Life
The art and science of weathervanes
They told the direction of the wind and aided in forecasting the, well, weather.
Life
Collectors beware: Not all colored glass is created equal
Cost and quality differs for each method of adding color to a clear piece to make it decorative.
Life
Arguably ugly chair fetched a pretty penny at auction
Folk art values are determined by whatever collectors are willing to pay.
Life
Stylish student lamp made of Burmese glass sells for $3,330
The mid-1800s was the start of color in home decoration. Colored glass and ceramics were popular.
Life
Do you know the joke about a set of special-order dishes?
Stop me if you’ve heard this one: A black-and-white design for colorful plates was sent to China…
Life
Some makers of Victorian furniture are considered artists
Victorian furniture is generally selling for low prices for many reasons, but there are expections.
Life
Three-panel screen painted by Marie Hull auctions for $28,000
Decorative screens were being used in rooms in China by the seventh century. But they were not used…
Life
19th-century bell toy featuring an elephant worth up to $1,200
Bell toys, a type of pull toy that had moving parts that rang a bell, were made in…
Life
Dolls made by one of the first American female cartoonists
The googly eyes announce that the designer of the dolls was Grace Drayton (1887-1936), a talented artist.
Life
Smiling leprechaun is one of few St. Patrick’s Day bobble heads
Bobble heads are popular today as sports collectibles. Most baseball teams offer souvenir bobble-head dolls at some of…
Life
Chinese porcelain vase may not be old, but it sure is pretty
Chinese porcelains are among the hardest for an average collector to identify and date. They have been made…
Life
Centuries-old cutwork picture auctions for a premium price
The very thin, graceful lines, the black-and-gilt frame, and the cutwork initials and date “JB/1760” added up to…
Life
Almost egg-shaped pocket watch holder fetches more than $700
Shell-shaped decorative objects were very popular during the 19th century. There were trinket boxes covered in tiny shells,…
Life
Handmade Adirondack chest with burl decoration sells for $6,150
The Adirondack style started with a chair in 1903. Many wealthy folks from the East Coast wanted a…
Life
Low-priced ‘kitsch’ no more, majolica monkey goes for $13,530
It is impossible to miss Minton majolica in a room. It usually is shaped like animals, birds, flowers…
Life
19th-century cabinets of curiosities tend to sell quickly
“Cabinet of curiosities” was the name of an important room in the 1600s and, years later, a “cabinet…
Life
Collectors willing to shell out big bucks for primitive pieces
Our ancestors were clever and could make many tools, containers and cooking utensils from wood or iron. It…
Life
That’s meta: Collect dinnerware with patterns of collections
Collecting is a pastime in almost every country.
Life
Smelling salt holders were all the rage in the 18th century
Smelling salts have been used to revive someone who is feeling faint or has lost consciousness since the…
Life
Early 19th century Dutch wall clock entertains with automata
Sometimes identifying and dating an antique seems easy, but it fools you.