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Antique & Collectibles News
Updated 05/2013

GasLamp Antiques Accepting Treasures at Appraisal Fair, May 4

GasLamp Antiques and GasLamp Too in Nashville, Tenn., are ready for your "items-in-question" at their Appraisal Fair on Saturday, May 4th, from 10 to 6. The event will be at 128 Powell Avenue and is open to the public.

“This is one of our most popular events,” said Lauren H. Bugg, owner of the GasLamp Antique and Decorating Mall. "With just a $10 charge for each appraisal, it's a great way to have those lingering questions answered." An application is required and can be downloaded at gaslampantiques.com or picked up at either location: 100 Powell Place, Suite 200 or just down the road at 128 Powell Place. Limit is three appraisals per person.

The showplaces are open daily, Monday through Saturday, from 10-6, and Sunday from noon until 6 p.m. The mall also hosts monthly how-to workshops called "Tea @ Two @ Too" with the next on May 14th. For more information: 615.297.2224 or615.292.2250 or www.gaslampantiques.com. 

Estate Jewelry, Artwork, Bronzes, Chinese Works Will Be Auctioned May 11 by Elite Decorative Arts.

A magnificent selection of estate jewelry, fine artwork, bronzes, sterling silver and Chinese works will cross the auction block on Saturday, May 11, at Elite Decorative Arts, in the firm’s gallery located at the Quantum Town Center (1034 Gateway Blvd., Suites 106 and 108) in Boynton Beach, Fla. The auction will start promptly at 1 p.m. EDT.

The Chinese items (a category for which Elite Decorative Arts has become renowned in recent years) will feature ivory, jade, marvelous red coral carvings and stone carvings, porcelain and more. Many of the lots can be viewed online at www.eliteauction.com, and Internet bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com and Artfact.com. Phone bids will also be accepted.

Chinese carved white jade is enormously popular with collectors, and this sale has several pieces certain to spark bidding wars. One is a finely carved white jade ceremonial coupe with figural floral handles and a silver inlay wooden fitted base. The glowing translucent specimen, measuring 2.5 inches in height and weighing 197 jade grams, should sell for $30,000-$50,000.

A preview will be held on Friday, May 10, from 11 to 5, and on Saturday, the date of sale, from 11 a.m. until the first gavel comes down at 1 p.m. EDT. All purchases will be subject to an 18% buyer’s premium (for in-house and phone bids) or 21% for bidding online.

Elite Decorative Arts always accepts quality consignments for future auctions. To inquire about consigning one item or a whole collection, call 561-200-0893 or e-mail info@eliteauction.com. To learn more about Elite Decorative Arts and the upcoming May 11 auction, visit www.eliteauction.com. Updates are posted frequently. 

Metrolina Expo Marketplace Enjoys a Great Show in April

Just outside the inner loop of Charlotte, N.C., a spectacle unfolded in April. Flags were flying on circus tents, and cars were lined up on Statesville Road waiting their turns to get in. The thousands of people who entered the gates slowly made their way past booth after booth of the area's finest assemblage of antiques and collectibles. It was the monthly International Collectibles and Antiques Show at Metrolina Expo, now called the Metrolina Expo Marketplace—the place to be to find a gathering of dealers from within the state, as well as dozens of other states and countries. More than 10,000 visitors made purchases from the array of wares, as they have for 30 years.

People carried home with them fine antiques of furniture, china, silver, gold and glassware. They bought toys, vintage clothing, old postcards and ephemera, militaria and more. Decorators and designers arrived first thing in the mornings to purchase items for their clients and shops.

A tour bus received an escort by the official golf cart as it navigated its way through the full parking lot and was greeted by the show director, Whitney Clark. Show owner Pete Pistone was thrilled with the turnout and spent his time greeting guests and thanking the dealers, who were most happy to report good sales and a great show.

Mr. Pistone, dealers and shoppers alike said this reminded them of the shows of the past and perhaps is a barometer of better times ahead. All savvy shoppers enjoyed the great weather, and the show featured something for everyone. Mr. Pistone said the show had everything "…from antiques to shabby chic and everything in between."

The next monthly antiques and collectibles show is May 2-5. Visit your favorite dealer and meet new ones as diverse and quality items are offered at great prices. Treasures await mothers for Mother's Day and all who venture out. For information about vending or attending the show, call 704-714-7909. 

