When most people think of coin collecting their perception is of someone sitting hunched over a table with a stack of blue folders attempting to collect each date and mint mark of a series of coins. Read more [...]

Mechanical clocks were probably developed in the latter part of the 13th century by monks in Italy or central Europe to time the call to worship. In England, there is evidence that by 1283 a church clock was to be found at Dunstable Priory, Bedford. Thereafter, mention of church clocks occurs with greater frequency in English church records. Read more [...]

It was not too long ago that embroidered towels, shams, pillow-cases, framed pictures, tablecloths and coverlets, fell out of favor in the American home. After World War II, everyone seemed to want to simplify household duties and ironing such items was regarded as a chore. The permanent press revolution made it possible to toss such items into a clothes washer and dryer and use them immediately with no ironing involved. Read more [...]

Crackle glass is a type of glassware made with a process that produces glass that looks frosted, or full of tiny cracks. It goes under various names including ice glass craquelle, and frosted ware, but the most common names used by collectors and dealers in the UK are ice glass or crackle glass. In the USA it’s usually called overshot glass, in France it’s known as verre craquelé, and Italians call it vetro a ghiaccio. Read more [...]

Occasionally, an appraiser is confronted with items in homes that merit some consideration before placing values on them. Notably, are the stuffed birds, which appear under glass domes. They may be covered by the Endangered Species Act of December 1973 - so perhaps they are illegally owned. Is it proper to appraise items for which the owner might be prosecuted if authorities learned about them? Read more [...]

Back in 1972, a concern in Boston, imported two container loads of "antiques" to sell in its large store which featured fine reproductions as well. They thought they would be duty free, falling under the 100 year rule, which meant duty would not be collected on anything older than that. Instead, they were sent a bill for $2,250, stating that the contents did not meet this criteria. This would cut into profit, so I was asked if I could help. Read more [...]

All are legitimate descriptions of items as the English would term them, as all were made in England. The names should be applicable in this country as well. The spaniels, in this country, are better known as "Staffordshire Dogs;" the cable decoration is referred to as "earthworm;" and the flatbacks are known here as "Staffordshire Cottage Figures." Read more [...]

Years ago I walked into Hatchard’s in London, to purchase another copy of the book “British Biscuit Tins”. A simple task if I had asked for it by that name but never to be one to make life easy for myself I proceeded to inquire for…yes, you guessed it, “English Cookie Tins”! That is what is in a name or word! The difference is being able to locate the item you are looking for. Read more [...]