collectibles & memorabilia

Some folks like to do things in a big way.  They enjoy the spotlight, and blossom with a little extra attention.  We’re sort of that way, too, so we understand.  Even when it comes to selling an antique or collectible, we think it’s always more fun to make a splash.  Why do anything the conventional way when you can make it fun? Do you remember that Super Hero Auction we had last year?  We had national news coverage for that event, plus plenty of local headlines and spots on our local news networks.  Our own John discovered he looked good in ...

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There was a time when no amusement park or playground was complete without a carousel ride. Children and even adults could take pleasure in a whimsical ride atop an array of horses and other fanciful creatures carved by the most skilled artisans of the day. Though quality examples of these nostalgic masterpieces come few and far between on the market, that doesn't seem to deter the demand for these magnificent figures. The carousel reached its golden age in early 20th-century America, and lasted until the Great Depression of 1929. This roughly 25-year period saw the creation of carousel ...

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  If antiques are items torn from history, then auctions are the vehicles that place them once again within the context of personal history.  As surely as Curtis Jere's fanciful wire sculpture "Three Birds in Flight" or Nathan Wasserberger's nude on blue reflect today's sensibilities, two 19th C. French bronzes-Jean-Paul Aube's "Allegorie de le Pientre" and Auguste Peiffer's Allegorical Bronze Group-echo with a timeless beauty.  It will be a joy to see all find new owners. Surveying the wealth of designer modern furniture in our gallery at 80 East 11th Street, I can almost see the set of six ...

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A few days ago, a Chinese collector came into the gallery to inspect a piece of Orientalia. He brought a black light, a jeweler's loop and a translator. After thoroughly inspecting the item, the collector remarked that the nuances and subtleties were all but missing on the Internet. That's why Robert and I spend so much time staging the Roland Auction exhibitions. The preview that opens Thursday, October 13 features more than 400 lots in the October 15 sale. Catalog descriptions are, at best, curatorial and academic. We don't editorialize. We don't "sell" in the catalog you view on ...

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One of the most fascinating aspects of collecting antiques is the story each piece has to tell. Each and every antique and work of art in our 30,000 square-foot French Quarter gallery embodies a moment in history that makes it beyond compare. This breathtaking billiard table is certainly no exception. Known as the "History of Australia" Billiard Table, this award-winning, hand-carved masterpiece with a matching score board has it all: royal provenance, peerless craftsmanship and an impressive international exhibition history to boot. Carved from Australian blackwood by renowned carver ...

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When was the last time you went outside on a clear night for the sole purpose of looking at the night sky?  I sometimes wonder about the level of amazement that must have gone through the minds of early man, observing comets, eclipses and moon phases with a surreal combination of awe and trepidation. These first “astronomers” used what they observed with the naked eye to explain everything from the changing seasons to their religious beliefs. But it wasn’t until the invention of the telescope that these observations made the giant leap from mere assumption to revolutionary truth. The first ...

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The history and beauty of Charleston, South Carolina, are featured in the current exhibition at Payne Fine Arts. From paintings, including an unusual WPA-era view of the College of Charleston, to the silhouettes of Carew Rice, to a burgeoning field in Charleston collecting, that of original vintage photographs and Albertypes,  to historic engravings, the "Charleston Collection"  has something for all those who have fallen in love with the "Holy City." For our friends and collectors of Kentucky and regional art, the site has recently added artworks and prices that should prove tempting. From ...

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As co-founders of Roland Auctions, Manhattan's newest auction house, my brother Rob and I face a recurring challenge. As soon as the property in the monthly auction is picked up, we have to start filling the gallery again.  It often takes weeks of intense appraisals and negotiations before we are able to offer high caliber fine art, antiques and decorations from Manhattan's premier apartments and estates. That's why I say we're in the business of building relationships. For instance, it required strong relationship building and negotiation skills to bring three exceptional collections to ...

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A Chinese Vase expected to sell for $800. to $1,200., was sold by Sotheby's New York for an astonishing $18 million on March 22, 2011. Described as an unusual famille rose and gold decorated vase, an Anonymous Sotheby's bidder paid $18 million for this 20 century porcelain. The Chinese Vase was among 300 lots consigned by J.T. Tai and Company, a well-known  Dealer of Chinese Porcelain; the Sotheby's Sale realized $36.3 million and took nine hours to complete. Why did Sotheby's estimate the $18 million Chinese Vase at only $800-$1,200? Sotheby's felt there was no actual support to indicate ...

