The Collinsville Antiques Company announces that kitschy collector and author C. Dianne Zweig www.cdiannezweig.com, has opened her shoppe “Kitsch-N-Stuff” at this ever popular multi-dealer antique emporium.located on Route 44 in New Hartford, Connecticut. Specializing in retro chic, nifty nostalgia and groovy mod, Kitsch-N-Stuff appeals to baby boomers and younger collectors who are looking for cool kitchen collectibles, textiles, paper and home accessories.
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Zweig calls “Kitsch-N-Stuff” a “collection with personality” and she is excited to join the Collinsville Antiques Company, one of the largest group shops in New England with over 22,000 square feet of dealer space and as well as an in- house hip hop restaurant called The Crusin’ Cafe. The Crusin Cafe is open for breakfast or lunch and offers indoor and outdoor dining options.

Owners Doug and Cindy Szydlo welcome kitschy collector, C. Dianne Zweig who is also the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and the soon to be released Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. You will find many of the collections featured in Zweig’s books now available for purchase at The Collinsville Antiques Company.

Beside offering plenty of “cool stuff”, The Collinsville Antiques Company is one of the largest multi-dealer shops featuring outstanding furniture, jewelry, ceramics, glassware, art, lighting, pottery, decorative accessories and collectibles. The Collinsville Antiiques Company, now in it’s new location in New Hartford is only five miles from it’s fomer home. Travelers from all over the state and country make a point of stopping at The Collinsville Antiques Company when they are in the region.

The Collinsville Antiques Company (860)-379-2290 www.collinsvilleantiques.com is open 7 days a week 10am to 5 pm. Café closed on Mondays

Cincinnati, OH – June 7 and 8, 2008 at Treadway Galleries meant two important things to the art pottery market:

First, that sales, despite high gas prices and a struggling national economy, are strong and steady for quality material, and second, that Don Treadway’s move across the river to the Northern Kentucky Convention Center – a mere minute or two over the bridge from Cincinnati – was indeed a good one.

While in a separate state altogether, the Kentucky location is actually closer to Treadway’s near downtown Cincinnati location. It also proved easier to access for buyers, and made the logistics of the auction’s operation much smoother than previous sales.

“Overall, I was extremely happy with the turnout and the results,” said Treadway. “We had nice things in really good condition with very few reserves. That’s a good combination.”

Rookwood and Roseville dominated the 750-lot sale, with Rookwood doing a good amount of the shining. There were significant examples of pottery from Roseville, Weller and Buffalo in the sale, as well as a healthy selection of etchings and artwork from one of Rookwood’s most famous artists, E.T. Hurley.

The truism in the antiques business that quality will always sell proved accurate, as the sale produced good numbers across the board, without yielding any world record prices. That, however, matters little to Treadway, who said he would take solid prices top to bottom over one or two spectacular lots and the rest at mediocre levels anytime.

“The market is good for good items,” Treadway said, “but it’s weak for run of the mill stuff. Certain aspects of art pottery are hit and miss. The prices on Roseville were extremely strong. I took that merchandise, made sure it was in good condition, all selling without reserves. The consignor was very pleased with the results”

In fact, less than 12% of the sale went on the block with a reserve, another risky move that paid off for the gallery.

“Anything in standard glaze rather with an Indian or silver overlay struggled,” Treadway said. “Pastel pieces were hot, plaques did well and matt glazed florals sold well.”

The top lots of the sale were as diverse as the form of art pottery itself. The best examples of Rookwood brought good prices, with a Rookwood plaque with a Green Vellum glaze and sailboats by Sallie Coyne sold for ,000, an A.R. Valentien Rookwood plaque with a Sea Green glaze brought ,000, and a Rookwood plaque with Vellum glaze and a Venetian scene by Carl Schmidt brought ,000.

