Is My Item Antique, Collectible or Vintage? There has been a long debate over what time frame dictates if something is an antique, collectible or vintage. In this article I will clarify this subject. Les't start with the antique time frame. Antique - 100 years and older Collectible - Less than 100 years old Vintage - Less than 25 years or it has cycled back into fashion … [Read more...]
Iconic Barbie’s From the Last Six Decades
The Barbie doll made her first appearance on March 9th 1959, produced by American company Mattel. Ruth Handler co founder of Mattel and the designer of Barbie envisioned creating a teenager version of a baby doll after watching her young daughter Barbara play only with paper dolls. This sparked an idea of creating a 3D plastic doll that appealed to older children because at the time no teenage plastic doll existed. Barbie, short for Barbara Millicent Roberts, named after Ruth Handler's daughter … [Read more...]
Preserving Vintage and Antique Photographs
In this article I will cover the proper way to preserve and store vintage photographs. First lets cover the enemies of a photograph. Enemies of a Photograph Heat Extreme temperatures (hot or cold) can cause the chemicals in the photograph to change this can have many effects on the photograph. Example of damage that heat can cause. Brittleness Weakness Discoloration Wrinkling Cracking Staining Wrapping … [Read more...]
5 Tips for Collecting Antique Teapots
The antique teapot market has become very hot over the last few years. With high tea becoming all the rage these days, it has been fueling the teapot market. Teapot collecting is very curious as modern teapots can be just as sought after as vintage and antique ones. Here are 5 tips on how to collect antique teapots. 1. Character of the teapot The character of the teapot is one of the most collectible aspects of a teapot. Here are some examples of teapot character. Humorous … [Read more...]
11 Christmas Present Ideas for Antique Lovers
Christmas is fast approaching and about this time I start getting a lot of emails asking what to get an antique lover for Christmas. In this article I have listed 11 present ideas that antique lovers would love to get for Christmas. … [Read more...]
The History of Queen Anne Furniture
Queen Anne style furniture is one of the most recognized and popular style of antique furniture. Have you ever wondered how it came about and got its royal name? In this article I will explain the history of the furniture style and its name. … [Read more...]
History of Disneyana Collectibles
Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald and Goofy. Who doesn’t recognize those names? Disney collectibles, often called Disneyana, are prized possessions to the true collector. First, a little bit of Disney history for those of you who don’t know how all of the magic started. In 1923, Walt’s first animation studio went bankrupt. He moved to Los Angeles to join his brother, Roy, where they started the Disney Bros. Cartoon Studio which was eventually renamed Walt Disney Studios in 1926. In 1928, they … [Read more...]
5 Popular Patterns of Depression Glass
Currently, the five most popular patterns of Depression glass are Cameo, Mayfair, American Sweetheart, Princess and Royal Lace. I will briefly cover characteristics of each pattern. Depression Glass Patterns Cameo Pattern Cameo was produced by Hocking from 1930-1934. Most of the Cameo a collector will find will be green, though the pattern was made in yellow, pink and crystal with a platinum trim. Pink pieces are very rare due to limited production. Yellow was made only during the years of … [Read more...]
A Victorian Christmas – Christmas Tree
A Victorian Christmas is very different from a modern day one. Especially the Christmas tree. In this article I will talk about what a Victorian Christmas tree is and how to make one. Christmas Tree History Here is a little history on the Christmas tree. The Christmas tree tradition started in the 17th century inGermany. However many ancient civilizations considered the evergreen tree to be a symbol of life during the Winter months and would decorate these trees. In 1841 QueenVictoria's … [Read more...]
10 Antique and Collectible Christmas Presents for Anyone
Don't know what to get that special person? One thing you can never go wrong with is an antique or collectible. This is a great way to start a tradition or carry one on this holiday season. Here are some great gift ideas for the Holiday season. … [Read more...]
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