Custer Materials Sold At James D. Julia

At the James D. Julia Winter 2013 Extraordinary Firearms Auction which grossed $13+ million, a Rhode Island family who were direct descendants of Col. George G. Briggs consigned his collection that was estimated at $45,000 to $65,000. Briggs was the last commander of the 7th Michigan Cavalry and a trusted friend and confidante of Lt. Colonel George A. Custer. After spirited and competitive bidding, the package sold for $184,000, including the buyer's premium.

The Briggs collection held two spectacular highlights. The first was a framed letter written by Custer's wife to Briggs with a snippet of the actual Confederate flag of truce from Appomattox Courthouse, a chip of wood from the desk that Generals Lee and Grant signed the surrender document on that ended the war; and a piece of the red bandana Custer wore at the surrender.The second highlight was a gold Tiffany-made Custer Valor Medal, a private military award authorized by Custer and awarded only to heroic and favored members of the 7th Michigan Cavalry. No more than four or five of these Custer gold medals are probably in existence today, and this was the first presented to an officer to ever come to auction. The collection also included: wartime documents concerning Briggs; numerous cabinet photographs of Briggs; additional badges, including Briggs' gold and silver enameled Sheridan Cavalry Corp badge and MOLLUS (Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States) Membership Badge; a reunion era souvenir Gettysburg presentation polychrome cane and wooden gavel; a six-foot section of Col. Briggs' silk sash, and other military memorabilia.

Julia's next Fine Firearms auction will be held in October 2013. For information, visit www.jamesdjulia.com. 

Virginia’s 52nd Shenandoah Antiques Expo, May 10-12

The 52nd Shenandoah Antiques Expo in the scenic Shenandoah Valley of Virginia will host some 300+ exhibitors and thousands of shoppers for the spring edition of this semi-annual show and sale on May 10-12. As always, the show opens on Friday with dealer setup and early buying. Customers enter at 10 a.m. and shop during setup. More than 1,400 early buyers made their way to Fishersville for the past October show and sale.

Attending the Shenandoah Antiques Expo is a truly unique antiques shopping experience. Exhibitors display and sell in three exhibition halls, three large barns, under tents and outdoors. Shoppers find everything from 18th century American and English furniture to vintage collectibles. Decorators and collectors delight in the array of decorative accessories, art and furniture is available for purchase. Painted furniture is plentiful. Some dealers display in-room settings with papered walls and others offer a more casual setting. Outdoor dealers set up attractive displays, and a few sell directly from the van or off the truck. Fresh merchandise is abundant. For many of the out-of-state exhibitors, Fishersville is their only stop in Virginia.

The show attracts seasoned dealers from all parts of the country. Rose Marie Baldwin of West Virginia always shows up with fresh country furniture, textiles, crocks and interesting smalls, often found when shopping the British markets. Neal Blodgett of Connecticut displays a collection of early iron, figures, decoys, locks and collector’s items of museum quality. Scott Cilley of Virginia sets up outside in front of the New Barn and brings period Virginia furniture. Cid Paden of Pennsylvania, one of the 50 exhibitors who displays in the Sheep Barns, sells early country furniture, textiles and country accessories. Joe and Toni Weaver of New York display painted country, early iron and period accessories. John Cooper of North Carolina always offers vivid painted furniture, colorful textiles trade signs and country smalls. Jim Johannes of Pennsylvania fills a triple booth with early country furniture and accessories and often sells out. Jerry and Judy Brill of Virginia offer a beautiful selection of English Formal and American Country furniture, art and decorative smalls. The Jacksons of Virginia also display English Formal Furniture, Canton, Rose Medallion and English porcelain. Burles and Madsen of England and Virginia, show fine china, Staffordshire, paintings and prints.

Over the years, the quality and variety of merchandise has become better and better with country and Americana retaining a dominant presence. Six prominent jewelry dealers also participate in both the October and May shows. Variety abounds.

Early buying admission on Friday at 10a.m. is $10; it allows multiple entries for the weekend. Saturday and Sunday admission is $5, allowing return entry both days. Show hours are: Friday 10-5, Saturday 9-5 and Sunday 10-4.

The Augusta Expoland facility is located at exit 91 on I-64 at Fishersville, near Staunton and Waynesboro, Va., and just east of I-81. Charlottesville is 30 miles east of Fishersville. Hotels and restaurants are plentiful; however, reservations should be made early. For detailed in on the event and accommodations: www.heritagepromotions.net, info@heritagepromotions.net or 434-846-7452. The website provides hotel links, directions, and customer and exhibitor information. During the event, for directions or information, call 540-337-2552. 

