Author: Joyce

Appraisal Day & Gold Buying Event at Cohoes Heritage Days 06/08

Written on June 3, 2013.

Join us this coming Saturday, June 8, at the Cohoes Heritage Days for an Antiques Appraisal and Gold Buying event! Bring that mysterious item or family heirloom that you’ve always wondered about for an appraisal. Or, bring your gold estate jewelry (as well as gold scrap jewelry), sterling silver, watches, gold and silver coins for evaluation and purchase. Appraisals are $5...

Battleship Nagato Japanese Naval Ensign Flag

Written on May 17, 2013.

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...

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

Written on April 19, 2013.

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...

American Folk Art Portraiture by Ammi Phillips

Written on April 12, 2013.

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...

Prairie School and the Decorative Arts

Written on March 26, 2013.

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...

Capital Region People to Watch: Mark Lawson

Written on March 1, 2013.

As published in Capital Region Living Magazine (Albany, NY), March 2013 Capital Region People to Watch – March 2013 By Vikki Moran The mere mention of Mark Lawson’s name in the local antique community can start a conversation about evaluations and professionalism in the marketplace and Lawson is an expert at both. Soft-spoken and extremely knowledgeable, Lawson loves where life has taken...

Firefighting Antiques and Memorabilia

Written on January 10, 2013.

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...

The Appeal of Antique European Faience

Written on December 31, 2012.

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...

I was glad that I brought my coins to Mark. He treated me fairly and I will do business with him again.

Phil B., Petersburgh, N.Y.
My wife and I were very pleased with the professional manner in which we were greeted and made to feel at ease. We were very pleased also with the fair value of our goods.

Barb & Clayton S., Northville, N.Y.
I was very impressed with you. You were very nice and understanding. I would certainly call on you again.

Ethel B., Ballston Lake, N.Y
Both Steve and myself found you very professional and an experienced dealer. We will definitely be using your services in the future. We appreciate your honesty.

Pat & Steve W., Schenectady, N.Y.