Terry and Kim Kovel

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The embroidered figures on this 17th-century box are three-dimensional. They were made with a technique called stumpwork that was popular at the time and, even after hundreds of years, shows the embroiderer’s advanced skill.

3D figures made with tricky stumpwork shows embroiderer’s skill

At auction, this 17th-century English needlepoint casket garnered nearly three times its low estimate.

The embroidered figures on this 17th-century box are three-dimensional. They were made with a technique called stumpwork that was popular at the time and, even after hundreds of years, shows the embroiderer’s advanced skill.
Although it was made in the 20th century, this wine rack brings Regency style into a modern setting.

Revival furniture offers period styles at more affordable prices

This 20th-century wine rack — made in the style of the early 19th-century Regency period — sold for $813 at auction.

Although it was made in the 20th century, this wine rack brings Regency style into a modern setting.
Three-dimensional silver figures of animals and wildlife are often seen on elaborate silver pieces. This bowl takes a slightly different approach, with figures of sea animals attached to a wire net.

This silver ‘Sealife bowl’ features 3D creatures caught in a net

Decorations on silver can include engravings, piercings and textured designs, as well as more elaborate applications.

Three-dimensional silver figures of animals and wildlife are often seen on elaborate silver pieces. This bowl takes a slightly different approach, with figures of sea animals attached to a wire net.
Figural cocktail shakers, like this silver-plated rabbit, were popular in the 1920s and ’30s and have been reproduced more recently. This Easter bunny cocktail shaker isn’t leaving treats for kids!

This Easter item will help grown-ups get through the egg hunt

Festive bunny figurine is actually a cocktail shaker. Somebody paid six grand for it at an antiques auction.

Figural cocktail shakers, like this silver-plated rabbit, were popular in the 1920s and ’30s and have been reproduced more recently. This Easter bunny cocktail shaker isn’t leaving treats for kids!
This midcentury Windsor style chair features the crest and colors of Harvard University. It sold for $438, more than twice its estimate, at a Bonhams Skinner auction.

This chair brings together two icons of colonial America

This Harvard University Windsor chair is just one of many variations on so-called stick furniture.

This midcentury Windsor style chair features the crest and colors of Harvard University. It sold for $438, more than twice its estimate, at a Bonhams Skinner auction.
Antique mocha ware, made in England to export to the United States and Canada in the 18th and 19th centuries, caught collectors’ attention in the mid-20th century. Like many mocha pieces, this colorful mug is decorated with several patterns.

The name for decorated pottery like this can be deceiving

Mocha pottery is made from clay and features colorful patterns painted over a white glaze.

Antique mocha ware, made in England to export to the United States and Canada in the 18th and 19th centuries, caught collectors’ attention in the mid-20th century. Like many mocha pieces, this colorful mug is decorated with several patterns.
This cast-iron wood stove kept a 19th-century room warm. Its embossed designs, especially the rows of pointed arches on its sides, were meant to evoke medieval architecture.

Designs on this cast-iron wood stove exemplify Gothic Revival style

This Victorian-era stove features a row of pointed arches, a distinctive feature of Gothic architecture.

This cast-iron wood stove kept a 19th-century room warm. Its embossed designs, especially the rows of pointed arches on its sides, were meant to evoke medieval architecture.
When advertisements include pictures of people, their clothing and hairstyles can help date the item. This store display for Bicycle Playing Cards is from about 1930.

Dating this display ad for playing cards comes down to garb

The Bicycle Playing Cards brand has been around since 1885, but this display is not quite so old.

When advertisements include pictures of people, their clothing and hairstyles can help date the item. This store display for Bicycle Playing Cards is from about 1930.
This steel pod chair garnered extra interest from collectors due to its upholstery — a graffiti version of the Declaration of Independence designed by Stephen Sprouse for Knoll.

Pod chair’s colorful upholstery pairs perfectly with unusual shape

Made of pressed steel and upholstered in fabric by Stephen Sprouse, this chair sold at auction for $4,375.

This steel pod chair garnered extra interest from collectors due to its upholstery — a graffiti version of the Declaration of Independence designed by Stephen Sprouse for Knoll.
This brass inlaid inkstand was made in Victorian London. A label on its base provides insight into its history.

An original paper label adds value to this Victorian inkstand

Information about this specific item’s provenance is not immediately obvious

This brass inlaid inkstand was made in Victorian London. A label on its base provides insight into its history.
Is it a music box, a toy, a showpiece or a robot? Wind it with a key, and a feathery bird pops out to chirp and flutter in a lifelike way.

