Below are pictures of some of the sort of items we are always interested in buying, and also some stuff we just think is worth sharing!
We like all sorts of things, so be sure to also check out this page for many more items we love to buy!
One of the most important things to understand about antiques is that the items all have a story to tell. Even the most humble item has a history, and a place in history. No antique was first made in a vacuum. Social, political, moral, technological, aesthetic….all these factors and more are embedded in objects.
Some people shrug and say,
“Eh, it’s just old stuff. Who cares?”
The truth is, every thing is just stuff if you give it no thought, and every thing is a fascinating part of what makes us human, if you take a moment to listen.
Antique Greek silver Trinket box. This fantastic little repousse box depicts the story of Odysseus, shown wearing the classic Phrygian cap. Also of note is Poseidon’s trident, Odysseus’s ship- a greek galley, and the sacrificial tripod at the center bottom. For reasons that aren’t entirely clear, Poseidon was out to get Odysseus. Perhaps because Odysseus was key in the Greek victory over the Trojans; Poseidon was rooting for the Trojans, and he was a notoriously poor loser. Whatever the cause, he made Odysseus wander for years instead of allowing him to go straight home after the Trojan war. Along the way, Odysseus had a run-in with Polyphemus, a cyclops, and blinded him. Polyphemus just happened to be Poseidon’s son, so things did not improve for Odysseus. Along the way, he also faced assorted monsters, as depicted in the top and bottom right hand corners of the box.Wonderful local candidate token with an unusual slogan of Bear-In-Mind. On the reverse we see a bear dancing with a cow with it’s tongue hanging out. Dated May 17, 1910 for Franklin Township (most likely Massachusetts.) With a pleasing patina overall. Chicago Union markings on reverse below bear at bottom.German Wall Clock, most likely from the 1880’s or ’90’s. Clocks like this are noted for their elaborate decorations, long pendulums and cases, and reliable time-keeping. With a bit of patience, it’s possible to “dial in” these, and other antique clocks, to surprisingly accurate time-keeping. This is an unusual one! Dating from the reign of King Louis XIV, also know as the Sun King. One of his obsessions was his bowels and their movements. It was well know to his subjects that The Sun King indulged in daily enemas. This brass button is thought to depict the king himself, crouching on a chamber pot while a grinning doctor looks on, torturous-appearing enema device in hand.Wonderfully restored antique carousel horse. When salvaged from a leaky barn, this horse was in rough shape; all the parts were there, but the years and elements had not been kind. A great example of a tasteful and correct restoration.
Looking at this horse, one has to picture the excitement of the carousel at night. Lights, music, laughing children and the smell of fair food all contributed to the wonder a child must have felt when they first rode on one of these fantastic creatures!Vintage Southern face jugs. Face jugs have a long, somewhat mysterious history. Pottery depicting a face of some sort goes back thousands of years. In America, face jugs were first created by southern slave potters in the early 1800’s. No one has quite determined why they were made or what purpose they served; explanations range from the practical to spiritual. In the 20th century, southern potters revived the practice of making them, this time for purely decorative reasons. Whatever the origin, face jugs are a significant part of southern Americana folk art. The 1950’s were an era of contradictions. Domestically, the US saw growth and prosperity, a return to peace and traditional values after the inferno that was WWII. Today, we think of the time as “The Eisenhower Years”, and imagine housewives, white picket fences, steady work at the factory, pinochle night with the neighbors and “Leave it to Beaver”.
The reality isn’t quite that simple. Internationally, events like The Korean War were anything but calm. Within the US, things were simmering just below the surface. WWII had seen women and minorities working in roles that had been forbidden to them prewar. Once the soldiers came home, everyone seemed to think the old way would return, but the genie was out of the bottle. It took another generation, the one we now call Boomers, to see the change burst into the mainstream.
With her trademark jet-black hair and bangs, Betty Page has become an enduring icon of 1950’s pinup culture. Pinup girls were a perfect example of how the veneer of traditional American values was starting to crack in the 1950’s, before breaking forever in the 1960’s.An assortment of arrowheads. If there is any one thing to say about arrowheads, it’s buyer beware. Modern flint knappers are capable of crafting points that are nearly impossible for the layman to distinguish from ancient ones. We recommend that you purchase only from reputable dealers who guarantee what they sell, and always use your own judgement!Antique amber and 9 karat gold cheroot holder with original carrying case. An item like this would have been a matter of small vanity for a gentleman at the club. One can easily imagine a man waiting until his companions were paying attention before making a production of pulling this holder out of a pocket and lighting a cigar.An American Classic. Zippo lighters are renowned for their reliability. Over the years, Zippo lighters have come in endless variety. If you find yourself near Bradford PA, we encourage you to visit the Zippo/Case Knife Museum. Definitely definitely worth the trip!Speaking of endless variety, how about Crass Imitation Grape Soda, Vess Fruit Punch, Duffy’s Just orange, or Duffy’s Limey Lime Rickey?Antique Leaded slag glass lamp. On lamps like this, the glass was carefully selected to evoke a beautiful sunrise or sunset sky. This particular example has rather stylized organic motifs silhouetted against the background of “sky”. This advertising piece has great colors and would make a great addition to a collection.
