Archive for the ‘Blog and Collectibles’ Category

Quotes for Antique and Collectible Enthusiasts

If you have a liking for antiques and collectables, you will surely be excited to access this compilation of some of the world’s best quotations related to art and antiques.

Quotes for Antique and Collectible Enthusiasts

Art is an absolute mistress; she will not be coquetted with or slighted; she requires the most entire self-devotion, and she repays with grand triumphs. – Charlotte Saunders Cushman

Each work of art excludes the world, concentrates attention on itself. For the time it is the only thing worth doing –to do just that; be it a sonnet, a statue, a landscape, an outline head of Caesar, or an oration. Presently we return to the sight of another that globes itself into a whole as did the first, for example, a beautiful garden; and nothing seems worth doing in life but laying out a garden. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Fine art, that exists for itself alone, is art in a final state of impotence. If nobody, including the artist, acknowledges art as a means of knowing the world, then art is relegated to a kind of rumpus room of the mind and the irresponsibility of the artist and the irrelevance of art to actual living becomes part and parcel of the practice of art. – Angela Carter

Progressive art can assist people to learn not only about the objective forces at work in the society in which they live, but also about the intensely social character of their interior lives. Ultimately, it can propel people toward social emancipation. – Angela Y. Davis

For us artists there waits the joyous compromise through art with all that wounded or defeated us in daily life; in this way, not to evade destiny, as the ordinary people try to do, but to fulfill it in its true potential –the imagination. – Lawrence Durrell

Art need no longer be an account of past sensations. It can become the direct organization of more highly evolved sensations. It is a question of producing ourselves, not things that enslave us. – Guy Debord

Antique Collector Quotations

Antique Collector QuotationsIf you have a liking for vintage antiques and collectables, this compilation of quotations on art will surely impress you.

Art is an absolute mistress; she will not be coquetted with or slighted; she requires the most entire self-devotion, and she repays with grand triumphs. – Charlotte Saunders Cushman

Art need no longer be an account of past sensations. It can become the direct organization of more highly evolved sensations. It is a question of producing ourselves, not things that enslave us. – Guy Debord

Each work of art excludes the world, concentrates attention on itself. For the time it is the only thing worth doing –to do just that; be it a sonnet, a statue, a landscape, an outline head of Caesar, or an oration. Presently we return to the sight of another that globes itself into a whole as did the first, for example, a beautiful garden; and nothing seems worth doing in life but laying out a garden. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Fine art, that exists for itself alone, is art in a final state of impotence. If nobody, including the artist, acknowledges art as a means of knowing the world, then art is relegated to a kind of rumpus room of the mind and the irresponsibility of the artist and the irrelevance of art to actual living becomes part and parcel of the practice of art.Angela Carter

Progressive art can assist people to learn not only about the objective forces at work in the society in which they live, but also about the intensely social character of their interior lives. Ultimately, it can propel people toward social emancipation. – Angela Y. Davis

For us artists there waits the joyous compromise through art with all that wounded or defeated us in daily life; in this way, not to evade destiny, as the ordinary people try to do, but to fulfill it in its true potential –the imagination. – Lawrence Durrell

Quotes for Antiques and Collectable Admirers

Quotes for Antiques and Collectable Admirers

If you have a penchant for antiques and collectables, this compilation of some of the world’s best quotations on art will surely bring a smile on your face.

Art is an absolute mistress; she will not be coquetted with or slighted; she requires the most entire self-devotion, and she repays with grand triumphs. – Charlotte Saunders Cushman

Fine art, that exists for itself alone, is art in a final state of impotence. If nobody, including the artist, acknowledges art as a means of knowing the world, then art is relegated to a kind of rumpus room of the mind and the irresponsibility of the artist and the irrelevance of art to actual living becomes part and parcel of the practice of art. – Angela Carter

Progressive art can assist people to learn not only about the objective forces at work in the society in which they live, but also about the intensely social character of their interior lives. Ultimately, it can propel people toward social emancipation. – Angela Y. Davis

For us artists there waits the joyous compromise through art with all that wounded or defeated us in daily life; in this way, not to evade destiny, as the ordinary people try to do, but to fulfill it in its true potential –the imagination.Lawrence Durrell

Art need no longer be an account of past sensations. It can become the direct organization of more highly evolved sensations. It is a question of producing ourselves, not things that enslave us. Guy Debord

Each work of art excludes the world, concentrates attention on itself. For the time it is the only thing worth doing –to do just that; be it a sonnet, a statue, a landscape, an outline head of Caesar, or an oration. Presently we return to the sight of another that globes itself into a whole as did the first, for example, a beautiful garden; and nothing seems worth doing in life but laying out a garden. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Carolyn Quartermaine designer coffee cup set

Carolyn Quartermaine designer coffee cup setCarolyn Quartermaine is one of the world’s leading stylists and a winner of Maison et Objet’s Designer of the Year award.

Carolyn has produced an exquisite 12 piece coffee cup collection in a beautiful, silk lined presentation box, which is inspired by the colors of nature; from florals to the changing colors of the sky. Carolyn is a creator of future heirlooms and collectibles and this coffee cup set is the first of her Carolyn Quartermaine Chateau Collection.

