Antique & Collecting News

Continuing on with my upside-down tree saga - the redwood (okay, not a redwood just feels like it when trying to move it) has been relocated about 30' to the other side of the living room and is now in it's permanent Christmas place. It only took moving one large bookcase, one small bookcase and installing three heavy duty eyebolts into the wall. Suffice it to say with the wire and bolts, the wall will come down before the tree does.

Next on the agenda is the lighting -- that will happen this weekend!

More:
Part 1; 2

The Saga of the Upside Down Tree, cont'd originally appeared on About.com Collectibles on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 12:47:03.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Holding a doll that a little girl played with 100 years ago can leave an indelible mark on its newest owner. The dolls may be rough around the edges, but irresistible.

Dials are the face of a watch and pretty faces sell watches. Waltham, Elgin, Illinois, Hampden, E. Howard, and other companies made porcelain dials for watch movements.

From the Strong National Museum of Play:
The Ball officially joins the Stick (among last year's toy inductees) as it bounces into the prestigious halls of the National Toy Hall of Fame at Strong National Museum of Play along with the iconic Big Wheel® and innovative Nintendo Game Boy®.

The three toy honorees were selected from among 12 toy finalists that included: The Ball, Big Wheel, Cabbage Patch Kids®, Game of Life®, Hot Wheels®, Nintendo Game Boy®, Paper Airplane, Playing Cards, Rubik's Cube®, Sidewalk Chalk, Toy Tea Set, and Transformers®.
Read more

Three New Toys in the Hall of Fame originally appeared on About.com Collectibles on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 19:12:38.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Clothes Pin Holiday Card Holders
What to do with all those holiday cards? Hold them up with clothes pins as dazzling as twinkling lights with this how-to from Kate Pullen.

Make a Gingerbread House
Ever want to create the perfect gingerbread house? Okay, I have yet to master this skill..but you can! Our Barbara Rolek will show you how.

How to Draw a Christmas Tree
Here is one that will come in handy for all those handmade cards. Master sketch artist Helen South will show you how to draw the perfect tree from start to finish.

Paint a Glass Ornament
Turn a plain glass ball into a work of stained glass art. Our Guide to Painting will show you how to create this delicate trimming.

Silent Night Cross Stitch Pattern
Don't just get cozy, get your stitch on. Create a Silent Night design with this free pattern from Connie G. Barwick.

Stitch a Pear Trio
Hang up something special in your home for that Thanksgiving gathering. This free 'Pear Trio' needlepoint pattern from Cheryl Fall is just what your walls needed.

Easy Christmas Ornaments
Start a tradition for the kids to make new ornaments each year. Sherri Osborn has the shape patterns and project ideas for these ornaments that reflect Christmas traditions.

Print Thanksgiving Placecards
Add some warmth to your table with these Thanksgiving place cards that will have your guests saying 'awwwww'. Barbara Crews has the free printable for you to personalize.

Wine Bottle Wrap Pattern
Instead of giving a bottle of wine in one of those skinny bags, make a felt wrap that the bottle can be displayed in all season. Phyllis Dobbs will show you how.

Make a Miniature Christmas Tree
Why are tiny things always so darn cute? Learn how to make a little pine tree with Lesley Shepherd.

Interchangeable Thanksgiving Pins
Sometimes you just can't commit to just one pin. With this interchangeable Thanksgiving pin by Tammy Powley, you can tell everyone when you're ready for pie...and when you're overstuffed.

Want to Join Make it Merry to show off your holiday crafts? We will showcase your crafts and recipes of all holiday traditions. Learn more.

Make it Merry! originally appeared on About.com Collectibles on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 08:48:47.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Paper records such as birth certificates, maps, posters and photographs often get folded or rolled up for long periods of time. Here are directions for uncurling them.

