The American Studio Glass movement started with Harvey Littleton, ceramics teacher at the Madison campus of the University of Wisconsin in 1958 when he started experimenting with molten glass. In 1962 he joined the Toledo Ohio Museum of Art with the introduction of two glassblowing workshops using a smaller economical Read more…
We had a project several years ago that had to do with a large collection of Kachina or Katsina dolls. In our research we fell in love with these intricately carved gems not only for the craftsmanship but also the history and story behind each one. The carving is an Read more…
I had no idea how endangered this wood is until I participated in a group discussion with colleagues. I was shocked to find out that the rosewood species Dalbergia and especially the Dalbergia nigra or Brazilian Rosewood is more endangered than the Elephant and ivory, big cats and rhino horns. Read more…
Over the centuries mankind has always figured vessels for drinking, everything from stone to metal to leather to ceramics and not necessarily in that order. However, it wasn’t until Marco Polo in his excursions to the Far East brought back Chinese Tea and its porcelain drinking cups that porcelain became Read more…
1. Earthenware: Any vessel which in its unglazed state would NOT hold a liquid. It is always opaque but with varying degrees of coarseness and fineness. Examples are “Majolica”, “Faience” and “Delft” and are all decorative, tin-glazed earthenware. It is sometimes called Terracotta. 2. Stoneware: Any vessel which in its Read more…
Through the generations there has always been a fascinating interest in these folksy samplers. These pieces were one of the few ways a young lady could show off her education and artistic talent. They became a part of her dowry, traveled with her throughout her life and were willed to Read more…
Animation cels are drawings done in parts on a thin, transparent celluloid acetate or “cel”, used in the production of cartoons. As computer-generated animation replaces artists painting by hand, cels have become a collectible. Some collectors got into the genre long ago when Disney and the other studios were digging Read more…
WHEN IT COMES to the finest example of pottery from the Victorian era, there is only one word: “Majolica”.
It is here that we will post educational articles on a variety of different objects or topics that we have come across through the years as personal property appraisers that you might overlook but have a rich history…in other words, Hidden Treasures.