Those of you who regularly read this column know that I am a tremendous sports fan. My family legacy connects with professional baseball as my father played for both the New York Yankee and Philadelphia Phillies organizations as a left-handed pitcher in the 1940s. My Dad struck out Mickey Mantle in the minors (Mickey was a mere teenager at the time) and regularly exchanged pitching tips with Satchel Paige. I grew up learning sports history and I enjoy evaluating sports memorabilia now at my appraisal shows and on Discovery channel’s Auction Kings. While I tour the country appraising America’s…

I went to a fabulous museum show recently. This exhibition featured the work of master artists, highlighted aspects of American culture, traced the history of the entire 20th Century, and focused on advancements in technology. It had everything you’d expect from a great museum exhibition. What I didn’t expect… it was all about motorcycles. In Indianapolis, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art is a world class museum that tells the American story through objects on a daily basis. Housing an impressive collection of Native American objects and western art, the Eiteljorg …

Comfortable and cultural are only two of the many words that describe shoes. Shoe history stretches back to the ancient times. Back then, sandals were formal wear shoes and they have the revered distinction of being the first footwear. In the ancient world, everyone wore sandals (no, not flip flops!) to funerals. Some shoes are truly protective like sabatons, the Renaissance era metal foot coverings that completed suits of armor, circa 1500. Other shoes like those worn by Asian women in the 1600s were binding. European fashionistas selected the finest fabrics for their footwear and made the …

I have heard many men, at various venues across the country, report that they don’t buy jewelry for their wives or girlfriends because they don’t know enough about jewelry to make an informed decision. I have had my fair share of cheap boyfriends and let me just tell you what most women think of that lame excuse—you sound cheap. So, in order to educate the masses and help all of my girlfriends get gifts of fine bling, here are some tips about jewelry. If you are interested in purchasing a colored gemstone, diamond, or strand of pearls, a jeweler with a GIA certification and a strong, honest …

I am a firm believer in the ritual of spring cleaning. When it comes to the seasonal clean up, many people believe that the easiest thing to do is to just throw everything away. However, that’s not always smart. On a regular basis, I visit homes of people who are downsizing or people who are cleaning out the home of a deceased loved one. I help evaluate what objects are worth keeping, what objects are worth selling, and I show people the smartest way to get the most money for unwanted objects—both new and old. I remind folks that trashing that unwanted item may cost you. Today, those objects …

At my antiques appraisal events across the country, audience members often bring me antique and vintage toys to review and appraise. These objects always spark stories of childhood memories and many oohs and ahhs from those in attendance. Like many other objects that I regularly appraise, toys speak to American culture. Toys can tell us a lot about what is happening at a certain point in time. For instance, the contemporary character toy Bob the Builder, as I have discussed for years, is the collectible toy of the future because Bob is an example of Americans’ interest in remodeling homes in …

If you haven’t played my new antiques quiz game yet, Dumpster or No Dumpster TM, it is very easy to play. I provide you with a few objects from the typical basement re-organization or estate clean out, and you decide which pieces go to the Dumpster and which pieces do not. American basements are funny places—some serve as home offices, man caves for viewing sporting events on big screen TVs, or lounges for the teenagers. Yet, most commonly, basements are the center for all of those objects that you MAY, emphasis on the word MAY, want to use at some time in the future. At least, basements are …

In China, the new year celebrations coincide with the spring festival and some of the festivities are grounded in some golden rules that we should all consider, no matter the date on the calendar. Practice what you Preach The ancient Chinese wanted good luck to shine on them. As such, in many aspects of their fascinating culture, they work to invite good luck into their lives. One way that the Chinese people invite good luck is to speak only positive words. Negativity is not fashionable and neither are curse words, particularly during the spring when nature displays all of its glory. Happy …

Born in 1852, the Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi made his mark with his unique brand of Art Nouveau structures around the urban center of Barcelona, Spain. A victim of a street accident, Gaudi died in 1926. He was laid to rest in a crypt beneath his career masterpiece, the unfinished church of La Sagrada Familia (The Holy Family). The church has been 120 years in the making and it is expected to be finished in 2026. How has this single structure come to characterize the history of modern Spanish architecture? How has Gaudi’s architecture sparked so much interest nearly a century after his …

You may have attended one of my antiques appraisal shows or you may have read about the people I have met who asked me to appraise family heirlooms or flea market treasures. Since 1998, I present appraisal events to live audiences across the country. I tell people the truth about their antiques. I don’t hold back with my opinions either. I just say it…”it’s a wonderful, rare antique or it’s a piece of junk.” It is fun to hear the stories of antiques and collectibles and to highlight the history and value of a cherished object. Recently, I met some folks with some interesting stories to share…

