Decoding Spode: Spode Mark Explained

Q: What can you tell me about this set of dishes? It would be great to have some information about where these family dishes came from. Thank you in advance. A: The mark on your dishes has a lot of information if you know how to look for it. “Elaine” is the pattern name, “Spode” […]

Me and Harry Potter

Image courtesy of Thomas Taylor and Sotheby’s Thomas Taylor was just 23 when he was hired to create the book cover art for J.K. Rowling’s 1997 novel, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.” That original illustration sold for $1,920,000 at Sotheby’s in late June. Now a best-selling author in his own right, Taylor shares his […]

#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 […]

Guyette & Deeter Auction Featured Bird Beauties

ELMER CROWELL (1862-1952) of East Harwich, Mass., was one of the greatest decoy makers and bird carvers of all time. The lifelike quality of his three-dimensional portrayals of American wildfowl is unsurpassed. Crowell acquired his understanding of bird anatomy and plumage patterns during a lifetime of observing and hunting Cape Cod’s abundant indigenous and migratory […]

Jewelry That’s Artsy and Fun? Everyone Knows It’s Wendy Gell

By Pamela Wiggin Siegel When I started collecting and selling vintage jewelry in the 1980s, there was lots of buzz about fashion accessories in general because, like the permed hair and shoulder pads everyone was wearing, the adornment was also big. Like most of my fellow jewelry enthusiasts, I not only took note of older […]

Woodblock Wonders

Dating back to the 8th century, Japanese woodblock art is celebrated at Ukiyoe Gallery. Celebrated for their distinctive aesthetic and one-of-a-kind technique, woodblock prints are a widely recognized and iconic form of Japanese art dating back to the 8th century. Japanese woodblock prints are also known as ukiyo-e, which translates into “pictures of the floating […]

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 […]