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Buying Art is not like buying Detergent; the key is to "buy intelligently". Art buyers often make the wrong decision when comparing two examples of the same Work of Art with the objective of "saving money".  Many Buyers fall prey to buying the Work of Art with the lowest price, and often not the best. Daniel Grant wrote a WSJ Article titled Why You Can't Always Trust Art Dealers which casts a negative light on Art Dealers.  We don't condone the ethical behavior cited by Mr. Grant and agree due diligence is essential to protect financial harm. However, condemning Art Dealers is similar to ...

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SANTA FE, N.M. – December is the best month to be in Santa Fe. Snow sugars the old town and farolitos – occasionally still the paper bag and candle variety of childhood memory – climb stepped adobe walls. Pinon scents the night air. At the nearby pueblos, feast day dances bind the generations in spiritual traditions as old as time. A first stop is Coulter Brooks Art & Antiques at 924 Paseo de Peralta.  Jan Brooks and Lane Coulter  –  who is known for such well-thumbed references such as New Mexican Tinwork, 1840-1940; Navajo Saddle Blankets: Textiles to Ride in the American West and ...

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November 1, 2010Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, tibbar, tibbar, tibbar. Have I got it right now, Meems?And now the countdown to Thanksgiving has begun. Although I suspect that some of my Gentle Readers are more interested in the H&M opening in Palm Beach on Friday... It is time to assess the china and silver, and see how many emergency trips we will need to make to Williams-Sonoma (which happens to be in the same mall as the new H&M). The gravy boat is fine, but one of the big, ancestral blue and white platters has sprung a big crack. Might have to wander south to acquire another. ...

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The joy of instant gratification, combined with that pleasurable buyer’s rush, all mixed up in a compact four-hour sale mean that I can go to the auction, see my pals and bid on great area rugs and end tables and still make it home in time to pop dinner in the oven before running off for some afternoon errands. Now, my days of obtaining and taking home furniture have just become a little easier. Dan Ripley and my friends at Antique Helper have decided to offer weekday auctions where folks with the urge to purge can unload alongside the hunters and gatherers who crave some change.I ...

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An over-200-year-old company finds itself on the verge of financial ruin as war rages on. It's only savior an unknown artist who rises through the ranks by determination, persuasion and sheer talent, only to be fired when she has outlasted her usefulness.  Sounds more like soap-opera fodder than real life, but in 1915, porcelain artist Daisy Makeig-Jones' extraordinary line of Fairyland Lustre porcelain saved Wedgwood from bankruptcy during World War I. The design of each piece was rooted in fairytales that Makeig-Jones adored. Each literally burst with brilliant colors depicting scenes of ...

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Private collections are yielding some rare and coveted dolls to the auction market this year. An art doll from an Italian private collection provoked a heated paddle battle at Theriault's July 12 sale while the Richard Wright Collection at Skinner's will offer up many more supreme examples of doll-making this October. On the eve of France's Bastille Day, Theriault's hammered down the gorgeously-outfitted French art doll for a world record price of $263,000. The previous record was $215,000 for a similar model sold in 2003. Made in Paris by artist Albert Marque circa 1914, the doll came from ...

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Following the media-frenzy associated with the Michael Jackson auction that never happenend, Los Angeles-based Julien's Auctions once again offers up a dazzling celebrity cache. Fine and decorative arts from award-winning star Barbra Streisand’s New York, Beverly Hills, and Malibu residences will be auctioned on October 17 and 18 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. Proceeds will benefit Streisand's humanitarian foundation. The 400-lot selection features 19th-century American furnishings, Art Deco fixtures, Oriental rugs, Native American baskets, and Barbra's personal Yamaha Baby Grand ...

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Graphic artist Alan Claude grew up in the shadow of a lighthouse, literally. On the shores of Biarritz, France, he and his older brother played day-long under a towering lighthouse while their mother worked. When the internet age allowed Claude to move his career to Maine, lighthouses again figured largely in his experience. He and his wife were married at sunrise at the diminutive Marshall Point Lighthouse in Port Clyde. This memorable event, as well as the inspiration of a coastline spotted with lighthouses, provoked Claude to create a series of bold illustrations of Maine’s most ...

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The Wall Street Journal published a new study by Birinyi Associates on Tuesday comparing U.S. stocks with other assets over the long haul. The results touted selected collectibles as the biggest winners. Here's how eight asset types ranked in the study: 1. Sports memorabilia, ie., a rare Honus Wagner baseball card has appreciated 9,900% since 1985. (Honus Wagner, known as "The Flying Dutchman" for his great speed and Germanic heritage, played mostly for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1897 to 1917.) 2. Popular postage, ie., the "Inverted Jenny" U.S. postage stamp is up 500% in the last ...

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