Menorahs

There are two kinds of Jewish menorahs. The six-branch menorah with a seventh center candleholder is used in Jewish temples. The Hanukkah menorah, used only during the eight-day holiday, has eight branches and a special central candleholder. Each day, candles are lit to represent the day of the holiday–one the first day, two the second […]

Holly Amber Glass

Holly Amber glass, also called Golden Agate, was made by the Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Co. of Greentown, Ind., for six months in 1903. The rare pressed glass has a border of holly leaves. A record price, $9,500, was paid in September 2012 for a toothpick holder on a pedestal stem. See more information on […]

L.C. Tiffany

Interested in the works of L.C. Tiffany? The fear of a catastrophic earthquake near the Tiffany Garden Museum collection in Japan has led to the Nov. 17-18 sale of the museum’s collection by Michaan’s Auctions in Alameda, Calif. The collection of works by Louis C. Tiffany will include lamps, windows, vases, enamels, mosaics, and paintings. […]

Toy Boat Excitement

Check this section each week for our choice of the trend-setting events, sales, shows, museum exhibits, and conventions ahead. Last week a catalog arrived, I glanced at it, then sat down and studied every page of the coming auction of toy boats and other nautical toys from a famous collection. The catalog for the sale, […]

Shawnee Pottery

Pieces made by Shawnee Pottery (1937-1961) are popular and inexpensive. Probably best-known are the dinnerware pieces from sets of Corn King, made from 1946 to 1954; Corn Queen, made from 1954 to 1981; and the figural cookie jars. Any jars that were imperfect were kept aside and sold to employees or to the public in the […]

Lamps and Lightbulbs

Vintage lamps may now have to be altered to accommodate the new types of light bulbs. But this has a happened before. In 1860 kerosene was the fuel used for light. Electricity, introduced in 1879, made the cost of lighting much lower and old lamps were adapted or discarded. For more information on lighting, lamps, […]

Identifying Prints

Many things determine the price of an antique or collectible. Prints are especially difficult to judge if you’re a beginner. You must learn to recognize a print, etching, engraving, lithograph, chromolithograph, photograph, and modern copies of oil paintings, watercolors, pastels, hand-colored prints or enhanced oil paintings. Each one is in a different price range.  See […]

Old Radios

  The Sparton Nocturne radio is one of the most wanted of all old radios. It was designed by the famous Walter Dorwin Teague. The 46-inch-high Art Deco cabinet made of midnight blue mirrored glass was ahead its time in 1935 when it was made. The price when new was $350. For more information and […]

Stereoviews

Stereoviews, also called stereocards, were popular from about 1840 to 1930. Two pictures were taken from slightly different locations. Then they were mounted on a stiff card and viewed through a stereoscope with two lenses. Just like the stereo movies made today, the method of photography made the pictures look 3-D. Collector associations include the […]

Firefighting Items