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Archive for March, 2011

Royal Wedding Antiques – Antiques of the Future

Posted by admin on March 29th, 2011

Royal Wedding Antiques - Antiques of the FutureRoyal Wedding souvenirs are already almost everywhere in anticipation of the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

The much-awaited royal wedding has given endless reasons for buyers and sellers of antiques and collectibles to be on their toes to buy or sell antiques for the future.

From Warwickshire.greatbritishlife.co.uk:

Every conceivable occasion and event has been commemorated in some way or other, from coronations, weddings, war, politics (Chartism and Women’s suffrage to name just two), disasters (the sinking of the Titanic being the most obvious example), sporting events and technological breakthroughs. Not only is there a bewildering array of topics to commemorate, but the materials used to fashion these commemorative products, for make no mistake they were produced by the mercantile class as a money-making exercise, were equally as extensive. Pictures, prints, textiles, furniture (much more rare), metalware (including silver and gold coins), glass and treen were and are all used. However, the most common are ceramics.

On all the valuation days in which I have participated they are the most frequently encountered object, especially 20th century Royal commemorative porcelain and pottery, celebrating occasions such as the coronation of George V or George VI. This statement alone reveals the monetary value of these mass-produced articles and yet they are still collectable!

A budding collector can buy a little transfer-printed mug or beaker for as little as £10 to £20. As with all fields, rarity, quality, hand decoration, designer/artist/modeller, factory, form and even quirkiness all play a crucial role in determining value.

If you have been planning to buy royal wedding antiques, now is the time to make the purchase decision.

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Tackiest souvenirs to Royal Wedding are on sale

Posted by admin on March 25th, 2011

Tackiest souvenirs to Royal Wedding are on sale

Shop owners in the United Kingdom are rubbing their hands with glee as they hope for a Royal wedding-inspired boom with the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

The ceremony and all the associated pomp will give the UK economy a much-needed shot in the arm at a time of austere spending cuts and countrywide restraint.

From Dailymail.co.uk:

Retailers have already started to get in on the action in a sales bonanza the like of which has not been seen since the wedding of Prince Charles to Diana in 1981.

Souvenir-makers have already launched into action, mindful that memorabilia of the 1981 Royal nuptials remain highly sought by collectors.

Experts estimate the wedding could boost the struggling British economy by £620million through sales of merchandise and tourism.

The appetite for memorabilia in America – where the Royal family are viewed with wonder – is also likely to be strong.

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Two-minute antique theft at David Cameron’s in-laws

Posted by admin on March 21st, 2011

Burglars have stolen antiques worth £40,000 in just two minutes after strucking at the stately home of David Cameron’s father-in-law.

Two-minute antique theft at David Cameron's in-laws

The thieves smashed their way into Sutton Park near York, the family home of Samantha Cameron’s father Sir Reginald Sheffield and his wife.

From Dailymail.co.uk:

They ignored a number of valuables and went straight for two distinctive antiques – a Charles Henri Cordier bronze bust of an oriental woman, worth around £20,000, and a Meissen teapot in the shape of a monkey, worth about the same.

Sir Reginald, a direct descendant of Charles II, has offered a £5,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the raiders.

He told the Mail: ‘Without a shadow of a doubt the burglars would have visited during the house’s public opening times, and seen the items they wanted.

‘When they broke in, they were in the house for just two minutes.

‘We believe the items must have been stolen to order for a private collector.

Sir Reginald said that he thinks he paid the price of opening his house to the public.

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How To Make A Wire Sculpture

Posted by admin on March 16th, 2011

Wire sculpture is an art that has existed for thousands of years. World personalities like Russell Solomon have contributed greatly to the growth and popularity of this art form. The fact that anything can be sculpted in wire, from small figurines to yard ornaments, and creative possibilities are almost endless with wire sculpture means that admirers have endless reasons to take up wire sculpting as a hobby or profession.