My mother was absolutely nuts about primitive antiques when I was growing up back in the '70s. When I put together my new Primitive Furniture Price Guide, I couldn't help but think of all the pie safes and blanket chests that passed through the doors of her antique shop. It still makes me smile to think about her enthusiasm for what many people considered to be plain old junk, and I thank my lucky stars she passed that love of old stuff right down to me.

Remembering Primitive Antique Furniture with a New Price Guide originally appeared on About.com Antiques on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 22:36:15.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The bracket foot was used in Hepplewhite and Sheraton furniture styles, but would you know one if you saw it? Take a look at my latest Furniture Glossary entry to get a glimpse of a plain bracket foot.

What Does a Bracket Foot Look Like? originally appeared on About.com Antiques on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 22:00:50.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Q: I have this 13-inch toy tram truck that my folks brought me from the World's Fair in Chicago back in 1933. I doubt it would be in collector's condition because I pushed this a million miles and have worn out the tires, and the paint is in a poor state. Can you give me an estimate of what it is worth? Login for more.

Q: My mother bought this plate in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1961. Taped to the back is a piece of paper with my mother's handwriting which says, "Made for a lawn tea party given by O.H.P Belmont at Marble House, Newport, RI, in 1910." It has a lion and banner mark with the words "John Maddock & Sons, England" on the back. The plate is 6 inches wide. Is it valuable? Login for answer.

A 1931 garden statue estimated at $12,000 to $18,000 auctioned for an unexpected $118,000 this week. The 4-foot-tall bronze statue with a green patina was in the garden when a lucky man bought a home and its contents about 40 years ago. The owner was offered $3,000 for the statue a few years ago but kept it until last week's auction. The statue was made in Paris by Egyptian sculptor Mahmoud Mokhtar (1891-1934). Cleveland Auction Co. of Cleveland, Ohio, sold the piece, which set an auction record for the artist's bronzes.

Russell Pritchard III, who gained TV fame on the Antiques Roadshow with the appraisal of a valuable sword that the "owner" claimed to use to cut watermelons, is in the news again. He used the TV publicity to enhance his reputation, then cheated his clients while appraising or selling their antiques. He was serving a 4-to-8-year sentence in prison when he had to appear in court in October in a new case. Following a plea bargain, he was sentenced to 4 to 8 more years for yet more crimes, the extra years to be served concurrently with his earlier sentence. But the plea bargain means he also has to repay over $65,000 to his latest victims.

A record crowd attended the Halloween sale at Stevens Auction Co. in Aberdeen, Miss. The vampire kit we mentioned last week sold for $8,800. John Stevens told us the auction business is doing well again.

When you quit smoking, keep your tobacciana collectibles. Tobacco stands without the top parts are good plant stands. Cigarette cases are popular as small purses that will hold a credit card, driver's license and a little money. Tobacco tins and boxes are interesting storage containers, and the box labels and cigar bands work well for decoupage projects. Best of all, ashtrays can be used to hold short stemmed flowers or kept in the bedroom to hold earrings and rings overnight.

Text on the gadget has been purposely blurred.

Post your guess in the comment section below.

Last week's Mystery Antique.

• Wordless Wednesdays on About
• See more Wordless Wednesday Blogs
• More Mystery Antique Quizzes

Mystery Antique of the Week originally appeared on About.com Collectibles on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 00:01:47.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The English called them "pieces of eight" and gold "doubloons" and to this day these coins remain the archetype for treasure.

Springs, gears, screws, and funny shaped parts assembled to keep time seems like an arcane art to someone not versed in horology. Watch repair starts with these systems.

Chocolate that has been molded into a specific shape to fit a specific theme is nothing new. The pieces we see today, though, can't compare with the molds of yesteryear.

From the 1895 Forbes antique bride paper dolls, to Mod-era bridal party collections, the wedding theme has been popular with little girls and vintage collectors like.

Watch jewels are critical components of mechanical watches. Made in various sizes and shapes these gemstones are marvels of micro-lapidary art.