From Dailymail.co.uk:

Simply CLICK HERE to download and print an Order Form. There are three ways to claim your coffee cups;

You can buy the full set of 6 cups and 6 saucers for £99 today and there is no need to collect any tokens. The set will be delivered in the presentation box shown here.

Alternatively, you can collect 20 differently dated tokens or Daily Mail mastheads (this is the Daily Mail logo which appears on the front page of the paper) and order two cups with a cheque for £6.99 (made payable to Daily Mail) to cover postage and packaging.

Or you can collect 20 differently dated tokens or Daily Mail mastheads, and send a cheque for £26.99 (£20 for the set and £6.99 to cover postage and packaging) and receive the full set of 6 cups and 6 saucers.

The completed Order Form and cheque for total amount should be sent to Carolyn Quartermaine Coffee Cup Set, PO Box 5,00, Dept CQC, Alton, Hants, GU34 9BX.

The collection of Carolyn is inspired by her work at Chateau de Beloeil, the Versailles of Belgium.

Royal Wedding Antiques – Antiques of the Future

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.

Tackiest souvenirs to Royal Wedding are on sale

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.

How To Make A Wire Sculpture

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.

Rare stamps and memorabilia attract extra investors

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.

President’s Day Antiques and Collectibles auction

President's Day <b>Antiques and Collectibles</b> auctionThe President’s Day Antiques and Collectibles auction will be held on Monday Feb. 21 AT 10:00 A.M. at the West End Fire Hall, Brodheadsville, PA 18322.

Interested parties keen to opt for an extensive listing with Photo Gallery can visit Auctionzip.com (Auctioneer ID# 4958).

From News-antique.com:

THIS AUCTION FEATURES military swords, fighting knives and bayonets, The Personal Papers and Effects of Capt. David Ayers and Pvt. John J.H. Jacobus (7th NJ Volunteers), military paper and photos inc. CDVs, ¼” glass plate portrait of Capt. Ayers, Civil War military records and certificates, Confederate stamp on cover, etc.; also, large collection of Sports Memorabilia 1908 & up inc. pre-1965 baseball cards, Rookies, schedules, World Series tickets and other Baseball ephemera, football, boxing, Indy 500 and other autographs, cards, publications and photos, 1938 and 1941 Indy 500 programs, event tickets (crisp, mint) for sporting and entertainment events (Bobby Darin Concerts, Cassius Clay/Ali fights, Gene Autry, etc., Gold, Sterling and costume jewelry, Gold and Silver U.S. Coins inc. $5.00 Indian Gold and Silver Dollars, early U.S. Stamps in nice lots, oil paintings by listed artists such as Sterling Strausser, prints, Jos. Graves Delaware Water Gap and other fine post cards inc. RPPC’s, Limoges, Murano glass, Roseville, G. & M. Washington dresser tray (Germany), 1907 CI inkwell, b/w/opalescent sugar shaker, signed bronzes, early German children’s book, Art Deco travel guides, “slice of life” 1931 Trip to Bermuda folio with provenance, 19th C. Circus photos, tintypes and encased photos, big boxes of military and other paper and pamphlets, War Ration Books, Victorian and other furniture inc. carved sofa and bowed glass china cabinet, clocks, Tiffany style 1920’s stained glass hanging lamps, Sterling desk items, toys inc. (5) orig. Peanuts nodders, Walt Reach Toy sedan, Marx race car, Lofts Candies truck bank, mini-baby carriage with twin bisque dolls (Germany), Mule Ear Tobacco ad, Sterling & bone letter opener, Stanley No. 4 plane, Coke Tray, ammunition by the box full, rifle sighting scope, black powder pistols, powder horn, machine gun boot, lighters and more arriving daily.

The West End Fire Hall is minutes off I-80 and PA 33 in Brodheadsville, PA near the intersection on PA 715 and US 209…..”Right Behind the Wawa Market”. GPS Coordinates: 40 degrees 55’33.38”N, 75 degrees 23’38.43”W. DOORS OPEN: 8:30 A.M. Auction Day for a period of Inspection. TERMS: Cash, VISA, MC, PA Check with ID. Handicapped accessible. Good Food served. Great Auction

How quotations can change the world for you?

How quotations can change the world for youIf you want to stay high on inspiration after a tiring day looking for vintage antiques and collectibles, this compilation of motivating quotations will surely make a big difference to your day.

Eccentricity is not, as dull people would have us believe, a form of madness. It is often a kind of innocent pride, and the man of genius and the aristocrat are frequently regarded as eccentrics because genius and aristocrat are entirely unafraid of and uninfluenced by the opinions and vagaries of the crowd. – Edith Sitwell

I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances. – Martha Washington

The bravest thing you can do when you are not brave is to profess courage and act accordingly. – Corra Harris

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. – Marcel Proust

If I have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to patient attention, than to any other talent. - Isaac Newton

Dreams surely are difficult, confusing, and not everything in them is brought to pass for mankind. For fleeting dreams have two gates: one is fashioned of horn and one of ivory. Those which pass through the one of sawn ivory are deceptive, bringing tidings which come to nought, but those which issue from the one of polished horn bring true results when a mortal sees them. – Homer

Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: – ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’ – Martin Luther King Jr.