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Appraisal Event Finds: A Glimpse at Tiffany Studios Glass & Sculpture

On Saturday, April 13, we held an Appraisal Day event at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Castleton, N.Y. It was a well-attended event and we saw a great variety of heirlooms and treasures. One very nice man and woman brought in some really unusual and interesting pieces of family memorabilia from their grandfather who worked as a glassblower at Tiffany Studios. Louis Comfort Tiffany founded his first...

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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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Firefighting Antiques and Memorabilia

In 2006, we had an interesting example of antique firefighting memorabilia—an 1866 sterling silver presentation fire trumpet or fire horn with an engraved inscription from the Saratoga Springs Fire Department. The common examples of fire trumpets were used to warn oncoming traffic out of the path of the fire engines. Sterling silver and silver plated versions of the horns would sometimes be presented...

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The Appeal of Antique European Faience

One of my favorite types of item that we see on a pretty regular basis is faience. This type of art pottery is wonderfully versatile in its decoration. The examples of antique faience expand to include 19th-century French household forms decorated with delicate floral designs—  —to the painted heraldic designs of 17th- and 18th-century continental European wares— —to fabulously ornate sculptured...

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Interesting Antique Caucasian Rug from the UUCSS Event

We had a great turnout at the Antique Appraisal Day and Gold and Silver Buying fundraising event at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs this past Saturday. As is usual for these events, we saw many wonderful treasures including this 19th-century Caucasian Kazak long rug that was brought in. The size of this Caucasian rug (5 feet by 10 feet) suggests that it is a “kellegi,”...

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Folk Art Found at the Bethlehem Public Library Appraisal Day Fundraiser

We helped with an appraisal day fundraiser at the Bethlehem Public Library this past Saturday. Here’s a picture of an amazing early 20th-century folk art marquetry box that a woman brought in that was made by a relative and passed down. Amazing quality workmanship—there is a marquetry inlay panel on the lid that depicts a view out of a window into a landscape with several birds perched on...

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Mark Lawson Antiques Announces the Discovery in a Schenectady Home of an American Masterpiece

Mark Lawson, proprietor of Mark Lawson Antiques & Auctioneers, Inc., announces the discovery of an important American oil painting lost since 1917 that could be worth a small fortune. The masterpiece, from a local Schenectady home, is by American painter Edwin Lord Weeks, (1849-1903). Extensive research has revealed that the painting, titled “Lake at Oodeypore, India” was originally...

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