Mechanical creatures have long captured our imaginations

This singing bird, which appears from inside a music box, sold for $4,560 at auction.

Is it a music box, a toy, a showpiece or a robot? Wind it with a key, and a feathery bird pops out to chirp and flutter in a lifelike way.
This seed chest was made about 1870 out of inexpensive wood for a practical purpose. Now it can command a higher price than some designer pieces.

Little is known about artisan except that his work is coveted

Famous names add to the value of an antique, even if we know more about the maker’s work than about the maker. Few names of… Continue reading

This seed chest was made about 1870 out of inexpensive wood for a practical purpose. Now it can command a higher price than some designer pieces.
We don’t know whose eye is depicted in this miniature, but it must have been someone well loved. Wearing a miniature painting of a loved one’s eye was fashionable in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Soapy TV show inspires interest in 19th century accessory

An eye miniature on a pendant, as seen on “Bridgerton,” sells for $704 at auction.

We don’t know whose eye is depicted in this miniature, but it must have been someone well loved. Wearing a miniature painting of a loved one’s eye was fashionable in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The art deco period began about 100 years ago and has not lost its appeal. This geometric cabinet with wood veneers is an example of the style.

Once epitome of modern, art deco is approaching antiquity

The legal definition of an antique is that it is at least 100 years old. This means the art deco era is officially reaching antique… Continue reading

The art deco period began about 100 years ago and has not lost its appeal. This geometric cabinet with wood veneers is an example of the style.
Photo Caption: This musical cigarette dispenser dates to the 1950s. Smoking was fashionable at the time; the link between smoking and lung cancer had not yet been proven.

Smoking’s out of fashion, but cigarette paraphernalia is prized

This music box/cigarette dispenser sold for $252 at a recent antiques auction.

Photo Caption: This musical cigarette dispenser dates to the 1950s. Smoking was fashionable at the time; the link between smoking and lung cancer had not yet been proven.
Photo Caption: Taxidermy birds were fashionable in the nineteenth century. Opposition to the trend led to conservation movements that still exist today. (c) 2023 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.

19th century style fad spurred activism that endures today

Victorians’ many weird tastes included stuffing and mounting birds to decorate their homes’ interiors.

Photo Caption: Taxidermy birds were fashionable in the nineteenth century. Opposition to the trend led to conservation movements that still exist today. (c) 2023 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.
Viktor Schreckengost worked for Cowan briefly and created some of their most memorable designs. This earthenware plate shows the art deco style of the early 1930s.

Pieces of art can serve a useful purpose, too

An example is this art deco Viktor Schreckengost earthenware plate from 1930.

Viktor Schreckengost worked for Cowan briefly and created some of their most memorable designs. This earthenware plate shows the art deco style of the early 1930s.
Leave it to Santa Claus to fill a bundle of firewood with candy! This papier-mache figure of Santa on a sled is a candy container.

This papier-mache Santa’s got a load of candy in his sleigh

And maybe there was 6 grand in there, too, because that’s what somebody paid for this tchotchke.

Leave it to Santa Claus to fill a bundle of firewood with candy! This papier-mache figure of Santa on a sled is a candy container.
Photo Caption: There's finding a toy in your food packaging, and then there's making a toy from the packaging. Towle's Log Cabin brand provided a rolling platform to turn their iconic syrup tin into a pull toy.

Advertising was targeted at kids back in Grandpa’s day, too

This Log Cabin Express toy transformed into a toy after its days as a pancake syrup dispenser were finished.

Photo Caption: There's finding a toy in your food packaging, and then there's making a toy from the packaging. Towle's Log Cabin brand provided a rolling platform to turn their iconic syrup tin into a pull toy.
This advertising lamp includes figures of a team of horses pulling a beer cart with drivers, followed by a crowd of Dalmatians. Similar scenes may take place in real life on Budweiser’s promotional tours. The lamp with a moving wagon sold for $625.

Prohibition’s repeal spawned the Budweiser Clydesdale horses

The first team of draft horses delivered the first load of beer after the repeal, and an effective marketing icon was born.

This advertising lamp includes figures of a team of horses pulling a beer cart with drivers, followed by a crowd of Dalmatians. Similar scenes may take place in real life on Budweiser’s promotional tours. The lamp with a moving wagon sold for $625.