Watch Papers Are More Than Protection

Watch papers have long been neglected by collectors, but now they’re becoming popular. Originally used as a packing between the inner and outer case of a watch to protect its works, they became keepsakes in the mid-18th century.
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Jade, ivory, horn, and marble should be lightly dusted with a soft brush or dry, soft cloth. Keep these objects out of direct sunlight, since they may dry out and become brittle. Always handle these objects with care when moving them.
               
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The ABC’s of Collecting  Online
by Ray Boileau

If you’re like many collectors today, you’ve already discovered the Internet, specifically eBay, for buying and perhaps selling antiques and collectibles–for good or bad.                             
 
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I have a one-armed chair passed down to me and I'm interested in knowing what it is and what it was used for, besides sitting. It is very delicate and sits low to the ground, it also only has one arm. 
Helen       
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EARLY TECH AUCTION OFFERS RARITIES

Cologne, Germany - We live in an age of technology, so it’s fitting that pieces of early technology should be high on collector’s lists of most wanted items. On June 18, Auction Team Köln, the premier specialty auction of technical items since 1987, headed by Auction Team Breker, held it’s quarterly Science & Technology, Office Antiques, and Toys and Tin Toys auctions in Cologne, Germany.
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An acanthus is:

a  plant or shrub
an ornamental motif
the Greek god of harvest
a finial
                    To see the answer

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 about value.)

Instructions on sending photographs of your pieces.

Updated
October 2, 2007

The Antiques Almanac, a reference site for beginning and intermediate collectors, is your first stop on the Web in your search  for information about antiques and collectibles. 


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, or period of origin.

 
The Value of Scrimshaw Soars
by Bob Brooke

Whalemen decorated busks for their sweetheart’s bodice, carved and decorated pie crimpers, inspired by vision of homemade pies, and engraved sperm whale teeth with whatever captured their imagination. Scrimshaw became the pastime of lonely and often dispirited seamen far from home. Today, it’s highly prized by collectors, who often must pay exorbitant prices for period pieces.

More Antiques Features

 
Hess-O-Mania
by Bob Brooke

Hess Toy Truck collectors go to any length to find just the right truck. Not just any truck, but that special truck–perfect paint, perfect tires, and, most importantly, a perfect box. That’s right, a perfect box. To them, it’s a quest.

 

More Collectibles Articles

 
Building a Future With Pieces from the Past
by Bob Brooke

Behind the windows of an old storefront along North George Street in York, Pennsylvania, lie treasures of the past. No, it’s not just any ordinary antique shop. It’s a shop jammed with pieces of old buildings, some small, some large, all interesting. Sure, there are architectural antique shops, but this one is different.

 

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Legendary Vase Almost Sold on Ebay
by Bob Brooke

A 13 ½"-inch-high porcelain vase, featuring an elaborately painted portrait of Catherine the Great of Russia and a mark on its base of a dark red, inverted "N" surmounted by stars, recently went up for auction on eBay for a staggering minimum bid of $30,000. However, at the auction’s closing, only one bidder had placed a bid of $30,100 on it, but the reserve on the item hadn’t been met.

READ MY ONLINE ANTIQUES COLUMNS:  COLLECTOR'S CORNER  AND  THE EDUCATED COLLECTOR

 
The Care and Treatment of Old Prints
by Bob Brooke

Many collectors of old prints believe when it comes to the care of them the first is to never do anything. The second is that they should be carefully preserved and restored. The latter is obviously sensible when the work only involves removing surface dust and the incidental dirt that a print may have acquired through the years, but beyond that, it’s necessary to seek out the advice of a conservator.

More Caring for Your Collections

CARING FOR YOUR COLLECTIONS
An occasional feature about caring for your antiques and collectibles, from cleaning, to displaying, to full restoration.

ANTIQUES TO VIEW
A new feature showcasing outstanding museums where you can see rare antiques and learn how people used them.

 

Winter Sports Museum Educates Customers
by Bob Brooke

While all antique dealers sell items from the past, few take advantage of them to teach their customers a little about the items’ history. The folks at Ski Country Antiques in Evergreen, Colorado, have done just that by creating a winter sports museum right in their store.                         

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Take a Look at
Bob's Newest Book

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 new book offers tips and step-by- step instructions for simple maintenance and restoration of common antiques.

Read an Excerpt
Order directly or from Amazon.com

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Have you ever thought about starting your own antiques business?

Buy Bob's book 

How to Start a Home-Based Antiques Business

and find out

Read an excerpt
Order directly or from Amazon.com

 

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