Not all boards are the same; yellow pine is significantly stronger than the white pine we are familiar with in the East Central US. Once common at lumber yards, it is now something of a special-order item in our area. If you’re building something that needs to be strong, beautiful and sustainable, try and find some yellow pine!Southern folk-art snake hair grotesque sculpture. This wonderful piece is nearly life-sized, and sure to be a conversation piece!Circa 1960 Rolex watch stand. This would have been used by a jeweler to showcase and display a watch. Items like this are popular with collectors; they make interesting, eye-catching additions to a collection!
Printed or paper goods, known collectively as ephemera, are popular collectibles. Notable for their fragile nature, collecting ephemera requires a level of care and gentle handling not often seen in other categories. NOS (New Old Stock) soda advertising fan pull. This brightly colored, die cut cardboard sign was designed to be eye-catching! In the days before central air, ceiling fans were a ubiquitous necessity. Walking into the drug store on a hot summer day, it would be hard to miss this fluttering in the breeze, and maybe it would convince you to spend your nickle on “Wine-Dip” instead of Coke or Pepsi!Antique jardiniere, probably made by Weller or J.B. Owens. Pieces like this were hand painted, often by young women from the local communities. As a result, the final result can vary depending on the skill level of the decorator. Despite being a reproduction, this is a great sign! It is about 26 inches tall, porcelain, and has an engaging design. While original items are the best, quality reproductions can be a reasonable option for someone who isn’t strictly a purist. In a way, a reproduction is flattery for the original; in antiques, reproductions begin showing up when the authentic item has become extremely popular. With demand out-stripping supply, prices sky-rocket and a lot of collectors are priced out of the market, assuming they can even find the item for sale at any price.
Modern cars with their precise manufacturing, high-tech alloys, computer controls and synthetic oils are often good for 10,000 or even 15,000 miles on an oil change. But there was a time when an oil with a 2000 mile life was something to brag about!How the times change! We bought this, on layaway, as a teenager in the 1990’s. It was priced at $60. Now, you would probably expect to pay ten times as much for a similar antique stained glass window. This window would have been in a church originally, and it is over five feet tall.Antique regulator wall clock. Clocks such as these are capable of keeping time quite accurately. The time keeping is adjusted slower or faster by changing the length of the pendulum. Lowering the pendulum results in a longer, slower swing, raising it does the opposite. Each half-swing toggles the escapement mechanism, allowing the gear train to move, ultimately causing the hands to move as well. Don Drumm is a well known Ohio artist, based in Akron. Since the early 1960’s, he has specialized in creating cast-aluminum items. Typical for his work, this piece utilizes organic, flowing shapes; cut-outs and negative space; and layered, complex textures. Since Drumm pioneered the art of casting aluminum, many others have copied the technical aspect, but nobody comes close to his designs!Wonderful Bakelite poker caddy, complete with matching chips, also Bakelite. Items like this show the broad, lasting appeal of Bakelite. Jewelry made of the material have had ups and downs, but “mantiques” continue to bring strong prices. 1930’s condom tins. These days, we take for granted easy access to “prophylactics”, but it wasn’t always that way. Thanks to the Comstock act, contraceptives were outlawed in 1873. Although the US Army did not provide condoms to their soldiers at the time, WWI resulted in widespread knowledge of condoms by US Dough Boys thanks to their allied soldiers. After returning the civilian life, they represented a ready market for condoms, but products for purely contraceptive purposes were still outlawed. Thanks to the war, however, the link between lack of protection and VD was clearly understood for the first time in the US. In 1918, court rulings legalized physician proscribed contraceptives, not for birth control, but for “the cure and prevention of disease.” It was widely understood that they would serve contraceptive purposes as well, but this was quietly overlooked. Almost overnight, condom sales took off. Even with legal status, most manufacturers relied on either exotic, suggestive names; or vague, scientific medical terminology to package their product. Sometimes they hedged their bets and went both routes, as shown above with “Romeos”, a suggestive, romanticized name coupled with a distinctly medical look.
