Category: Antiques Appraisal
just WHAT IS FOLK ART anyhow?
Folk art is a broad term that encompasses a wide variety of means of artistic expression, usually created by everyday people, rather than professional artists. It often has roots in social, cultural or religious tradition, passed down through generations or even centuries. Materials used in folk art creation are many and…
THE STORY OF BUCCELLATI SILVER
Buccellati Holding Italia is an Italian jewelry and watch company, formed by the merger of two previously existing companies, Mario Buccellati and Gianmaria Buccellati, father and son goldsmiths. Italian goldsmith Mario Buccellati opened his business in 1919 in Milan. Over the years, he expanded with outlets in Rome, Florence, Palm…
what the heck is treenware anyhow?
. Quite simply, treenware, or treen, is the humble product of fashioning objects from the wood of trees. It’s a theme that evokes a sort of earthy nostalgia, combined with some elegance and functionality in design. Historical, rustic, primitive, nostalgic, are all adjectives fitting treenware. The roots of treenware stretch back for…
nothing holds a candle to an early american candlemaker
In 18th and 19th century America, candle making was a laborious and often smelly business. But it was an essential process for providing light and warmth to interior spaces. The methods could vary, depending on the kinds of materials available, and the desired quality of the candle. The most common material was…
good things come in big boxes….and chests….and trunks
Storage boxes and chests can be just that; simple undecorated containers for stashing clothing, blankets, tablecloths, and other valuables. But often they can be so much more than just functional objects. They can be objects of history and art in and of themselves. MARINER’S CHESTS From the age of exploration to the…
WHAT IS STONEWARE?
Just what is stoneware ceramic, anyhow? It’s a type of pottery made from stoneware clay, that is fired a high temperatures, usually between 2150 and 2330 degrees Farenheit, which creates a sturdy, dense material that has some key characteristics that make it different from other kinds of pottery. American stoneware…
How to tell old native american clothing FROM NEW
Genuine antique articles of Native American clothing can be quite valuable. Here are some tips to help distinguish between what’s old and what’s not so old. LEATHER On leather items, look for signs of wear and discoloration. If an item is uniformly even in color, chances are that it’s a…
THE STRAIGHT STORY ON THE CROOKED KNIFE
The crooked knife, or carving knife, was first called a mocotaugan, a Native American Cree term for a woodworking knife with a bent handle that fits comfortably into the closed palm of the hand. It first came into use with the Native Americans of the Eastern Woodlands, and later expanded…
ALL ABOUT AMERICAN HOOKED RUGS
Early American hooked rugs are more than mere floor coverings. They can weave a rich portrayal of history, creativity and resilience, full of color and local flavor. Born of necessity, hooked rugs arose from a hardscrabble culture of “making do,” when scraps of fabric, worn clothing, repurposed burlap and other material…
what’s so special about tiffany lamps?
There is a world of difference between “Tiffany lamps” and “Tiffany-type” lamps. The first true Tiffany lamp by the Louis Comfort Tiffany company was exhibited in 1893 at the Worlds Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Each lamp was hand made, not mass produced. Until 2007, it was thought that Louis Tiffany himself had designed…