I regularly field the question, “How do you spot a fake?” Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question. In fact, there are as many answers as there are materials comprising art and antiques. Like most things in the art and antiques arena, there are many different objects with varied characteristics. So, spotting a fake in one category of antiques is different than recognizing a fake in another category. Did you know that an authentic piece of Roseville pottery must have “USA” as part of the maker’s mark? Were you aware that some pictures that look like real oil paintings are …

Did you ever wonder if Christopher Columbus would be upset to learn that today’s GPS technology is named after fellow explorer, Ferdinand Magellan? Maybe today’s techno-wizards didn’t name the GPS after Columbus because he made a big mapping mistake in his quest to find a new route to Asia. The landmass that Columbus thought was Asia was actually, as we all know, a tiny island in the Caribbean. Perhaps Columbus should have asked for directions. When the Ottomon Turks captured Constantinople in 1453, the price of oriental trade goods went sky-high in Europe. Many believed there was a fortune …

As we celebrate President's Day, a review of some pets that spent time in the White House over the last century or so is in order for those of us who love history and, more importantly, pets. From President William McKinley's (in office from 1897-1901) famous and exotic Mexican double yellow headed parrot to President Obama's dog named Bo, the pets of the Presidents have remained a major part of the history of the American presidency. While most of our Presidents had pets, a select few made their pets a major part of their administration. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1933-1945) had a …

You may have attended one of my antiques appraisal shows or you may have read about some of the places that I have visited or the people I have met. Ever since 1998, I continue to present my appraisal events to live audiences across the country. It is fun to hear the stories of how someone acquired a vintage or antique piece. Recently, I met some folks with some interesting stories to share. Raining Jewelry I met Kelly in rainy Seattle, Washington. He wanted me to appraise a gorgeous Native American necklace, in the squash blossom form with semi-precious stones, during my appraisal event. I …

The winter holiday of Valentine’s Day which falls on February 14, honors Roman Goddess of Marriage, Juno and the Christian martyr, St. Valentine. Persecuted by the Roman Emperor in 273 AD, St. Valentine enjoys a legacy that has been carried on by lovers, young and old, for centuries. Children and adults alike annually honor St. Valentine by gifting flowers, sharing symbols of love, and sending romantic cards to loved ones.  While St. Valentine presented the flowers from his garden to young lovers in an effort to promote the Catholic sacrament of matrimony, the February holiday that bears his …

When it comes to fine china, the phrase ‘handle with care’ couldn’t be more important. Everyone knows that china is fragile. Fine china—be it Meissen, Wedgwood, or Royal Copenhagen—should be used with care. Here are some tips so you can enjoy your china and prevent damage. First rule: Don’t place fine china in the dishwasher, refrigerator, or microwave. If you chose to display your fine china in a china cabinet, give your collection breathing room. Do not stack plates more than six plates high and place separators in between each piece. Display teacups atop their saucers. Don’t hang teacups …

Kitchen collectibles are some of the most popular objects for collectors. While these items typically hold great sentimental value, many of our most common and useful items are also highly collectible like cookie jars, mixing bowls, and baking dishes. These kitchen mainstays say a great deal about our culture. Since I burn most of my baking attempts, I gravitate toward non-stick cookware and particularly, Pyrex products. From oven to fridge, these baking dishes demonstrate technological advancements and they say a lot about how Americans lived in the early decades of the 20th Century. …

With the sky high prices for gold and precious metals making headlines, I thought some information and useful tips would prove helpful. Precious metals, gemstones, and fine design pieces have dazzled us through the ages. Called precious metals, gold, platinum, and silver are some of the world’s rarest materials. These three metals are found in many parts of the world, but they are not easily extracted from their natural state. Precious metals maintain their luster and shine and resist corrosion with little care. Objects dating back to the world’s ancient civilizations like the Native …

If I had a dime for every time I advised people not to use eBay or any online auction site as a method for finding out the value of a work of art or antique, I’d be able to help out with the debt crisis. I have told folks time and time again that you can’t use an eBay listing or posted online sales results to put a value on an object. Online fraud is widespread and that’s why you can’t rely solely on an online auction website’s sales records to provide you with an accurate appraisal. Only an honest appraiser who can analyze the market data can provide you with that critical information. …

Throughout the fall of 2011 at sites around the globe, there will be a series of public exhibitions and events leading up to the sale of the vast collection of the late Elizabeth Taylor. The three month-long tour of highlights from Taylor’s immense private collection will begin in September of 2011. The traveling exhibition will make stops in major global centers such as London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Geneva, Paris, Dubai, and Hong Kong.  At the tour’s New York finale, from  December 3 thru 12, 2011, there will be an exhibition featuring The Elizabeth Taylor Collection of jewelry, fashion, …