Sunday, November 11, 2012
Dr. Lori, in this second of a two-part series, continues the historical tour of the White House, highlighting when it was burnt in the War of 1812 and the redecoration styles of Jacqueline Kennedy.
The White House was designed by James Hoban, an Irish born architect. He won a competition organized by President George Washington in 1792. The inspiration for the White House was based on a villa in Dublin, Ireland called Leinster House. The building was completed in 1794. Today, the White House is held as property #1 in the National Park Service’s hierarchy. President Thomas Jefferson made changes to the White House when he assumed the presidency. While James Madison was President from 1809 to 1817, the White House was burned by the British during the War of 1812. Hoban was invited to Washington to restore the White House. After this re-construction was complete, the famous building was painted its characteristic white and thereafter …
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Dr. Lori takes a grave look at some unusual artwork.
As Halloween approaches, we are interested in all things spooky. Since art is everywhere, I thought a discussion of the art found in one of the spookiest of locales might prove of interest - graveyard art. Carved grave markers and sculpted headstones that dot cemeteriesí landscapes have a rich history. The first grave markers were actually boulders. These great stones were thought to be a good solution to keep the dead from rising out of their graves. It was thought that if heavy rocks were placed on the gravesites of the deceased, they would not be able to climb out from underneath them. These early grave markers were not highly decorative, but that tradition changed by the onset of the 16th century. Early Gravemarkers The living felt …
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Ever wonder why the sound ‘Cha-ching!’ means money?
Necessity is the mother of invention! And when it is necessary to stop people from stealing from you, then you become an inventor. Thus is the story of saloon owner James Ritty of Dayton, Ohio—the inventor of the cash register. James Ritty was a saloon owner who was fed up with his employees taking money from him. So he did some research, tested some ideas, and finally patented a variation on the adding machine. His new machine registered all of the cash that came into his saloon and the cash register was born. The mechanism for the cash register was patented in 1883 and manufacturers like the National Cash Register Company got the machines to market shortly thereafter. To solve Ritty’s problem and that of many store owners in the late …
Sunday, October 7, 2012
It may look as good as the original, but it’s no authentic Duncan Phyfe.
A question about one of the most common names in antique furniture came to my attention recently. At one of my antiques appraisal shows, I was asked about a Duncan Phyfe dining room set. First, I had to explain the difference between an actual Duncan Phyfe set and a reproduction set in the style of Duncan Phyfe. There is a big difference. You may have heard the word style used after the description of many objects — Tiffany style, Victorian style, etc. For instance, a Duncan Phyfe style dining room set (emphasis on the word style) differs from an original Duncan Phyfe dining room set. Many furniture makers worked in the manner of the late 18th-century craftsman, Duncan Phyfe. Think of it this way — It’s like contemporary singer Michael …
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Not all antiques are considered rare, but those that are become highly valuable.
For years, I have presented appraisal events to live audiences across the country. I tell people the truth about their antiques. I don’t hold back my opinion either. I just say it … ”it’s a wonderful, rare antique or it’s a piece of junk.” One of the most common statements I hear is that an audience member’s object is rare. Rarity is an important and complex concept. The interest and related value of something rare can spike once that object comes to the market. What constitutes rarity? Many factors constitute rarity including but not limited to provenance or the history of the item. Age can impact rarity. For instance, there aren’t a lot of ancient Egyptian mascara jars hanging around today so that makes such an object rare. The mold …
Sunday, September 23, 2012
From Hopalong Cassidy to Dora the Explorer, the lunch box mirrors American History.
It’s that time of year again - Back to school! September ushers in all that is new - new clothes, new teachers, new friends. As summer days evolve into school days, let’s recall the legacy of the lunchbox. Midday Memories The history of the lunch box mirrors American history. The earliest lunch boxes were circa 1900 metal pails or re-used biscuit, tobacco, or candy tins. From the turn of the century metal carry-alls that protected immigrant factory workers’ lunches to the post-war lunch boxes that accompanied the children of GIs to new suburban elementary schools in the late 1940s and 1950s, the lunch box represents the American experience. Catering to its school age audience, the first modern, popular lunchboxes featured cartoon, …
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The more valuable political collectables should chronicle an historic event or major sea of change in the political process, Dr. Lori says.
Americans have been collecting Presidential and campaign collectibles since the advent of America. Dating back to George Washington’s administration, collectibles such as brass campaign buttons (the type that one sewed onto one’s overcoat) and paper documents highlighting speeches and political platforms interested collectors. Some of the most common collectibles relating to the presidential history relate to George and Martha Washington. Painted oil on canvas portraits of Washington, Cantonware dinner plates like those used at Mount Vernon, and campaign buttons hold their value with collectors. From historic documents with Washington’s authenticated autograph to plastic mugs featuring his likeness, objects featuring the father of our …
Sunday, September 9, 2012
How much would your priceless antique or artwork be worth if it gets lost, stolen or destroyed - and you had no insurance on it?
Two of the biggest myths in the art and antiques world are Valuable possessions, like art, jewelry, and antiques or collectibles require special insurance coverage. Typically, a basic homeowners or renters policy has limitations when it comes to protecting antiques. A standard policy has limits that typically cover $1,000 for jewelry, watches and fur coats. And that $1,000 worth of insurance is the coverage for an entire claim, not for a single item. In my work appraising objects, many clients are not fully covered for the value of their art or antiques. In my experience, a good set of antique china, a collection of comic books or grandma’s silverware is easily worth more than $1,000. And, if you don’t have the correct coverage, you are …
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Dr. Lori takes a tour of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Florida, founded by the legendary circus king.
My first reaction when I visited the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Fla. (www.ringling.org) was one of sheer amazement. Even someone like me who has worked at some of the world’s finest museums found herself in awe of the collection of mammoth paintings (approximately 15 feet x 15 feet) by the Flemish baroque master, Peter Paul Rubens in the entry galleries. After I gasped at the Rubens collection, I continued to enjoy viewing the world class collection assembled by the legendary circus king, John Ringling. The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art houses more than 10,000 objects of international art and antiques. Many of the collections derive from the 1936 bequest of John Ringling including his mansion and summer …
Sunday, August 26, 2012
When it comes to knowing the worth of signed collectibles, content is king.
I am often asked to evaluate autographs of famous people. Some autographs are found on a personal letter or note, on a glossy photograph, or even on a piece of scrap paper. There are some rules of thumb when it comes to assessing autographs. For instance, content is always king. With all autographs, value is increased if the autograph is accompanied by some content relating to the famous person who signed their name. To have content that relates to the signer with an authentic autograph is more valuable to collectors than just a simple autograph. For example, a letter signed by Marilyn Monroe complaining about her failing marriage to husband and baseball great Joe DiMaggio is much more valuable than just a cocktail napkin with Marilyn …
Rhonda Hipskind
2:09 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Do original Duncan Phyfe tables and chairs have his name/stamp on them? How do we tell the difference between the real deal and "style"? more ›