Day: July 22, 2020

If you were born between the 1940s and 70s, chances are that at some point in your youth you enjoyed wearing the fashion of the times. Looking back at old photos of ourselves, it can be hard to imagine what we were thinking when we chose some of those outfits, but at the time they … Read more

Americans love sports more than any other pastime. Whether it’s attending games, playing them, or armchair quarterbacking, nearly half of all Americans call themselves sports fans. Needless to say, with that many sports enthusiasts out there, sports-related objects are among the most popular of all collectible items that are bought and sold. Furthermore, the odds … Read more

As Americans who think that 1492 was a long time ago, it can be difficult to imagine a country where the same race and culture of its people have continuously developed and evolved over nearly 5,000 years of recorded history (not to mention thousands of more years of evidence of prehistoric development). But such is … Read more

The art of creating figurines out of various types of clay goes back many thousands of years, but the ones made in the 19th and 20th centuries are most likely what you’ll find in your own home. Ceramic figurines were produced throughout Europe in the 19th century, but by the 20th century, other countries, including … Read more

Musical instruments date back to prehistoric times. Musicologists have records of groups in China playing orchestral music as early as the 4th century CE. Through the ages since, countless billions of people have enriched their lives, and the lives of others, by playing music. In all that time, much has changed in the world of … Read more

The use of tools has separated us from other species since the dawn of humanity. Anthropologists tell us that each advance in the sophistication of man’s tools contributes to our continuing evolution. No wonder collectors have such a fascination with old tools. These artifacts give us incredible insight into how we’ve changed and grown as … Read more

Among the most common items to find their way to the second-hand market are sets of china. While that’s not surprising considering that most folks own multiple sets of dishes, what might surprise you is just how few of these sets ever sell, at any price. It’s the old story of supply and demand. Most … Read more

Up until the 15th century, time was tracked primarily by sundials. One of the most important milestones of modern civilization was the advent of weight- and spring-driven mechanical clocks. These made it possible for people to improve their personal and collective efficiency by enabling them to coordinate their efforts with others. Clearly, the Industrial Revolution … Read more

Individuals and companies have been advertising their products and services for centuries. Rarely found today, the oldest examples of advertising are usually the most desirable. However, items from the 1950s and 60s are often sought after as well, making advertising a broad antiques category. We’ve talked about advertising ephemera in another post, but old advertising … Read more

There is nothing more plentiful in the average American home than clothing and textiles. Despite the fact that we regularly wear only a small fraction of what we own, when you take into account seasonal clothing, stored pieces that are out of style or no longer fit, footwear and accessories, it’s not unusual for a … Read more