At my events, I cut to the core. No nonsense, no delicate high-brow vocabulary, no malarkey. I tell it like it is. If you have a piece of junk, I tell you. If you spent too much money on something, I tell you. If you are hoping to become of millionaire on a collection of Pez dispensers, I tell you that it’s not happening in this lifetime. I have been known to break a heart or two and I have been known to reveal that the ugly lamp you have can make you a millionaire in the antiques market. And, I reveal my faults too—like my well-documented and obvious (particularly on my thighs and hips) …

I know from personal experience that the exhibition currently on view at Penn State’s Palmer Museum of Art demonstrates works of art from one of the best private collections of American art anywhere —certainly on a university campus. This collection was amassed privately by longtime Penn State arts patrons and community philanthropists, James and Barbara Palmer. While parts of the collection have been viewed by the public on many occasions at museums and art institutions both far and wide, this local exhibition showcases a portion of the major gift of art that the Palmers have made to Penn …

The official portrait of HRH The Duchess of Cambridge was unveiled at London’s National Portrait Gallery on Jan. 11 and is currently on public display there. The portrait was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery through the Art Fund. The painting was painted by the BP award-winning artist Paul Emsley (born in 1947 in Glasgow, Scotland) who has also painted such notable figures as President Nelson Mandela and author V. S. Naipaul. Experts are categorizing the painting within the tradition of Italian Renaissance portrait master, Leonardo da Vinci citing a keen ability to capture …

  As a youngster, learning the value of a dollar was important to my family. We had everything we needed but my parents knew enough to reuse and recycle for finance’s sake. They taught us not to be wasteful and to recycle whenever we could. At holiday time, for instance, we reused the wrapping paper, saved the cardboard gift boxes, and reclaimed the ribbon and bows. It comes as no surprise that the actual tree was planted in our Connecticut backyard and made a nice addition to the landscape for years to come. Holidays remind us of what we have, what we are thankful for, and what we really …

For many of us, the sound of a familiar clock tick reminds us of home. Grandfather or tall case clocks offer some of the loveliest of chimes ranging from St. Michaels to Westminster. The serene ticking and tocking of many clocks provides comfort. And, clocks have personalities like late 19th Century mantle clocks, 1950s souvenir clocks from various locales or brass carriage clocks. For instance, my mother has a circa 1960s Seth Thomas clock made in Connecticut that we lovingly refer to as “time bomb”. We call it that because it sounds like a time bomb. We used to announce the time around our …

With today’s interest in vintage interior design concepts, wallpaper featuring old style imagery is making a huge comeback. Wallpaper has developed as a decorative art form which is easily changed as the styles change. Many of us are interested in sprucing up the place around the holidays so installing new or even old wallpaper can be a fun redecorating project. Dating as far back as the early days of decorative papyrus papermaking in ancient Egypt, wallpaper as we know it has evolved over time. The Chinese first glued rice paper to walls around 200 BC. By the 12th century AD, wallpaper had …

Along with festive sights, a major part of the holidays is aromatic smells. From evergreens to the holiday meal, the holidays offer a feast for the eyes and for the nose. Some of the most popular scents derive from holiday decorations like fruit wreaths, citrus pomanders, and evergreen garlands. The models for these luscious holiday elements all have roots in art history.   Renaissance Wreaths The works of art by the Renaissance artisan and master, Luca della Robbia served as the impetus for today’s version of the holiday fruit wreath. Aptly called the della Robbia wreath, fruit wreaths …

Across the country, many people that attend my antiques appraisal events are shocked to hear about some of the little known methods used in major museums to preserve and protect precious art and antiques. While museums make a long-term commitment to preserving and protecting objects in their care to educate the public, most of us are equally committed to keeping our family heirlooms and keepsakes in good condition in order to retain their value. Some of the most common ways an object can be harmed include: Pests and other insects Pollutants (dust, mold, etc.) Temperature and humidity …