A Record 10,000 Patterns in Transferware Database

The Transferware Collectors Club (TCC) achieved a significant milestone in late February as the ten-thousandth transferware pattern was recorded in its Pattern and Source Print Database. Several dedicated editors, led by Connie Rogers, devote many hours each week to collecting and identifying images of patterns and source prints, which are now available to all club members on the club’s website, http://transcollectorsclub.org. This database, which also holds more than 700 records of source prints and Chinese porcelain original designs that inspired the transferware patterns, has become a valuable research tool for scholars, museum staff, archaeologists, dealers and collectors. The speed at which the goal of 10,000 goal was reached exceeded all expectations.

The database contains a wide variety of pattern and border themes, among them Chinoiserie, American and British Scenes, Children’s Subjects, Romantic Views and Floral Patterns. There is also an extensive list of English potters who made this ware, which aids in identifying marked pieces. An unmarked object may be researched by using a number of indicators, such as color, dominant pattern features and type of border, with the database offering a selection of patterns which fit those specifications. With more than 10,000 listings, and growing each day, it offers markedly more pattern identification than even the best research library.

The Club’s membership is growing steadily, currently totaling approximately 400 members worldwide. Many use the database regularly. The TCC also hosts a yearly conference in October, which will be in the Boston area in 2013, and publishes a newsletter and bulletin with articles about transferware, available to all members. Anyone interested in becoming a member may visit the club’s website or contact the membership chair at membership@transcollectorsclub.org. 

Antiques & Appraisal School Releases Latest Trending Data

After conducting a similar survey last year, the Asheford Institute of Antiques (a distance learning program on antiques and appraising) released its latest trending data on the antiques marketplace for 2013.

“The survey, which is aimed at compiling the purchase trends of customers buying antiques over a 12-month period, was brought back this year after an overwhelming response on the school’s website from readers requesting more information,” said Charles Green, Director of the Institute. Green went on to say that he was struck by how the results seemed to resonate with readers, and that pollsters at the Institute decided to run the survey again, with a few tweaks (including doubling the number of participants to more than a thousand) to see if there was any measurable change from the previous year.

School Publications Director, Tony Drew echoed the sentiment and stated that the primary focus of this year’s survey was to again gauge interest in current trends of antiques and collectibles, based on sales and requests for particular items. He stressed that while no stringent scientific formulas were employed and the survey was informal in nature, the results were still quite interesting when viewed in their entirety.

“What we’re seeing is still a basic reflection of last year’s poll,” said Drew, “but on an even more magnified level—younger buyers are definitely becoming the norm, and there seems no doubt that all the television shows out there about antiques and collectibles are having some influence on this demographic.”

The top two categories of responses from proprietors of antique businesses (by their age groups) were: 20-38 years: memorabilia/collectibles and Art Deco; 38-58 years: Victorian and memorabilia; and 58-78 years: silver and Victorian.

Drew went on to say that some areas of collecting had moved up or down a notch in the survey, but that one noticeable trend was the move towards smaller collectibles from the ‘50s and even ‘60s. “Again,” said Drew, “it’s the younger buyers leading the way.”

To see the full results from the survey, visit http://www.asheford.com/2013-survey-results.html. For information about the school’s antiques and appraisal course, contact: 877 444-4508; the Asheford Institute of Antiques 981 Harbor Blvd., Suite 3, Dept. 275GSV4 Destin, FL 32541-2525; or 131 Bloor Street West, Suite 200, Dept. 124 Toronto, ON M5S 1R8. 

Dr. Lori To Star On Reality Show 'Auction Kings'

Southeastern Antiquing & Collecting magazine columnist Dr. Lori will star as the expert antiques appraiser on the reality TV show Auction Kings on the Discovery channel. As she interacts with the auction staff, the TV show will feature her identifying and evaluating objects that people want to sell at Gallery 63 in an Atlanta suburb. Dr. Lori has already appraised several objects for the show in front of the cameras for the upcoming season. Auction Kings airs Tuesdays at 9 pm.

You can read some of Dr. Lori's articles in our Article Archive.

Oldies, But Goodies - What's The Oldest Appliance You Have (That Still Works)

They don't make them like they used to, we all know. While my mother still lived in our original family home a few years ago, she still had the same refrigerator that I remember from my childhood in the early 1960s. She kept it in the garage as a second refrigerator for the overflow, but it still worked. Weighed a ton, but it worked.

So what appliance do you have around the house that still works? Is it a stove or a refrigerator a toaster or a vacuum cleaner? Send in a photo of yourself with it, and you could win 15 seconds of fame in the next issue. Mail a photo and a description to: Editor, Box 510, Acworth, GA 30101. Or email that information to us.