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 Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Antique Trader 2-27 comin' at ya
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
As we like to do around here, just a li'l sneak peak at the 2-27 cover. 
antique | Antiques | Antiques Auction | Antiques publications | Antiques Show | Auction | eBay | Historic Preservation | stolen antiques
2/13/2008 4:20:10 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00) 
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Philatelics rejoice...
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
If you've been living under an anti-auction rock for the last week, then it'll be news to you that Philip Weiss Auctions in Oceanside, NY, recently sold a very rare inverted stamp for a record $1.2M. The stamp is one of a handful printed in 1869 with an upsidedown repro of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on it.  It's an expensive stamp, for sure, and a mighty pretty one. Good for Anonymous for snapping it up. He or she seems to be buying a lot of good things lately. There was also an inverted Jenny stamp, the Honus Wagner baseball card of the stamp world, that also brought healthy interest and almost $300,000. Seriously, a Jenny comes up for sale with the same frequency these days as a Wagner, and each time. The stamp is one of only four known to exist. Whatever you do, Anonymous, don't lick it...
antique | Antiques | Antiques Auction | Antiques publications | Auction | Historic Preservation
2/13/2008 3:17:56 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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World's longest arch bridge to be built in Dubai
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
You just have to wonder why...
And you have to wonder what future alien civilizations will think of our cultures when they excavate our defunct planet millions of years from now. They'll find this bridge, and a building or two from Las Vegas... I do have to admit that the picture is pretty funky and space age, but I have to wonder about the water in the pictures. Dubai is a desert, no? Also, Dubai? It says that the bridge will allow passage of 2000 cars an hour, that 48,000 a day, right? I guess there will be plenty of men busy driving back and forth on that thing, because they don't allow women to drive over there... The info above came from a blog called Rocket Boom. Fun stuff. 
antique | Antique news odd | Antiques | Architecture | pop art | Toys
2/13/2008 12:27:36 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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The greatest art thefts of all time?
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
The recent theft of more than $160M in art from the Beuhrle Collection in Zurich has had me quite interested in how such a thing did, and continues to, happen. Time and time again these little museums or collections have hundreds of millions of dollars worth of great art, and they protect them with the security equivalent of wet paper bags. They take no real precautions, then wring their hands and pull their hair when it happens and cry," How did this happen?" Forbes magazine posted this great article about what it thinks are the "greatest" art heists of all time. I think, in these terms, that the theft at the Beuhrle ranks up their, though none of them actually have that Cary Grant "To Catch a Thief" thing to it, no sneaking in at night, avoiding laser alarm systems or dropping in on a caribiner from the cieling to cut a delicate hole in the glass with a glass-cutter. They also mention the 1990 theft at the Gardener in Boston, America's greatest unsolved heist. That art is worth about $300M. I have better security in my house for nothing more than a Victorian child's tea cup set. My security's name is Fiona. She's two, and she's a mean shot with a stuffed monnkey. So beware...
antique | Antique news odd | Antiques | stolen antiques
2/13/2008 11:54:03 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Auction Dupe? Or the name of the game?
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
A story like this one, out of Oregon - where auctioneers aren't required to be licensed - makes me believe wholeheartedly in the work of The Antiques Council and the National Show Management Assocaition to get some national oversite of the antiques business. I know that this is an auction story, in the rural Northwest no less, but people should have a reasonable expectation of getting a certain value for merch at auction. The folks in this story - one of whom is terminally ill - got all of $200 or so for their stuff after being told - granted, there was no contract - they would get significantly more. Come on, though... What about human decency?
antique | Antique scams | Antiques | Antiques Auction | Auction
2/13/2008 11:24:18 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Just can't resist this - American Roadside Architecture as serious art...
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
This is about an exhibition of mid-20th century American Roadside architecture - pictures of it, at least - making its way across... are you ready?... Macedonia.  Yes, one of the most ancient places on the globe is getting a good look at how American represented itself architecturally in the era of post-war business hedonism. Personally, I love this kind of architecture and remember fondly many roadtrips as a kid in Texas and in my 20s - during those blissful summers when i had nothing to do and a car to take to do it - when my friends and I would literally set out for a few days at a time and seek out these places. The more dated the better. I truly believe that America's rapidly dissapearing roadside architecture is replete with gems and they should be saved, if only for the enjoyment of the world and the throngs of Macedonian tourists that are bound to be flocking to our rapidly decaying rural highways...
antique | Antique news odd | Antiques publications | Architecture | Historic Preservation | pop art
2/12/2008 1:23:38 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Certainly notable in the antiques business
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
That David Rago is working with Worth Point, one of the more interesting sites dedicated to antiques and those who love to buy and sell them out there. It's also a good research tool, and a place to get opinions from other folks who really have something to offer. In the interest of full disclosure, I know David somewhat, and have always found him to be an honest and decent person, as well as a savvy businessman. I'm sure it factored into his decision here. He's a man who understands the brand side of antiques. Just an FYI. Feel free to let me know what your opinions of Worth Point as a site are, especially in light of the recent eBay debacle.
antique | Antiques | Antiques Auction | Antiques publications | Antiques Show | Auction
2/12/2008 1:05:27 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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When Antiques Get Dangerous!
