NEW YORK – Legend has it that the German pastor Martin Luther was so moved by the sight of stars sparking through a pine tree against a dark winter sky, that he created the first Christmas tree. Whether this is true or not, there is a constant theme that a Christmas tree must sparkle like precious metal and jewels. One of the loveliest imposters must surely be the Dresden Christmas ornament.
NEW YORK – The Grand Tour was a traditional trip to Europe undertaken by mainly young British nobility and wealthy landed gentry from the late 17th through 19th centuries. The Grand Tour served as an educational rite of passage. Collectors can travel back in time to chart such trips in a Jasper52 online auction of antique maps and atlases of Europe on Tuesday, Nov. 21. Absentee and Internet bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.
MIAMI (AP) – An Irish man has been sentenced to 18 months in U.S. prison for the international smuggling of a cup carved from the horn of an endangered rhinoceros.
PARIS (AP) – Thousands of French investors are hoping to recover some of the money they lost in an alleged pyramid scheme when a collection of rare manuscripts goes up for auction starting next month.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Philip Mead was online late one night in May, looking for possible artifacts from the American Revolution, when a painting up for auction caught his eye and got his heart racing.
SO. SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.– Turner Auctions + Appraisals will sell the Patsy Lee Donegan Collection of Asian Antiques on Sunday, Nov. 19, at 10:30 a.m. Pacific time, 1:30 p.m. Eastern. Ms. Donegan has recently decided to retire after collecting Asian antiques for over 60 years and running her eponymous antique business for over 30 years. Absentee and Internet bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) – The co-founder of a New York-based publishing house says police are investigating the theft of $1 million in artwork during a party at his Manhattan apartment.
OAKLAND, Calif. – Clars Auction Gallery will present their monthly auction of Fine Art, Decorative Art, Furniture, Jewelry/Timepieces and Asian Art on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 18-19. These sales will bring to market important and rare works in fine art, numerous important special collections spanning historic to fashion and exceptional jewelry. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.