Further Rookwood pieces that shone in the sale with good prices included a vellum glazed vase with a landscape by Sara Sax that gaveled at

,250; a vellum glaze vase by Kataro Shirayamadani brought

,000; a Hurley vellum glaze vase brought ,000; a sea green vase by Matt Daly saw a final price of ,500, and a Fred Rothenbusch vellum glazed plaque finished at ,000. Hurley showed more strong prices with an Iris glaze vase topping out at ,000. Sara Sax also showed her popularity as a Rookwood designer with a vellum glaze landscape that finished at ,000.

Carl Schmidt was well represented with two oil on board paintings, both of “Venetian Sailboats,” that brought ,750 and ,250 respectively.

Fraunfelter/Royal Rochester also showed strong sales, especially the Modernistic patterns, topping estimates and bringing strong prices for a waffle service (

,300), a tea service (

,750), and two coffee services (

,850 and

,750 respectively).

Some of the most surprising Roseville sales came not from the best pieces, but rather from pieces that brought as much as double and triple their pre-sale estimates. A Wincraft dealer sign went for ,100 and a large double-handled Futura vase brought ,600.

Buffalo Pottery also showed strength with several surprise lots, including Emerald Deldare Ware pieces, a chamber stick and a vase that brought ,000 and ,200 respectively.

Prices presented here do not include the 15% buyer’s premium.

Treadway Gallery’s next sale will be its September 14th sale of 20th Century Art and Design.

For more information, call 708-383-5234, or go online to www.treadwaygallery.com.

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The All-Dairy Antiques & Collectibles Show announces its 2008 schedule. This unique show will be hosted by the All-American Dairy Show in the Dairy Activity Center of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Show schedule will be Saturday, September 13 to Wednesday, September 17, with hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Exhibitors may set up their displays on Friday, September 12.

This exhibit of museum pieces and private collections is a great blend of our dairy history and rural living artifacts. Dairy antique and collectible enthusiasts are invited to exhibit, view, buy, sell or just appreciate items from years dating back into the 1800’s, a great opportunity for the entire family as the show focuses on educating visitors, with most items labeled with descriptive information and dates of origin.

This year’s feature will be dairy art, but collectors of all dairy related items are invited to attend and exhibit. Photographs must be framed, and each exhibitor will receive one free uncovered 8-foot table. Additional tables may be reserved upon request, and some display cases will be available on a first-come basis. Free parking, no admission fees and free exhibit space makes this a must for collectors.

Interested exhibitors should register by August 1. Additional information or registration forms may be obtained by contacting the dairy show office at (717) 787-2905 or by visiting the All-American Dairy Show Web site: www.allamerican.state.pa.us.

Grey Flannel Auctions’ team of experts will conduct a free appraisal event – Sports Appraisals at Center Court – from 2-8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8, at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. The specialists who will be on hand include Nick Coppola (uniforms), Joey Esposito (cards and programs), and Jimmy Spence (autographs). To add to the experience, any individual who brings in a sports item or items for complimentary evaluation will also be given free admission to the Basketball Hall of Fame, which ordinarily costs $16 for adults. The event marks the launch a new partnership between the Basketball Hall of Fame and Grey Flannel, whose experts will soon be visiting other areas of the country.

All types of sports collectibles, equipment, apparel, cards and autographed items will be welcome at the event. “Our company has had a long involvement with vintage and collectible items from all major sports – baseball, football, hockey, basketball and others,” said Grey Flannel’s president, Richard E. Russek. “We’re excited to see what will turn up at our appraisal event, whether it’s from already established collections or straight out of people’s attics. This will be a great opportunity for anyone owning a collectible sports item to find out exactly what it’s worth, and free of charge.”

Widely recognized for its staff’s scrupulous and uncompromising methods in authenticating professional sports memorabilia, Grey Flannel Auctions is the official appraiser and authenticator for both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association. Sotheby’s appointed Grey Flannel to authenticate the largest and most important baseball uniform collection ever to come to auction, the Barry Halper collection. Among the many history-making items that have been entrusted to Grey Flannel Auctions are the 1978 Heisman Trophy, which sold for $300,000; and Babe Ruth’s immortal New York Yankees “called shot” uniform, which realized more than $1 million. For additional information on Sports Appraisals at Center Court, call 631-288-7800 or e-mail gfcsports@aol.com. Visit Grey Flannel’s Web site at www.GreyFlannel.com.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is located at 1000 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield, MA 01105, and is easily accessible from Boston, Hartford and Albany. For detailed driving directions, log on to www.hoophall.com. Tel. 413-781-6500 or tollfree 1-877-4HOOPLA.