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
antique | Antique news odd | Antique Show | Antiques | Antiques Auction
2/12/2008 9:46:52 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Monday, February 11, 2008
More stolen Art in Europe - $160M worth
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
Just what exactly will it take for owner's of private, important collections of art - especially those on public display - to add security?   This is an unbelivable story, reported widely across the world this morning, about more than $160M in art stolen from the Beuhrle Collection in Zurich. I like the New York Times coverage best, so I linked to it here. Chances are the artwork will go underground and decorate the home of some one who doesn't care that it's stolen goods. The market in art theft if huge, and the paintings are re-sold at hugely below actualy value. You could pick up one of these paintings, the Cezanne for instance, for a song... Say $15 million... Let me just go check that shoebox in my closet. Maybe I'll cash in those bonds I got for my bar mitzvah so long ago. Hey Beuhrle Collection! Get a lock on those doors and a connection to the police. Then maybe those priceless paintings will remain where they are and you'll be proven worthy to own such cultural treasures!
antique | Antique news odd | Antique scams | Antique Show | Antiques | Antiques Auction | Antiques Show | eBay | stolen antiques
2/11/2008 1:41:14 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Spring Fever and the beauty of the Rhinebeck Antiques Show
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
Man oh Man, it was cold this weekend in Central Wisconsin where I huddled up with my wife and sick two-year old daughter. The sort of cold that makes it difficult to go outside. I pictured myself freezing solid, quick, as I dropped last night's trash in the can out back. I also thought, for one terrifying moment, that the garage door had locked on me. With Lauren upstairs putting the baby to sleep I would have been a goner. "Why?" I asked myself. "Why?" While I do believe that you can only really appreciate spring and summer if you live in a place with real seasons, I'm about sick of winter. February is the month that forgot to pay its rent. With spring coming I'm thinking of all the great shows that I'd like to get to, though my current location makes it a bit tough. I wil get to a lot of local and midwestern shows, but probably not Philly for Antiques Week there. I will, more than likely, make a sojourn to The Pioneer Valley for May Brimfield, just to see old friends, catch up and talk to folks about Trader and this site. The show I will miss the most, however, will be Rhinebeck. My beloved Rhinebeck Antiques Show. Something so sweet and friendly about this show, the very first one I ever really loved, back when Jimi Barton was still with us, rest his soul. There's the unbelievable beauty of The Hudson Valley and majesty of the Hudson River, but there are also great people at Rhinebeck and a host of really good restaurants. My pick? Get the chicken wings at Terrapin Bostro. They are very different, spicy and my most favorite wings ever, anywhere, period. Bruce Garret and Bret Brandes do a great job with the Rhinebeck show, keeping it fresh and ever-changning. especially as tastes shifts. For years, known best for its folk art and Americana, Rhinebeck has succesfully navigated the minefield of adding modern and design-oriented antiques while featuring some of the best dealers in the nation. There are too many to name, but say hi to Bev and Doug Norwood at Norwood's Spirit of America, Steve and Lorraine German at Mad River Antiques, and Sandy at Jenkinstown Antiques. I'll probably hear from the folks that I miss, but - truly - my heart is with this show and I will miss it. If anybody has any plans to hit any good shows this spring, let me know what they are... noah.fleisher@fwpubs.com. Happy early spring and GO AWAY FEBRUARY!
antique | Antique Show | Antiques | Antiques Show
2/11/2008 1:09:47 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Friday, February 08, 2008
Question of the week: When to Insure?
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
Whatever our instinct to collect is, it must go back quite a ways. I would even posit that our desire to accumulate things is as old, and as evolved, as our consciousness itself. What a person possessed, or didn't possess, always did - and still does - represent their place within a society. At one time it might have had implications about what you could do with your life, and where you can go. Fortunately for us, we live in the Twenty-First century in the U.S. All you collection does is satisfy an individual need and broadcast - depending on what you collect, and a what level - your good taste, or lack thereof, to the world at large. And, when I mentioned that lack of taste before? I wasn't talking about what you collect... It's a well-known fact that you have fantastic taste... In this day and age, when everything seemingly has a value, it's a must to make sure your collection is safe. It's loss may not mean societal downfall, but it could well mean financial if anything is lost, stolen or broken, especially when the collection represents thousands and thousands of dollars and years of effort. Here's the question then this week: At what point is your antiques collection officially worth insuring? How, exactly, do you decide?Send your answers to noah.fleisher@fwpubs.com, or go online to www.antiquetrader.com/atblog, look for The Question of the Week, and post your answer there.
antique | Antiques, blog, question of the week | stolen antiques
2/8/2008 1:23:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Is calling someone a stupid thief an oxymoron?
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
This story came across the AP wire last night, and is being reported as an odd news story in various media outlets across the country, of which we are now one. What an idiot this guy had to be... Honey, are we insured for this? Wife's vandalism complaint leads to husband's burglary arrest
SUTHERLIN, Ore. (AP) _ They say problem gamblers never quit while they're ahead, and one properly insured Oregon man apparently didn't, either.
Authorities recovered a stolen antique slot machine worth $4,000 and arrested the 30-year-old, who they said asked his wife to help file an insurance claim to cover damage done to his van during the heist.
The slot machine was reported stolen in a burglary Monday night at a home in Sutherlin, 170 miles south of Portland, Douglas County sheriff's deputies said. Investigators learned that the victim's housekeeper filed a police report a day earlier claiming someone had thrown a piece of sheet metal through the window of her parked van.
The sheet metal turned out to be from the back of the stolen slot machine, with the serial number attached.
Deputies said the housekeeper's husband stole the machine, which tipped over as he drove away, breaking the van window. He told his wife the van had been vandalized and asked her to report the damage so insurance would cover it, deputies said.
The husband and a 25-year-old man were charged with burglary and theft, but the wife wasn't charged.
The case was still being investigated.
Wow.
antique | Antique news odd | Antique scams | Antiques | stolen antiques
2/8/2008 12:49:33 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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