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.
The Signs of History
by Rob Wolfe of American Pickers I’ve always loved signs. They can tell you so much about the history of a place, an industry, a specific time period, and more ...
From Tangible to Digital: The Evolution of Collecting in the Modern Era
By Shirley M. Mueller, M.D. Most collectors acquire their treasures through traditional methods – purchasing from dealers or at auctions that specialize in physical items within their areas of interest ...
Key Considerations When Investing in Rare Music Memorabilia
by Laurence Carpenter In my time as a professional music memorabilia dealer, I have committed myself to exclusively handling pieces of the utmost provenance and authenticity. This decision was grounded ...
An Interview with Simeon Lipman: Appraiser, Collector, Entrepreneur
by Judy Gonyeau, managing editor Simeon Lipman is a lifelong pop culture, film, music, art, history, and sports enthusiast, who has been appraising collections, curating auctions and exhibitions, and coordinating ...
RESTORATION or RENOVATION WITH BRETT HOWARD
1. 1940s Mid-Century Modern Art Deco Waterfall Dresser With Mirror, restored with Howard Restor-A-Finish a. Pieces like this can be purchased at garage sales, thrift shops, and antique stores (Usually ...
An Interview with Julian Baumgartner of Baumgartner Fine Art Restoration
by Judy Gonyeau, managing editor On the left, is a delicate portrait of a beautiful young girl. She may look a bit on the yellow side – what some may ...
Identifying Glass In The Age of The Internet
By Glass Specialist Peter Wade It’s a beautiful, sunny day and you decide to go out for a ride and stop by an estate sale. You find a lovely piece ...
Cautionary tales & advice for disposing of art
Anyone who has had to help a family member move or downsize, or been left with the responsibility of emptying an estate, knows the heartache of making the hard decisions: ...
Upholstery Across the Ages
by Leif Johnson, TLC Upholstery, Palmer, MA, interviewed by Judy Gonyeau The true beginnings of upholstery took place in Ancient Egypt. Animal skins and dressed leather was stretched across a ...
One Hundred Years of American Trunk Innovation
By Paul Norton Trunks and travel articles tell a story of adventure and intrigue. The impulse to travel—into town or overseas—required bringing along one’s necessities. As 18th and 19th century ...
Street Clocks & Their Restoration
By Eric Ryback, restorer and owner, Saint Louis Street Clock Company “I never wore a watch. I always depend on public clocks, and stores have clocks, but that is strange.” ...
A Look at Decorative Arts & Antiques Market Trends for 2021
A barometer of what’s hot and what’s not in the antiques trade is Asheford Institute’s annual Decorative Arts Trend survey. Conducted from January 2021 to December 2021 by the research ...
Exploring Antique Technologies: Acing the Autopen – Helping Collectors Feel More Confident with Mechanical Writing
by Kary Pardy Footage from a 1950s 9-second video shows a grey, boxy machine using mechanical levers to exactly mimic the slopes and angles of a person’s handwriting. Since the ...
Exploring Antique Technologies: Leather Fire Buckets – Painted Americana at its Most Helpful
by Kary Pardy Imagine you lived in the 17th or 18th century. Chances are good that you would be surrounded by wooden buildings and that you would be very wary ...
Exploring Antique Technologies: Science and Sparkles – Demystifying your Jewelry Collection
by Kary Pardy How many times have you looked through a jewelry display at your favorite antique shop and was just a bit unsure about the quality or elements of ...
Exploring Antique Technologies: Shaped in Steel – Dissecting the Technology Behind your Edged Weapons
by Kary Pardy There are lots of reasons to be drawn to edged weapons, and their beauty and history are chief amongst them. Each piece carries with it a complicated ...
Exploring Antique Technologies – Saving Scrimshaw: How it’s Made and How to Take Care of It
by Kary Pardy If you’re a nautical fanatic, a coast dweller, or a fan of early American arts, you probably know and appreciate scrimshaw. But what is it really, and ...
Exploring Antique Technologies – When Antique Technology Still Works: Finding our Way with a Sextant
by Kary Pardy Do You Know Where You’re Going To? In 1714, the British Parliament established the Longitude Act, and with it, the Longitude Rewards. Equivalent to just over a ...
Exploring Antique Technologies: Ancient Art – Unraveling the Art of Knitting
by Kary Pardy Knitting is everywhere recently. Creating warm hats, scarves, wraps, sweaters, and mittens is currently a fashionable pastime for people of all ages, and skilled knitters can create ...
Looking into the Colorful Past of Stained Glass Art
Looking into the Colorful Past of Stained Glass Art by Kary Pardy Stirring scenes, epiphanies of light, color and symbolism, glowing recreations of nature – you may connect all these ...
Guiding the Next Generation of Collectors
An Interview with Terry Kovel by Judy Gonyeau, managing editor [divider align="center"] [row style="collapse" width="full-width"] [col span="6"] [ux_image id="48020"] [/col] [col span="6"] [ux_image id="48019"] [/col] [/row] Recently, we had the ...
Renovation, Restoration, Preservation, Conservation
By Bart Bjorneberg, Bernacki & Associates, Inc. [divider align="center"] What do these words mean and what conditions and responsibilities do they engender when used in connection to furnishings, art objects, ...
Exploring Antique Technologies: March 2020
Using Technology to Keep your Antiques Safe By Kary Pardy [divider align="center"] [ux_image_box img="47990"] The restored Rothko murals were installed for the November 16, 2014 opening of the Harvard Arts ...
Exploring Antique Technologies: February 2020
No Matter Which Direction the Wind Blows, We Still Love American Weathervanes By Kary Pardy [divider align="center"] [ux_image_box img="47681"] This ca. 1890-1899 wood fish weathervane sold on 1stdibs.com and was ...
Antiques Peek: Vintage DIY – Decoupage Lunchbox Purses!
By Jessica Kosinski [divider align="center"] It is often said that memory is a powerful thing. Sometimes a sight, smell or sound can take you back to a whole other era ...
