The variety of human expressions cast as jewelry is vast. So are values, styles and quality. Technically, a face pin might be a museum-quality cameo carving worth thousands of dollars or a major plastic physiognomy by Elzac’s Elliot Handler. In this column jewelry expert Kathy Flood reviews the use, art and values of faces in figural costume jewelry. Read More +
Sèvres porcelain was favored by European royalty, the aristocracy of the 19th century, and the 20th century’s great collectors. Its story begins in 1708, when, following frenzied experimentation, as German alchemist Johann Bottger discovered the formula for strong, delicate, translucent hard-paste porcelain. Learn more about this exquisite art and how the market treats the difference between Sèvres and Sèvres-style porcelain.
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Elliot Handler, the inventor of Hot Wheels, co-founder of Mattel and wife of Ruth Handler (creator of the Barbie doll) died July 21, 2011. Author and jewlery expert Kathy Flood shares with us ten facts about the fascinating life and legacy Mr. Handler left on American pop culture … and the costume jewelry world.
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A September 2011 sale offers a rare glimpse at the work of a group of painters strongly tied to Western Pennsylvania. Like the Hudson River School, the Scalp Level School was a loosely knit group of artists who trekked into the woods to capture the fading beauty of America’s countryside. Iinstead of leaving New York City to paint scenic views of the Hudson River Valley or the Catskills, they left the smoky streets of Pittsburgh to paint sweeping landscapes near Johnston, Pa., and beyond.
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The Revell toy company was founded by Lewis H. Glaser circa 1950. One of Glaser’s first toys in 1951 was an inspired merger of two of young boys’ favorite playthings: cap guns and cars. The toy has a 1/16th-scale mid-’teens Maxwell roadster that had a wire cable topped with a thumb-and-two-finger grab handle. Its chassis had a contact through which a roll of caps could be fed.
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Glasshouse whimsies – whether they are entirely free-form or created from production glass pieces – are items made by glassworkers to show off their skills. Whimsies, often given the misnomers "end-of-day" or "lunch-hour" pieces, are known as "friggers" in England. They are non-production pieces; other than the use of factory glass, the whimsies have no connection to the glass factory.
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With Captain America: The First Avenger opening in theaters July 22, folks are unearthing many Cap collectibles and wondering what they have and, more importantly, what it’s worth. In this free, 12-page color download, we give you identification and prices for Captain America comic books and collectibles and history on the character!
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West German Pottery expert Forrest Poston, owner of Ginforsodditiques.com, talks with Antique Trader about this diverse pottery and what collectors need to know about makers, designers, "fat lava" and why collecting the small colorful vases can get addicting.
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Despite an increase in availability, West German pottery remains primarily an Internet collectible. This presents difficulties for collectors who are curious, having heard terms such as “fat lava” and perhaps a few company names. Expert Forrest Poston offers an overview of the market and tips new collectors should mind when starting a collection.
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Did you know some authentic vintage Japanese tin robots made in Japan have an American company logo? Test your knowledge of these Space Age playthings with Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know: VIntage Japanese Tin Robots.
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