Expert Insights
Expert Insights is your gateway to the wisdom of the antiques industry’s most respected voices. Gain invaluable knowledge from esteemed conservators, historians, seasoned dealers, and expert appraisers. This section offers practical tips and engaging behind-the-scenes stories. As you uncover their rich narratives, elevate your understanding and appreciation for these treasures.
Unearthing Fraternal Treasures: Raiders of the Lost Ark
with Jessica Rickman CPPA, Certified Personal Property Appraiser As an appraiser with almost two decades in the world of antiques and collectibles, I’ve seen everything from George Washington inaugural buttons ...
What Labubu Dolls Reveal About Modern Collecting
By Shirley M. Mueller, M.D. In recent years, Labubu dolls—quirky, sharp-toothed collectibles sold in sealed “blind boxes”—have become a global sensation. At first glance, they may look like yet another ...
From Zero to Authority: Building Online Credibility as a Vintage Seller
by Sloane Middleton Mann For many vintage lovers, shopping with your business isn’t just about what you sell. It’s about them seeing you as a trusted source. You might have ...
A Cure for Impulse Buying
By Shirley M. Mueller, M.D. Buying something you desire can make your brain glow, literally. Certain regions fire with excitement, anticipation, and reward, turning the object in front of you ...
Go Big, or Go Home: A Basket Case
As a professional appraiser favoring American antiques and Southern folk art, I recently had the privilege of examining what is unquestionably one of the rarest and most celebrated icons of ...
Instagram Strategy for Vintage Sellers: Why Most Shops Are Using It Wrong
by Sloane Middleton Mann Instagram has become the go-to platform for vintage shops. But here’s the hard truth: most sellers are using it wrong. Instagram was never built for direct ...
Innovations in Antique Perfume Bottles: Around the World with Craftsmen Who Shaped an Industry
By Lynn Garson, Southern Vapors Excellent example of Sileda Wales cranberry and silver perfume bottle with assay marks, 6 inches tall This article delves into the transformative innovations in antique ...
JUST AN OLD CHRISTMAS CARD: Celebrating a Holiday Tradition
Story and photos by Donald-Brian Johnson Just for “Daddy,” a gingerbread man with flocked glitter finish visual. Hallmark, 1946. Watch out for that snowball! The “sweet little niece” pictured on ...
Nostalgia and Beauty: The Red Rim Coca-Cola Serving Tray Series
By Chris H. Beyer - Copyright 2025 Author’s Coca-Cola tray collection display Coca-Cola® serving trays were issued by the Coca-Cola Company for a period of nearly 70 years to merchandise ...
The Future of the Antique Business: What’s Coming in 2026
By Rob Wolfe of American Pickers If the past year has proven anything, it’s this: the antique business is far from slowing down. Auctions have been strong, private buying has ...
Barbie Bubble Cut Midge Ken Wedding Party Gift Set and a Guhl & Harbeck JUPITER N Cast Iron Mechanical Pencil Pointer Sharpener
by Jessica Kosinski $3,317 (Bids 66, Bidders 25) Amazing rare! Vintage Barbie Bubble Cut Midge Ken Wedding Party Gift Set NRFB. Up for auction is a fantastic, very rare, original ...
Civil War Belt and Pistol
By John Sexton Q: I bought this belt and pistol in a tag sale in Stratford, CT, for $300. My wife is upset with me buying it, but I love ...
Eye Witness to the Golden Eye
with Jessica Rickman CPPA, Certified Personal Property Appraiser During a recent estate appraisal, imagine my initial shock when this stunning piece of jewelry from the collection literally stared right back ...
Holiday Marketing Checklist: Your Schedule for the Season of Sales
by Sloane Middleton Mann It’s the most wonderful time of the year—especially if you’re selling unique, one-of-a-kind, and easily giftable items. The holidays have the potential to break your sales ...
Curating the Unexpected: The Joy of Flawed Chinese Export Porcelain
by Shirley M. Mueller, M.D. “Look at me,” the large, not-to-be-missed porcelain cried out. And I did. It was not unlike the way cats meow at me in an animal ...
Restoring an Antique Apothecary Cabinet: From Candy Shop Display to Showpiece: a Step-by-Step Guide
By Amy from 2ndlife.furniture.restoration on YouTube Before After Have you ever wondered how to restore antique furniture and bring it back to life? In this post, I’ll walk you step ...
Retro Meets Timeless: Inside the World of Mid-Century Modern
By Rob Wolfe of American Pickers Walk into any stylish home today, flip through Instagram, or browse a trendy furniture store, and chances are you’ll spot it: sleek wooden sideboards, ...
Holt-Howard Pixieware: The Best Guide with Prices and Tips
By Yasmina Greco, Crazy4Me, Reprinted with permission Pixieware from Holt-Howard, Davar, Lefton, and Lipper & Mann There are remarkable individuals with a golden touch, turning everything they touch into treasure, ...
Why Mid-Century Modern Captured America
By Shirley M. Mueller, M.D. In the mid-1950s, the United States experienced the emergence of a design movement that would forever shape our visual vocabulary: mid-century modern. Characterized by clean ...
Madison Modern: Century House Pottery
by Donald-Brian Johnson During the 1940s and ‘50s, most ceramics and pottery firms were based on the West Coast. Two of the best-loved, however, made Madison, Wisconsin, their home: Ceramic ...
A Steamboat’s Signature: The Nameboard of the Delta Queen
By Jessica Rickman, Certified Personal Property Appraiser Recently, I attended The Nashville Show, a prominent annual antiques show in Middle Tennessee. There, I had the opportunity to examine an original ...
Social Media is Not Your Product Catalog
by Sloane Middleton Mann Let’s be honest: posting product photos on Instagram isn’t a marketing strategy. It’s a hope and a prayer. If you’ve been using social media as a ...
20 Things You Should Always Buy at Estate Sales
by Tamara White Estate sales are the one place where the saying “One Man’s Junk is Another Man’s Treasure” holds true. These sales offer the chance to find valuable items ...
8 Essential Estate Sale Tips for Buyers in 2025
Estate sales are more than a way to clear out a home — they’re curated snapshots of a life, where every object has a story and potential value. For buyers, ...
Estate Sales – From Treasure to Trouble: What Happens When Heirs Must Sell Your Collection
by Shirley M Mueller, MD In a nutshell: Though many collectors try to de-access their collections before death, this often does not happen. If sold at an estate sale handled ...