Despite being sturdy, handy little tins, the clandestine nature of the product they contained meant that a very small number of tins survived. Similar sized tins for “liver pills” or aspirin from the same, or even older eras abound. But condom tins are few and far between. Some examples, due to scarcity or design are prized by collectors and bring strong prices!What a difference a half-century makes! As outlined above, it wasn’t until after WWI that condoms were even legal, let alone discussed in public! This public awareness button sure doesn’t try to dance around the subject!Detail of a stained glass window.One of the most enduring collectible categories of the 20th century has to be Coca-Cola! Along with bluejeans and V-8 engines, Coke became one of the most recognizable symbols of American life and prosperity throughout the world. In nearly every country, the red and while script was instantly recognizable; it is said that after “OK”, “Coca-Cola” is the most widely understood term in the world!
This type of sign is known as a Coke button, but don’t let that mislead you; they came in assorted sizes, but all of them are far bigger than a shirt “button”! This example is nearly 4 feet across. A great example of a desirable and hard to find piece of advertising history! Antique African carved ivory sculpture. Antique wood, plaster and paint mask. It is hard to see in the photo, but there are eye slits above the eyes, allowing the wearer to see. This mask is probably European, mid to late 1800’s. It is hand carved, covered with a layer of plaster or gesso, then painted. Early 1950’s Repogle “Starlight” illuminated globe. Globes of all sorts are quite popular with collectors.While not terribly valuable, southwestern sterling rings are always a welcome sight! It’s hard not to love the handwork and rustic uniqueness of jewelry like this.
First Peoples in the American Southwest have a rich history of jewelry making going back thousands of years. They added silver working to their craft in the mid 1800’s, and since then, different tribes have evolved their own unique styles.
Most pieces seen today are from the early mid 20th century or later. Once Americans had committed fully to their love of automobiles and the road trip, the market for native crafts exploded. Once isolated, silversmiths soon had a thriving customer base of tourists and travelers eager to take home a treasure.Mid Century Modern painting. The colors and use of lines evoke a dreary mood. The artist is unknown.Vintage Mexican devil mask. This mask features real horns, and was made in the second half of the 20th century. Strictly a wall-hanger, it is too heavy and awkward to have been intended to be worn. Antique Hoffman House Bouquet Cigar advertising lithograph. Prior to the early 20th century, advertising as we think of it wasn’t developed yet. Few brands had a clever logo and snappy sales pitch; instead artwork was often used to sell products. Everything from animals to ships to pastoral paintings to images of idealized womanhood was used to try to convince the public to buy. Today, we live in a world that is practically defined by information overload; pictures, images, movies, memes…they are all around us and inescapable. But not that long ago, it was a different story. People thirsted for, and treasured, images of the outside world.
To us, a poster of steamboats may seem like an unexciting way to sell cigars. But imagine a trapper, in town for the first time in months. Such an image would have been mesmerizing, and maybe just the thing to convince him to treat himself to a Hoffman House cigar.Early chalkware statue of the iconic Victor Talking Machine Co. dog, Nipper; head cocked listening intently to “His master’s voice.” Nipper was in fact, a real dog, born in England in the 1880’s. His owner painted him listening to a record, and only later, as an afterthought, marketed the image to recording companies. Famously, Thomas Edison’s company, Edison-Bell turned him down, flatly saying, “Dogs don’t listen to phonographs.” The Gramophone company, later sold to RCA Victor, ended up with the rights to Nipper. It has since become one of the best known, and most beloved advertising icons.
The story of Nipper and the previous image, of The Hoffman House Cigar litho, are examples of worlds colliding; the old and the new. Nipper is an early example of a fully modern advertisement; an eye-catching, instantly understandable image with a clever logo. The Gramophone Company understood that the world was changing, Edison-Bell didn’t. Their adverts from the same period are a mess; they lack all consistency, they look boring. They desperately tout the wonderful features of Edison-Bell, they fill the page with words, and more words, sometimes old man Edison is present, sometimes a beautiful woman.
