DENVER, Pa. – A large percentage of the world’s population has never even seen a dial-face telephone, but that certainly wasn’t the case with the late Bill Daniels. The massive collection of antique and vintage phones that filled his home comprised a chronological archive of Alexander Graham Bell’s 1876 invention and contained models ranging from primitive turn of the 20th century curiosities to ultra-cool mid-century designs. Read More +
From its inception in 1998, the Alameda Point Antiques and Collectibles Faire has lived up to its mission to encourage people to buy and sell treasures from the past. Allen Michaan, the fair’s founder and president, recognized a great opportunity for a wide-ranging antiques event when the Alameda Naval Air Station closed in 1997. Read More +
WOODSTOCK, Conn. – The lifetime, single-owner bottle and flask collection of Tom McCandless – a dedicated collector whose recent passing left a void in the bottle and glass collecting field – will be sold in three antique bottle auction sessions. Read More +
Like most collectible areas, the glass market is slowly recovering from tough market conditions. Prices of smalls were off 20 to 40 percent because of the recession. Like the real estate market, glass experienced a bubble of unrealistically high prices. In this excerpt we look at which segments of glass collecting show strength and why the market is less regionalized than it was before the crash.
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For almost 50 years, more than a dozen century-old buildings in the farming community of Scotch Grove, Iowa, have guarded a time capsule. Recently, representatives from two auction companies opened the doors of these 16 buildings to find hundreds of thousands of retail, wholesale and service items still on shelves and floors — some still in their original packaging and store displays. The discoveries will be sold Sept. 15-17, 2011.
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Despite plenty of competitors, Lifetime’s new "Picker Sisters" has found a niche offering a vintage-centric show from a feminine perspective. In an exclusive interview with Antique Trader, star Tanya McQueen talks about the show and how her rural Texas upbringing helps her turn farm scraps into Hollywood ‘junque.’
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The big bats in the flask collectors league were hot during a July 25, 2011 Internet and phone auction of nearly 400 early flasks, bottles and stoneware. Among the most sought-after items in the auction were three 1840-1850 flasks from the Louisville, Ky., glass works. Lot 59, a marked "Louisville Glass Works" scroll flask in a brilliant olive-yellow color was the highlight of the sale. Estimated at $6,000 to 8,000, it hammering at $31,050.
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One reader asks if their Fish Bitters bottle is the same as a version that brought $8,500 at auction last year. Vintage and collectible bottle expert and author Michael Pollack says the fish-shaped bitters bottle is a common form throughout modern bottle history. Unfortunately the owner’s find is actually a reproduction wine bottle issued by in 1973.
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A huge, private collection offered this month carries everything from vintage autos and advertising to diverse selections of railroad memorabilia. A nod to the sale’s diversity: bidders will even have their choice of two copper liquor stills. Some of the many petroliana offerings include oil cans from Esso, Imperial, Valvoline, Texaco, Illinois, Sinclair, Gulf, Sears (full), Saphire, Artex and more.
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