Columns

These sought-after sections offer expert auction analysis, cultural commentary, and more, adding depth, variety, and a personal touch to every issue. Columns include Gavels ’n’ Paddles, Psychology of Collecting, The Beat, Pop Culture Collecting, Toys from the Attic, and Civil War Collector.

December 4, 2020 / Alberto Giacometti, Alfa Romeo, Alfa Romeo B.A.T. concept cars, auction results, concept cars, female sculpture from 1947 titled Femme Leoni, Gavels n Paddles, Girgio de Chirico, Girgio de Chirico's Il Pomeriggio di Arianna, Il Pomeriggio di Arianna, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Sotheby's, Sotheby's New York City

Three Alfa Romeo B.A.T. concept cars together brought $14.8 million in sales of Contemporary and Impressionist & Modern Art held October 28th by Sotheby’s

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Alfa Romeo concept cars, $14.8 million, Sotheby’s

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall Three Alfa Romeo B.A.T. concept cars together brought $14.8 million ...

The Roman gladius was a short (two feet), sharply-pointed, double-edged sword and its design had evolved over the centuries to be the ideal weapon for the legions of the Roman Empire. It was forged from high-grade steel and was primarily suited for the Roman fighting style, where shield usage was heavy and swords were called upon to thrust and stab through the shield wall. In their book From Sumer to Rome: the Military Capabilities of Ancient Armies, historians Richard Gabriel and Karen Metz wrote that in the hands of a highly trained legionnaire, the gladius “was the most deadly of all weapons produced by ancient armies, and it killed more soldiers than any other weapon in history until the invention of the gun.” photo: Wikipedia

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 ...

Antiques Peek: Military Badges

by Jessica Kosinski As modern humans, we are used to conflict; whether in the form of a small disagreement with ...

November 27, 2020 / American Life Bitters bottle, American Life Bitters bottle made in Ohio circa 1865-1875, circa 1815-1835, circa 1865-1875, Constitution Bitters bottle, Gavels n Paddles, Gavels n Paddles, Glass Works Auction, Glass Works Auctions, pattern globular bottle, St. Drake’s Plantation Bitters bottle, Zanesville Glass Works, Zanesville Glass Works in Ohio

An American Life Bitters bottle made in Ohio circa 1865-1875 sold for $42,000 in an online-only auction held Sept. 21-28 by Glass Works Auction

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: American Life Bitters bottle, $42,000, Glass Works Auctions

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall An American Life Bitters bottle made in Ohio circa 1865-1875 ...

November 27, 2020 / artist, auction, Doyle Auction, Doyle in New York, film producer Walter Manley, Friedeberg chair, Gavels n Paddles, Maison Jansen, Maison Jansen upholstered chair, Maison Jansen-designed home, Mexican Surrealist artist, Mexican Surrealist artist Pedro Friedeberg, Pedro Friedeberg, Recent Auction Results, upholstered club chairs, Walter Manley

A ‘Hand Chair’ by the Mexican Surrealist artist Pedro Friedeberg, introduced in 1962, sold for $10,000 at Doyle Auction

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Friedeberg chair, $10,000, Doyle

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A ‘Hand Chair’ by the Mexican Surrealist artist Pedro Friedeberg, ...

A French Atmos perpetual time clock from the 1940s sold for CA$6,490 in an online-only Canadiana & Historic Objects auction held October 24th by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: French Atmos Clock, CA$6,490, Miller & Miller

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A French Atmos perpetual time clock from the 1940s sold ...

November 13, 2020 / circa 1910 Roycroft Ali Baba bench, Gavels n Paddles, Gavels n Paddles, mosaic, mosaic tabletop tile, mosaic tabletop tile by Roy Lichtenstein, Neue Auctions, Neue Auctions in Beachwood Ohio, Online Auction, online Fine Art & Antiques auction, rare and unusual mosaic tabletop tile, Recent Auction Results, Roy Lichtenstein, Roy Lichtenstein (American, Roy Lichtenstein tile, Roycroft, Roycroft Ali Baba bench, Roycroft bench, tabletop tile by Roy Lichtenstein

A rare and unusual mosaic tabletop tile by Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923-1997)

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Roy Lichtenstein tile, $36,900, Neue Auctions

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A rare and unusual mosaic tabletop tile by Roy Lichtenstein ...