If you like vintage architecture from the 1960s, you’ll like the surroundings of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. The building was ultra-modern in its day with its interior spiral ramp (like the one designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for the Guggenheim Museum in New York City), glass curtain wall (a nod to the urban architecture of Mies van der Rohe) and football inspired roofline indicative of the mid-century modern style of American architecture. Canton, Ohio was chosen as the site for the Hall of Fame for many reasons. However, we focus on football’s legacy there as opposed to …

The White House is a fascinating, stately, and beautiful place that remains a symbol of those values that we Americans hold dear. Here are a few historical tidbits that highlight the importance of the most recognizable home in the country. Many are unaware that our first President, George Washington (1789-1797) never lived in the White House. He wanted the classical building constructed to serve as a status symbol for the young nation. The original house designed by architect, James Hoban, features a classical design with a north front and south front entrance of sandstone and white panel. …

Looking back a century or two, we find many objects that allow us to enjoy music. From the early Edison phonographs, Regina music boxes, and Wurlitzer free-standing jukeboxes dating from the late 1880s to the 2007 iPhone and more contemporary music machines, the sounds of our favorite songs have come in a variety of packages over the centuries. When Apple released the iPod in October of 2001, it changed the face — or perhaps more accurately, the ear - of music. The highly identifiable scroll wheel prompted sound to reach the masses and today, we can shuffle and select music with ease. If you …

A question about one of the most common names in antique furniture came to my attention recently. At one of my antiques appraisal shows, I was asked about a Duncan Phyfe dining room set. First, I had to explain the difference between an actual Duncan Phyfe set and a reproduction set in the style of Duncan Phyfe. There is a big difference. You may have heard the word style used after the description of many objects — Tiffany style, Victorian style, etc. For instance, a Duncan Phyfe style dining room set (emphasis on the word style) differs from an original Duncan Phyfe dining room set. Many …

It’s that time of year again - Back to school! September ushers in all that is new - new clothes, new teachers, new friends. As summer days evolve into school days, let’s recall the legacy of the lunchbox.   Midday Memories The history of the lunch box mirrors American history. The earliest lunch boxes were circa 1900 metal pails or re-used biscuit, tobacco, or candy tins. From the turn of the century metal carry-alls that protected immigrant factory workers’ lunches to the post-war lunch boxes that accompanied the children of GIs to new suburban elementary schools in the late 1940s and 1950s…

Two of the biggest myths in the art and antiques world are 1. Thinking that your possessions are not worth anything and 2. Thinking that your homeowners’ coverage automatically covers art, jewelry, and antiques Valuable possessions, like art, jewelry, and antiques or collectibles require special insurance coverage. Typically, a basic homeowners or renters policy has limitations when it comes to protecting antiques. A standard policy has limits that typically cover $1,000 for jewelry, watches and fur coats. And that $1,000 worth of insurance is the coverage for an entire claim, not for a …

I am often asked to evaluate autographs of famous people. Some autographs are found on a personal letter or note, on a glossy photograph, or even on a piece of scrap paper. There are some rules of thumb when it comes to assessing autographs. For instance, content is always king. With all autographs, value is increased if the autograph is accompanied by some content relating to the famous person who signed their name. To have content that relates to the signer with an authentic autograph is more valuable to collectors than just a simple autograph. For example, a letter signed by Marilyn Monroe…

Picasso's life story offers nearly as much adventure, excitement, and intrigue as the tales surrounding his works of art. Comparatively, Pablo Picasso's social antics of the 1910s through the 1970s would make the likes of Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, and Lindsay Lohan seem angelic. Picasso's various relationships contributed not only to his star status in the art world but also to his use of personal subjects in his long artistic career. Born in Malaga, Spain in 1881, Pablo Picasso moved to Paris to study art. In 1904, after establishing a career as an artist there, Picasso began a long term…

Now, all of us who share this globe are poised to watch in wonder as the Olympic athletes compete in London. With history as its backdrop for the 2012 games, the organizers in London have constructed stadiums, pools, and tracks amid the many historic buildings, castles, and prominent landmarks of this great city. There is a great deal of interest surrounding the Olympic medals. In the ancient Olympics, no medals were awarded at all. The first-place winner was given an olive wreath and the second and third place winners received nothing. In 1896, when the modern-day Olympics were revived, …