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Kris Manty

Articles From This Author

Alva Vanderbilt at her official opening of the chateau in March 1883, in her costume of a "Venetian Renaissance Lady." The photographer apparently added the birds in later, for whatever reason.
Blog

The Vanderbilt Ball of 1883

By Kris MantyMar 23, 2022
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American Fine Art

Sculptor Edmonia Lewis a Pioneer for Women, Minority Artists

By Kris MantyFeb 16, 2022
Taylor wearing the former Krupp diamond, as well as the chandelier ear pendants Mike Todd gave her.
Jewelry

The Stories Behind Elizabeth Taylor's Legendary Jewelry

By Kris MantyFeb 9, 2022
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Auctions

Rare Tiffany Medusa Pendant Sells for Record $3.65 Million

By Kris MantyJan 25, 2022
A two-stone diamond engagement ring, 1960s, in the Toi et Moi style, which is one of the trends for engagement rings in 2022. Toi et Moi (French for you and me) was made popular during the late Victorian era; $1,623.
Jewelry

How to Shop for Antique and Vintage Engagement Rings

By Kris MantyJan 18, 2022
One of a set of 10 Bentley photomicrographs of snowflakes, circa late 1890s-1920s, that sold as a set at Sotheby’s for $10,000.
Postcards & Photography

Vermont Farmer First to Capture Photos of Snowflakes in 1885

By Kris MantyJan 11, 2022
Two Civil War officers play a fife and drum around a keg in this cobalt-brushed crock by Manhattan potter William Macquoid and from the Bud and Judy Newman Collection. It sold for $51,660.
Auctions

Notable Collections That Hit Auction Block in 2021

By Kris MantyJan 5, 2022
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Collectibles

Belsnickles: 10 Things You Didn't Know About These Christmas Figures

By Kris MantyDec 22, 2021
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Articles

Aluminum Trees Are Yuletide Cool

By Kris MantyDec 14, 2021
Shiny Brite double star flower indent glass ornaments
Articles

The History of Shiny Brite Ornaments

By Kris MantyDec 7, 2021
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Auctions

Fashion Auction Features 'Decades of Decadence'

By Kris MantyDec 3, 2021
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News

Mid-Century Modern Holiday Gift Ideas

By Kris MantyDec 1, 2021
The interior of the grater.
Collectibles

The Spicy History of Nutmeg and Nutmeg Graters

By Kris MantyNov 23, 2021
This Dachshund/Lucky Pup balloon floated down Broadway in 1950.
News

Macy’s Parade a Thanksgiving Tradition

By Kris MantyNov 22, 2021
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News

Lost for 100 Years, Fabergé's Rare T-Rex Sells for $65,000

By Kris MantyNov 17, 2021
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Vintage Fashion

Rare Gowns Found in Trunks Unpack Important Fashion History

By Kris MantyMar 17, 2022
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American Glass

Tiffany Window Shines Light on Carolina Parakeets

By Kris MantyNov 10, 2021
This bat brooch has a gray baroque pearl body with extending translucent light blue enamel and single-cut diamond wings and the gold head has cabochon ruby eyes and single-cut diamond ears. This sold at Christie’s for $3,055.
Jewelry

Bats Soar High in Art Nouveau Jewelry

By Kris MantyOct 31, 2021
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Vintage Fashion

Victorian Costume Ideas for Halloween and Fancy Dress Balls

By Kris MantyOct 29, 2021
Model and pinup girl Lillian Wells, 1940s. Wells later got into acting and is known for "Dead Reckoning," "Down to Earth" and "Framed," all from 1947.
Postcards & Photography

Say Cheese(cake): Vintage Halloween Pinups a Scream

By Kris MantyOct 27, 2021
Tapestry 7: The Unicorn in Captivity. This tapestry shows the unicorn alive and well, and entirely tamed. He is fenced in and chained to a tree, but the chain is less than secure and the fence is low enough to leap over. He has submitted to his captivity. The red stains on his flank, according to the Met, “do not appear to be blood, as there are no visible wounds like those in the hunting series; rather, they represent juice dripping from bursting pomegranates” — a medieval symbol of marriage and fertility. Many of the other plants represented here, such as wild orchid and thistle, echo this theme of marriage and procreation: they were acclaimed in the Middle Ages as fertility aids for both men and women.
Art

Mysterious Medieval Tapestries Depict Unicorn Hunt

By Kris MantyOct 24, 2021
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Postcards & Photography

The Man Who Photographed 'Ghosts'

By Kris MantyOct 20, 2021
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Folk Art

Rare Sand Art By Andrew Clemens Sets World Record

By Kris MantyOct 13, 2021
This miniature grand piano in Louis XVI style was made by Mikhail Perkhin. It’s made of nephrite with mounts of red and green gold, and the keyboard is opaque black and white enamel. Foliate swag mounts are around the edge and the top is hinged; 2” x 2.8” x 2”. Judging by her acquisitions, Queen Mary was particularly fond of Fabergé’s miniature objets de fantasie, which include several examples of miniature furniture in the form of bonbonnières. These objects afforded the craftsman the opportunity to demonstrate skill in applying specialist techniques to replicate the real materials of the full-scale object. This miniature piano of Siberian nephrite is carved and polished to resemble ebonized wood. The lid opens for use as a bonbonnière and the front drops down to reveal the keyboard in gold and enamel, inscribed “C. Fabergé.” The piano belonged originally to Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna and is also seen in one of the display cases in photographs of the exhibition of Fabergé held in St. Petersburg in 1902. Queen Mary acquired it sometime between 1922-1931.
Collectibles

