Collecting vintage advertising combines history, art, and nostalgia. Why wouldn’t you want to relive the days when a catchy jingle and a smiling cartoon mascot could sell you just about anything? These pieces of commercial art offer a window into past eras, cultural values, technological advancements, and artistic trends. What other type of collectible affords the opportunity to prove that smoking cigarettes was, at one time, not only socially acceptable but doctor-recommended? Ah, the bygone era of cigarette ads, this one proudly proclaiming, “More Doctors Smoke Camels”—because nothing says trust in medical expertise like a lab coat, a stethoscope, and…
Author: ANGadmin
It’s just about the end of the year, so let’s take a look at the best fiction I read in 2024! This wasn’t a huge reading year for me: we moved near the end of 2023 and I spent a lot of time this year working on our home – lots of home decor Pinterest boards, outings to vintage furniture stores, and meetings with contractors. But I still read 115 books (and counting!) in 2024 and some of them were excellent. As is typical for me, I mostly read Fantasy, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Romantasy, and YA, with a little Mystery…
From the factory floor to the front lawn.Before LEDs took over, blow molds were the stars of holiday cheer, lighting up the holidays in a way no inflatable ever could. Blow mold Christmas decorations emerged on the Christmas decorating scene in the 1960s. Plastic manufacturing advancements allowed mass production of these lightweight, durable, and vibrant holiday decorations. These festive elements became a staple of suburban lawns and homes. Initially marketed as an affordable and weather-resistant alternative to traditional decorations, blow molds quickly gained a devoted following thanks to their colorful designs and cheerful Christmas charm. This 1970s blow mold EMPIRE…
You’re finally in the Christmas mood. Perhaps you want to trim the tree or wrap presents or indulge in cookies and eggnog. You want the full throwback experience, but you don’t have any Christmas music to spin on your turntable, and you don’t want to hear the same old stuff from the local holiday-hits station. What now? One of the best parts of collecting Christmas music is that you can obtain a good collection for not a lot of money. Except for music that is collectible for other reasons — for example, doo-wop, punk/alternative, audiophile reissues, 1990s vinyl — most…
This substantive, educational, and enjoyable exhibition celebrates an innovative maker renowned for his technical and aesthetic contributions to studio jewelry Curated by Rebecca Elliot, it issued from the Mint Museum’s acquisition of a large amount of Ebendorf’s jewelry from the collectors Ron Porter and Joe Price, as well as the Robert W. Ebendorf Archive The exhibition reveals the breadth and depth of Ebendorf’s artistic output and influence as an educator and mentor Objects of Affection: Jewelry by Robert Ebendorf from the Porter • Price CollectionApril 27, 2024–February 16, 2025Mint Museum Randolph, Charlotte, NC, US The legendary American artist Robert Ebendorf…
When Heritage Auctions made a pair of ruby slippers used in The Wizard of Oz the highlight of their December 7 auction, they knew they were in for spectacular results. With a low presale estimate of $3 million, the shoes reached their final price of $32.5 million within minutes, becoming, as the auction house put it in a press release, “by far, the most valuable movie memorabilia ever sold at auction.”The shoes also contributed to the December 7 Hollywood/Entertainment Signature Auction setting a price record for entertainment auctions with total sales of $38,615,188. Dorothy’s ruby slippers from the Wizard of…
If you’re active on social media, especially if you see it as a way to check out other people’s decorations without leaving your own home, you may have seen the term “Tacky Christmas” this year. Apparently, it means decorating with your own traditions and personal preferences in mind instead of trying to follow this year’s trends so your Christmas photos can fit in with a carefully curated Instagram account. It’s about joy over aesthetics, festivity instead of fashion. As many users have pointed out, it’s basically how most people decorate for Christmas anyway, and they have done it for years.…
Paul McCartney 2024 UK 1oz Silver Proof Colour Coin Limited Edition – 5,000 issues. £118.00The Royal Mint The Royal Mint has struck a chord with music fans worldwide by releasing a commemorative £5 coin honoring legendary musician Paul McCartney. The former Beatle described the tribute as a “huge honor,” reflecting on the unexpected journey from childhood to becoming one of the most celebrated artists in history. The coin marks the first in the collection designed to spotlight McCartney’s groundbreaking career. There are eight previous releases in the Mint’s ongoing “Music Legends” series, including Queen, Elton John, Dame Shirley Bassey, and…
Remember last year when I went to the very first NYCJAOS event? Well, the show came back this year bigger and better than ever and I had the pleasure of being there once again! Wanna see what I found? Of course you do! The New York City Jewelry & Object Show (NYCJAOS) is a relatively new show – it just launched last year – but it has already more than doubled in size. NYCJAOS Autumn 2023 had 23 booths and around 35 dealers (see last year’s recap here). This year, the show grew to a full 90 booths with nearly…
Portion of the original release poster – 1975.WikiCommons Attention, horror aficionados and cinephiles! Julien’s Auctions is offering an unparalleled piece of cult film history in their upcoming December 12, 2024, Hollywood Legends: Sci-fi, Horror, and Action sale: The Giant Spider Invasion—the entire film and all associated rights—along with its iconic giant spider model, are up for grabs.Released in 1975, The Giant Spider Invasion is a beloved B-movie classic, celebrated for its campy charm and ambitious low-budget effects. Shot in rural Wisconsin, the film’s enduring legacy rests largely on its titular spider, a massive creature famously constructed on a Volkswagen Beetle…
