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…
Author: ANGadmin
The oldest stone tablet depicting the Ten Commandments will be auctioned on December 18, 2024.Sotheby's The Ten Commandments related to the Biblical Book of Exodus make one of the world’s oldest, most famous sets of rules. They are the basis of major world religions, key tenets of moral codes, and even the inspiration for an epic film. Now, the oldest stone tablet inscribed with these rules will be up for auction at Sotheby’s. The marble tablet, about two feet tall, 115 pounds, and approximately 1,500 years old, will be displayed at Sotheby’s showroom in New York starting on Dec. 5…
Echt Altmann Mare and FoalJuanita Gartman A reader is curious about their porcelain figurine. After some research, I have found the unbridled truth (sorry, I couldn’t help myself).Question: Is there any way to date and identify this small statue? Any help would be appreciated.Answer: Your figurine, aptly called “Mare and Foal,” was made by Echt Altmann, a name associated with porcelain figurines, particularly those depicting horses and dogs. The term “Echt” is German for “genuine” or “authentic,” suggesting that these pieces are authentic works by Altmann. However, the exact origins of the Altmann brand are somewhat ambiguous.Some collectors believe that Echt Altmann…
In 1787, delegates from the newly formed United States met with the intention to revise the Articles of Confederation, adopted in 1777. They ultimately created an entirely new document: the Constitution. One hundred copies were printed and sent to the 13 states for ratification. Today, eight of these copies are known to survive, and until recently, none were thought to be in private collections. That changed in 2022 when a previously unknown copy was discovered in a file cabinet. That copy sold for $9 million recently at Brunk Auctions in Asheville, N.C. The historic document was found in a North…
Jim Marshall (American photographer, 1936-2010), Bob Dylan Kicking Tire, Seventh Avenue, New York City 1963. Gelatin silver print–printed 2001. Sold at Heritage Auctions on September 11, 2024, for $1,625.Heritage Auctions Jim Marshall’s photograph of Bob Dylan kicking a tire down a New York City sidewalk in 1963 is an iconic image that captures the youthful energy and rebellious spirit of the burgeoning folk musician. Taken at a time when Dylan was emerging as a powerful voice in the American folk revival, the photograph portrays him in a moment of playful spontaneity, kicking a discarded tire with a sense of carefree…
Danner Memorial WindowSotheby's Tiffany glass is among the most precious jewels of the decorative arts world, whether it’s in the form of an iridescent vase, a leaded lampshade, or, rarest of all at auctions, a monumental window. For the first time, Sotheby’s auction house is offering a Tiffany window in a fine art evening sale. The Danner Memorial Window, made for First Baptist Church in Canton, Ohio, in 1913, is set to sell at Sotheby’s Modern Evening Auction in New York on Nov. 18. With a presale estimate of $5,000,000 to $7,000,000, it is expected to break the record price…
CURATED at Luxury Lifestyle is a new event dedicated to emerging jewelry designers – one of my very favorite jewelry categories! I had the chance to pop up to NYC to see everything in person and I can’t wait to show you the jewelry I saw. Rings by Crevette Design Studio First things first: what is CURATED at Luxury Lifestyle? It’s a section of the NY NOW Trade Show, a select showcase of carefully chosen emerging jewelry designers’ brands that includes extra support for its participants. In the words of its organizers, Liz Kantner and Robin Kramer: “CURATED at Luxury…
When this Egyptian Revival necklace popped up in my email inbox, I thought, “oooh, pretty.” But when I read the accompanying press release and realized how cool its story really is, I knew I had to share it with you. Gorgeous, isn’t it?? I didn’t take much notice of this beautiful piece the first (or second, or third) times I watched The Devil Wears Prada, but I’ll never miss it again. I love how the vibrant colors of the antique enamel, turquoise, and coral look peeping out of the clean lines of Meryl Streep’s Vogue editor persona’s chic tailored shirt…
Cottone Auctions, Geneseo, NY, held a superb sale on September 20, 2024 entitled The Important Collection of Dr. Martin May, Plantation, Florida. The second day’s sale was from a variety of consignors. The two-day sale grossed an impressive $3.7 million. Dr. May was an avid and discriminating collector of the best and rarest examples of Duffner & Kimberly, Tiffany Studios, Handel and other lamp makers. He died on November 16, 2019 in Florida at age 72. Surprisingly, I never met him nor did any business with him over my long career. Very rare Duffner & Kimberley Dragon table lamp, Cottone…
You might wonder, darlings, why we’re talking about the 2023 AGTA Spectrum Awards in summer of 2024? It’s a reasonable question, and I promise I have an answer. The American Gemstone Trade Association (AGTA) Spectrum Awards are a prestigious jewelry industry competition that gathers submissions from the finest lapidary artists, jewelers, and gem dealers in the country. I’ve had the pleasure of covering it a number of times, as you can see in my AGTA archive. I intended to come straight home from the 2023 AGTA Spectrum Awards preview and publish this blog post full of photos for you to…
