Betty Cooke, 2021, photo by and courtesy Jeannine Falino Betty Cooke, who lived until her centennial year, was one of the last living links to mid-century modern design. A jeweler and artist of note, Cooke was also a purveyor of well-crafted objects. In this, she influenced the status of good design throughout the second half of the twentieth century. Cooke’s artisanry and signature streamlined aesthetic crossed mediums and included painting, leatherwork, and jewelry. She transcended the boundaries of mainstream adornment through her use of nonprecious metals, natural objects, and asymmetrical forms, which were infused with a sense of movement. Her…
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BOPA renews its commitment to foster Baltimore’s vibrant arts scene with grants, exhibitions, workshops, and seminars, as it retains its designation as Baltimore City Arts Council. BY KAZEEM ADELEKE, ARTCENTRONThe Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA) has confirmed that it will maintain its role as the designated Arts Council for Baltimore City for the upcoming fiscal year 2026. Robyn Murphy, Board Chair and Interim CEO of BOPA, announced this decision Thursday. He expressed enthusiasm about continuing the organization’s work. “We are thrilled to carry on as Baltimore City’s Arts Council Designee,” Murphy stated. “BOPA has been dedicated to…
In 1942, Little Golden Books offered high-quality, spectacularly illustrated books at affordable prices to millions of children and their parents. The more than 80-year-old love affair continues today for readers and collectors alike. Featuring original artwork from vintage titles, writer Sierra Holt shares a magical story of how Little Golden Books has served as a literary mainstay for generations of children. “Children’s books encapsulate the hopes and dreams of each generation,” children’s literature historian and author Leonard S. Marcus tells Holt. Little Golden Books has certainly done that. You can read all about it in the December issue of Kovels…
Last March, Heritage Auctions announced that a pair of ruby slippers from the movie The Wizard of Oz was coming to auction. Now, they have revealed that the famous shoes will be the stars of their upcoming entertainment auction on December 7, 2024. Dorothy’s ruby slippers. This is exciting news on its own (especially with the recently released movie Wicked, inspired by The Wizard of Oz, rekindling interest in the 1939 classic), but with this pair, there’s even more to the story. In a series of dramatic events, these shoes were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids,…
Hello darlings, I hope your winter season is off to a good start! The biggest thing happening around here is that I’m working on setting up a Diamonds in the Library ShopMy account: this will give me a way to link directly to the jewelry I feature in Instagram posts (today’s is here) a place to build shoppable wishlists that I can share with you (and should help me link to Amazon less often, which is a goal I have for DitL moving forward). It’s a work in progress, but some of the categories I’ve set up on my ShopMy…
DENVER, Pa. – Fishing lure enthusiasts from coast to coast will be angling for the catch of the day on Dec. 9, 2024, at Morphy’s live gallery auction of the Wayne Edens collection. The incomparable assemblage of lures – said to be the largest, most comprehensive, and historically important collection of its type to come to market – is brimming with ultra-rare gems, not the least of which is one of the eight celebrated Heddon “factory board” frogs hand-carved in 1898. One of the original eight Heddon ‘factory board’ frog lures hand-carved, c. 1898, by Heddon Company founder James Heddon.…
Michael Polak’s obsession with old bottles started innocently enough in 1974 while digging in the dirt of an abandoned dump in Tonopah, Nev. To hear Polak tell it, that dump in the former silver-mining boomtown was just about the most exciting place in the world. Of course, Polak was a man who found fun rummaging through the remains of long-ago-deserted outhouses. And if you think that’s odd, well, you’re not alone. As Polak once confessed, “just bring that up at a family gathering and you’re sure to kick the conversation into high gear.” Digging for bottles can be addictive. And…
Danner Memorial WindowSotheby's When Sotheby’s announced the Danner Memorial Window would be up for auction, it was cause for excitement. Windows by Tiffany Studios rarely come to auction, and the Danner Memorial Window, commissioned for the First Baptist Church in Canton, Ohio, in 1913, is an especially beautiful example. Sotheby’s offered the window at its Nov. 18 Modern Evening Auction in New York; it had a presale estimate of $5 million to $7 million. It more than exceeded expectations by selling for $12.48 million, the highest price any Tiffany Studios piece has achieved at auction.This isn’t the first time Tiffany Studios…
This New England threepence, struck within weeks of establishing the first mint to be opened in the Massachusetts colony AND the future United States, is the only example known outside of a museum.Stack's Bowers Galleries A 1652 Massachusetts threepence shattered records at auction at Stack’s Bowers Galleries, selling for $2.52 million and captivating numismatists and history buffs alike. This extraordinary coin is one of only two known to exist. The tangible connection to America’s colonial past set a new record for an American coin minted before the Revolution—the prior record was $646,250 for coinage struck before the American Revolution. The…
The gold pocket watch was inscribed with a message from the three surviving widows to mark their “heartfelt gratitude and appreciation” for Captain Rostron.Henry Aldridge & Son Ltd. The sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912, is one of the most famous tragedies of the 20th century. But we can’t forget that the stories surrounding it also tell of remarkable acts of bravery, heroism, and survival. A gift given to one of the greatest heroes, an 18K gold watch, just sold in England for £1.56 million (nearly $2 million in US currency), breaking the record for Titanic memorabilia.The Tiffany…
