Today, we seem to know everything about everything when it comes to photography. Camera functions automatically date-stamp images as we take them. If we post photos online, we tag the people shown in the photo, and they often respond, confirming their identities. But printed, paper photos from the decades before digital aren’t so forthcoming. Unless […]
Once again, the New Hampshire Antiques Dealers Association (NHADA) has offered a strong selection of items, and once again, Clifford Wallach, an expert in tramp art, folk art, and Americana has selected the best for Jasper52. A total of 344 lots comprise the May 20 auction, which commences at 6 pm Eastern time. View the […]
Malachite, memorable for its rich green color and silky, swirled patterns, is actually weathered copper ore. Ancient Egyptians, who sourced this mineral in the Timna Valley in what is now southern Israel, believed that it held magical, protective powers. They carried malachite seals and amulets, and to guard against ocular diseases commonly found along the […]
Vikings get a bad rap. Of course, some of that is deserved; there’s no nice, polite way to raid a village. But the long-ago, long-vanished people who called themselves Vikings – the Scandinavians who reside in what is now Denmark, Sweden, and Norway – behaved in ways that might seem surprising. Archaeologists now believe Vikings […]
You don’t need to be of any particular religion to appreciate the art of the faithful. Deftly rendered on wood and bronze, these images – some literally icons – tell stories of the Gospel, the Virgin Mary, saints, and martyrs. When they are done expertly, as these are, the artworks have the power to capture […]
For centuries, American silversmiths could not afford to play. The precious metal was too scarce and pricey for artisans to take a flyer on a cutting-edge silverware pattern, no matter how fun and fashionable it might seem. Everything changed when news of the discovery of the Comstock Lode spread in 1859. The biggest silver strike […]
We don’t need vinyl records anymore, but we definitely still want them. Sure, records take up physical space — there’s no way around that — but the sensation of holding your favorite artist’s best songs in your hands will always beat summoning them from the capacious memory of your computer. On May 4, starting at […]
Maps are beautiful, decorative, and functional. Not only do they put the world in your hands, they let you fold or roll it up and carry it with you, wherever you might roam. It’s not surprising that collectors’ appetite for maps has been, and continues to be, absolutely insatiable. On May 4, starting at 8 […]
Many people have probably never heard of the luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet, let alone own one of its products – but make no mistake: the venerable Swiss-based firm has been wowing users and collectors for nearly 150 years, from its launch in 1875 until the present day. The company was founded by Jules Louis Audemars […]
Buckaroo Banzai, lead character of the eponymous 1984 cult movie, said, “No matter where you go, there you are.” A good map lets you identify exactly where you are, but it’s perfectly OK to treat maps purely as works of art, or as a reminder of good times enjoyed in great places. On April 27, […]