CLEARWATER, Fla. – A stunning collection of incredibly rare Hummel figurines, including prototypes, one-of-a-kind pieces and original artwork by Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel, will be offered January 16 by Blackwell Auctions. Purported to be one of

MY WASHBURN ACOUSTIC GUITAR is propped up in the corner of our second-floor bedroom. It’s a good-looking guitar, with a golden spruce top and dark mahogany sides and back. A little dusty, a little out of tune, certainly, but quite handsome nonetheles

The Enigma machine is an encryption device developed and used in the early- to mid-20th century to protect commercial, diplomatic and military communication. It was employed extensively by Nazi Germany during World War II, in all branches of the Germ

CHICAGO — The Union League Club of Chicago, home to one of the most significant private art collections in the American Midwest, is reportedly planning to liquidate a portion of its collection, including a coveted Monet painting, Pommiers en fleurs (

Glen Christensen loves a good story. One of his favorites comes from the son of a former Green Bay Packers’ assistant equipment manager in the 1960s. “Him and his brothers worked for the Packers, I think for a dollar a game or something,” Christensen

The word provenance is derived from the French term provenir, meaning “to come from.” When a collector considers purchasing a work of art, the subject of the work’s provenance is often brought up. When the term is used in fine art, or antiques, it re

Artist Augusta Savage was born a Leap Year baby and once said, “It seems to me that I have been leaping ever since.” And she did, indeed, make groundbreaking leaps from the Jim Crow South to public attention in the Harlem Renaissance. Also an educato

NEW YORK — African American art continues to set records at Swann Auction Galleries. A December 11 sale at the auction house established records for eight artists, including Charles Alston, Wadsworth Jarrell and Augusta Savage, and totaled $2.8 milli

Ongoing: every first Sunday of the month, Alameda. Alameda Point Antiques Faire. Ongoing: every Sunday April-December, New Milford. Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market, 490 Danbury Road (Rte. 7 / 202) New Milford, CT 06776; etflea@gmail.com; 860-355-1448; w

DOWNINGTON, Pa. — Passionate toy collectors actively pursued top picks at Pook & Pook’s Christmas Antique Toy Auction with acclaimed antique toy expert Noel Barrett, boosting the sell-through rate to 97 percent. The top lot was an animated Baranger l

Winter seems like the perfect time to explore a company that referred to its rhinestone jewelry as ice. Yes, even when advertising early Eisenberg Original pieces, the company described its jewelry this way even though pieces weren’t actually marked

CONSIDER THE WORD LAP – noun, verb, friend. It’s no coincidence that lap spelled backwards is pal. Lap is one of the most helpful and versatile words in the English language. Good fortune smiling upon you? Then you can live in the lap of luxury. Gett

Among a host of offerings, the Antique Advertising Association of America’s Virtual Winter Retreat will feature tours of two of the most impressive antique advertising collections in the country. The virtual event January 23-24 will offers guided tou

DALLAS – An unrestored May 1939 issue of Detective Comics No. 27, featuring the first appearance of Batman, sold for $1.5 million on November 19 at Heritage Auctions, becoming the most expensive comic book starring the caped crusader ever sold at auc

as COVID-19 continues to isolate the world, people are turning to a trusted friend for comfort: The iconic teddy bear is flying off store displays and attic shelves, as more collectors stampede to enhance their stash, ensuring a daily hug from their

A Steiff bear named “Teddy Girl” continues to hold the Guinness World Record for the most expensive antique bear, after selling at Christie’s in London in 1994 for $171,600, more than 18 times the estimate and twice the previous world record. The bea

Meticulously lined up on shelf upon shelf in a couple of rooms in Chad Harpole’s house are 275 to 300 railroad lanterns. The brakeman’s or marker lantern colors – which come in five varieties – are attention grabbing. Clear/white, red, yellow, green

To list your antiques-related event (show, auction, convention, etc.) for free in Antique Trader, send event information (date, location, contact information, times) at least six weeks in advance to: AT Calendars, C/O Antique Trader Editors, 5225 Joe

MT. CRAWFORD, VA — Intense bidding at Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates’ recent Premier Americana Auction made it a landmark event and produced robust prices. The three-day format consisted of 1,908 lots of high-quality material from across the country,