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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. |
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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.
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This
edition's
theme:
"Halloween Horrors"
Volume 18 No. 4
This edition features articles about
antique and vintage sports memorabilia.
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Spooky
Greetings
“HAPPY HALLOWEEN!”—a greeting heard at parties and by trick
o’ treaters as they go from house to house seeking candy
treats. But back in the 19th century, people sent Halloween
greetings by postcard.
The late 19th century also marked the
beginning of the “golden era” of postcards, which were the
text messaging or social media of the day—people sent these
cheap greetings for any reason, particularly holidays. This
trend lasted until around 1918.
More Antiques Articles |
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Ghosts, Goblins, and
More
As
Halloween approaches, collectors seek out turn their
attention to antique Halloween collectibles. These vintage
treasures embody the nostalgic spirit of the holiday and
provide a glimpse into how Halloween enthusiasts celebrated
in the past. From spooky decorations to charmingly eerie
costumes, antique Halloween collectibles can be both
valuable and captivating. Here’s a guide to help you explore
this fascinating world and identify what makes these items
appealing to collectors.
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Collectibles Articles |
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Stirring Up the Witch's Brew
For many people, Fall is
their favorite time of year because it brings with it
Halloween. And for many their favorite Halloween motif is
the witch—riding her broom through the crisp night sky.
Witch, or "Wica" came from the Wiccas who performed rituals
among the Celts in ancient times. Often portrayed on a broom
or standing over a cauldron, these images derive from the
wica rituals of potion making and divination. Superstitions
abound, and black cats were often said to be a witch in
disguise.
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Special Features
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Getting into the Halloween
Spirit
Halloween is synonymous with dressing up as weird
characters, ghosts, goblins, clowns, and animals. Creativity
reigns. And while the emphasis on children around Halloween
has been around since the 19th century, in recent years,
adults have taken the wearing of Halloween costumes to a
whole new sophisticated level.
More
Antique Spotlights
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Monster Collectibles are a Graveyard
Smash
While millions of people from all over the world
watch the Parade of Nations into the Olympic Stadium in order to see
their country's representatives, just as many collectors eagerly await
the flood of Olympic collectibles that will be made available once the
games have begun.
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Collecting Articles
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Displaying Your Treasures
Collecting
antiques and collectibles is one thing, displaying them is quite
another. Some items lend themselves to small tabletop or wall displays
while others, like furniture, for instance, are so large that they
require an entire house. How much space you have for display will
ultimately dictate what sort of antiques, and how many of them, you can
acquire that will fit into the space you have.
More
Caring for Collections |
SPECIAL
RELATED ARTICLES
Check out these related
articles from past editions of The Antiques Almanac
that may also be of interest:
No related articles for this edition
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The
2025 Fall Edition
featuring
"Halloween
Horrors"
is here
Go through the menu and read all the
New!
articles. |
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Halloween's
Ancient Origins
by Bob Brooke
Pumpkins,
witches, ghosts, and goblins—all are signs of Halloween.
Though the celebration has grown ever more commercial, its
roots go far back into history. Today it’s a fun celebration
when kids and adults dress up and ask strangers and
acquaintances for candy and tricks. But what is the origin
of Halloween?
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A Museum of Potions and Lotions
by Bob Brooke
The Creole-style
townhouse at 514 Chartres Street in the heart of New Orleans's French
Quarter looks similar to its neighbors, with a windowed storefront
through which visitors to the Big Easy often stop to peer into a world
of long ago—a world of old counters and shelves overflowing with bizarre
instruments and bottles with strange labels. This is the New Orleans
Pharmacy Museum, also known as La Pharmacie Francaise, an 1850s
apothecary shop.
Read more. |
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The Great
Depression's Gift to Halloween
by Bob Brooke
Haunted houses have grown to be
one of the most popular Halloween attractions. No, these
aren’t actual haunted houses but created ones, complete with
ghosts, goblins, witches, and more. Believed to be rather
recent phenomena, haunted houses actually got their start
during the Great Depression, around the same time as “treat
or treating,” as a way to distract young people whose
Halloween pranks had escalated to vandalism and harassment
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Communications with the Deadly Departed
Although Ouija Boards gained popularity
from the 1960s to the 1980s, they actually originated in 1890 during
the Age of Spiritualism. Founded on the belief that people
could communicate with the dearly departed, the movement often
depended on "mediums" who fell into a trance and spoke for the dead,
or unconsciously wielded pens or pencils to spell out messages
termed called "automatic" writings.
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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 |
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BREAKING
NEWS
"Rosebud," The Sled Used in the Film "Citizen Kane," Sold for
a Record $14.75 Million
The sled famously known as
Rosebud, from Orson Welles’ Hollywood classic masterpiece
Citizen Kane, sold for a remarkable $14.75 million. Gremlins
director Joe Dante has owned the iconic prop since 1984. The
previous auction records for any of the screen-used Rosebud
versions were $60,500, sold to Steven Spielberg in 1982, and
$233,000 to an anonymous buyer in 1996. |
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BIZARRE
ANTIQUITIES
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The Celtic or
Irish wolf was a complex and otherworldly
creature. But the Celts didn’t consider the
Irish werewolf a “monster.” The werewolf was the
guardian and protector of children, wounded men
and lost persons, and even recruited by kings in
time of war. The Irish werewolf or Faoladh,
differed from the typical western European
werewolf. The Celts believed it to be “good.”.
The faoladh was a man or woman that shapeshifted
into a wolf and was often a protector or
guardian of others rather than an unthinking,
bloodthirsty creature.
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