Category: Antiques Appraisal
a sign of the times? good for the trade
Genuine antique trade signs continue to capture the hearts of today’s dealers and collectors. There were as many types of signs as there were trades, ranging from blacksmiths, carpenters and carriage makers, to opticians, pharmacists and barbers. Often a trade could be represented by an oversized example of the tradesman’s tools…
what is tramp art?
Tramp art is a truly democratic, uniquely American art form, in which works could be created with the simplest of tools, often using discarded packing crates, such as cigar boxes, the material most closely associated with tramp art creations. Some other less common names for it are cigar box art, and…
the famous kentucky rifle
The Kentucky rifle, also known as the long rifle and the Pennsylvania rifle, is a muzzle-loading firearm that was widely used in the 18th and early 19th centuries. It was a staple of frontier life in America, used for hunting, defense and warfare. It’s long, slender barrel gave the rifle exceptional…
a strange folk art tool called a mackerel plow
A mackerel plow is an fascinating tool whose sole function is was clever bit of marketing chicanery, and is certifiably endemic to New England. Aboard New England’s mackerel schooners of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when the fish were caught at the beginning of the season, they were…
how not to get a really good antiques appraisal done
The best way to get a bad appraisal is to give us wrong information, and poor quality photographs! But now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about the right way to do it! So, now that you’ve inherited Grandma’s dusty attic treasures or you stumbled upon a…
the allure of native american baskets
Old Native American baskets are more than just storage vessels. They’re windows into ancient cultures, steeped in tradition, often built with remarkable skill and craftsmanship, and decorated with designs reflecting long-standing tribal heritage. The work of each tribe often reflects the use of materials indigenous to their own region. Baskets from the…
The miraculous john birge triple decker shelf clock
John Birge (1785-1862) of Bristol, Connecticut, was an important figure among early American clockmakers. He began working as a carpenter and carriage maker. But around 1822, he joined Dr. Thomas Merriman in a partnership, building clocks under the name Merriman Birge & Co. Over the next few decades, he entered into several…
the heart of the matter of sailor’s valentines
Despite their sentimental and romantic name, sailor’s valentines have nothing to do with February 14th or Valentine’s Day. Rather they are beautiful and unique sentimental keepsakes, crafted from seashells and given as a token of love or friendship by sailors returning home from a long sea voyage. Many were made between…
AVAST, MATE! WHAT ARE MY MARINE AND NAUTICAL ANTIQUES WORTH?
Could that old brass and ebony sextant be worth something? What about that old boarding pistol up in the attic? Could that hatch cover from an old schooner be worth something? Maritime and nautical antiques are a collector’s niche rich with history and artistic value. The trade covers the coasts…
WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THIS BEAUTIFUL PRINT?
From screen prints, serigraphs, lithographs, giclee prints, and etchings, to linoleum cuts or woodcuts, there are endless possibilities for prints. They are a way for someone to own and appreciate a fine work of art, usually at a price that is far less than the cost of the original. A…