When I moved to Philadelphia some years ago, a colleague at the newspaper told me that African Americans had sat for artist Andrew Wyeth, and that he’d given them some of his paintings. I was…
Tag: auction
The man and the airplane in the photo were from another era. He had a speck of a smile, and he was wearing an early 20th century U.S. Navy pilot’s uniform, with cap and goggles.…
Enough gumball machines to open an arcade
Posted in collectibles, and food
The scene was right out of a child’s candy-laced dream. Several long tables were topped with gumball machines containing small balls of red, yellow, blue, orange and all the other colors of the rainbow. Just as many of…
I was scouting out an auction house that sells lovely and sometimes unique furniture when I spotted a painting of a white-haired man slightly bent, his gaze intent. As I neared the piece of furniture…
Hefty price for a small dragonfly perfume bottle
Posted in bottles, collectibles, and Glassware
The bidding started innocuously with a price that was not unheard at the Decorative Arts sale. So when the sweet little amber perfume bottle with the gilt (gold leaf on metal) dragonfly started at $375, I…
Bouillon cup – too big for tea, too small for hearty soup
Posted in China, collectibles, and dishware
I was more curious about the two handles on the cup than the pattern. What was it? It wasn’t a teacup because it was too large, and it seemed much too small to be a…
Vintage Christmas tree topper in shape of star
Posted in collectibles, Holidays, and Lighting
I didn’t notice the hollow metal star until I was combing through a box of items I had just bought at auction. The word “Presto” was engraved on one side, and the areas around each of the…
I bought the cardboard box of books for “The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar.” There were a half-dozen or more old books in the box but I only wanted that one. I was afraid…
Terrifying 1950s satellite jumping shoes
Posted in Clothing, collectibles, and Toys
The bulky shoes looked like they belonged to the loveable TV character Herman Munster or some other sci-fi monster. They were candy-apple red, a pair of thick metal shoes with round toes, white cloth straps,…
Fridays at Auction Finds is readers’ questions day. I try to guide readers to resources to help them determine the value of their items. I’m not able to appraise their treasures, but I can do…