Antique Trader Blog - Antiques Auction

What do Pere Noel and a creepy foot have in common?

Karen — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:40:25 GMT

They'll both be crossing Dan Morphy's auction block come Sept. 11 ...

DENVER, Pa. – Ask any collector of Halloween, Christmas or other seasonal antiques and they’ll tell you that every day has the potential of being a holiday, whether the calendar says so or not. On Sept. 11, Morphy Auctions will offer collectors 890 reasons to celebrate in a fantastic Holiday Auction featuring rarities from several renowned specialty collections.

The first 42 lots in the sale are from a wonderful collection of Halloween candy containers and lanterns assembled over the last 20 years by Connie and Jay Lowe of Lancaster County, Pa. The rare, early German-made items in this collection are of superior quality and are completely fresh to the market.

“Having the opportunity to acquire pieces from a collection as fine as Jay and Connie’s does not come along very often,” said Morphy’s CEO, Dan Morphy. “There are so many highlights, it’s hard to predict which ones will do best on auction day.”

Surely the list of top lots would include: a whimsical foot-shape lantern (shown at right, courtesy Dan Morphy Auctions) with a great face and painted faces on five toes, a veggie man posing on a cucumber candy container, veggie and fruit male/female candy containers, and veggie Halloween man with movable glass eyes and radish arms – possibly the only known example. Other stellar lots from the Lowe collection include a veggie man with a removable candle candy container on top of his head; and an apple head with bobbing-tongue candy container.

Other outstanding Halloween collections were the sources for a rare set of celluloid Halloween nodders, mint with original box; and a delightful black man riding a pig candy container. The entire Halloween section for the sale is filled with hundreds of other lanterns, candy containers and die-cuts.

A beautiful selection of Christmas antiques includes many special pieces, such as a Santa candy container and clockwork nodder, a clockwork Santa and bear family set in a winter scene, Santa on an elephant nodder, and a polar bear.

The acclaimed Bob Lenz collection is represented by hundreds of glass ornaments (including kugels and free-blown glass examples), Japanese and German Santas, celluloid Santas, chocolate molds, and German and Russian Dresdens. Among the rarest of the Dresden designs are a Russian troika (sleigh pulled by three horses) and a battleship with four smokestacks.

The auction inventory also includes a marvelous array of Easter, Thanksgiving and patriotic holiday items from fresh to the market collections.

View more color photos of festive vintage holiday collectibles offered in Morphy's Sept. 11 sale.

— Karen Knapstein

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Find us on Twitter and Facebook
• Visit the Antique Trader website and sign up for our FREE eNewsletter.

• Get up-to-date pricing for tens of thousands of antiques & collectibles on Collect.com – FREE for 1 year – when you join the Collecting Insider Club!

• Browse hundreds of collectibles reference books in our store.
• Need pricing data? Check out Warman's Antiques & Collectibles 2011 Price Guide.
• And browse the Antique Trader classified ads or place your own online ad - FREE

Heritage Auctions NYC Gallery opens Sept. 1

Karen — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:36:57 GMT

NEW YORK – The eagerly-awaited new Manhattan gallery and offices of Heritage Auction Galleries will open at 445 Park Avenue (at 57th Street) Sept. 1, 2010.

The expansion of Heritage, the world’s third largest auction house, into the New York City market comes at a time when many major auction firms are contracting. The Dallas-based firm also opened a Beverly Hills, Calif., gallery and salesroom earlier this year.

“The New York City area is home to many of the top collectors and collections, and the center of the art and antique market,” said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage. “It’s a perfect fit with our increasingly expanding services, and the best possible place for us to serve the art and high-end collectible needs of our clients. I can think of nowhere else we'd rather be opening a new gallery right now than right in the heart of Manhattan's auction district.”

"Heritage is distinguished by its superb sales catalogs, unequalled online resources for buyers and sellers and transparency in how we do business. We have a non-stop auction rotation that features the very best across 30 categories including rare coins, collectibles, fine art, jewelry, comics, movie posters, rare wine, sports memorabilia and much more," explained Rohan.

The first auction to take place under the auspices of Heritage Auctions New York City will be the company’s Oct. 16 Signature® Illustration Art Auction at the Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion (The Ukrainian Institute), 2 East 79th Street. It will feature some of the very best illustration pieces Heritage has ever offered, including works by Maxfield Parrish, Norman Rockwell, Gil Elvgren, J.C. Leyendecker and one of the most iconic pieces of illustration art pieces to come on the market anywhere in years, Garth Williams’ original graphite and ink on paper drawing for the cover of E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web, 1952.

One of the most talked about features of Heritage’s new Manhattan venue will be the Heritage Window on Park Avenue, which will feature a continually rotating selection from upcoming Heritage auctions, across all of the firm’s categories.

“We expect the Window to become a regular attraction for both collectors and everyday New Yorkers alike,” said Rohan.

The offices on Park Avenue at 57th will be open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more auction news and coverage, visit the Antique Trader magazine website at www.AntiqueTrader.com.

— Karen Knapstein

Precious metal coins in Friday auction are on investors’ radar

Karen — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:41:17 GMT

SOUTHAMPTON, Pa. – When Wall Street heads south, investors head straight to precious metals – especially silver and gold coins like the ones to be auctioned by Stephenson’s Auctioneers & Appraisers at 4 p.m. (EST) Friday, Aug. 20th.

More than 500 lots will be offered in the sale, with the great majority being the types of coveted American gold and silver coins that are so highly sought after by today’s collectors. Highlights among the gold issues are an 1899 $10 coin, as well as 1880-S, 1886-S, 1897 and 1881 $5 coins. Other important gold coins to be auctioned are 1905 and 1911 $2-1/2 coins, and 1883 $1 coin and U.S. Constitution coins.

Literally hundreds of Morgan and Peace silver dollars have been entered in the sale, including 1882, 1883, 1884 and 1890 CC (Carson City). Within the selection of half dollars are 30 Liberty head coins plus several large lots of rolled Walking Liberty and Ben Franklin halves.

The coin offering continues with Barber halves and quarters, 1875 and 1875-S 20-cent pieces, large cents, 2-cent pieces, 3-cent pieces and a lot consisting of 11 half-cents. Additionally, there are large quantities of Barber, Mercury and Roosevelt dimes; Buffalo nickels, and many mint and proof sets, including early proof sets from 1953, ’54 and ’55.

Pennywise buyers won’t want to miss the selection of flying eagle and Indian-head cents or the Lincoln cent book spanning the years from 1909 through 1940 inclusive. The book is complete and includes an example of the scarce 1909-S VDB (the initials of designer Victor David Brenner).

"This is an auction that will present excellent buying opportunities both for the advanced collector and the newcomer," said Stephenson’s owner and auctioneer, Cindy Stephenson. "Gold and silver coins stand apart from other types of popular collectibles in that they also have intrinsic value. They have a built-in hedge against inflation, since they’re both a commodity and a monetary instrument."

All items in Stephenson’s Aug. 20 Coin Auction will be available to inspect from 1-4 p.m. on auction day. The complimentary auction catalog may be viewed or downloaded online through Stephenson’s website.

For questions regarding any lot in the sale, call 215-322-6182 or info@StephensonsAuction.com. The auction will take place in metro Philadelphia at 1005 Industrial Blvd., Southampton, Pa. The venue is accessible to major interstate freeways. Those who cannot attend in person may bid absentee, by fax or e-mail prior to the auction, or by phone either before or during the sale. Please arrange for phone line in advance of sale.

About Stephenson’s Auctioneers & Appraisers:

Family-owned Stephenson’s Auctioneers & Appraisers is located near Philadelphia in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and is a full-service auction company that has been in business for nearly 50 years. Stephenson’s knowledgeable, experienced staff members are known for their willingness to assist and their honesty in all dealings. The company conducts weekly and specialty auctions in a 5,000-square-foot, climate-controlled gallery, and holds on-site events if selling real estate or business/residential contents. Each auction season, Stephenson’s produces an Antiques & Decorative Arts Auction that draws worldwide interest and heavy Internet bidding. Stephenson’s is licensed, bonded and insured, and is a member of the SeniorChecked network.

Doll made for Victor Hugo brings $116K, doll from Anne Rice collection brings $40K

Karen — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:06:02 GMT

Big news in the doll world this week as word emerges that auction firm Theriault's sold a doll especially commissioned by author Victor Hugo for $116,000, doubling its pre-auction estimate.

The sale also held dolls from the collection of Anne Rice, the noted American author of Interview with the Vampire and other novels. Of special note was a 31-inch Bru bébé from the classic era that was written about by the author in her novel, Taltos, described as “a bisque doll of impeccable standards”. That she was, collectors agreed, bidding her to $40,000. The entire sale was held live on Proxibid.com.

Other dolls with known provenance were also featured in the Theriault’s auction, which took place in downtown Chicago, but none were able to break the doll made for Hugo. About 1860, when Hugo, arguably France’s greatest poet and author, wrote Toilers of the Sea, he commissioned the doll from the prestigious Parisian doll firm of Huret to serve as inspiration for his heroine.

Later the doll was gifted to the daughter of his friend and she always referred to it as, simply, “the great man’s doll”. The doll was eventually given to Hugo’s beloved granddaughter Jeanne along with a doll trunk bearing the “Jeanne” brass name plate and a vast trousseau of costumes and accessories. The doll will now reside in a place of honor in an important New England collection.

Theriault's is based in Annapolis, Md., and it conducts important doll auctions at major cities around the United States; last summer’s auction in Atlanta saw a doll auctioned for a new world auction record of $263,000.

Provenance-bearing dolls included “Juliette’s Poupée”, a rare molded leather body poupée by Victor Clement that had resided in the chateau of de la Hogue-Moreau nearby Paris for more than a century before coming to auction, as well as “Miss Minnie”, a smiling poupée by Bru who had arrived from Paris about 1870 for a young American girl.

