Old Flame: Match Strikers of the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries
Learn all about match strikers, charming objects that remind us of a past way of life.
History Gives Back in the Form of a Confederate Sword
Learn what made our recently sold Confederate Naval Officer's Sword so special and how its sale is helping create local jobs!
Walter Biggs: Fame in Our Own Backyard
Walter Biggs is a well known and highly respected artist who worked in the Salem, VA area. Check out this blog post to learn more about this famous artist, and his artwork we have sold at auction - including the oil on canvas painting (seen above) that sold for over $35,000.
To Polish or Not to Polish? Caring for Your Treasures
Resources to help you care for your treasured items.
Antique Photos 101
At some point in our lives, most of us have spent time rummaging through a box of old photographs, leafing through many years' worth of memories captured on film. While most of our cherished photographs were created within living memory, a few of us are lucky enough to inherit images from a much earlier period. In this tutorial we will cover some basic information intended to help you identify some the mediums used by 19th century practitioners and estimate the approximate age of your early photographs.
Ceramics 101: Earthenware, Stoneware & Porcelain
Auctions are great places to find antique and vintage ceramic items for a great price, but sometimes you may not always know exactly what it is that you are getting. That’s why we are offering this Ceramics 101 overview to help you know what you’re buying. Our first post will discuss the types of ceramic clay bodies, followed by a future post that will go into more detail on methods of decoration.
Halloween Collectibles: Ghosts, Ghouls, & Pumpkins Oh My!
Learn more about the history of Halloween and Halloween collectibles in this ghoulish blog!
