Author: Mark

Opening at the Met: ‘The Art of London Firearms’

Written on January 9, 2019.

Flintlock pistol, made by Wogdon & Barton. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is opening a new exhibit featuring exquisitely crafted firearms, highlighting the abilities of British gunmakers. The exhibit, entitled ‘The Art of London Firearms’, features seventeen separate firearms, each made in London. Instead of rifles and long guns, the focus will be on pistols dating from the mid-eighteenth...

Mark Lawson Antiques Hosts Landmark Saratoga Springs Estate Sale March 10-12 2017

Written on February 20, 2017.

Mark Lawson Antiques announces an historic Saratoga Springs estate sale taking place March 10, 11, and 12. This untouched on-site estate sale is a landmark event, with a wide variety of items collected over the years by the long-time Saratoga Springs residents. The gentleman of the house was a true captain of industry, an avid amateur woodworker with an interest in antique and modern tools, and...

Thoughts on Settling an Estate

Written on December 9, 2016.

Settling an Estate Sale Saratoga Springs Albany NY

Settling an estate or thinking of having an estate sale? Here’s some of what we have learned: We have helped literally thousands of people over the last 25 years taking care of or resolving issues related to settling an estate. Figuring out how to find new homes for things that have come down through families or friends can be a difficult and overwhelming job. It may involve emptying a house...

Estate Sale & Dispersal

Written on August 3, 2016.

One of the things we are busiest with and that I enjoy the most is providing estate sale services: helping families figure out how to deal with houses full of things that they need to take care of. For a variety of reasons, including downsizing or elderly parents moving on, clients call us to help them figure out what to do. It can be incredibly overwhelming to consider disposing of family treasures...

Pocket Watches: The Value of Nostalgia

Written on July 27, 2016.

Pocket watches were one of the most popular collectibles 15 to 20 years ago. Many people had fond memories of sitting with their grandfather and playing with or being shown his pocket watch, and it was traditional to pass these keepsakes down through the family. In the 1920s, the wristwatch began to replace the cumbersome pocket watch in popularity and by the 1950s pocket watches were a thing of...

A Brief History of Antique Japanese Swords

Written on August 25, 2015.

Antique Japanese Swords: 19th Century Japanese Katana

Inspired by swords imported from China and Korea, Japanese swords first appeared after 200 CE, the finest of which emerged in approximately 700 CE under the direction of Amakuni, a legendary swordsmith from the Yamato Province. In reaction to civil wars, skirmishes to attain and retain leadership, invasions from Korea and China, and Japanese invasions of Korea and China that necessitated exceptional...

Native American “Wild West” Show Beaded Costume Jacket

Written on April 30, 2015.

Today’s spotlight is on an early twentieth century piece of Western American History. Recently we took a look at the authentic Native American jacket we found at the Malden Bridge Community Center Appraisal Day event. The jacket is characterized by intricate beading and design. Though the history of this garment is still speculative, the original owners believe that it was crafted by Plains Indians...

Wilson Bentley Snowflake Photographs

Written on March 10, 2015.

Winter is tough, but aren’t these beautiful? At some point when I was a young boy, I was told that no two snowflakes were alike. This amazed me: the idea that every single single snowflake that fell to the ground was unique and like no other. I tried looking at them myself, but it’s not an easy task to catch a single flake undamaged to examine closely. The best I was able...

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.
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.
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