At its most basic, a globe is a carefully designed and printed map that’s been glued to a ball and installed in a decorative display stand. Creating the map is the hardest part, because it’s a two-dimensional object that must approximate a three-dimensional world. Continue reading
NEW YORK — Everyone gets to be Irish on St Patrick’s Day, and what better drink to accompany corned beef and cabbage than a glass of good old Guinness stout? Few drinks are as Irish as a frothy glass of Guinness, which is a staple of Irish bars and served around the world. Even though the Guinness brewery in Dublin is no longer the largest brewery in the world, it still is the largest brewer of stout beer — a strong, dark, top-fermented brew. Continue reading
NEW YORK – Renowned painter and printmaker Mary Cassatt never married or had children of her own but she excelled at creating a body of work painting mothers and children with a tenderness and intimacy few other artists have achieved.
NEW YORK – Anyone who knows anything about fine jewelry is familiar with the name David Webb (1925-1975), the American jeweler and self-taught designer who rose from an unassuming beginning in Asheville, North Carolina, to become one the industry’s most famous names.
NEW YORK – From Playbills and window cards to scripts, photographs and even artifacts from theaters themselves, theater memorabilia is highly collectible. The joy of the shared experience of seeing a live performance, be it a drama at a local theater or an extravagant musical on the Great White Way, lives on long after the curtain closes when we can bring home a tangible memory of the show.
NEW YORK – For many people, a favorite childhood memory was time spent in the local arcade playing video games. Long before home gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox kept kids home, they would flock to arcades to play video games, lured in by the flashing lights, music and intoxicating sounds effects of the games.
LONDON – Arthur Liberty’s association with Archibald Knox (1864-1933), one of his most talented designers, brought us Tudric ware – goods crafted from pewter. Knox’s designs were timeless, inspired pieces, taking their inspiration from ancient Celtic patterns, bringing affordable beauty to more homes than ever. Yet, due to Liberty’s strict policy of anonymity, Knox’s name is not to be found on any of the pieces he designed.
The Roaring ’20s were in a full-throated roar when the esteemed French jewelry designer and glassmaker René Jules Lalique (1860-1945) decided to introduce a line of Art Deco-inspired car hood ornaments that were dubbed car mascots. The basic idea wasn’t new; auto companies had been putting identifying badges, or ornaments, on the front center portion of the hoods of cars almost since the inception of the car itself. They were just waiting for the magic of René Lalique.
NEW YORK — If there is a gold standard for acoustic guitars, Martin owns it. C.F. Martin & Co., makers of Martin flat-top acoustic guitars and other instruments, opened its doors in New York City in 1833 before moving to Nazareth, Pennsylvania, in 1839. Musicians worldwide, from amateur players to professionals like Johnny Cash, the Beatles and Bob Dylan, have embraced Martins, especially its earlier models.
NEW YORK — The appeal of buying antiques lies in their quality craftsmanship and the history each object holds and the stories it tells. This is especially true with sterling silver flatware, which continues to entice collectors.