Market Report — Lego Still One of the Hottest Collectibles

Most of us are familiar with Lego, whether it’s from building sets ourselves, buying them for kids—or recognizing them as one of today’s hottest collectibles. There is an estimate that seven Lego sets are sold by retailers every second. The market for vintage and used sets is impressive, too. Recent research focused on online sales […]

Duffner & Kimberly

Q: I bought this metal and wood object at an estate sale advertised on line last year. Two conical forms, one with a cover at the apex and the other without, are mounted on a rectangular piece of stained wood. Suspended between the two cones is a removable basket. All the metal pieces have a […]

M D Mark

Q: Can you identify this mark with the initials “M” and “D” beneath a tree? I’d like to know who the maker is and the age of this tray. A: This mark was used by Max Dannhorn, a company founded in Nuremberg, Germany, in 1872. The tree mark was registered in 1895. The number on […]

Quality Reproduction Furniture  

Are you a “collector” or “decorator”? If you’re a collector, you are looking for quality antique furniture. If you’re a decorator, well, age doesn’t matter. Whether the furniture you’re seeking is old or new but looks old, don’t overlook reproduction furniture. Good reproductions are exact copies made of slightly different materials and cost a lot […]

Market Report — Comic Books

Comic books are hot collectibles, with those published between 1938 and 1979 being the most collectible. Many superheroes, including Batman and Superman, made their first appearances during that time in what are called “origin issues.”   “Batman is always very collectible. He’s still the No. 1 seller even today. Early Supermans are also on the top,” […]

Market Report — Enamels Are Hot

Artistic enameled objects were made for the aristocracy and the church in the Middle Ages, but it wasn’t until the 19th century that enamel was a popular medium used by artists. A Treadway auction offered antique and vintage enameled bowls, boxes and plaques made by the “Boston School” artists, who were among the first to […]

Market Report — Jigsaw Puzzles

The first “dissecting” puzzle was created in 1762 by map engraver John Spilsbury. He mounted his maps onto wood and cut around the countries in order to help children learn geography. Soon more educational puzzles were being made with other maps, as well as farms and religious scenes. The term jigsaw comes from the saw, […]

How to Buy & Sell — Barbed Wire

The first barbed wire was patented by Lucien Smith of Kent, Ohio, in 1867. More than 1,500 different varieties of barbed wire are known. Collectors prefer pieces that are eighteen inches in length. A group of pieces would be mounted on a board with the history. Barbed wire was easy to find before the 1960s […]

Market Report — Curtis Jeré Wall Hangings

From shag carpet to light fixtures, home décor of the 1960s is rising again in popularity, possible because of nostalgia by baby boomers. The low-priced metal wall hangings of Curtis Jeré, popular between 1963 and 1972, are part of that trend. In recent years, the metal sculptures of birds, trees, bridges and sunbursts (to name […]

Market Report — Silver Flatware

Grandmother’s sterling silver flatware may look nice on her dinner table but if you’re like most millennials, what has been nicknamed the “good silver” isn’t necessarily something that matches your casual style. What will become of Granny’s forks, knives and spoons when nobody wants it? Selling sterling flatware at auction is an option some choose. […]