“Militaria Findings”: Conflict and combat are as old as the story of man. The result is centuries of military artifacts dating back to antiquity that tell the history and bear the scars of the hard-fought battles of their time.

Conflict and combat are as old as the story of man. To engage, man needed weapons to attack, and armor ...

November 6, 2020 / Dr. Lyman Beecher Todd, Gavels n Paddles, George H. Kinnear, Mary Todd Lincoln, postmortem examination, RR Auction, RR Auction Boston MA

A thin lock of Abraham Lincoln’s hair, taken during his postmortem examination, sold for $81,250 in an online auction that ran from August 21-Sept. 12 by RR Auction, based in Boston, MA.

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Lock of Lincoln’s hair, $81,250, RR Auction

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A thin lock of Abraham Lincoln’s hair, taken during his ...

October 30, 2020 / baseball card, baseball cards, Elite Auction, Gavels n Paddles, Goldin Auctions Runnemede NJ, Lebron James card, signed rookie baseball card

A 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Mike Trout Superfractor signed rookie baseball card (#1 of 1) sold for $3.936 million at an Elite Auction held August 23 by Goldin Auctions, based in Runnemede, NJ

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: 2009 Mike Trout rookie card, $3.936 million, Goldin Auctions

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Mike Trout Superfractor signed ...

October 23, 2020 / auction, auction results, Gavels n Paddles, label and tooled leather box, Lys black crystal perfume bottle, perfume bottle and stopper as a faceted jewel with cord seal, Perfume Bottles Auction, Perfume Bottles Auction in New York City

A 1926 Baccarat for Isabey “Tresor Cache” presentation of Lys black crystal perfume bottle and stopper as a faceted jewel with cord seal, label and tooled leather box sold for $56,250 at an auction held July 11 by Perfume Bottles Auction in New York City

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: 1926 Baccarat perfume bottle, $56,250, Perfume Bottle Auction

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A 1926 Baccarat for Isabey “Tresor Cache” presentation of Lys ...

Sea captains’ wives and children sometimes accompanied them on voyages and produced a fair amount of scrimshaw. Notably, Sallie Smith, the wife of Captain Frederick Howland Smith, created pieces that are just as highly regarded, if not more so, then those of her male counterparts. Scrimshaw by an unknown artist, ca. 1830-1860 courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum

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 ...

October 16, 2020 / Antiques Peek, Breyer Animal Creations, Breyer company, Breyer Horse Manufacturing, Breyer horses, Breyer Molding Company, BreyerFest Models, Chicago Illinois, Chris Hess, Gordon Johnson, Kathleen Moody, Maureen Love, model horses, Paul Olson, Reeves International Inc, Silver Limited Trotting Arabian Mare Weather Girl, Sommer Prosser, toy horses

Antiques Peek: In the Show Ring with Breyer

by Jessica Kosinski There are certain toys that are timeless classics. From Cabbage Patch dolls to Lincoln Logs and Legos ...

October 16, 2020 / Antique Fire Alarms, auction results, code wheels, fire alarm transmitter, Gamewell Excelsior, Gamewell Excelsior fire alarm transmitter, Gamewell Excelsior fire alarm transmitter with 50 code wheels, Gavels n Paddles, Milestone Auctions, Misc, porcelain Sinclair Opaline Motor Oil sign, porcelain Sinclair sign, Sinclair Opaline Motor Oil, three-chime whistle, Western Railway, Western Railway experimental three-chime whistle, Willoughby OH

A Gamewell Excelsior fire alarm transmitter with 50 code wheels, in a refinished oak case with beveled-glass front door, sold for $7,800 at a sale of the Brian Maiher collection of railroadiana, petroliana, and antique fire alarms held August 29 by Milestone Auctions in Willoughby, OH

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Fire alarm transmitter, $7,800, Milestone Auctions

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A Gamewell Excelsior fire alarm transmitter with 50 code wheels, ...

