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Reality … What a Concept, 1979 At the age of 27, Robin Williams was already considered comedy’s darling. He had just finished season 1 of Mork & Mindy and was on the cover of TIME magazine.

Vinyl Laughter

by Maxine Carter-Lome Some of the earliest albums recorded for commercial distribution were comedy albums. Various collections of humorous short ...

Wowie Kazowee! It’s BOZO the CLOWN!

by Maxine Carter-Lome In 1946, Capitol Records writer/producer Alan Livingston introduced Bozo the Clown to the world via a children’s ...

Lot 740: Steve Martin Oscars poster signed by celebrity attendees at The 2010 Academy Awards ceremony

Great Collections: The Collection of Steve Martin at Julien’s Auctions

Emmy, Grammy, People’s Choice, and Academy Award Winner hardly begin to describe Steve Martin, who has entertained us for decades ...

Single example from one of two pairs of lace chair arm covers. Rectangular with lightly scalloped side and back edges and larger scalloped front edge. Inner rectangle with foliate decoration. Original to Castle Tucker (Wiscasset, ME). photo: Historic New England

Antimacassars: Then and Now

Erica Lome, Ph.D. "Necessity is the mother of invention.” This adage certainly applied to many of the domestic objects produced ...

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Hermes leather handbag, $8,750, Crescent City

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A circa 1992 Hermes Kelly Sellier black box leather handbag ...

Wallace Nutting: Come Into The Parlor

by Mike Ivankovich The parlor was traditionally a gathering room where family members and friends would meet, eat, socialize, and ...

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Wells Fargo stock certificate, $2,875, Holabird Western Americana

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A rare Wells Fargo and Company (NY) stock certificate from ...

Antiques Peek: I Like My Tables On the Side

by Jessica Kosinski When talking about a modern parlor or living room, there are certain items that immediately come to ...

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Coca-Cola litho sign, $6,000, Rich Penn

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A Coca-Cola litho on cardboard “Prevent Forest Fires” sign, 33 ...

This gold charm bracelet of Elizabeth Taylor’s charts the milestones of her extraordinary life and sold at Christie’s for $326,500 in 2011

Charmed, I’m Sure: Big Dreams, Love, and Luck Come in Small Packages

by Judy Gonyeau, managing editor Evidence has been brought to light that charms were perhaps first formed as far back ...

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Mackintosh bedside cabinet, $328,000, Lyon & Turnbull

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A bedside cabinet by Charles Rennie Mackintosh (Scottish, 1868-1928) sold ...

Archeologists have discovered what they claim is the world’s oldest natural pearl on Marawah Island, off the coast of Abu Dhabi. The pearl dates back 8,000 years to the Neolithic period – the last stage of the Stone Age. It was found in a layer at a Neolithic site that dates to 5800 B.C. to 5600 B.C. “The presence of pearls at archeological sites is evidence that the pearl trade existed from at least as far back as the Neolithic period,” said Abdulla Khalfan Al-Kaabi, the director of the archeological survey.

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 ...

Early promotional card for birthstones featured at the local jeweler

Antiques Peek: Birthday Bling

by Jessica Kosinski Have you ever received or purchased jewelry that featured your birthstone? The tradition of birthstones incorporated in ...

Eisenberg Originals

by Ken Hall Eisenberg Originals are the most beautiful and brilliant pieces of costume jewelry no one’s ever heard of ...

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Russian triptych icon, $25,000, Doyle

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A patinated metal and cloisonné enamel triptych icon, featuring a ...

Cameos come in all sizes, forms, materials, subjects, and colors. This is an example of a carnelian shell cameo brooch

Cameos – Wearable Sculpture in Relief

by Maxine Carter-Lome, publisher Cameos are one of the most widely recognized types of jewelry. Many of us may even ...

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 ...

O Christmas Tree: And the Inspired Collectible Christmas Tree Pins

Story & Photos by Donald-Brian Johnson What do you do on the day after Thanksgiving? Some folks start baking Christmas ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

William Williams Jr. Powder Horn attributed to the carver John Bush. Historic Deerfield, 2005.20.6

Horns of Plenty: Decorated Military Powder Horns in Colonial America

by Erica Lome, Ph.D. On a cool April morning in 1775, Amos Barrett readied his musket and prepared for combat ...