The 1950’s house was a scientific
triumph, designed in a laboratory and tested on inhabitants of all
ages before being built for the masses. Never had homes been so
thoroughly contemporary, with antiques and period styles entirely
banished. This video explores the interior decor of that decade.
Explore the
Characteristics of Mid-Century Modern Architecture, one of the most
influential styles of the 20th century. Known for its clean lines,
flat planes, large glass walls, natural materials, and strong
indoor–outdoor connection, Mid-Century Modern design shaped the way
people think about modern living. Click on the
title to view.
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THE ANTIQUES ALMANAC
"Christmas in America"
COMING IN
December
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provided with each article.
The morning of December 17, 1903 dawned bright with a
strong chill in the air. The wind hit 25 miles per hour
over the dunes at Kill Devil Hills, dangerous conditions
for flying a prototype aircraft. The Wright Brothers of
Dayton, Ohio, dressed in coats and ties to add a touch
of private ceremony for an event that would alter the
world. To learn more read "The
Dream of Flight."
Space Age Collectibles
Go on the Block by Bob Brooke
Fantastic
vintage NASA photographs from outer space will go on the auction
block at Bloomsbury Auctions in London later this month. Although
they aren’t the first space memorabilia to go up for auction, they
are some of the most spectacular. All are vintage Kodaks----itself
now a collectible since the company’s downturn in recent years.
Auctioneers at Bloomsbury expect the photos to sell for $462 to over
$15,000.
The auction will showcase 600 visuals of U.S. Space Program history,
everything from Buzz Aldrin’s first "selfie" in outer space to an
abstract portrait of an eclipse to panoramic views of lunar canyons.
One
of the more memorable offerings is from 1969, the year Neil
Armstrong first stepped foot on the Moon. The historic photo that
everyone remembers is of Aldrin on the Moon. It wasn't until 20
years after Armstrong became a lunar hero that NASA discovered a
sharp image of him, taken by Aldrin, standing near the lunar module.
Like so many other images, it got stashed in a NASA archive at the
space agency’s headquarters in Houston. Before that, NASA believed
the only photos from the lunar surface were blurry shots grabbed by
the astronauts using a TV camera and a 16 mm motion picture camera.
The photos in this auction showcase the golden age of space travel.
Besides showing U.S. astronauts acting a bit like the first tourists
on the Moon—which they were—they also show other-worldly scenes from
outer space, far beyond Earth.
Beyond
Aldrin's impressively composed image, the auction offers a number of
photos by other astronauts, from John Glenn, the first man to
venture into space to Eugene Cernan, the last man to trek to the
moon to Ed White, who documented his 1965 space walk during NASA’s
Gemini 4 mission.
Many photos in this auction were unknown to the public until NASA’s
photographic archive began appearing on the Internet. Included are
crude handmade panoramic shots of the lunar landscape taken with the
then state-of-the-art Hasselblad cameras, then pieced together by
NASA scientists to use in their research. Today, digital panoramic
shots are available on many smart phones. Just imagine if the
astronauts had a Samsung phone with them at the time.
Just recently, the wife of the late Neil Armstrong discovered a
stash of space memorabilia that he had stuck in a closet.
Fortunately, this group of objects went to the National Air and
Space Museum and not to auction. What was junk back then is
important memorabilia today. Included in the packet was the camera
Armstrong used to take some of the photos in this auction. To
Armstrong, it was just a bag of trash.
Space collectibles are the newest wave in high tech memorabilia to
attract knowledgeable and deep-pocketed collectors. Not only are
they important collectibles. They’re also important pieces of
history that is still in the making.
No antiques or collectibles
are sold on this site.
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
Auction News
Get up to the minute news of antiques auctions
around the country and the world.
One
of the more memorable offerings is from 1969, the year Neil
Armstrong first stepped foot on the Moon. The historic photo that
everyone remembers is of Aldrin on the Moon. It wasn't until 20
years after Armstrong became a lunar hero that NASA discovered a
sharp image of him, taken by Aldrin, standing near the lunar module.
Like so many other images, it got stashed in a NASA archive at the
space agency’s headquarters in Houston. Before that, NASA believed
the only photos from the lunar surface were blurry shots grabbed by
the astronauts using a TV camera and a 16 mm motion picture camera.
Beyond
Aldrin's impressively composed image, the auction offers a number of
photos by other astronauts, from John Glenn, the first man to
venture into space to Eugene Cernan, the last man to trek to the
moon to Ed White, who documented his 1965 space walk during NASA’s
Gemini 4 mission.
