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On Authenticating a Potential Degas Drawing

One of the most interesting parts of this business is the detective work required to investigate and authenticate a potentially high value work of art. Recently a client came in with this pastel drawing on paper of a ballerina signed Degas. It had been purchased at a small auction house in New York City in the early 1960s. To look at, it appeared more or less “right,” trade parlance for authentic...

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Battleship Nagato Japanese Naval Ensign Flag

Military memorabilia and collectibles continues to be an area of great interest to collectors. Original wartime items such as weapons, medals, field gear, flags, uniforms, etc., can be very desirable. We recently sold an original World War II Imperial Japanese flag from the battleship Nagato for a client for $1,800. The Nagato was the flagship of the Imperial Japanese fleet during World War II,...

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American Folk Art Portraiture by Ammi Phillips

In November 2012, we sold an exceptional pair of portraits by Ammi Phillips for a client. Ammi Phillips (1788-1865) is widely regarded as one of the most important American folk artists of his period. As a self-taught portraitist, Phillips traveled throughout New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut, creating a wide and prolific body of work. Phillips’ work displays a passion for experimentation...

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Prairie School and the Decorative Arts

We’ve recently seen some beautiful examples  of Prairie School design cross our path. When thinking of the phrase “Prairie School,” we generally think of Frank Lloyd Wright and architecture. Although Wright is one of the most famous names in Prairie School design, the movement also encompasses an aesthetic that extends to the decorative arts. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Park Inn The...

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Buying & Selling Gold & Silver Bullion Coins

These are gold & silver bullion-type coins that we buy and sell regularly. With the meteoric rise in gold and silver prices over the past few years, we see many people either cashing in on what has been a very good investment (up to 500% to 700% profit over the last 10 to 20 years!), or purchasing hoping for comparable gains going forward. Along with this activity comes the question, “Should...

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Mark Lawson Part of Successful 2004 WMHT Art Auction

Mark Lawson, president and CEO of Mark Lawson Antiques, Inc., Saratoga Springs, N.Y., presided as auctioneer over the 2004 WMHT Art Auction, which aired live on January 22 from 7:30 to 11:00 p.m. and January 24 from 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The auction was a fundraiser to provide a range of programs and services for public broadcasting across the Capital Region. The event was a resounding success, as...

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Mark Lawson Antiques Announces Professional Association With Sothebys.com

Mark Lawson, proprietor of Mark Lawson Antiques, Inc., is pleased to announce a new professional association with Sothebys.com, the online-auction arm of Sotheby’s, the renowned and respected auctioneers based in London, with offices all over the globe. Mr. Lawson will be conducting quarterly online auctions through Sothebys.com and will feature complete estates, with antiques and fine art...

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