Pointing the Way to Rustic Weather Vanes

Before instant weather reports and radar, farmers and others relied on weather vanes to indicate incoming weather. Weather vanes placed atop city and rural buildings (usually barns), have become desirable folk art pieces. A recent Copake auction in New York included 50 vintage weather vanes shaped like eagles, horses, dogs, roosters, bees, grasshoppers, cows, goats, […]

Mickey Mouse Toy

$32,450 sounds like a lot for a Mickey Mouse organ grinder toy, even one with the original box. The Distler lithographed tin toy was made about 1930 in Germany. It sold at Hake’s Auctions in November 2019.  

The Portland Vase

The Portland Vase is a Roman two-handled glass amphora dated between 1 A.D. and 25 A.D. It is dark blue glass decorated with white figures and is the finest surviving Roman example of cameo glass. It was owned by the Duchess of Portland in the 18th century. The vase has been extensively copied, particularly during […]

Binnacle Compass

Q: I found this antique binnacle compass and can’t come up with any information about it. The metal label says, “Kelvin & Wilfrid O. White, Nautical Instruments” and lists addresses in Boston, New York and Montreal. What year was it made and what is the value? A: Kelvin & Wilfrid O. White was a company […]

Design Miami – Art and Design in Miami Beach 2019

Every year the art world descends on Miami Beach. One of the most important high-end art fairs in the world, Art Basel Miami, brings the top dealers from around the world to sell well-known artists’ work to major collectors, museums and other dealers. Its sister fair, Design Miami, attracts the top design and jewelry dealers. […]

Hot and Heavy: Collectible Irons

Four hundred irons from a single 1,000-piece collection were recently auctioned by Hartzell’s Auction Gallery, Inc. of Pennsylvania. The collectors’ names were, ironically, Dave and Sue Irons. A rare brass “Champion” revolving fuel iron, one of only two known, brought the highest price, selling with its original trivet for $20,295. The base of the iron […]

Pantone Color of the Year

The color of the year 2020, announced by Pantone, is the blue tone of flow blue china. Classic Blue is a restful color that “brings a sense of peace and tranquility to the human spirit, offering refuge.” Good choice for our mixed-up world, but it is a color I have used for years.

DFB Mark on Plate

Q: I would like to know the origin or any information you can provide on this ceramic plate. It’s marked with an eagle holding arrows above the letters “DFB.” A: The initials in the mark stand for “De Fuisseaux Baudour” and was used by one of several potteries in Baudour, Belgium. The factory traces its […]

Mexican Silver Jewelry Attracting Interest

Mexican silver you splurged on while vacationing may be worth much more than you expect, especially if purchased in Taxco. This is due to its design, high-quality materials and workmanship. A recent John Moran Auctioneers of California sale featured a large collection of Mexican silver pieces, including rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, pendants and coffee services. […]

Honus Wagner Baseball Card

A Honus Wagner baseball card sold for $1.2 million in May 2019, topping the $776,750 paid for a different Wagner card in 2016. But, more than cards, collectors seem to want things like shirts or autographed bats that can be displayed so those prices are going up.