Memorial Day History is Rooted in Post-Civil War Years

This year, Memorial Day is May 27. We observe the holiday with parades, flags flying, and outdoor parties on the last Monday in May, but it wasn’t always this way. And what better way to honor memories than to look to the past? The first formal declaration for a day for Americans to honor the […]

#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 send an email to 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 […]

Christie’s Spring Auctions Bloom Record Sales Despite Cyber Attack

Andy Warhol’s “Flowers.” Photo: Christie’s A security breach brought Christie’s auction house website down on the evening of May 9, just days before a week of important art auctions. While staff raced against time to solve the issue, a temporary website was set up for prospective bidders to view the auction lots. On May 19, […]

Kensington Palace Unveiled: Where Royalty Roamed

Discover the rich history, elegant spaces, and hidden stories within the walls of Kensington Palace. From royal childhood rooms to captivating exhibitions, this iconic London landmark invites you on a journey fit for kings and queens. Kensington Palace – South Front Entrance, WikiCommons Kensington Palace, nestled within the lush Kensington Gardens in London, England, is […]

A Cut Above: The Barbershop Collection of James Carpenter

Collectors enjoy a close shave at a barbershop memorabilia event. An Ever-Ready Safety Razor wooden advertising wall clock, early 20th century, 22 in. h by 18 in. w, $1,524. Barbershop collectibles have been a popular collecting category for more than 100 years, and the choice items offered at Freeman’s | Hindman’s sale “A Cut Above: […]

#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 send an email to 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 […]

Cyber-attack Cripples Christie’s Website on Eve of $840 Million in Art Auctions

Hackers took down the website but couldn’t stop the season’s most important auctions, including the sale of works by van Gogh, Picasso, and Basquiat. Facade of Christie’s auction house, with flags and doorman visible, in Manhattan, New York City, New York, September 15, 2017. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) Christie’s is one of the world’s […]

Culturally Priceless Caravaggio Painting Rescued from Auction Now on Exhibit

Experts recognized an auction lot as a lost painting by Baroque master Caravaggio. Now the recovered painting depicting a scene from the Passion of Christ is going on exhibit at Madrid’s Prado Museum. “Ecce Homo” (after restoration). Image courtesy of private collection/via Prado Museum Sometimes, treasures hide in plain sight at auctions. In 2021, Ansorena, […]

Father’s Classic Catalin

Q: My father was an engineer, but his real passion was old radios. He loved to tinker with them in his basement workshop. Hundreds of radios came and went, but this one he held onto. It was his favorite. When he passed away, most of what could be salvaged went to his radio buddies, but […]

Exploring the Eclectic Collections of the Sir John Soane’s Museum

From antiquities to oddities, take a journey through Sir John Soane’s timeless legacy. Sir John Soane’s Museum, nestled next to Lincoln’s Inn Fields in Holborn, London, is a historic house turned museum that once belonged to the eminent neo-classical architect John Soane. This extraordinary space offers a glimpse into the life and work of the visionary English […]