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RIAM Blog
The experts at Rhode Island Antiques Mall share their knowledge and experience on a variety of topics around antiques and collectibles. Fun and insightful reading for everyone interested in antiques from the serious collector to the hobbyist.
Blog Posts by Category
Blog Posts by Category
Category: Historical/Educational
What Makes Lighting Fixtures Valuable
Prior to the invention of the electric light, most lighting was achieved using portable oil lamps and candles that lit a small area, but larger spaces needed to be lit by chandeliers and sconces that were mounted to the ceiling
Scott Davis
July 29, 2020
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Do You Have Any Porcelain-head Dolls?
It’s probably safe to say that virtually every little girl in the world has had a doll of some kind. In America and other prosperous countries, most little girls probably had many over the course of childhood. More privileged children
Scott Davis
July 29, 2020
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What Makes Antique Electric Lamps Valuable
Let’s start out with a question that many people think they know the answer to: Who invented the lightbulb, and when? If your answer was Thomas Edison around 1880, then you’re off by a country mile. The first lightbulb was
Scott Davis
July 29, 2020
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Is Your Glassware Worth Anything?
RIAM does several estate or downsizing house calls per week, and while each visit is unique, one thing remains remarkably consistent. In preparation for the visit, virtually everyone covers their dining room table with dozens of pieces of unwanted glassware.
Scott Davis
July 29, 2020
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Should You Clean, Repair or Restore Your Antiques?
The subject of cleaning, repairing and restoring antiques raises more questions from novice collectors than most other subjects put together. Everyone has heard stories about someone spending a fortune to restore an antique, only to have it rendered worthless by
Scott Davis
July 17, 2020
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Ask the Experts at RIAM
With relevant college degrees and nearly 100 years of collective experience covering a broad range of art, antiques and collectibles – RIAM’s appraisers and experts can help you with your questions.
Submit your questions on anything from an object you can’t identify to how to care, collect, clean or restore your antiques. Your question might be the subject of a future article from our experts!
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