AN-TIQUE (an-teek)
An object having
special value because of its age, especially a domestic item, piece of
furniture or decorative arts object esteemed for its artistry, beauty,
mechanical ingenuity, or period of origin. |
|
The
Antiques Almanac, a five-edition-per-year online magazine for beginning and
intermediate antiques collectors and those just interested in finding out about
old things, is your first stop on the Web in your search for information
about antiques and collectibles. Here, you’ll find articles on a variety
of American and international antiques, including furniture, china,
glass, silver, and other decorative arts from the Colonial, Empire,
Victorian, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco Periods, plus vintage and modern
collectibles, interesting historical facts, antique tips, and
recommendations for caring for your collections. Come back often to see
what's new. And be sure to tell your friends about us.
 |
This
edition's
theme:
"The Antiques of Christmas"
Volume 14 No. 5
This edition features
articles on antiques associated with the celebration of Christmas.
|
 |
|
 |
And They
Brought Forth Gifts
On a
clear starry night in ancient Judea, three men—Patisar,
Caspar, and Melchior— riding camels paused to look at the
brightest star in the heavens. As was the tradition in those
days, they came bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and
myrrh, all in small boxes called caskets.
More Antiques Articles |
|
|
|
 |
Sweet Sweet Santas
Of all
the holiday decorations produced since the mid-19th century,
few remain as cherished as early German Santa Claus candy
containers, called springheads. These little novelties
feature a Santa wearing a red-flocked coat and a cone-shaped
hat, carrying a small Christmas tree decorated with colored
beads. These handmade characterizations of Father Christmas
remain a popular collectible.
More
Collectibles Articles |
|
 |
|
 |
The
Origin of Christmas
The first recorded incidence of Christmas being celebrated
actually dates all the way back to Rome on December 25, 336,
during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine. So it
seems the Romans invented it, although there’s no specific
person credited with having done so.
More
Special Features
|
|
 |
|
 |
Lighting the Nights of
Christmas
Antique candlesticks are favorites among
collectors. Beautifully crafted, they create an intimate and
memorable setting, especially during the Christmas holidays.
Their twinkling light offers hope during long winter nights.
More
Antique Spotlights
|
|
 |
|
 |
Ring Those Christmas Bells
Silver
bells, jingle bells, sleigh bells, church bells—all help to
bring cheer and merriment to holiday celebrations today. But
the tradition of ringing bells at the onslaught of winter
goes back centuries when people rang bells to ward off evil
spirits who they thought would bring bad fortune and disease
during the winter months.
More
Collecting Articles
|
|
 |
|
 |
Caring for Quadruple Silver
The
process of silver plating is done by electroplating a thin layer of
silver over a stronger and usually less expensive base metal. With
its silver finish, improved durability and pricing that was more
affordable than pure silver pieces, quadruple silver plate soared in
popularity during the late 19th century.
More
Caring for Collections |
 Like
us on Facebook  Follow
us on Twitter
|
 |
Learn even
more about antiques with the oldest antiques site in
England.
 |
The
2021 Holiday
Edition
featuring
"The
Antiques of Christmas"
is here
Go through the menu and read all the
New!
articles. |
|
|
|
Yuletide at Winterthur
by Bob Brooke
"Deck the Halls" must surely have
been written with Winterthur Museum's Yuletide Tour in mind. Though
today Christmas has become a rather formula holiday, America's
forefathers celebrated it in many creative ways. While Winterthur is
magical any time of the year, it’s especially so during the
holidays.
Read more.
|
|
 |
|
Mumming in the New Year
by Bob Brooke
Mummers can trace their roots
as far back as ancient Egypt. They're best documented during
the medieval period, where the mummers' play was a popular
pastime for the poor. There's a wide variety of mummer
plays, but mostly they weree characterized by big masks and
pantomime traditions.
Read more |
|
 |
|
And the Stockings
Were Hung by the Chimney with Care
Before
getting into the history of the Christmas stocking
tradition, it’s important to put the collecting of these
stockings in perspective. While people actively followed
this tradition throughout the 19th century, children back
then used their own stockings for the most part. At the
height of the Victorian Era, specially made Christmas
stockings began to appear, often made in crazy quilt designs
using scraps of cloth leftover from making clothes.
Read more |
|
How to Recognize and
Refinish Antiques for Pleasure and Profit
Have
you ever bought an antique or collectible that was less than perfect and
needed some TLC? Bob's book offers tips and step-by- step
instructions for simple maintenance and restoration of common antiques.
Read an
Excerpt |
|
BREAKING
NEWS
Birdwatcher Stumbles on Roman Gold Coins
A birdwatcher in
England stumbled upon a hoard of 1,300 Iron Age gold coins
while out spotting a buzzard in a field. Dating to around
the time of the Roman invasion, the coins are believed to be
worth in excess of $1,070,480. |
|
17th-Century Chinese Chair Brings $8.5 Million
A 17th-century huanghuali
folding horse-shoe back armchair, which sold for $8.5
million, more than five times its high estimate. From the
late Ming/early Qing dynasties, the chair is one of only a
few known surviving examples and featured the qilin motif,
suggesting its use by the imperial family and nobility. The
chair had come to market at Christie’s in March 2002, when
it brought $248,000. It was part of a collection assembled
over 20 years by the owner of Hevingham Hall in Suffolk
County, England.
|
|
Read
what our readers are saying about
The Antiques
Almanac
Comments
Send us your comment
 |
|