(Hyannis, Mass.) - Nearly 300 lots of items from local estates in a broad range of categories will be offered at a Summer Antiques & Nautical Auction to be held Saturday, July 26, at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel on Route 132 in Hyannis, next door to the Cape Cod Mall. The sale will be conducted by MV Auctions / Auctions of Cape Cod and the Islands. The opening gavel will pound promptly at 5 p.m.

Ed Tessier of MV Auctions says, “There will be many interesting items offered and I had a lot of fun accumulating them. It was exciting to visit and explore “The Mill” — the one-time summer home of Lillian Hellman, on Martha’s Vineyard. Other consignments came from homes on Nantucket, Cape Cod and in Duxbury.”

Lillian Hellman (1905-1984) was a playwright and left-wing activist who lived in New York City but summered at The Mill, so-named because there was an antique windmill on the property that Ms. Hellman eventually had moved adjacent to the main house. It became the residence of her lover Dashiell Hammett, the mystery and crime writer, with whom she had a tumultuous 30-year romance.

Some, but not all, of the items from “The Mill” belonged to Ms. Hellman. Mr. Tessier said it was difficult to say for sure which of the items in the house were Ms. Hellman’s, but he added, “It is a wonderful waterfront home, filled with some great period furniture and decorative accessories. ‘The Mill’ is reflective of the sale overall.”

Furniture pieces certain to spark bidder interest include a Newburyport Queen Anne side chair with pierced ribbon back in original finish (circa 1780s); five camphor trunks, all in good condition; a North Shore Hepplewhite birch tall clock with 8-day works and moon dial; an 18th-century American Chinese Chippendale wing chair; and an ox-bow serpentine desk with ball-and-claw feet (circa 1785).

Other noteworthy furniture pieces include a North Shore inlaid card table (circa 1800); a Sheraton two-part desk with inlays; a Tiffany mahogany tall clock (circa 1900); a Silas Hoadley tall clock; a George III Chippendale slant lid desk; a Rhode Island Chippendale six-drawer chest; a New York carved pedestal drop-leaf table (circa 1830); and a lovely pair of French upholstered arm chairs.

From the fine art category, several important works will be offered:
Two original paintings by James Gayle Tyler (New York, 1855-1931). Mr. Tyler was a maritime painter and illustrator who became quite well known, so much so that while he was still alive forgeries bearing his signature appeared on at least 100 works. He personally (and successfully) took legal action against the forgers in the courts of New York, where he lived his entire life.

Two original paintings by Charles Henry Gifford (Massachusetts, 1839-1904). Mr. Gifford was a marine, landscape and portrait painter who worked in watercolors and oils. His pictures over the years have found a ready audience around the world, not just the United States. He is especially popular in Europe. His father was a ship’s carpenter who handed down to his a son a love of the sea.

“Autumn in the Adirondacks” by James McDougal Hart (Scottish-born American artist, 1828-1901). Mr. Hart was born in Kilmarnock, Scotland. His family emigrated to Albany, N.Y., when he was two. He took up painting at 15 and became a leading figure in the second generation of Hudson School painters. Hart was known for his idyllic landscapes (especially featuring cows).

Other works of art to be sold include a Nantucket oil rendering by Anne Ramsdell Congdon (American, 1873-1958); a Nantucket carving by James Walter Folger (Massachusetts, 1851-1918); a still life work by John C. Spencer (Rhode Island, 1861-1919); an oil painting of Naples, Italy, dated 1828; and three etchings by the hunting and bird artist Frank W. Benson (Mass., 1862-1951).