Both dolls were featured along with aged photographs of their original child owners and Miss Minnie also owned a tintype of herself taken nearly a century and a half ago. They sold, respectively, for $14,000 and $6,000.

-posted by Eric Bradley

You may also enjoy:

200 Years of Dolls, Identification and Price Guide, 4th Edition, by Dawn Herlocher
Doll Makers' Marks CD by Dawn Herlocher
Collectible Dolls, A Warman's Companion by Dawn Herlocher

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Find us on Twitter and Facebook
• Visit the Antique Trader website and sign up for our FREE eNewsletter.

• Get up-to-date pricing for tens of thousands of antiques & collectibles on Collect.com – FREE for 1 year – when you join the Collecting Insider Club!

No buyer's premium for this company

Karen — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:41:49 GMT

The discussion of buyer’s premiums is always a controversial subject. For those of you who haven’t attended an auction that has one, a buyer’s premium is an additional charge levied on the purchase price of an item. The money goes straight to the auction house.

Buyer’s premiums have been around a long time but it’s just been the last few years that they have trickled their way down to the small country auction or those held regularly in larger cities. I’ve paid buyer’s premiums as low as 3 percent to as high as 25 percent.

If you notice, the prevalence of buyer’s premiums has increased in lock step with the development of the Internet and the downfall in the economy.

Auctioneers have been hit with a double whammy. Their customers have changed the way they shop for antiques (late at night in their pajamas on the Web) and the overall drop in demand for their bread and butter inventory (common antiques in average condition).

This week we highlight an auction business that doesn’t charge any fees because of their unique way of handling its inventory. “We never will have a buyer’s premium or set a reserve,” Canton Barn owner Richard Wacht said. “Why should I charge money to the people who help me make my living?”

Richard, and his business partner Susan (his ex-wife), buy each piece outright. Not every auction house can do this, but it is one way the two keep costs low enough to avoid charging an extra fee.

I’d love to hear your stories about your favorite auction house. What do they do to keep you coming back?

We have a winner!

Congratulations go to Stan Boulware of Harristown, Ill., for winning the Antique Trader/Red Wing Collectors Society Sweepstakes. Boulware receives a $150 gift package, which includes two Red Wing stoneware commemoratives and an annual membership in the Red Wing Collectors Society.

The sweepstakes for July is a two-volume library of author Kathy Flood’s jewelry reference books as well as a green and teal crystal Christmas tree brooch as shown on the cover of “Warman’s Costume Jewelry Figurals.” This prize valued at $150 can be yours if you register by July 31 at sweepstakes.AntiqueTrader.com. ■

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Find us on Twitter and Facebook
• Visit the Antique Trader website and sign up for our FREE eNewsletter.
• Browse hundreds of collectibles reference books in our store.
• Need pricing data? Check out Warman's Antiques & Collectibles 2011 Price Guide.
• And browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your own online ad - FREE

Mated pair of Andrew Clemens sand art bottles surface ... again

Karen — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 05:52:09 GMT

A curious and unique pair of sand art bottles, handcrafted by Andrew Clemens (1857-1894) of McGregor, Iowa, will be offered for sale in a July 2 auction held by W. Yoder Auction and carried live via ProxiBid. Popularly referred to as the Sweetheart Sandbottles, these rare bottles have surfaced for sale no less than three times in the last five years - twice in just the last four months.

Clemens lost his hearing and speech at age 5 due to a "brain fever." As a deaf-mute he earned worldwide acclaim for his ability to "paint" images inside blown glass bottles with nothing more than a set of special tools (including a fish hook) and the patience of a yeoman. He was proud that his specially colored sand came from Iowa's Pictured Rocks area of Pikes Peak State Park. According to several online articles, Clemens created most of his work from 1880-1886 and is acknowledged as the inventor and possibly the sole practitioner of his art form. Antique Trader featured Clemens' work in a cover story in February 2008.

It's estimated that of the hundreds of sand art bottles Clemens made during his regrettably short life (he died at age 37 or 42 depending on which account you read) only about 50 bottles remain. They are highly coveted by American folk art collectors for their ingenuity and beauty. Prices range from about $500 for lesser quality examples to as much as $25,000. Four bottles are on display at the Iowa State Historical Museum in Des Moines and other bottles are documented on a fan site.

They are referred to as the Sweetheart Sandbottles, at least that's how auctioneer Wes Cowan described them when he sold the pair for $24,500 (not including buyer's premium) in February 2005. The commissioned bottles were made for Helen Wimmler, Milwaukee, and Henry Reinken, Manitowoe, (sic) Wis. (The Wisconsin city of Manitowoc is misspelled.)

Fast forward to Feb. 16, 2010. In a listing that's since expired from general searches, the sandbottles were offered by a Florida seller on eBay. By all accounts the listing shows the bottles were claimed after five bids for $19,000. The listing is for the same Wimmler and Reinken bottles, "the only 'mated pair' of Clemens sand bottle art."

For whatever reason, the wonderful Sweetheart Sandbottles are back on the market and represent one more opportunity for collectors to own a piece of peculiar folk art. The bottles are shown on Yoder's auction website along with three other rare examples included in the firm's July 2 auction. One of the three examples depicts an American eagle above a banner reading "M.W. Cole," another shows a paddle wheel boat and the third depicts a floral bouquet in an urn.

-posted by Eric Bradley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

•Find us on Twitter and Facebook
•Visit the Antique Trader Website and sign up for our FREE eNewsletter.
•Browse hundreds of collectibles reference books in our store.
•Need pricing data? Check out Warman's Antiques & Collectibles 2011 Price Guide.
•And browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your own online ad - FREE

Record set for Lalanne sculptures

Karen — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:53:27 GMT

VAN NUYS, Calif. – Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) announces Francois-Xavier Lalanne Singes Attentifs SI & SII, sold for a record price of $199,062 (estimate $100,000-$125,000) and was the top lot in the May 23 Modern Art & Design Auction.

The artist’s daughter, Marie, was on hand to witness the sale and posed for a photograph with one of her father’s sculptures.

The May 23, 2010, Modern Art & Design Auction totaled $1.67 million (including buyer’s premium) selling 64 percent of the 451 lots available. More than 300 people attended the auction, making it the largest attendance at a LAMA auction to date.

The gallery was standing room only and was filled with buyers from all over the world. Buyers represented France, Portugal, Israel, Mexico, and a heavy percentage from California. ■

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Weekend event offers Western shopping

Karen — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:42:40 GMT

DENVER – Brian Lebel’s Old West Show & Auction fills the Denver Merchandise Mart’s Expo building this June 25-27 for the 21st annual celebration of the arts and antiques of the American West. This year’s Saturday night auction will include select items from the Roy Rogers & Dale Evans Museum Collection. The show features Western dealers, artists and craftsmen selling their best antique and contemporary merchandise.

This is the show’s second year at the Denver Merchandise Mart, a venue that has allowed the event to grow in size and scope since relocating from Cody, Wyo. The Old West Show now boasts 200 dealers specializing in an impressive and eclectic collection of antiques, art, apparel, jewelry, furnishings, collectibles, firearms, custom gear, cowboy trappings, books, boots and more. A gallery walk/cocktail party kicks off the weekend festivities and other special events are in the works.

Fine art offerings from this year’s auction include past and present Cowboy Artists members such as John Moyers, Bill Nebeker, Mehl Lawson, Nicholas Firfires, Joe Beeler, and Nick Eggenhofer. Additional artists of note include Charlie Russell and Maynard Dixon. Also included will be items from the Richard Flood collection. Native American artifacts include 19th century Northern Plains beadwork, Navajo silver bridles, clothing and textiles.

Additional information on the auction and show can all be found at www.denveroldwest.com. ■

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rare preliminary watercolor from Pinocchio on the auction block

Karen — Thu, 20 May 2010 18:10:57 GMT

LOS ANGELES — Bonhams & Butterfields' Entertainment Memorabilia auction on June 13, 2010 will include a wide range of collectible items related to our popular culture including a rare preliminary watercolor from the Oscar-winning® Walt Disney film "Pinocchio," 1940, by famed children's book and cartoon illustrator Gustaf Tenggren.

The painting, seen below, depicts a scene from the animated classic where Pinocchio runs into Gideon and J. Worthington Foulfellow on a cobbled narrow Bavarian street. In this watercolor, the puppet's two acquaintances are depicted as well as a quaint village with diminutive houses, which feature carved details.

After joining Disney Studios in 1936, Tenggren worked on preliminary paintings for several classic films such as Snow White and Pinocchio. His style was very reminiscent of illustrators Gustave Dore and Arthur Rackham. For Pinocchio, Tenggren painted street scenes of charming villages with narrow streets, petite houses, street lamps and townspeople going about their daily chores. Many of these paintings were inspired by a small Bavarian medieval town by the name of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany.

Rare to auction, the watercolor is expected to bring $30,000 to $40,000.

The illustrated auction catalog is online now at www.bonhams.com/us.

Preview: June 11-12, 2010, Los Angeles
Auction: June 13, 2010, 10 a.m.
Information: www.bonhams.com/us

A Gustaf Tenggren preliminary watercolor from "Pinocchio," 1940, watercolor on paper. Estimate $30,000 to $40,000.
Photo courtesy Bonhams & Butterfields; © Disney Enterprises, Inc. 1940

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Find us on Twitter HERE.
• Find us on Facebook HERE.
• Visit the Antique Trader Web site HERE. Sign up for ourFREE newsletters!
• Get more information on subscribing to Antique Trader HERE.

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.
• Enter the Antique Trader Treasure Hunt Sweepstakes HERE.