How To Make A Wire Sculpture

In order to get things started, it is important for you to select the right wire for the sculpture. For this, steel wire is the cheapest and rated by experts as the best to use for a beginner. It is good to stay away from shiny or galvanized wire as it can give off toxic fumes when heated. Once you are done with choosing the right wire, it is time for you to get the right tools for wire sculpture that will include vice grips, needle nose pliers, wire cutters, squared pliers, and a metal life.

You then need to sketch the design for the wire sculpture on paper with a pencil or pen so that you can get an idea about how much wire will be used and how long the wire pieces should be. It will then be the time for you to lay out the wire roughly formed to the shape using the sketch as a guide. You can form a 3D sculpture with one long piece of wire bent to fill the space or use different pieces of wire that can be welded together to form the desired shapes.

Once you are done with the above steps, it is time for you to prime and paint the sculpture with spray or paint. After the primer has been dried off, you can airbrush or hand paint the sculpture.

We hope that this piece of information on making a wire sculpture was useful to you in more than just a way.

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Stamp firm Stanley Gibbons takes £1.4m in profits

Posted by admin on March 12th, 2011

Stamp firm Stanley Gibbons takes £1.4m in profitsStanley Gibbons, the collectibles firm, hailed its ‘remarkable’ performance after profits rose 13 per cent to £1.4million in the first six months of 2009.

The company that sells goods ranging from rare Penny Blacks to autographs by Marilyn Monroe, saw sales rise by 18 per cent to £9.6million.

From Dailymail.co.uk:

Chairman Martin Bralsford said the ‘exceptional’ result of the company’s most recent public auction showed continued high demand for quality material, despite the difficult market conditions.

Realisations from the event in June surpassed expectations with a number of the higher value lots achieving returns well above estimates.

Elsewhere in the retail operation, sales to collectors of British stamps were 5 per cent higher than in the same period last year with sales to collectors of British Commonwealth countries ahead 18 per cent.

Mr Bralsford added: ‘The company’s performance in the first six months of the financial year is remarkable in the prevailing market conditions.’

Stanley Gibbons has said in the past that record low savings rates and the weaker pound were helping to boost demand for its products.

The company said worldwide recognition of its brand name and greater use of the internet helped it make progress in the period.

Stanley Gibbons, the collectibles firm, hailed its ‘remarkable’ performance after profits rose 13 per cent to £1.4million in the first six months of 2009.

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Rare stamps and memorabilia attract extra investors

Posted by admin on March 11th, 2011

Rare stamps and memorabilia attract extra investorsThe UK’s biggest retailer of collectibles, Stanley Gibbons, has claimed that rare stamps, autographs, and memorabilia are becoming increasingly popular with investors as the economic climate worsens.

The retailer said its sales rose 21 percent to £20.2 million during 2007 as investors looked to diversify their assets.

From Dailymail.co.uk:

Gibbons, which sells goods ranging from rare Penny Blacks to autographs by Marilyn Monroe, said pre-tax profits for the year to December 31 were a record £4.5 million, a rise of 20 per cent.

Chief executive Mike Hall said: “Collectibles as an asset class are growing and tighter economic conditions are resulting in an increasing number of investors turning to our products as a means of protecting their wealth by diversifying their asset holdings.”

The company said that collectibles were becoming more popular within the savings and wealth management industries and were being seen as an alternative investment.

“Even now, our stamp and autograph indices are available on Bloomberg information terminals for institutional investors.

A small increase in acceptance by institutional investors would make a significant positive impact on the growth potential of our businesses,” the company said.

Gibbons said visitor numbers to its websites were growing at pace having reached four million visits during 2007, up 40 per cent on 2006.

It is to expand the languages used on its site to cash in on the “Bric” emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India and China.

The company was founded in 1856 by Edward Stanley Gibbons in London who built the business after he purchased a sackful of rare stamps from two sailors recently returned from South Africa.

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Why You Should Buy Car Floor Mats?

