Alphonse Mucha (Czech, 1860-1939 Czech), Bieres de la Meuse, lithograph, sold for $1,700 + buyer’s premium at MBA Seattle’s Aug. 14, 2014 auction
NEW YORK — Alphonse Mucha’s paintings and illustrations are synonymous with the Art Nouveau era. The idealized women who graced his artworks were graced with long-flowing hair and elegant garments that created alluring forms against ornate backgrounds.
These bottles from Eureka, Nevada, are typical of those found buried in outhouse pits. The flask-type bottle (middle) is marked ‘F.J. Schneider, Druggist, Eureka, Nev.’ Schneider worked in Eureka from 1870 to 1893. Flanking the medicine bottle are blob-top soda bottles. Image courtesy of Holabird Western Americana Collections and LiveAuctioneers
YANKTON, S.D. (AP) – One man’s treasure may quite literally have been another man’s trash centuries ago.
If your front porch or entry area is large, stick with suitably scaled accents, like this pair of palace-size Chinese 18th/19th-century bronze planters. Image courtesy of Cassidy Galleries and LiveAuctioneers
NEW YORK – Interior designer Joan Craig sees many clients who give the decorating of their living room or kitchen a lot of thought. Yet while “people have become much more attuned to developing personality inside a house,” she says, “the outside becomes something that often can be much more generic.”
Dazzling earrings crafted from an English Royal Albert bone china plate, surrounded by brilliant Swarovski crystals
FRANKLIN, Mass. – For most people an antique china plate, cup or saucer that’s been chipped, cracked or broken might be trash. But to Mary-Ann Wood it’s treasure. Wood is the owner of a business called DinnerWear Jewelry that uses designs cut from these fractured unfortunates and turns them into unique costume jewelry pieces, mostly necklaces, earrings, lariats and brooches.
This paint-decorated Austrian armoire has a surprisingly modern look, but it’s dated 1816. Inside its doors, there’s plenty of hanging and storage room. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers and Cottone Auctions
NEW YORK – Storage pieces are not what they used to be. Changes in home design and technology mean that boxy, old-fashioned armoires, dressers and china hutches are being re-purposed or are making room for cabinets, shelving and sideboards in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and styles.
Charles & Ray Eames rosewood lounge chair and ottoman in green leather. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers archive and Palm Beach Modern Auctions
Of all the furniture designed by Charles and Ray Eames, the Eames Lounge (670) and Ottoman (671) are arguably the most renowned. Introduced in 1956 by Herman Miller Inc., the Eames Lounge chair has become synonymous with modern-design style.
Courtyards have been enjoyed for centuries in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. This inviting courtyard in Rome is a place for plants to thrive and people to relax. Perrimoon photo licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
The trend toward outdoor living, which uses comfy seating, bright rugs and weatherproof architectural elements to extend the al fresco season at home, is bringing new attention to a centuries-old architectural feature: the courtyard.
American-made spakler brands in the early 20th century included National, Atomic, Star and UnXld.
Fireworks are transformative. There’s the obvious physical and chemical transformation of a colorful and tightly packaged explosive into an often radiant, loud and enchanting spectacle. However, for some people like Sal Giudice, the transformation is more profound.
‘Wonder Woman #1’ (DC, 1942) graded CGC VF-7.5 realized $95,600 during Heritage Auctions’ May 18-20, 2017. Heritage Auctions image
Much has changed since Wonder Woman first appeared on the scene in 1941, and yet, some things haven’t changed or have circled back to what once was. The character was revolutionary when she first appeared in the pages of Sensation Comics, and remains relevant today; perhaps more relevant than ever before, given the response to the Wonder Woman film.
One of the most innovative and influential artists of the latter 20th century, Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923-1997) put the “Bif!,” “Bam!,” and “Pow!” into pop art. His larger-than-life paintings of people in melodramatic situations were inspired by comic strips and newspaper ads, and Lichtenstein made sure they were presented just that way – with a screened effect that resembled an enlarged newspaper page.