Antique map at auction shows early Washington before District of Columbia

Karen — Wed, 19 May 2010 04:08:35 GMT

The extraordinary private collection of more than 100 maps documenting the topographical and development of Washington D.C. history is making big news in the Beltway.

The maps cross the block Thursday, May 20, 2010 at Quinn’s Auction Galleries & Waverly Rare Books in Falls Church, Va. As part of the map collection of Washingtonian John Richman, the collection of rare maps traces over 200 years of the District’s physical progress, including the dredging of the Potomac that enabled the creation of a unified new city.

“This collection is a virtual 200-year time capsule of how Washington was established, how it looked before the District was formed, and how the aspects of some of its most important landmarks changed the landscape,” said Matthew C. Quinn, co-owner of Quinn’s Auctions. “There are maps of the City of Alexandria, the City of Georgetown, and then the newly established City of Washington. Additionally, there are maps showing The Washington Monument as it was being built.”

The ongoing architectural improvements and transformation of the nation’s most famous monuments (including The Washington Monument), The White House and other structures are documented in several maps that show the evolution of our nation’s capital. “All this history in one location, how often do you see that?” Quinn said. “It’s fascinating to compare the city’s transformation over centuries.”

Most of the D.C. maps are over 100 years old, and some are on the pricier side, like Andrew Ellicott’s late-18^th-century “Plan of the City of Washington in the Territory of Columbia ceded by the States of Virginia and Maryland to the United States of America.” Its auction estimate is $500-$1,000. But Quinn stressed that most of the maps entered in the sale are very affordable, with individual estimates starting well under $100.

“This is a rare opportunity for Washingtonians to own fascinating views of their city from over a century ago. Each map is attractively framed and ready to hang as a historical artwork in the home or office,” Quinn said. The maps have been featured on Washington-area television stations, drawing interest from collectors and Washington history buffs alike.

The John Richman District of Columbia map collection is the centerpiece of a larger selection of rare books, maps and atlases to be auctioned Thursday May 20 at 6:30 p.m. All forms of bidding will be available, including live via the Internet.

Contact Matthew Quinn by calling 703-532-5632 or e-mailing matthew.quinn@quinnsauction.com. Visit Quinn’s online at www.quinnsauction.com.

This isn't the only antique map making headlines this month. Garth's is offering the 1826 Savery-Sumner map, titled “Map Of The Western Reserve Including the Fire Lands in Ohio,” May 29.

- Posted by Eric Bradley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blue & White Pottery Club to convene in June

Karen — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:49:03 GMT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The Blue & White Pottery Club was founded in 1981 by a handful of Blue & White Stoneware pottery enthusiasts and collectors, principally in the Midwest. The Blue & White pottery interests include Blue & White, Uhl, Blue & Gray (Utica/Flemish), Sleepy Eye, Spongeware, Red Wing, and other stoneware. The Blue & White Pottery Club now has more than 300 members reaching from coast to coast and border to border.

The principal goals of the Blue & White Pottery Club are to share information, encourage learning, and foster an appreciation of the distinct history, wide variety, and increasing collectability of Blue & White Stoneware pottery. Equally important goals are the promotion and nurturing of friendships with fellow collectors and to further the equal opportunity for all to participate in new discoveries and exciting information about Blue & White pottery.

Attending the Club’s annual convention each June is a highlight of membership; this year it will be held June 10-12, 2010, at the Cedar Rapids Marriott in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. One of the highlights of the convention is the Club Consignment Auction consisting of approximately 120 pieces of premium stoneware including Blue & White, Sleepy Eye, Red Wing, Western, Whites Utica as well as others.

To join the Blue & White Pottery Club, a membership form can be found on their website at www.blueandwhitepottery.org and you will also find this years convention agenda along with more information about convention and the Blue & White Pottery Club.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Find us on Twitter HERE.
• Find us on Facebook HERE.
• Visit the Antique Trader Web site HERE. Sign up for our FREE newsletters!
• Get more information on subscribing to Antique Trader HERE.

Better paper on the way

Karen — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:24:43 GMT

Thank you to those who took the time to write or call about Antique Trader’s new look. It means a great deal to us as Antique Trader continues to evolve to better reflect the hobby and your changing tastes. Making such large changes to a 53-year-old antiques publication is an ongoing process and I respect that you care enough about the title to voice your opinion.

A selection of your letters is reprinted in Antique Trader magazine. They do a darn good job showing the passion you have for the hobby.

We’ve already heard the new format has streamlined delivery. A reader in New York state called and reported his copy arrived on time — a first for him over the last few issues. This reader also commented about the new size and the type of paper we use. Although he didn’t care for the paper stock, his immediate attention was on the fact the new size allows for more pages and better content, which matters more than ever now that its finally being delivered on time.

Nevertheless, you have spoken and we have listened. Although the new size is here to stay, we will be improving the quality of the paper in the next few weeks. The cover stock will be heavier and brighter. The inside pages will be a heavier, stronger sheet with less show through. The paper is an investment by F+W Media for the sole purpose of improving Antique Trader’s readability.

Again, to all of you Antique Trader subscribers who wrote in – thank you. As always, I welcome and encourage you to request features or column topics on any collecting area. Feel free to send reactions to the articles, features, new look and our columnists at any time. Send your thoughts to Antique Trader Editor, 700 E State St., Iola, WI 54990 or to eric.bradley@fwmedia.com.

On a related note, we are hearing reports that many of our subscribers have been targeted by agencies attempting to charge as much as $70 a year — three times our promotional subscription rates. Official renewal notices will only come from Palm Coast Data and F+W Media, Inc.

If you receive a notice and you suspect it is not from Antique Trader, please call Palm Coast Data at 386-246-3434 and a representative can help you.

— Eric Bradley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.
• Enter the Antique Trader Treasure Hunt Sweepstakes HERE.

Fleming’s James Bond novels sell big

Karen — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 21:34:15 GMT

NEW YORK – Collectors purchased the top nine lots at Swann Auction Galleries’ April 8 auction of the Penzler Collection of Espionage. [CLICK HERE for the auction wrap-up.]

The sale’s top lot was an archive of correspondence between Ian Fleming and dust jacket artist Richard Chopping. The correspondence concerned Fleming’s famous James Bond books and sold for $57,600. A first edition copy of the first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, 1953, by Fleming, brought $33,600. A 1955 first edition of Fleming’s Moonraker, inscribed and signed by the author sold for $50,400.

“The Flemings took off as expected, but no one anticipated the runaway success of Moonraker and the archive of Fleming letters,” said Christine von der Linn, Swann’s 19th and 20th century literature specialist. “The fame and renown of Penzler and his collection brought in crowds from both sides of the globe, most of whom were keen collectors.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Check out Antique Auction Podcast

Karen — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:18:53 GMT

For the last year, auctioneer and appraiser Martin Willis and co-host Phyllis Kao have reported on nearly every facet of the antiques hobby through their independent Website AntiqueAuctionPodcast.com. Across 25 different segments, the two record and broadcast live interviews with notable personalities, dealers and artists on topics ranging from $1 million comic books to what it's like to be a real-life American picker.

Guests range from silver expert William Whetstone and company, authors of the book World Hallmarks, Vo. I to Reyne Haines, author of the book Vintage Wristwatches to artists Mark Stock and Mark McNair.

Willis has more than 35 years of experience in the auction business working in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Colorado and California, who's handled tens of thousands of antiques, collectibles and fine art pieces. Kao is a classical violinist and scholar who has recently returned to her antique roots by immersing herself in antique auctions, specializing in silver flatware and silver hollowware.

It's one of our new favorite sites and it's even available via a free subscription on iTunes so that new installments are downloaded automatically.

-posted by Eric Bradley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LiveAuctioneers.com, Dreweatts announce marketing partnership

Karen — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 23:20:24 GMT

NEW YORK – Manhattan-based LiveAuctioneers.com, which provides Internet live-bidding services to more than 900 auction companies worldwide, has entered into a marketing agreement with the renowned British auction house Dreweatts.

It is anticipated that LiveAuctioneers will be working cooperatively with Dreweatts on 30 to 50 auctions in their first year of collaboration. Under the terms of the new agreement, LiveAuctioneers will present and promote Dreweatts’ auction catalogs online, and enable bidders to participate in Dreweatts’ sales either absentee or live via the Internet as those sales are taking place.

“It is a great honor for LiveAuctioneers to be working with a company as highly regarded as Dreweatts,” said LiveAuctioneers’ CEO Julian R. Ellison. “Dreweatts has operated at the top tier of fine art valuation and auctioneering in Britain for 250 years. They respect tradition, and their long-held reputation for appraising and auctioning quality estates is impeccable, yet they’ve also been open to adopting new methods of generating maximum returns for their consignors. They were right on the front lines in adding Internet technology to their marketing plan. Their Newbury-based Donnington Priory salerooms first embraced online bidding in 2006, which was a signal to other auction houses that they had better get on board with the Internet.”

It will be an especially busy year for Dreweatts, said Scott Miles, LiveAuctioneers’ Senior VP Sales. “Dreweatts has formed a marketing alliance with another of our clients, Bloomsbury Auctions – a world leader in antiquarian books and manuscripts. This has cemented Dreweatts as a major force in the UK market. They’ll be reciprocally sharing their resources with Bloomsbury’s galleries, not only in London but also New York and Rome. Dreweatts is poised to become much more of an international force.”

Miles said LiveAuctioneers views the new association with Dreweatts as “a wonderful opportunity to expand our presence in the UK and Continental Europe, and at just the right time, since bidders are now able to take advantage of our bidding platform’s foreign language translation and instant currency conversion features.

“We have always had a strong commitment to both the British and greater European market, but an association with Dreweatts lends further credibility to our company,” Miles continued. “We’re extremely pleased to be included in the overall marketing strategy that Dreweatt so effectively employs.”