None of it is half as effective as a cute little dog named Nipper.Sometimes an item is a true mystery. This heavy, life-sized bronze sculpture has no identifying marks or signature. It is finely crafted with obsidian eyes and quartz crystal accents. Bronze casting requires significant investment in time, materials, and equipment, so an item such as this begs a lot of questions without providing many clues. Sometimes the best you can do is describe the materials, method of construction and form; exact answers remain unknown.Large Southern pottery “Rebecca” Pitchers. This form, with the elongated handle and tapered, bulbous body, is an iconic American design. We have seen Rebecca pitchers in sizes ranging from about 1 inch to 3 feet tall. These particular examples are 16-20 inches tall.Finely crafted vintage “Tiffany Style” leaded glass lamp. The authentic lamps are in the 5 or 6 figure price range, so for the average person, reproductions are the only reasonable route. As long as you buy a lamp like this with the clear understanding that it is a modern reproduction, there is no problem. The trouble arises when an unscrupulous seller attempts to deceive or mislead you. Detail of an antique Ansonia mantle clock. This particular clock is enameled cast iron, with applied bronzed details. On the left side of the dial, there is a similar cherub with a rooster. The rooster symbolizes day, and the owl, night.Another face jug, this example probably less than 20 years old, but still, a wonderfully expressive creation!Folk art bird carvings and antique kitchen or parlor clock. When buying clocks like these, remember that the glass was usually decorated; if it is plain, it may be a later replacement. Look for evidence of alteration such as damage to the wood, modern glue or glass that is too smooth. All these are signs the glass may have been replaced.A beautiful close-up of some Bakelite poker chips showing the swirling, marbleized colors. Bakelite was developed by Leo Baekeland in Yonkers, NY in 1907. Despite being “plastic” Bakelite actually contains a large amount of wood fiber, and as a result it feels heavier and more substantial than modern plastics. This distinctive weight makes it great for poker chips, they have a satisfying feel in the hand that has never been matched by other materials.
One of the ways to tell Bakelite from later plastics is a lack of mold marks; Bakelite was manufactured in bars or sheets that once made, could not be remelted and molded. Items crafted from the material were machined, cut, carved or otherwise shaped and then polished. If you see a mold mark, it isn’t Bakelite!Another consistently desirable American collectible! Case knives have been manufactured since the very early 20th century, and they have always been renowned for their quality. New or old, Case knives find ready homes in pockets and collections!Detail of a mid century modern wall hanging textile. This piece emphasizes hand-work and natural fibers and dye. The result is a piece that revels in, rather than hides, imperfection. Aside from paper ephemera, textiles are some of the most fragile and vulnerable antiques. Everything from sunlight to moisture to insects can damage or destroy a textile, and as a result they can be quite scarce!Original Howard Miller “Steering Wheel” clock, designed by George Nelson circa 1955. This clock is a great example of mid century “Atomic” design. You might also call this “Googie Style”; in any case, it is an American Classic!Vintage ceramic sculpture, exact age or creator unknown. This piece is signed, but unfortunately the artist chose to scribble a signature rather than clearly inscribe their name. Another piece for the “mystery” file!We bought this horse in South Dakota on a rainy day 15+ years ago. The first thing we saw (and smelled!) when we walked thru the shop’s door was a large, living and breathing mule. The old shopkeeper, sitting behind the desk, nodded our way and pointed towards a nearby jar. “Want a pickle?”
After a bit more small talk, the old man explained that the mule didn’t like to get wet, so he came in whenever it rained!
Sometimes the experience is a treasured as the antique, and this is certainly a perfect example of that.By this point, there is no need for us to sing the praises of Griswold or other cast iron manufacturers of the days gone by. But let us just say that if you enjoy cooking, cast iron is the way to go! Modern cast iron is rarely made with the same level of care as it once was, and if you try the old stuff, you’ll never want any other kind.This risque pin-up ashtray was an advertising give-away from the “Cow Palace”. What is a Cow Palace, you ask? It was, and still is, a huge arena in Daly City, California. Nowadays they hold all sorts of events, but in the beginning, cows and livestock were the main attraction.
It’s safe to assume in those early days, men were the almost exclusive attendees. Few women would venture into a hot, smelly arena full of dust, manure, smoke, and tobacco spitting. Vendors knew the men in attendance would find pin-up girls an irresistible keepsake.Antique hand-colored baby portrait. With the cumbersome camera technology and long exposure times needed, it would have taken considerable skill and lucky timing to capture a photo of a young child!Antique hand crafted folk art checker board. A board like this probably saw many a game, maybe at home, maybe down at the general store. Once can imagine moonshine, “chaw”, and excited discussions about politics.
Nowadays, if you even found time for a game of checkers, you’d start by buying a checkerboard. 150 years ago, you’d start by making the checkerboard!An assortment of vintage sterling silver rings. One of the great things about sterling silver is the infinite variety available at reasonable costs!Probably from India, this antique hand carved printing block has great colors and designs. Detail of Mexican copper tray. This piece has a great original patina, and is a perfect example of an item you should not polish!Assorted pieces of Ozark Tourist Ware. This pottery was sold at roadside stands in the 1930’s to passing travelers. Once common, much of it has not survived to modern times due to frequently being used for outdoor planters. The colors and sizes vary considerably, with some pieces nearly miniature, and other floor vase sized. Colors can be a single applied color to 4 or 5 layered colors.
Interestingly, facts about Ozark Tourist Ware are nearly as scarce as the pottery itself. Other than the general area and time, few people can say much more about it with any certainty.