Posted by admin on March 9th, 2011

Why You Should Buy Car Floor MatsIf you want to add a complete value for money accessory to your car, adding car floor mats is an ideal option for you. This is not only because these vehicle mats would pay off in endless ways over the years but also because they promote improved cleanliness and facilitate great comfort besides enhancing appeal and resale value of your car.

The list of advantages associated with car floor mats does not end here. These floor mats would help in reducing the amount of dirt tracked onto your home that would mean less cleaning inside and less of wear and tear on the car carpet and floor. Moreover, car mats also prevent car body from getting damaged and dirty by offering great protection against mud, sand, dirt, gravel, accidental spillage, and pits and cracks caused by water and debris.

If that was not all to impress you, addition of car floor mats to the interior of your car can give it a coordinated look. Furthermore, these mats can be easily cleaned or replaced and come at affordable pricing. In short, car floor mats make great car accessories so that you can enjoy drive home or to the office or on a weekend trip.

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Museum money to be raised by auctions

Posted by admin on March 5th, 2011

Museum money to be raised by auctionsAntiques will be used by the Putnam County Museum to help raise money for educational programs, exhibits, and events at the museum.

The museum, founded in 2000, has grown in its scope and depth of covering local history, traditional and contemporary artistic heritage, including an extensive local pottery collection.

From Antiqueweek.com:

The events will include antique furniture, a china set and separate china pieces, silver flatware, and a number of other unique items donated by the museum members, many of whom are ardent collectors and world travelers.

Some of the antiques have personal and family histories attached to them. For example, there is the ironstone soup tureen, which was given to Nick and Marilyn Mourouzis, Greencastle residents, 51 years ago as a wedding gift from Marilyn’s older sister, Sadde. Sadde, a successful textile designer in New York City, was a gourmet cook, but Marilyn never put a drop of soup in her tureen, instead using it as a centerpiece.

Ralph and Sally Gray donated 79 pieces of Adams Lowestoft china. These china pieces were part of the complete 12 place settings given to Fred and Libbie Hobbs at their wedding in Columbus, Ohio, in the mid-1930s. The Hobbs used the pieces as their everyday china for more than 50 years.

The online auction will run from March 14-29 at IDonateToCharity.org/store/PCM while the real-life event will take place on April 11 at The Inn at DePauw from 5 to 8 p.m.

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Online shopping offered at Indianapolis Art & Antiques

Posted by admin on March 4th, 2011

Online shopping offered at Indianapolis Art & AntiquesShoppers of armchairs will be able to fire up their computers on March 11-13, and “shop” the Indianapolis Art & Antiques Show.

Any one with a computer, smart phone or any Internet connection can contact a “personal shopper” at ipersonalshop4u@yahoo.com to act as their eyes at the show.

From Antiqueweek.com:

From there, the personal shopper can give the dealer’s contact information to the prospect and they can personally talk about the painting, and even haggle over the price.

There should be “up to a dozen” personal shoppers at the buyer’s beck and call, according to Lich.

A professional shipper will be on the show floor, and while the transaction is being made, will be able to offer shipping costs which are paid by the buyer. Each item at the show is guaranteed by the dealer to be sold exactly as represented.

“That’s a line in the contract all the dealers sign – that he stands by his merchandise,” Lich says. “That’s in every one of our shows.”

Transactions will be handled by credit cards. Lich estimates that 50 percent of the dealers at the show are equipped to process credit cards. The other 50 percent of the dealer pool will be able to transact credit cards sales by going through the show’s main office, where the Methodist Foundation Task Force will process the purchases.

The Indianapolis Art & Antiques Show at the Indiana State Fairground is one of the top fund raisers for Methodist Hospital. During its 24-year history, the show – featuring museum-quality antiques in addition to fine and contemporary art – has been a good solid show for both buyers and sellers. There should be around 90-95 dealers at the show, and expectations are for a crowd of 6,000-8,000 prospective buyers, according to Lich.

The mixture of vintage and contemporary art with authentic antiques is credited with drawing the attention of younger customers.

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