Dreweatts’ first auction conducted with Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers will be a 334-lot, April 14 sale featuring furniture, carpets and works of art. A star lot in the sale is a circa-1615, James I sculpted and painted alabaster bust believed to be a depiction of the eminent 17th-century botanist and physician Dr. Peter Turner. The bust reputedly was erected in the South Aisle of Saint Olave’s Church in the City of London, where Turner was buried. Saint Olave’s narrowly escaped the Great Fire of 1666, the flames coming to within 100 yards or so of the building. During the 1941 London Blitz, the church was gutted by German bombs. Presumably the bust of Dr. Turner was salvaged from the ruins, but its history since the Blitz is undocumented. A highly important architectural element, it is expected to make $75,000-$105,000 at auction.

The fully illustrated catalog for Dreweatts’ April 14 sale may be viewed online at http://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/21240.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Find us on Twitter HERE.
• Find us on Facebook HERE.
• Visit the Antique Trader Web site HERE. Sign up for our FREE newsletters!
• If you really like what you see, get your very own subscription to Antique Trader HERE.

Antique occupational shaving mug brings $8,500

Karen — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:17:10 GMT

Here's an interesting hobby that doesn't seem to get much attention but nevertheless brings respectable prices at auction: antique occupational shaving mugs.

We wrote on this topic a few years ago, but a major collection is being sold by W. Yoder Auctions of Wisconsin over the last year or so. The second installment is taking place RIGHT NOW over at Proxibid. It is the first day of a two-day sale that has some sweet finds.

The occupational shaving mugs were popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and added a touch of individuality to a gentleman's daily shaving routine. The barber shop collectible is much sought after by collectors across many different areas.

The mug shown here represents a Civil War soldier/ veterinarian and was sold for $8,500 this morning. Click the image for a link to the auction catalog online.

The auction takes place online today here. Part two starts tomorrow morning and is carried live via Proxibid.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

JFK love letters bring $115,000

Eric Bradley, editor — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:46:57 GMT

In an age of seemingly constant political scandals, there's one celebrity whose exploits have captivated collectors and historians: John F. Kennedy.

Legendary Auctions announced today it has sold the collection of personal letters and telegrams exchanged between then-U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy and a young Swedish woman, Gunilla von Post, for more than $115,000.

The auction of the letters attracted bidders from around the globe. The winning bidder, a West Coast collector, wishes to remain anonymous.

The fourteen correspondence pieces -- eleven letters and three telegrams -- recount the long-distance relationship as it ignites and unfolds between March, 1954 and the late summer of 1956.

The story of the letters began in August, 1953. Just a few weeks before a 35-year-old Senator Kennedy was to wed Jacqueline Lee Bouvier, he vacationed on the French Riviera. While there, Kennedy met von Post, 21, a Swedish woman with aristocratic roots. The two shared a romantic evening capped by a passionate kiss.

Obviously, the evening had a lasting impact on Kennedy. Six months after becoming acquainted with von Post, despite his marriage to Jackie and increasing immersion in politics, Kennedy went to the trouble of locating the Swedish beauty in Stockholm. For the next eighteen months, the two traded intimate communications with each other, ultimately reuniting for a week-long holiday in Sweden during August, 1955.

After he returned to the U.S., Kennedy and von Post continued to converse over the phone. In her book, Love, Jack, von Post recounts how Kennedy attempted to persuade her to move to the U.S. Ultimately, Kennedy told von Post he had confided his love for her to his father and sought counsel in considering a divorce. In no uncertain terms, the elder Kennedy told Jack that divorce was impossible.

Not long after this call, Kennedy reached out to von Post again and informed her that his wife was pregnant. It was then that von Post decided it was time to move on with her life, eventually marrying on July 18, 1956. A chance encounter in New York City almost two years later was the last time the two saw each other.

The rest, as they say, is history ... and evidently worth $115,000.

Chattanooga antiques market sees some promise

Eric Bradley, editor — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:10:56 GMT

I had the fortune to be interviewed by the Chattanooga Times Free Press last week for an article on the region's antiques trade. You can see the full article here. There is even a little audio on the definition of an antique.

The reporter, Tamara Best, did a great job in summarizing the businesses' ups and downs and even went the extra mile to add a few helpful hints from local shop owners and auctioneers. Some of the hints:

antique silver and oriental rugs are selling particularly well
utilize the Internet to sell
capitalize on social media
enhance their customer service, and
have a moderate rate of turnover

Each week I see more and more shop owners pop up on Facebook. This is a great way to generate some free publicity for your business.

What are some of the methods you are using to generate traffic, virtual or otherwise, into your shop? Feel free to share below.

-posted by Eric Bradley

$104M sculpture becomes most expensive work ever sold at auction

Karen — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:43:11 GMT

Sotheby's today sold a life-size bronze sculpture by Alberto Giacometti for £65M, ($104M USD) setting the bar as the most expensive work ever sold at auction.

The piece is titled "L'Homme Qui Marche" and now ranks among Vincent van Gogh's esteemed "Portrait of Dr. Gachet," which sold for $83.5 million in 1990, and Pablo Picasso's "Garçon a la pipe," which sold for $104.1 million by Sotheby's New York in May 2004.

Press reports say bidders spent all of 8 minutes driving the price far beyond the sculpture's pre-auction estimate of £12m to £18m. The final bidder was anonymous and placed his bid through the telephone.

The £65m price tag includes the buyer's premium.

Giacometti (1901-1966) created a diverse body of work. The Swiss artist was considered primarily a contributor to the Surrealist Movement and worked as a sculptor, painter, draughtsman and printmaker. His L'Homme Qui Marche is considered by critics to be one of the most important works Giacometti ever accomplished.

-Posted by Eric Bradley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Lost' Georgia O'Keefe painting brings $225,150

Karen — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:02:37 GMT

Skinner, Inc., one of our favorite auction houses for the depth and breadth of their sales, yet again earned its reputation for being a savvy player in the fine art market. Its Jan. 29 American & European Paintings & Prints auction featured a number of important works and more than its share of curiosities.

Chief among these was the fantastic 'rediscovered' painting by American masterpiece artist Georgia O'Keeffe. Titled "," the painting was considered lost since the mid-1950s. It was last known to have been purchased by a Cape Cod collector. The piece is representative of O’Keeffe’s early work, describing “nature in her simplest appearance” and is indicative of O’Keeffe’s artistic relationship with modernist painter Arthur Dove.

The full auction listing can be seen here at SkinnerInc.com.

Take note that, once again, it's the hardworking, aggressive auction houses like Skinner that are discovering and selling these dazzling pieces.

-Posted by Eric Bradley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cloisonné vases abandoned in storage unit sell for $52,900 at auction

Karen — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:16:26 GMT

MERIDEN, Conn. – A pair of rare cloisonné vases, abandoned due to unpaid storage fees in Oxford, Conn., set a new auction house record Jan. 30 when they sold for $52,900 at Next Egg Auctions.

According to auctioneer Ryan Brechlin, the gavel price for the lotus blossom vases turned out to be a bit of a pleasant surprise. “They were in with more than 25 storage vaults from a Greenwich home.” Brechlin said. “Our early estimates for the pair were that they might sell for a couple thousand.”

Nest Egg Auctions had been contracted by Joyce Van Lines of Oxford to sell the contents of the vaults to satisfy storage liens on nearly $50,000 in unpaid fees. "It’s one of those contracts where we just sell what comes out of the vaults," Brechlin added. "You never know what might be in there."

When the vases came up for sale, the auction took on an international flair as a phone bidder telephoned in from London, some five time zones away where it was midnight. In the crowded auction hall a southern Connecticut buyer, who had closely examined the vases during the preview period, signaled his intention to make the vases his.

Cloisonné is an ancient technique for detailing metal objects. Shapes are outlined on the metal base with gold or silver wires. Colored enamel powder paste is carefully worked into the spaces and the object fired in a kiln.

Brechlin opened the bidding at $300 and the price soared, moving quickly as he shifted to $50, then $100, and then $500 bid points. Both the Connecticut buyer and the man in London showed no sign of dropping out. Bid points went to $1,000 and finally to $2,000 until the vases were sold to the live bidder at $46,000 plus a $6.900 buyer’s premium.

The crowd, many who had been holding their breath as the bidding soared higher, gave a standing ovation and cheered as the gavel slammed down on the sale.

-Posted by Eric Bradley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Historian's $5M+ collection of American documents in NYC auction

Karen — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:24:48 GMT

NEW YORK — Described as a collection people have waited for decades to come on the market, a colorful author and historian's extensive multi-million dollar archive of important American manuscripts, maps, letters, early photographs, books and documents tracing America's journey to the Wild West will be offered in a public auction conducted in New York City by Spink Shreves Galleries, Jan. 27-29, 2010.

"They were collected over a 50-year period by Floyd E. Risvold of Edina, Minn., who participated in expeditions in the West with the Coast and Geodetic Survey in the 1930s and '40s. His jovial admonition to nearly everyone he met was, 'Keep your powder dry,'" said Charles Shreve, President of Spink Shreves Galleries of New York and Dallas.

"This collection chronicles the U.S. movement westward to find 'the Promised Land.' It's filled with unique, eyewitness accounts to American history. The presale estimate is $5 million or more."

Risvold died last June at the age of 97, and his family now is making his vast collection and library available to the public.

The wide array of extraordinary items, most of them one-of-a-kind, include a 12-page letter written by John Adams during The War of 1812, a prospector's 1849-era hand-drawn map to the California gold regions and an Indian peace treaty directive to the Secretary of State signed in 1864 by President Abraham Lincoln. There are hundreds of other items related to the Pony Express and U.S. postal history, the Alamo, the Civil War, expansion of the railroads and Mormon history including an 1841 letter signed by both Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith, early leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

"Collectors and museums have been waiting for decades for many of these unique historical documents to again become available," said Shreve.