Queen Elizabeth's Collection of Miniatures

By Kris MantyOct 6, 2021
Elusive Inarco E-6210 head vase dubbed the “Ghost Girl” or “Ghost Sister” by collectors because of her light matte coloring and is a scarce find. Circa 1950s-60s, she has a medium-blue bodice with a deeper blue narrow collar topping a peek-a-boo V in the front of her gown, large pearl drop earrings, side-swept blonde hair, mark reads “Inarco® E6210” with an elliptical world map, 7” h, base is 4-1/4” x 2-3/4”; $275.
Ceramics

Lady Head Vases: 10 Things You Didn't Know

By Kris MantyOct 25, 2021
"Branche de Pommier" Diadème: The influence of the naturalism of Japanese art can also be seen in this horn, diamonds and gold "Apple Tree" diadem, c. 1901-02. The elegant apple tree bough, characterized by its decorative simplicity, is another example of the wonderful and inexhaustible botanical repertoire that inspired so much of Lalique’s work throughout his career.
Jewelry

The Stunning Horn Hair Combs of René Lalique

By Kris MantySep 17, 2021
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Comic Books & Graphic Novels

Comic Books Enter a Dazzling New Golden Age

By Kris MantySep 15, 2021
A famous Cecil Beaton photo from 1948 of nine models, including Marilyn Ambrose, Dorry Adkins, Carmen Dell'Orefice, Andrea Johnson, Lily Carlson, and Dorian Leigh, wearing various gowns by Charles James while posing in French & Company's eighteenth century French paneled room.
Vintage Fashion

The Sculptural Mid-Century Ball Gowns of Charles James

By Kris MantySep 13, 2021
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Blog

The Ice Gun: A Forgotten Space-Age Kitchen Gadget From 1935

By Kris MantyJul 26, 2021
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Collectibles

Tussie-Mussies: 10 Things You Didn't Know

By Kris MantyJul 23, 2021
An illustration from Robert Tyas’ The language of flowers: or, Floral emblems of thoughts, feelings, and sentiments (1869). This bouquet of moss rose, sweet scented violet and white jasmine suggests “your modesty and amiability inspire me with the warmest affection."
Features

Victorians Used Flowers to Send Secret Messages

By Kris MantyJul 20, 2021
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Feature Stories

Alphonse Mucha: Celebrated Art Nouveau artist

By Kris MantyJul 19, 2021
Lalique's "deux libellules" brooch in the form of two facing dragonflies in gold, plique-a-jour enamel, and aquamarines, c. 1903, 2-1/2” w; $75,600.
Jewelry

Dragonflies Enchanted Art Nouveau Jewelry Designers

By Kris MantyJul 16, 2021
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Furniture

George Nakashima’s Kinship with Trees Shines in His Furniture

By Kris MantyJul 14, 2021
This copy of the bible sold at Sotheby's in 2016 for $47,500.
Books

A Misprint in a Bible From 1631 Endorses Hanky-Panky

By Kris MantyJul 11, 2021
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Vintage Fashion

How the ‘Letty Lynton’ Dress Took Country By Storm

By Kris MantyJun 25, 2021
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Pottery

Weller Pottery's Whimsical Coppertone Line

By Kris MantyJun 16, 2021
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News

Cicadas Have Inspired Artists For Centuries

By Kris MantyJun 9, 2021
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News

National Doughnut Day Honors Special Heroines

By Kris MantyJun 2, 2021
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Vintage Fashion

The Story Behind Marilyn Monroe's 'Happy Birthday' Dress

By Kris MantyMay 21, 2021
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Vintage Fashion

How a Little Black Dress Scandalized Paris in 1884

By Kris MantyMay 18, 2021
One of Queen Victoria’s mourning pieces honoring her daughter, Alice: onyx, banded agate, enamel and diamond pendant circa 1878, centering on an onyx heart with Alice beneath a coronet, and a glazed compartment containing a lock of hair, shown below. This sold at auction for $34,821.
Jewelry

Queen Victoria's Mourning Jewelry

By Kris MantyMay 5, 2021
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Features

How Jell-O Salads Created a Culinary Sensation

By Kris MantyApr 28, 2021
Copper mold by Salvatore Firenze, Italy, circa 1900, has three tiers that give it the appearance of height, 5" dia, 4" h; $234.95.
Collectibles

Vintage Gelatin Molds

By Kris MantyApr 27, 2021
A 1973 Topps Wacky Packages Series 3 “Hungry Jerk” with tan back; sold on eBay for $4.99.
Pop Culture

Vintage Wacky Packages Nostalgic Collectibles for Adults

By Kris MantyApr 21, 2021
Poppies appear again on this taffeta cocktail dress, spring 1956, by Rocco Materay. This sold at auction for $960.
Vintage Fashion

Vintage Dresses Celebrate Spring

By Kris MantyApr 16, 2021
"The Rise of Aten" is the largest ancient city ever discovered in Egypt. The walls of the city are well preserved, allowing archaeologists to see where its different districts were located.
News

Archaeologists Find 3,000-Year-Old City in Egypt

By Kris MantyApr 11, 2021
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Vintage Fashion

Haute Heels: The Vintage Shoe Designs of Roger Vivier

By Kris MantyApr 2, 2021
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Art

10 Fabergé Eggs We'd Love to Find in Our Easter Basket

By Kris MantyMar 31, 2021
“Kiss of Death”: This 4.5 mm gun cleverly concealed inside a tube of lipstick was reportedly carried by KGB agents in the 1960s. Twisting the bottom of the lipstick would fire a single bullet. The weapon’s existence was first discovered in a border crossing in West Berlin.
Vintage Technology

Cold-War Spy Gadgets

By Kris MantyMar 16, 2021