Nautical, marine and whaling items – staples at many MV Auctions events – will be offered at this sale, too. Star lots will include several blubber knives and spades; about ten whaling harpoons; a collection of over 35 antique canes (including baleen, whale bone and fist examples); a rare skimmer with original handle; a Brand harpoon gun with projectile; and a five-foot-long half-hull of whaler.

Also from the category: an 82-inch narwhale tusk from the Crocker expedition of 1911; brass quadrants; several boxed compasses; three whaling-era jagging wheels; 19th-century scrimshawed whale’s teeth; a 10-inch diameter Chelsea ship’s clock and barometer set; cased 19th-century whale oil; an assortment of antique whale bone; antique shipbuilder’s tools; and a 19th-century Eldridge chart.

Smalls and decorative accessories will feature some nice sterling silver pieces (including an Austrian coffee pot and coffee urn on stands, spoons, demitasse, cups and saucers); a Faberge bell push; a covered Nantucket purse by Jose Reyes; several historic samplers; doorstops; a pair of whale oil lamps; blown glass bottles; Sandwich glass; colored hobnail gas shades; Fulper; and Amphora.

Also from the category: Nantucket baskets and purses; brass clocks (including French and skeleton); a Moser punch bowl and cups; a classical Vidal Dubray bronze; a Martin ukulele; a Kentucky rifle; a Swiss music box; a large collection of Oriental porcelain in Canton; Rose Medallion (including baluster vase and garden barrel, sacred bird and butterfly); and Imari chargers.

The sale will also feature decoys (to include several shorebirds and a selection of examples in old paint, including Evans, Mason and Lincoln); around 20 antique Oriental rugs (including a stunning 14′ x 14′ roomsize Agra, Bidjar, North West Persian and a nice selection of Turkomans); and fine estate jewelry (to include an 18kt.gold Tiffany necklace, 18kt gold cross with emeralds, rings; and several other pieces.

A preview will be held on Friday, July 25, from 2-6 p.m., and on Saturday, July 26, from 2 p.m. until the start of sale. The auction catalog will be available online at www.mvauctions.net.

MV Auctions / Auctions of Cape Cod and the Islands is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (508) 771-1722. Or, you can e-mail them at mvauctions@aol.com.

MV Auctions / Auctions of Cape Cod and the Islands has over 35 years experience in the antiques and decorative arts field. The firm handles merchandise from one piece to an entire estate. For more information about the upcoming July 26 auction, and to learn more about the company and its calendar of upcoming auctions, click on www.mvauctions.net. Directions to the July 26 sale are posted.

Theriault’s May 31 antique doll auction in Chicago was titled “A Fine Pretending Tea,” a phrase from a poem about doll’s tea parties. But there was no pretending about this auction. The dolls were abundant and awesome. The collectors responded, and prices soared. Buyers flocked to the auction and bid in person, or left traditional absentee bids, or bid by telephone, or bid live online throughout the day. Theriault’s live Internet bidding offers an actual video/audio feed from the auction and as one collector who stayed home, fixed to her computer screen, said later, “This was so much fun. I wanted to go to that auction so badly but just couldn’t get away. I watched the entire auction, won my doll and I will have the memory of ‘almost’ being there.”

For the buyers who came to the auction it was special, too. The dolls were presented in Theriault’s renowned rich displays just as they might have been offered in 19th-century doll shops. Collectors gasped, sometimes, as they saw a doll that was much larger than they had imagined, or when, seeing a doll “all around” they were able to relish the beauty of the entire costume or coiffure. Florence Theriault, cataloguer, lamented that “we just can never show enough photographs of each doll in our catalog. It’s hard to choose. Face? Body? Dressed? And size! How many times have collectors said they had no idea how large (or small) a doll was even though they read the description. That’s why it’s so important to come to the auction if you can.”

Prices for French dolls continued very strong. The cover doll, a 13-inch bebe by Thuillier, soared to $52,000. An early portrait bebe by Jumeau doubled its pre-sale estimate at $18,000, while a 26-inch Triste bebe topped at $19,500. Two Bru bebes, each 20 inches, reach $34,000 and $25,000 respectively. Leading a fine small collection of French poupees was a wooden-bodied fashion lady by Adelaide Huret that reached $20,000.