For additional information, contact Spink Shreves Galleries at 212-262-8400 or visit online at www.SpinkShreves.com.

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Don't miss the antique auction news

Karen — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:21:17 GMT

Here are some quick hits for upcoming estate and antique auctions and highlights of recent auctions:

February multi-estate sale will offer desirable stoneware, antiques, jewelry

Unique writing instruments to be offered during event dedicated to Montblanc - I know it's not an antique or estate auction, but as far as collectibles go, there are no finer writing instruments than these. They are absolutely stunning. I consider them art, in an unusual medium.

Affordable, entry-level collectibles spotlighted in latest Collect.com auction - Roughly one-third of the auction’s lots have budget-friendly minimum bids of $25 or less, including a collection of Ford Dealership sales brochures from the 1960s and 1970s.

Recently discovered Col. John S. Mosby Civil War speech in Los Angeles auction

Diverse offerings and buyer’s market will entice participants at Hatch auction - It's so exciting to have antiques from so many different categories offered in one auction ...

Thomaston Place sale offers diverse collections - another auction with so very much to offer!

Unusual, seldom-offered figural redware in Jan. sale - Crocker Farm auctions are always interesting.

Fascinating highlight of technological auction: Final sale of Remington Typewriter Museum draws worldwide interest

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Winds, rain tear through Scottsdale, devastates auction

Karen — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:41:53 GMT

If you're following the classic car auctions in Scottsdale, Ariz., you won't want to miss this first-hand report from the Old Cars Weekly staff; editor Ron Kowalke, was on the scene as storms ripped through the venue.

Heavy winds and matching rain destroyed tents and devastated one of the main auction venues in the annual collector car auction extravaganza in Scottsdale, Ariz., Thursday night.

Three tents were ripped from the ground at the Russo & Steele event, leaving several hundred collector cars exposed to the elements and the wreckage during some of the worst weather in the Scottsdale area in recent years.

CLICK HERE to read the full story

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Woody Auction to hold 'cabin fever' sale Feb. 13 in Wichita and on Proxibid

Eric Bradley, editor — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:43:15 GMT

Woody Auction is selling the lifetime personal collection from Elizabeth and Clarence Lee Dubois, featuring a stunning collection of KPM porcelain plaques.

Principal Jason Woody said the sale will be exception because Dubois has decided to hold the sale with no reserves. “This will be a great opportunity for folks to kick off the snow, shed that cabin fever and bid on some truly wonderful items for their collections,” he said. “The Dubois' were dedicated collectors for over fifty years.”

Tiffany & Co. will be represented in the sale. Anticipated top lots include a 17 ½ inch marked pedestal urn-shaped clock (at left) with yellow satin porcelain body, lavender cherub highlights and cobalt blue top; and a fantastic signed sterling silver reticulated basket with elaborate embossed blackberry and leaf décor. Also sold will be a nice, signed Nakara square-shaped hinged jewel box.

Plaques and plaque sets, many by KPM, will be abundant at the auction. Some KPM examples include an outstanding 20 inch by 16 inch marked oval porcelain plaque with a finely detailed portrait titled Rembrandt’s Mother, framed (at right); and a 10 inch by 7 ½ inch porcelain plaque set in the original ebony shadow box frame, signed R. Dietrich and with beautiful detailing of young women gathering flowers.

Additional KPM pieces will feature a 9-inch by 6-inch porcelain plaque in a gilt wooden frame, with a scene of a young girl holding a cat that’s watching a butterfly, unsigned; a 9 inch by 6-¼ inch marked porcelain plaque with a detailed scene of a servant girl with tea tray, artist signed; and a 9 ½ inch by 6 ½ inch unsigned marked porcelain plaque of Renaissance women carrying a sacred relic.

The sale starts at 9:30 a.m., Feb. 13 at the 4-H Hall of the Sedgwick County Extension Center in Wichita. Live bidding is available the morning of at Proxibid.com.

When is a nickel worth $3.7 million?

Karen — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:23:45 GMT

As cameo appearances go, this has to be the best.

A rare 1913-dated U.S. Liberty Head nickel that was featured in a 1973 episode of the TV series, "Hawaii Five-O," was purchased for $3,737,500 in a public auction conducted in Orlando, Florida by Dallas' Heritage Auctions last night (Jan. 7, 2010).

Only five such coins are known and the winning bidder "is a very advanced, East Coast coin collector who was filling a hole in his collection with the addition of the 1913 Liberty nickel," said Greg Rohan, president of Heritage Auctions.

The nickel's star studded past doesn't stop at television.

This one was owned over the years by an infamous Egyptian King and a Los Angeles sports team owner. Although the name of the seller also was not disclosed, previous owners of this 1913 Liberty nickel included King Farouk of Egypt who was deposed in 1952.

In December 1973 it was prominently featured in an episode of the TV series, ‘Hawaii Five-O,’ entitled ‘The $100,000 Nickel.’ Los Angeles Lakers owner, Dr. Jerry Buss, paid $200,000 for the coin in 1978, and it changed hands several times since then, crossing the million-dollar mark in 2003.

So beside its famous owners and cameo on the small screen, why is this coin so valuable?

“The U.S. Mint struck tens of millions of Liberty Head nickels from 1883 through 1912, but switched designs in 1913 to depict a Native American on the “head’s” side and a bison on the “tail’s” side. However, five nickels with the new date, 1913, but the old design of the symbolic Miss Liberty secretly were made at the Philadelphia Mint and eventually sold to collectors,” Rohan said in a release.

One of the five fabled 1913 Liberty nickels is in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC; another belongs to the American Numismatic Association (ANA) Money Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado; and the three others, including the coin in the January auction, are privately owned by collections.

-posted by Eric Bradley

Jackson's International knows the key to success

Karen — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:27:48 GMT

and they share it in this week's issue of Antique Trader.

CLICK HERE to read this uplifting article.

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Helpful links to antiques auctions and news

Karen — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:42:48 GMT

Map found in $10 box at estate sale makes $23,400 at auction

Wisconsin auction nets $5,000+ for low-grade comics

Cartier carries the day in $1.2 million Heritage Auctions timepiece event

Impressive Southern and Continental antiques at Brunk Auctions in January

Cowan’s offers 600+ lots in inaugural décor auction Jan. 8

Map found in $10 box at estate sale makes $23,400 at auction

Approximately 1,500 lots of quality advertising, militaria, more in online auction that ends Jan. 24

Highly anticipated New Year’s Day auction showcases elegant Philadelphia area antiques

Personally, I'm curious to see how Cowan's does on their first ever decor auction. They hold some fantastic militaria and historical auctions; I hope they carry that success over into their decorative arts sales.

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Antiques news you won't want to miss

Karen — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:44:00 GMT

Click on the links below to read the articles:

Red Baron’s three-day fall auction a success

Dealers from 12 states to attend Antiques in Charlottesville

Audubon’s ‘Birds of America’ folio brings $272,000

Art Deco and Modernism light up San Francisco

Worthpoint, Heritage Auctions announce mobile phone applications

Original Frederick Remington plaster model will be sold in January auction

Archive of cigar label proofs among top lots in Dec. 3 map, ephemera sale

Carved box that consignor used for storage realizes $26,450 in Thanksgiving sale

Jumeau doll found in the Midwest brings $37,375

Visit www.antiquetrader.com for more news and features.

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Artfact gets $13M in venture capital, merges with Auctionzip.com

Karen — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:18:59 GMT

Artfact, a leading online live auction marketplace is merging with Auctionzip, one of the Web’s largest directory of live auction listings. Artfact also closed a deal for $13 million in growth capital from Boston-based Commonwealth Capital Ventures and Ascent Venture Partners. In addition to facilitating the merger, the funding will be used to expand product development, marketing, and sales efforts.

Combined, Artfact and Auctionzip provide over 16,000 estate auctioneers of all sizes worldwide a range of technology and marketing services including online live bidding, and integrated auction management software. Through their websites Auctionzip.com, Artfact.com, and Invaluable.com, the companies allow 2 million art, antiques, and collectible dealers and collectors unprecedented access to search over 160,000 estate auctions each year with a combined value of over $25 billion.

Each company will maintain its distinct brand, website, and office location in Allston Massachusetts (Artfact), Bedford, Pennsylvania (Auctionzip), and the Isle of Wight, U.K. (Invaluable).

In a press release, Adam Kirsch, Chairman and CEO of Artfact, said, “Auctionzip’s founders, Joe Koval and Steve Johnson, have built the only comprehensive auction listing service for the fragmented U. S. estate auctions industry. Together, Auctionzip and Artfact provide estate auctioneers and their dealer/collector bidders with the largest online marketplace dedicated entirely to the unique requirements of live auctions.”

Johnson will continue as Auctionzip’s President, and said: “Merging with Artfact is a logical step for Auctionzip now. Auctioneers listing on Auctionzip.com received over 200,000 absentee bids during the last year from the Auctionzip.com bidding community of over 1 million monthly unique users. In March, 2010 Auctionzip will launch Auctionzip Live using Artfact’s leading live bidding technology and auction management solutions to become a true live bidding marketplace just like Artfact Live.”

-posted by Eric Bradley

Closing Date Extended in Collect.com Vintage Handbag Auction

Karen — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:08:41 GMT

Collect.com Auction’s Dec. 16 Sale Features the lifetime metal mesh, vintage celebrity couture collection of Dennis & Terri LaMothe

IOLA, Wis. – By popular demand, bidding has been extended in Collect.com Auctions’ presentation of 487 lots of the Dennis & Terri LaMothe metal mesh collection, plus additions. This Internet, absentee and phone auction closing Dec. 16 is the largest assortment of metal mesh – mostly produced by Massachusetts’ famous Whiting & Davis Co. – ever to come to auction. It includes classic mesh handbags and iconic celebrity memorabilia from Cher and Lisa Hartman Black.

