Kovels Antique Trader Debut Issue – August 2023

Thrifty Threads…Archival Fashion…Lamps and Lighting…Catalin Radios…’70s and ’80s Toys…Magic Memorabilia…John Dillinger & Gangster Memorabilia…Fruit Salad Jewelry…Thrift Shop Tourism…Ceramics Marks…Collector’s Gallery      

Galleria Spinelli Brass Vase

Q: Can you tell me what this is? It is marked on the bottom: GALLERIA SPINELLI ROMA and a hallmark. Thank you. A: You have of a brass vase made in the Galleria Spinelli studios in Rome, Italy. This studio might have a connection to the artist Gaetano Spinelli (1877-1945), but he was active primarily […]

Ceramics

Whenever we are asked about what to collect, we always stress that you should collect what you like and what you want to live with. Fortunately, with the incredible diversity of ceramics available, everyone should be able to find an area they will enjoy. No matter your passion, whether it is Fiesta or a prized […]

Public Enemy No. 1

One of the nation’s most notorious criminals, John Dillinger rose to infamy during the Gangster Era of the Great Depression. An upcoming auction thrusts the desperado back into the headlines. By Paul Kennedy During the Great Depression, many Americans, nearly helpless against economic forces they didn’t understand, celebrated outlaws who took what they wanted at […]

Action Figures and Toys Showcase 1970s and ’80s Fun

The 1970s and ’80s were golden ages for entertainment geared toward kids, a time when movies and TV shows were dominated by brave superheroes, out-of-this-world sci-fi adventures and action-packed cartoons. To have an amazing time, all you needed was a little imagination—and the kinds of treasures sold at Heritage Auctions’ June 8, Action Figures and […]

From Cartier to Costume, The Unmistakable Beauty of Fruit Salad Jewelry

There are lots of nicknames costume jewelry collectors have given their favorite styles over the years. None are so fun, perhaps, as “Fruit Salad.” This term pertains to adornment made by one of the giants in the costume jewelry business to imitate a particular type of Art Deco era fine jewelry. And, as with many […]

Thrift Shop Tourism

In cars, on buses or while sailing the seas, Patti Clark, Florida’s Happy Thrifter, treats her guests like Resale Queens. By Wayne Jordan When Patti Clark stepped into an elevator aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, she was dressed “to the nines” in her thrift shop cocktail dress. A woman behind her leaned forward and […]

Glass Candy Dish with Gold

Q: I’m cleaning out my mother’s house and came across this lovely glass candy dish. I’m not sure if the piece is pressed glass or cut glass. I know so little about glass. What do you think? A: To start with, your glass piece is magnificent. With only a photograph to go by, my guess […]

Scheming Gallery Owner Pleads Guilty to Fraud

Wendy Halsted Beard, a former gallerist in Birmingham, Michigan, recently pleaded guilty to defrauding multiple clients out of a total of over $1.5 million. Beard owned the Wendy Halsted Gallery, formerly the Halsted Gallery, which she inherited from her father. The gallery delt in fine art photography, taking prints worth thousands of dollars on consignment. […]

Kovels Antique Trader Makes its Debut

Welcome to a new beginning, the debut of Kovels Antique Trader. We’re delighted to have you with us on this exciting adventure that brings together two proud, pioneering brands to create a new collector experience, a new brand and a new monthly magazine that colorfully covers the antiques and collectibles community with vigor, insight and curiosity. […]