Old Tankard Holds Plenty of Mystery

Found on the Connecticut shore after a hurricane in 1938, this tankard overflows with mystery. Q: I have a 5 1/2-inch tall tankard that my grandfather found on the Connecticut shore after the 1938 hurricane. The inscription on the front looks like NYBC, June 18 ‘00 First Class. I wondered if it was a boat […]

#Whatsitwednesday

Be the first to guess the pictured item by leaving a comment below. If you have your own whatsit, our editors may include it in a future post. Please email editor@kovels.com and attach a clear picture, the size, and any markings. Hopefully, we will be able to identify it for our readers! The dimensions are […]

Rediscovering Royalty: A Forgotten Portrait of Henry VIII Resurfaces

Collectors and historians alike know how exciting it is to find something you recognize in an unexpected place. As art historian Adam Busiakiewicz described in a blog post on July 4, he was scrolling through social media site X (previously called Twitter) and caught a glimpse of a painting in the background of a photo […]

A Look Inside of the August Issue of Kovels Antique Trader

From Sears kit houses and a monstrous collection of horror comic book art to the company that offered kids whoopee cushions, the new issue of Kovels Antique Trader is full of wonder and excitement. A shortage of affordable homes challenges many in the U.S. today. But more than 100 years ago, a would-be homeowner could […]

#Whatsitwednesday

Be the first to guess the pictured item by leaving a comment below. If you have your own whatsit, our editors may include it in a future post. Please email editor@kovels.com and attach a clear picture, the size, and any markings. Hopefully, we will be able to identify it for our readers! The dimensions are […]

Overbeck Pottery

A History of Sisters Doing It for Themselves Elizabeth and Mary Frances Overbeck, Overbeck Pottery, The Sower vase, c. 1920, 10 1/4 in. h. by 6 in. dia., $43,750, Rago. Overbeck Pottery was established in 1911 by sisters Margaret, Hannah, Elizabeth, and Mary Frances Overbeck in their Cambridge City, Indiana, home with the goal of […]

The Beauty of Barrera

By Pamela Wiggins Siegel Barrera rose brooch with aurum rhinestones, early 2000s, $125-$175. As an admirer of bold, colorful, wearable costume jewelry, I’ve had my eye on pieces by José and María Barrera for quite some time. Every now and then, I’d pop into Neiman Marcus, especially during the early 2000s, and give their jewels […]

#Whatsitwednesday

Be the first to guess the pictured item by leaving a comment below. If you have your own whatsit, our editors may include it in a future post. Please email editor@kovels.com and attach a clear picture, the size, and any markings. Hopefully, we will be able to identify it for our readers! The dimensions are […]

On Any Given Sundae – Here’s the Scoop on Ice Cream Collectibles

Ice cream memorabilia collectors scream for a variety of antique and vintage ice cream-related goodies. By Kris Manty “Three Ice Cream Cones” by Wayne Thiebaud, 1964, oil on canvas, 12 in. by 15 in., $4,980,000. Christie’s As temperatures rise, thoughts of ice cream make taste buds tingle for this delicious frozen treat. Though ice cream’s […]

Titian Painting with Outrageous Backstory Sells for More than $22 Million at Christie’s

What comes next for a painting that launched a Renaissance master’s career, hung in a Habsburg palace, was stolen twice and recovered at a bus stop? An auction record for the artist, of course. Setting an auction record is probably the least surprising thing that happened to Titian’s painting The Rest on the Flight into […]