It was the LaMothes who the Whiting & Davis Co. contacted to create a 110-year retrospective on the firm’s best examples for its anniversary celebration. The company gave the couple exclusive and unfettered access to archives. As such, the sale contains more than 250 lots of stunning mesh handbags.

The LaMothes took special pride in collecting unique pieces such the Whiting & Davis handbag decorated with enameled metal mesh in a shimmering likeness of Clark Gable (estimate $2,500-$3,000). Other specialty handbags include Mickey Mouse ($500-$1,000), Charlie Chaplin ($2,500-$3,000) and a special commemorative produced for the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair ($1,000-$1,200).

The auction will feature a comprehensive selection of Whiting & Davis’ highly desirable “El Sah” mesh handbags, including a circa 1920s example still retaining its delicate compact built into its gold tone metal frame (estimate $250-$350). The auction also features classic plain, enameled and colored Mandalian Handbag lines such as a stunning Gloria purse. In addition to being the most complete collection of Whiting & Davis handbags, the collection is a shimmering cross-section of American vintage couture, including celebrity memorabilia including a pair of mesh gloves worn by Cher during the height of her late 1980s comeback tour.

A fully illustrated catalog for Collect.com Auction’s Dec. 16 sale of the Dennis & Terri LaMothe Collection, plus additions, is viewable through www.collect.com/auctions or by calling 888-463-3063.

All absentee forms of bidding are available through www.Collect.com Auctions or by calling 888-463-3063, fax 715-445-4087 or e-mail at auctions@collect.com. The Dec. 16 auction carries a 17 percent buyer’s premium.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

It really is in the mail today ...

Karen — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:34:35 GMT

... the newest edition of Antique Trader, that is.

Here's a look at the cover:

It looks great, doesn't it? And it's packed with antique news and features, too!

Visit www.antiquetrader.com for your antiques news fix.

Inaugural Baltimore Big Flea draws the crowds

Original York Antiques Show & Sale returns in January

Record number of bidders take part in poster sale

Japanese toys gross $700K in November auction

Rare diamond brings eight figures at Christie’s auction

Glass museum launches drive to clear mortgage

“American Pickers” coming to television

Art restoration company reveals $300K Duncanson painting

Greater Charlotte Show sells to Lydia Sullivan

Tiffany on Display: Colorado collector shares his passion with the world

... that's a lot of news, isn't it?! And that's not all of it, either!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Bertoia announces date change for spring 2010 Kaufman sale

Karen — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:44:17 GMT

VINELAND, N.J. – The sale date for Bertoia Auctions’ third installment of the Donald Kaufman antique toy collection has been moved back by one week.

Originally scheduled to take place on April 9-10, the auction event featuring 900 lots of automotive toys and an introductory selection of comic character toys from the late Mr. Kaufman’s collection will now be held April 16 and 17 at the Bertoia gallery in Vineland, New Jersey.

“We made the change to avoid a conflict with the Toymania show in Paris, which draws many of the leading antique toy dealers and collectors,” said Bertoia Auctions’ owner, Jeanne Bertoia. “We didn’t want to have a situation where toy buyers with an interest in both events were inconvenienced or had to make a decision between the two.”

Sessions I and II of the Kaufman collection, held March 19-21 and Sept. 25-26 of this year, brought in $7.2 million (inclusive of 15 percent buyer’s premium).

To contact Bertoia’s, call 856-692-1881 or e-mail toys@bertoiaauctions.com.

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Follow us on Twitter HERE.
• Fan us on Facebook HERE.
• Visit the Antique Trader Web site HERE. Sign up for our FREE newsletters!
• If you really like what you see, get your very own subscription to Antique Trader HERE.

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Tempting and intriguing lots with nary a bid

Karen — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:02:15 GMT

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! I'm enjoying this special time with my family, and I hope you all are enjoying this special day as well.

I'm sneaking in some web surfing between cranberries and turkey and pumpkin pie, though.

I had to check out the current Collect.com auction (their Sports & Americana auction that ends Dec. 3), because I looked the other day and saw that there are quite a few lots that I could find a home for.

Mae West. The name evokes attitude. Lot 969 is a signed, canceled check with a photo from this beauty of the Silver Screen. I've always been a fan - I think because I always secretly wanted to get away with her sass! Opening bid $100 ... I'll have to watch that one. She won't take up much space ...

And there's all kinds of other music and entertainment memorabilia, from the Beatles to Frank Sinatra.

There are also many lots of vintage photographs, ephemera, Civil War items, paintings, and antique toys.

Drop on by the current Collect.com auction - you may just be able to pick something up for yourself or someone on your gift list without heading out to the mall at 5 a.m. tomorrow!

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Antique auctions galore: previews and highlights

Karen — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:42:44 GMT

To get the antique auction news — and so much more! — delivered to your inbox each week, visit www.antiquetrader.com and sign up for our free e-newsletters.

Still life by Emil Filla sets new world auction record

Karloff's Black Cat costume, Revere's Oscar bring almost $90K each

December estates auction will feature fine jewelry, decorative arts

Hundreds of fresh-to-the-market fine estate offerings will be sold Dec. 5

Acclaimed steam toy collection to be sold Dec. 10-12

Unusual autograph items still bring strong results at auction

Estate auction featuring fine, decorative art offerings scheduled for Nov. 27

Are there any auctions in your future this holiday weekend?

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Bidding opens today for Collect.com's first antiques/collectibles auction

Karen — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:13:38 GMT

Bidding on the first Collect.com antiques and collectibles auction is scheduled to begin today.

This auction is live through December 16.

This first antiques auction happens to have on offer an amazing collection of Whiting & Davis and Mandalian mesh handbags, fine jewelry and costume jewelry.

Also on offer is a large selection of Department 56 collectibles. In fact, one of the lots (Lot 480) is a group of 50 (yes, 50!) hand-painted Dept. 56 Snowbabies pewter miniature figurines with a starting bid of just $65!

And (just in time for the holidays), Lot #484 (with an opening bid of just $50) is a group of Department 56 Snowbabies Ornaments:

Lot contains 34 porcelain bisque ornaments in their boxes, including 4 “Overnight Delivery” ornaments made exclusively for National Collectors Month, October 1995; 4 European glass ornaments in their boxes; 5 sculpted paper card ornaments in their boxes; and 2 ornament holders.

The catalog is online now. CLICK HERE (click on Antique Handbags and Jewelry auction in the upper left hand corner) to view all the offerings and place your bids.

Photos courtesy Collect.com Auctions.

• Mickey Mouse Mesh Purse is Lot no. 17.
• Dept. 56 Snowbabies pewter miniatures are Lot no. 480.
• Dept. 56 Snowbabies ornaments are Lot no. 484.
• Whiting & Davis cameo selection at the top of the page are Lot. no. 385.

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Everyone likes shortcuts

Karen — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:53:51 GMT

... especially if it's a legitimate shortcut.

So here are shortcuts to some of our latest antiques news articles and features:

Man turns childhood home into classy antiques shop

Talking Sports: A hobby is born during the Great Depression

Ask Antique Trader: Unusual adjustable slag glass lamp a real find

Don’t be a Duncan Pfool: Remember to use furniture's correct vocabulary

Postcard prices realized vary at auction

SOFA Chicago sees increase of ‘young collectors’

Vintage video game sells for $5,250

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Milagros are the spotlight of this week's Antique Trader

Karen — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:29:07 GMT

I enjoyed reading Mary Simmons' article about milagros and ex-votos. (You can click here to read this interesting feature story.) I have to admit I knew absolutely nothing about them ... and now I do.

Let us know what you think!

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Free collectibles auction catalog available for download

Karen — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:52:23 GMT

You've probably heard by now that the LaMothe Collection will be featured in the Collect.com Collectibles Auction #1 that runs from Nov. 23-Dec. 12.

The latest news is that the auction catalog is available for download:

Collect.com Auctions is expanding its reach across the collecting spectrum by offering 487 lots including the largest known collection of metal mesh handbags and vintage fashion. CLICK HERE to download the free special eight-page catalog for the sale, composed primarily of the Dennis and Terri LaMothe Collection, a three-decade pursuit for Whiting and Davis and Mandalian Mfg. Co. metal mesh handbags and fashion, plus additions of fine jewelry. The online, absentee and telephone auction opens Nov. 23 and closes Dec. 12 on www.collect.com/auctions.

It’s rare when husband and wife come together with a shared passion for collecting, yet the LaMothes’ union produced two of the 20th century’s top collectors of metal mesh used in fashion. The auction is comprised of four different categories: antique mesh, vintage fashion, jewelry and the LaMothes’ collection of Department 56 collectibles.

Standout lots include a series of handbags depicting Hollywood icons Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable and Mickey Mouse as well as celebrity memorabilia from Cher and Lisa Hartman-Black.

Included are a number of rare scenic handbags depicting a range of Art Deco-inspired themes such as skyscrapers, peacocks, sunrises and meadow scenes. Once a design was chosen it naturally narrowed the market for the handbag. As such, the design and style had to be of the finest quality and feature dynamic designs. “It took 24 hours for each color to dry once it was applied,” Terri said of the different colored enamels used in the designs. “Once they were complete the stencils were destroyed so they really are living history.”

Also in the selection of handbags are 70 lots of rare specimens made by the Mandalian Manufacturing Company. Mandalian-made handbags are highly sought after by collectors because of the company’s eclectic designs and strict production methods. “They used crushed fish scale and applied it to the mesh to give it the shine,” Terri said. “They made a better bag but they couldn’t go up against Whiting and Davis.”

