Porcelain is Nation’s Pride
The Herend Manufactory (as it call itself) has a long and exalted history in Hungary—its country of origin—with its reputation having spread to other capitals […]
Collector’s Minute: An Art and Architecture Glossary
Art and architecture, like all other fields of interest, have interesting words and terms. Here is a quick guide to some of the styles and […]
Anatomy of an Auction – The Auctioneer’s Percentage
QUESTION: If I sell some of my collectibles at auction, what percentage should I expect to pay an auctioneer? – Marti, via email ANSWER: The […]
Know Your America: Geography through Souvenir Pottery, Plates and the Rest
From lovely plates and delicate pitchers to decorative trinket boxes and figural animals, souvenir pottery was proudly displayed in American homes for decades. Today, many […]
Anatomy of an Auction: What Is a ‘Cut’ Bid?
QUESTION: What is the universal signal from bidder to auctioneer means that “cut your opening dollar amount in half?” I thought it was when you took […]
Basic Training for Those Starting an American Toy Soldier Collection
For many of today’s adults, lead soldiers are toys that our parents or grandparents played with. By the time they came around, the lead soldier […]