A concise introduction to Ammi Phillips, one of nineteenth-century America's most important folk portrait painters, based on Stacy C. Hollander's article "Revisiting Ammi Phillips" in the February 1994 issue of The Magazine Antiques. The article explains how Phillips's changing style, unsigned works, rural patrons, and scattered historical record made him one of the great attribution stories in American folk art.
A detailed, research-driven examination of the Spanish mantilla comb (peineta), focusing on form, materials, historical development, and collector considerations, with contextual reference to a late 19th century faux tortoiseshell example.
Rosewood has been one of the most coveted woods in the decorative arts, from Regency furniture and Victorian tea caddies to fine instruments and mid-century carvings. This article explains the three primary rosewood species—Brazilian, Indian, and African—how to tell them apart, why Brazilian rosewood became legendary, and where collectors can expect to find rosewood today.
A collector’s guide to German beer steins: their origins from plague‑era taverns, key production centers (Westerwald, Thuringia, Munich), important makers (Mettlach/Villeroy & Boch, Reinhold Merkelbach, Hauber & Reuther), materials and construction, how to date authentic examples, and what separates mass‑produced souvenirs from truly collectible regimental, tavern, porcelain, and early stoneware steins.
Discover the story of Juliana jewelry by DeLizza & Elster. Learn how to identify authentic pieces, their values, and where to find trusted resources.
xplore the history of Lalique glass through the life and work of René Lalique, his iconic designs, postwar production, and how to spot authentic pieces from reproductions.