Rounding out the metal mesh collection is a selection of vintage fashion designer Anthony Ferrara made specifically for the Whiting and Davis line.

Among the fine jewelry is a white gold bracelet adorned with 72.23 carats of rubies and a pair of earrings with an impressive 8.7 carats of sapphires accented with diamonds.

Collect.com Auctions’ first vintage fashion sale welcomes mail, phone, absentee and online bids through Collect.com. Bidding opens Nov. 23 and closes Dec. 12. Complete descriptions and images for all lots can be found at www.collect.com.

For information on any lot or to learn more about bidding in this sale, call the Collect.com offices at 888-463-3063.

Photos courtesy Dennis & Terri LaMothe.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE CATALOG (PDF)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Find us on Twitter HERE.
• Find us on Facebook HERE.

• Visit the Antique Trader Web site HERE. Sign up for our FREE newsletters!

• If you really like what you see, get your very own subscription to Antique Trader HERE.

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Dec. 12 sale features the lifetime metal mesh, vintage celebrity couture collection of Dennis & Terri LaMothe

Karen — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:41:00 GMT

IOLA, Wis. – Collect.com Auctions will present more than 400 lots of the Dennis & Terri LaMothe metal mesh collection in an Internet, absentee and phone auction closing Dec. 12. The LaMothe Collection is the largest assortment of metal mesh – mostly produced by Massachusetts’ famous Whiting & Davis Co. – ever to come to auction. It includes classic mesh handbags and iconic celebrity memorabilia from Cher and Lisa Hartman Black.

Lifetime collectors, the LaMothes spared no expense in building their comprehensive collection of metal mesh. “We did all kinds of crazy things,” said Dennis. “We started buying collections here and there — amassing them. We like to joke that our kids grew up at the auctions because we were there three, four, five times a week.” Added Terri: “Our one rule: They had to be in the best condition we could afford. We didn’t buy just to buy. We bought the very best and traded up.”

Throughout the better part of their married lives the two were well known as powerful, committed buyers. At one time the two employed between 20 and 30 pickers to scour the nation’s auctions, antiques shows and private collections for the best examples of Whiting & Davis, Mandalian Co. and other dazzling antique and vintage mesh handbags.

“This collection is just stunning in so many ways,” said Steve Bloedow, director of Collect.com Auctions. “The quality, the quantity, the variety — you just don’t find collections like this. With so many lots available during the online bidding, there is something for every collector — from jewelry to fashion, even gloves owned by Cher. The entire collection will impress anyone who views the lots.”

It was the LaMothes who the Whiting & Davis Co. contacted to create a 110-year retrospective on the firm’s best examples for its anniversary celebration. The company gave the couple exclusive and unfettered access to archives. As such, the sale contains more than 250 lots of stunning mesh handbags. The LaMothes took special pride in collecting unique pieces such the Whiting & Davis handbag decorated with enameled metal mesh in a shimmering likeness of Clark Gable (estimate $2,500-$3,000). Other specialty handbags include Mickey Mouse ($500-$1,000), Charlie Chaplin ($2,500-$3,000) and a special commemorative produced for the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair ($1,000-$1,200).

The auction will feature a comprehensive selection of Whiting & Davis’ highly desirable “El Sah” mesh handbags, including a circa 1920s example still retaining its delicate compact built into its gold tone metal handle (estimate $250-$350). The auction also features classic plain, enameled and colored Whiting & Davis lines such as Poiret, Gloria and Baby Peggy handbags. In addition to being the most complete collection of Whiting & Davis handbags, the collection is a shimmering cross-section of American vintage couture, including celebrity memorabilia including a pair of mesh gloves worn by Cher during the height of her late 1980s comeback tour.

The auction contains more than 100 selections of vintage fashion and couture. For example, a pair of silver-mesh gloves by designer Michael Schmidt from the personal collection of Cher is expected to make $750 to $1,500. The gloves hail from Cher’s late 1980s revival as she produced hits such as “If I Could Turn Back Time” and used mesh in many of her outrageous costumes. The lot includes a certificate of authenticity by the Walt Disney World Co. A dazzling red mesh top once owned by Lisa Hartman Black, actress and wife of country music star Clint Black, is expected to bring $500 to $800.

Besides producing its iconic mesh handbags, Whiting & Davis was one of the first companies to produce a prolific line of costume jewelry. As one of the oldest costume jewelers in the United States, its lines are of the kind currently enjoying a rise in popularity. The auction features a large selection of mesh necklaces and neckties, belts, bracelets, earrings and rings. Pieces are heavily influenced by Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Victorian revivals with huge, raised relief bangles and high quality intaglio cameos. Many retain the original Whiting & Davis cards and tags.

A fully illustrated catalog for Collect.com Auction’s Dec. 12 sale of the Dennis & Terri LaMothe Collection, plus additions, will be printed in the Nov. 25 issue of Antique Trader magazine or available by calling 888-463-3063 after Nov. 11. An online catalog will be viewable through the Web site www.Collect.com/Auctions.

All absentee forms of bidding are available through www.Collect.com/Auctions or by calling 888-463-3063, fax 715-445-4087 or e-mail at auctions@collect.com. The Dec. 12 auction features a 17 percent buyer’s premium. Visit Collect.com Auctions online at www.Collect.com/Auctions.

Photos courtesy Collect.com Auctions.

— Posted by Eric Bradley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Antique article shortcuts

Karen — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:57:56 GMT

Here's an easy way to get your antique news: click on the links below to read the articles:

Antique Trader breaks new ground with new “Collecting Depression Glass” online seminar

Portraits and pistols earn top prices at Garth’s

Liberace’s cousin’s estate draws standing room only

This Emilio Pucci designer dress with matching panties was sold at Liberace's cousin's estate auction in Wittenberg, Wis. Photo by Eric Bradley.

Brimfield completes Fiftieth Year Celebration

Jenkins Shows draws 20,000 for Springfield Extravaganza

Toy world mourns passing of Donald Kaufman

Depression glass collecting continues to evolve

Art Markets: Gallery label prompts investigation of attic find

Ask Antique Trader: Cheers! Robj liquor decanters worth $900

Posted by Karen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

More antique news -

Karen — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:02:41 GMT

And more antique news

Africa, Oceania, Asia art showcased in LA show

Competitive changes at Nottingham Shows in U.K.

Puchsteins take over West Palm Beach shows

Antique Trader online conference Nov. 5 - the Webinar with Ellen Schroy on Collecting Depression Glass ... I'm looking forward to it!

Making shows fun again: Zurko Promotions combines ad show with Grayslake event

Chippendale tiger maple desk hits $41,400 at estate sale

Rosewood cylinder desk soars to $49,450 at sale of Kirkwood Mansion contents

Jeffrey S. Evans to sell important antique sewing collection

RIA rounds up nearly $8M in September firearms auction

Masterpieces of pin-up art in Dallas auction Oct. 27

Chamberlain’s All-Star Game uniform slams it in at $72K in Grey Flannel auction

Many of these businesses are paid advertisers in Antique Trader magazine.

So much antique news ... so little time

Karen — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:56:14 GMT

so here are some quick shortcuts to some of our latest news stories and features.

Click on the headline to read the article:

Serious ToyzTM Fall ‘09 Online Vintage Toy & Collectible Auction ends Oct. 9-10

Lifetime collection of folk art to be sold Nov. 7 in Slotin Auction

Mr. Mint’s robots unleashed in Smith House Fall Auction

Rich Penn promises treats at Halloween auction

Red Baron’s Nov. 6-8 sale will feature one of the very first computers

Gatling gun hits the mark for $172K at Fontaine’s Civil War, Firearms and Militaria sale

Fine porcelains abound in Oct. 10 ‘Living’ Estates auction

$149,500 Marklin fire truck tops prices realized at Bertoia’s $3M sale of Kaufman toys, part II

Tucson Gem Show could see record turnout

Many of these businesses are paid advertisers in Antique Trader magazine.

dmg world media sells AntiqueWeek, three others in deal finalized late last week

Karen — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:30:27 GMT

KNIGHTSTOWN, Ind. – In a deal finalized late last week, dmg world media sold its Knightstown, Ind., publications, including its flagship antiques and collectibles newspaper AntiqueWeek. Included in the sale are publications AntiqueWest, The Auction Exchange and Collectors News and Farm World, billed as “the largest farm newspaper in the Midwest.”

The new owner is MidCountry Media, Inc., which has ties to the Mayhill family who founded AntiqueWeek in 1968 and sold it along with its other titles to dmg in 2000. dmg world media is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc, one of the largest and media companies in the United Kingdom.

Talks of a sale surfaced in October 2008 when employees were informed the Indiana titles were under contract to be sold. Since then, dmg has steadily sold segments of its antiques and collectibles businesses.

It sold the London-based newspaper Antiques Trade Gazette in October 2008. In June it sold four of the biggest antiques and collectors' fairs in the UK. In July, dmg sold back the Florida show known as “Palm Beach - America's International Fine Art & Antiques Fair” to its original owners, the Lester family.

In the case of Antiques Trade Gazette, it was employees who purchased the publication. The UK fairs (Newark, Ardingly, Shepton Mallet and Detling) are owned by a group, which includes a former dmg executive who oversaw the original acquisition in 1994.

AntiqueWeek is a national publication with The Auction Exchange and Collectors News focuses on the Great Lakes region and AntiqueWest focuses on the West Coast.

dmg owns The Avignon (France) International Trade Fair, The Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show, The Miami Beach Antique Jewelry & Watch Show, The New York Antique Jewelry and Watch Show, The Original Miami Beach Antique Show and the The Washington DC Antique, Art and Jewelry Show, which debuts Oct. 15-18.

dmg also publishes more than 40 related magazines, newspapers, directories and market reports and employs 700 people worldwide.

