silver

Australian aborigines called it the "stone of light" and the Celts believed its prismatic properties linked it to the sun. Even the fortuneteller's rudimentary crystal ball was originally crafted of the mysteriously alluring mineral we refer to today as rock crystal. Rock crystal, or clear quartz, has been revered by nearly every ancient culture in history. It's clear, ice-like appearance, enhanced by light refracting fissures gave the mineral an air of mystique that carried on well into the Renaissance. The mineral's innate beauty piqued the interest of 14th-century European royals and ...

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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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When Charles Lewis Tiffany opened his stationary and fancy goods shop in 1837, he could not have imagined the indelible mark the name "Tiffany" would leave on the history of American decorative arts. Its mere mention conjures images of the timeless elegance and refinement seen in every work of silver and fine jewelry the firm ever created. Tiffany and his partners John Young and J.L. Ellis recognized early on the importance of becoming prominent force in silversmithing. The great increase in demand during this era for both presentation and household silver convinced the trio to open their ...

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Dining in the Victorian-era was truly an art form. The economic prosperity of the late 19th and early 20th centuries catapulted many into the middle and upper classes, and the desire to display just how wealthy you were was of the utmost importance to maintain, if not raise, your standing in high society. These displays took many forms, but it was the dinner party that proved to be an affair that could make or break a socialite. Even the extravagance of the utensils you provided for guests was considered proportionate to one's wealth. The affluent demanded dining services that could meet ...

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There’s something about wintry days that make a person see their home with new eyes. Maybe it’s all that indoor time between the holidays and the Super Bowl that spurs that itch for change. Whether you while away your weekends rearranging the furniture, or reclining on your George Nelson sofa, I’m pretty sure you’ve spent a little time envisioning how swell your living room would look with that orange chair parked in front of the picture window. Before you know it, you might find yourself brandishing a paintbrush and picking out new throw pillows.  Being the voice of experience, I ...

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The contributions of women are one, if not the most, overlooked aspect in the history of silver craftsmanship. The natural elegance and refinement exhibited in the works created by the hand of female silversmiths set them apart from all others, and, in many cases, are considered the finest masterworks ever made. It is imperative to remind ourselves that, until fairly recently, women had very little rights under the law in the industrialized world, and were at the mercy of the men in their lives in every respect, including profession (if one were even allowed a career). Most women who did ...

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PARIS, FRANCE  –  A La Vieille Russie is lifting the cover on a dealer’s most closely-guarded secret: its guest book, or livre d’or, containing the names of dozens of its best clients, colleagues and sources in the 1920s and 1930s.   The revelations are part of a selling exhibition that the Manhattan dealers in Russian art and antiques are mounting at Didier Aaron & Cie in Paris. Loosely timed to coincide with the Biennale des Antiquaires, the display opens September 16 at Aaron’s galleries at 118 Faubourg Saint-Honoré, minutes away from A La Vieille Russie’s former French ...

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