October 9, 2020 / Andrew Jones Auctions in Los Angeles CA, Clinton Ultra, Clinton Ultra watch, diamond ring, fine jewelry, Fine Jewelry Watches & Timepieces auction, Gavels n Paddles, Jean-Georges Remond, musical snuff box by Jean-Georges Remond, platinum ring, pocket watch, Snuff Boxes, Swiss enameled 18kt gold musical snuff box

A dazzling 12.01-carat emerald cut diamond (K VVS1) and platinum ring slipped on a new finger for $143,750 in an inaugural Fine Jewelry, Watches & Timepieces auction held online-only, September 16, by Andrew Jones Auctions in Los Angeles, CA

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: 12.01-carat diamond ring, $143,750, Andrew Jones

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A dazzling 12.01-carat emerald cut diamond (K VVS1) and platinum ...

October 2, 2020 / Gavels n Paddles, Keith Haring, marble statue of Asclepius, Mather Brown, pop art, Pop Art icon Keith Haring, Reverse glass painting, Summer Bounty I, Thomaston Maine, Thomaston Place Auction Galleries

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Reverse glass painting, $84,000, Thomaston Place

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A scarce British late 18th century reverse glass painting, after ...

September 28, 2020 / Antique Marketplace News, Columns, Expert Insights

How to use a sextant? Wikihow.com offers a step by step guide with visuals, Davis instruments has a downloadable manual on their website, and there are several other online resources Photo: WikiHow.com

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 ...

September 25, 2020 / Gavels n Paddles

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Huanghuali cabinet, $471,000, Christie’s

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A diminutive Chinese huanghuali compound cabinet and hat chest from ...

September 21, 2020 / Talk of the Trade

Facebook Live: If you are a Facebook follower then you know it’s getting a lot noisier on your feed these days. The change has changed me as a user and social media follower.

If you are a Facebook follower then you know it's getting a lot noisier on your feed these days. Pre-recorded ...

September 18, 2020 / Gavels n Paddles

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: LeBron James rookie card, $1.845 million, Goldin Auctions

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A 2003-04 UD “Exquisite Collection” #78 LeBron James signed rookie ...

September 14, 2020 / Columns

Great Collections: Harvard’s Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments and Its Founder, David P. Wheatland

Sara J. Schechner, Ph. D. (photos: Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, Harvard University) This is a story of the impact ...

September 11, 2020 / Gavels n Paddles

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Majolica pineapple tea set, $12,100, Strawser Auction

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A George Jones majolica pineapple tea set with 17-inch tray, ...

September 9, 2020 / Alex Winter, Amanda Sheriff, Antique Marketplace News, auction houses, Baroness series, Baroness Series 3 32-back CAS 75+, cafe americain, Casablanca, City Commander, Collectibles, Comic Book, covid-19, Director Fritz Lang, Empire Strikes Back, F.W. Murnau, Fritz Lang, G.I. Joe, Gemstone Publishing, GI Joe, Grey Smith, Hake’s Auctions, Harry Houdini, Hasbro, Heritage, Heritage's Director of Vintage Posters, high-end, Horror of Dracula, Invisible Man, J.C. Vaughn, Kelly McClain, Luke Skywalker, M, Masters of the Universe, McClain, Misc, Movie Posters at heritage, Never was so much owed by so many to so few, Pandemic, Pop Culture Collecting, propaganda, pulp fiction, Retro Collectibles, Rick's, Roboto series 4 12-back CAS 75+, Series 3 Ultra Magnus, Star Wars, stormtrooper, Swedish, The Master Mystery, toys, Transformers, Ultra Magnus Autobot, unpunched, Vintage Posters, Wicket W. Warrick, Winston Churchill, World War 2, World War II