-posted by Eric Bradley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Valuable marketing tool for dealers: hold a show before the auction

Karen — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:31:16 GMT

This struck me as an innovative way to generate valuable pre-auction publicity, help educate the public and be a good citizen all at the same time.

Poster Auctions International and Long Island’s Cradle of Aviation Museum are teaming up to launch an exhibition of rare, early aviation posters. The exhibition, held on location at the museum opens tomorrow and runs through Oct. 18. The exhibition includes posters from private collections located around the world as well as the museum's permanent collection

Once the exhibit wraps up, the posters (not those from the museum's permanent collection) will be returned to Poster Auctions International in time for its bi-annual auction of rare, vintage posters on Sunday, Nov. 8.

What an interesting opportunity for both experienced and novice collectors visit a new museum to see a rare collection in one place at the same time. And what a savvy method to whet the appetite of poster dealers and collectors.

Skinner Discovery Auction Sept. 16-17 in Marlborough

Karen — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:54:20 GMT

What's more exciting than a discovery auction? Where you never know what you'll have the opportunity to buy?

Skinner's upcoming Sept. 16-17 sale will offer silver, jewelry, toys, dolls, American Indian arts and more. You can view an online auction preview at www.skinnerinc.com.

Here's a breakdown of the sessions:

Session I

Wednesday’s session offers over 200 lots of silver and silver plated flatware, hollowware and domestic accessories with work representing many of America’s leading silver manufacturers including Tiffany, Gorham, Dominick & Haff, Whiting, Arthur Stone as well as a selection of European 18th, 19th and 20th century articles. Immediately following the silver portion of the auction are over 300 lots of vintage and estate jewelry and accessories featuring gold, silver, and gem-stone jewelry as well as period eclectic, signed & designed costume jewelry, and examples of international wares from the British Isles to Thailand. Skinner’s silver and estate jewelry auctions provide a wonderful buying opportunity for quality and design at surprisingly affordable prices. Preview now at http://tinyurl.com/l3n6pd.

Session II

Thursday morning’s auction features Discovery's usual fare: a wide and varied offering of estate furnishings, decorative accessories, carpets & rugs, and artwork from the 18th - 20th century. A particularly strong group of furniture by the Boston area firm of A.H. Davenport/Irving & Cassons is included. Known for good design and impeccable workmanship, Kerry Shrives, VP, Director, Discovery Auctions, notes that “manufactured custom furniture by this firm continues to see strong demand, is affordable and is predicted to be desirable well into the future.” Rounding out the 800 lot session are interesting collections of vintage toys, dolls, bears and accessories. Closing the sale is more than 100 lots of American Indian and Ethnographic art featuring textiles, beadwork, Native American & Southwest jewelry, pre-Colombian artifacts and more.

You can participate at www.skinnerinc.com:

Skinner’s Web site now features real-time online bidding via the Skinner-Live! bid applet. Visit www.skinnerinc.com and click on the blue Skinner-Live! bidding button for full instructions prior to the auction. Once pre-registered on their Web site, you can join in the live bidding as soon as the auction begins and listen along with the real-time live audio feed of the auction from the comfort of your home or workplace.

Visit www.skinnerinc.com to sign up for their free eZine of upcoming arts & antiques auctions and events. ... free is good!

— Posted by Karen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Find us on Twitter HERE.
• Find us on Facebook HERE.
• Visit the Antique Trader Web site HERE. Sign up for our FREE newsletters!
• If you really like what you see, get your very own subscription to Antique Trader HERE.

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Valentine Antique Gallery leads to new full-service auction company

Karen — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:39:14 GMT

SUNBURY, Ohio – Jo Valentine, co-founder of central Ohio’s multi-dealer Valentine Antique Gallery, has established a new offshoot company in partnership with Ohio auctioneer Cynthia Schillig.

Known as The Antiques Auction Gallery, the new business will base its operation and conduct its sales at the 12,000-square-foot Valentine Antique Gallery in Sunbury. A debut auction is planned for Friday, Oct. 9, and will include Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com.

Valentine (left in photo) said the new business was launched with Schillig (right in photo) to serve a growing need in the region for a full-service auction house specializing in antiques, fine and decorative art, collections and estates.

“When my husband John and I first opened our auction gallery in 2003, we wanted to include auctions, but we were so busy, those plans got sidetracked,” said Valentine. “During the six years that we’ve operated our gallery, we’ve noticed that there is a need here locally for an antiques and fine-art auction house. There are auctions in central Ohio, but they handle mostly box lots. Not a week passes that we don’t get several calls from sons and daughters of parents who are downsizing or who have passed away, telling us they don’t know what to do with all the articles in the family home.”

Valentine said that when Schillig expressed an interest in co-founding an auction company, she knew she had found the right partner for her new endeavor. “Cindi is highly qualified. She has three auctioneer degrees and is a certified estate specialist, but what impressed me most was her love for the auction business and her incredible enthusiasm. For years she had been planning a trip to Greece, but when she thought our first sale might be held in September, at the same time as her trip, she was prepared to change her travel arrangements. I told her, ‘Don’t do that. Take your trip, have a great time, and come back refreshed and ready to work.’ So that’s why we chose October 9th as our first sale date.”

Valentine said the plan is to hold monthly auctions featuring fine art, porcelain, pottery, glass, silver, Oriental rugs, lighting, and collections of various types, including antique toys and dolls. The premiere auction will contain between 300 and 350 lots.

“Luckily, we have some very knowledgeable dealers selling through our gallery who will serve as our expert appraisers and catalogers,” said Valentine. “Another nice feature to our operation is that we have ample gallery space, so the auction goods can be previewed over an extended period of time prior to auction day.”

The Antiques Auction Gallery and Valentine Antique Gallery are located at 579 W. Cherry St. in Sunbury, Ohio, just off exit 131 of Interstate 71, 13 miles north of Columbus and 120 miles south of Cleveland.
For information about consigning to The Antiques Auction Gallery, call 740-965-9519. E-mail info@valentineantiquegallery.com. Visit both galleries online at www.valentineantiquegallery.com.

Antique headline shortcuts anyone?

Karen — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:24:44 GMT

Antiques trade mourns icon’s passing

Springfield Antiques Show turns great finds

Dealers show rare and unusual items at Nashville glass show

Antique show fund raiser earns nearly $4,000 for animal shelter- (I thought this was a great idea!)

All Saints Show highly praised by dealers

Baltimore Summer Show: Designed to dazzle

Guyette & Schmidt, Inc. summer decoy auction grosses $1.3 million

Hal Hunt to auction the contents of famous Alabama antebellum home Sept. 5

Historic rifle from the Battle of Little Big Horn offered at Kaminski’s August auction

Seldom-seen antique maps, atlases offered in Old World Auctions’ online sale

Penn Auctions wins six NAA marketing awards this week

Karen — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:31:49 GMT

The National Auctioneers Association has awarded Rich Penn Auctions six different first place marketing awards at its annual convention and conference in Overland Park, Kan. this week.

The annual competition is presented July 13-18 in partnership with USA TODAY and this year judges reviewed over a thousand entries.

Penn Auctions was named first place in the categories of color catalog for antique auctions, color catalog for liquidation auctions and color printed material for automotive auctions as well as for online catalogs for both antique auctions and liquidation auctions and for black and white newspaper advertising.

Penn’s company specializes in auctions of country store, drug store, petroliana and advertising antiques.

Antique Trader Blog - Antiques Auction

What do Pere Noel and a creepy foot have in common?

Heritage Auctions NYC Gallery opens Sept. 1

Precious metal coins in Friday auction are on investors’ radar

Doll made for Victor Hugo brings $116K, doll from Anne Rice collection brings $40K

No buyer's premium for this company

Mated pair of Andrew Clemens sand art bottles surface ... again

Record set for Lalanne sculptures

Weekend event offers Western shopping

Rare preliminary watercolor from Pinocchio on the auction block

Antique map at auction shows early Washington before District of Columbia

Blue & White Pottery Club to convene in June

Better paper on the way

Fleming’s James Bond novels sell big

Check out Antique Auction Podcast

LiveAuctioneers.com, Dreweatts announce marketing partnership

Antique occupational shaving mug brings $8,500

JFK love letters bring $115,000

Chattanooga antiques market sees some promise

$104M sculpture becomes most expensive work ever sold at auction

'Lost' Georgia O'Keefe painting brings $225,150

Cloisonné vases abandoned in storage unit sell for $52,900 at auction

Historian's $5M+ collection of American documents in NYC auction

Don't miss the antique auction news

Winds, rain tear through Scottsdale, devastates auction

Woody Auction to hold 'cabin fever' sale Feb. 13 in Wichita and on Proxibid

When is a nickel worth $3.7 million?

Jackson's International knows the key to success

Helpful links to antiques auctions and news

Antiques news you won't want to miss

Artfact gets $13M in venture capital, merges with Auctionzip.com

Closing Date Extended in Collect.com Vintage Handbag Auction

It really is in the mail today ...

Bertoia announces date change for spring 2010 Kaufman sale

Tempting and intriguing lots with nary a bid

Antique auctions galore: previews and highlights

Bidding opens today for Collect.com's first antiques/collectibles auction

More antiques article shortcuts

Everyone likes shortcuts

Milagros are the spotlight of this week's Antique Trader

Free collectibles auction catalog available for download

Dec. 12 sale features the lifetime metal mesh, vintage celebrity couture collection of Dennis & Terri LaMothe

Antique article shortcuts

More antique news -

So much antique news ... so little time

dmg world media sells AntiqueWeek, three others in deal finalized late last week

Valuable marketing tool for dealers: hold a show before the auction

Skinner Discovery Auction Sept. 16-17 in Marlborough

Valentine Antique Gallery leads to new full-service auction company

Antique headline shortcuts anyone?

Penn Auctions wins six NAA marketing awards this week