German bisque dolls were very popular, too. From the early period were a fine group of bisque ladies with sculpted hair whose prices ranged from $1,100 to $2,700. Dolls by Simon and Halbig included a rare smiling 1019 model at $5,200 and a petite 12-inch 908 model at $2,700. Kammer and Reinhardt offered examples from their art character series which were very popular with bidders, including a 22-inch Hans, model 114, that topped at $5,800, a 20-inch Marie, model 101, that sold at $4,800, and a 15-inch Googly, model 131, that rushed to $8,400. Dolls by Kestner continued their popularity trend. Two petite all-bisque models with swivel head sold for $4,100 and $4,000. A beautiful 12-inch brown-complexioned doll known as the “A.T. Kestner” went for $6,200, and another black doll, Kestner’s 143 model, at only 11 inches, reached $1,900. A good collection of character dolls by Gebruder Heubach included the wonderful model 7843 which collectors variously describe as yawning or crying, that sold at $4,200.

The auction featured a superb group of dolls from the archives of the Cleveland Museum of Art, being sold to benefit their Education Fund. These included rare early 19th-century dolls of Japan including a rare large Mitsuore or “triple-jointed” doll that sold at $8,000, and an early Palace, 27-inches high that went for $10,000. Other dolls from the Museum holdings included a folk art lady and gentleman that sold for $1,800, and a pair of Schoenhut dolls, models 308 and 312, that topped at $1,700 each.

For more information visit www.theriaults.com.

A very rare example of John Arrowsmith’s important Map of Texas, published in 1841 when Texas was an independent republic, is to be sold at auction by PBA Galleries in San Francisco on July 24th, 2008.

Produced a few years after Texas achieved her independence from Mexico, the finely engraved, hand-colored map was considered “the best and most useful map of Texas at the time of its publication,” as noted by Amon Carter Museum. The pioneer counties are well delineated, recently explored areas of the panhandle are shown, and, significantly, the western border is placed well into present day New Mexico. This latter feature, while satisfying certain expansionist sentiments among the Texan citizenry, helped spur the ill-fated Texan Santa Fe Expedition, when a party of traders and armed Texans was captured and marched 2,000 miles to Mexico City. They were freed the following year through U.S. diplomatic efforts, but the tension spawned by the incident was a contributing factor to the Mexican-American War.

The $25,000/35,000 estimate of the map is based not only on its historical significance, however, but also the great rarity of this particular issue. It is the “atlas state” of the second issue, or edition, of the map, printed on heavy paper with a single horizontal creased, with the date 17 April, 1841. The first issue of the map was published in atlas format in February 1841; the third issue, also in atlas state, came out in 1843. But this second issue is almost always found in William Kennedy’s Texas: The Rise, Progress, and Prospects of the Republic of Texas, printed on thinner paper with multiple folds to fit into the book. To find the second issue of the map in atlas state, on thick paper, is practically unheard of. Additionally, the map on offer is in exceptional condition, clean, with bright hand-coloring, and no creases or other damage, making it prime example of collectible Texiana.

About PBA Galleries
PBA Galleries is the only specialist auction house in the West devoted to rare books, manuscripts, and maps. Focused primarily on personal collections and exceptional books, recent offerings have included The Noreen Curry Library of Fine Illustrated Books & Modern Literature, The Library of Ford Mitchell: Early Americana, Texas & the West, The Daniel G. Volkmann, Jr., Collection of Fine California Press Books, The Botanical Library of J. Roy Barrette, The Northwest Part of America: The Library of John M. Steinbrugge, and The Edwin Blair Collection of Beat Literature. PBA Galleries provides clients the benefits of its staff of appraisers, online and printed catalogues, and biweekly gallery auctions where clients can bid in person, email, by phone, and in real time from their computer.

To receive a complimentary catalogue please send a note to: catalogues@pbagalleries.com. To get acquainted with BiblioBot, the “instant appraiser” hosted by PBA Galleries, please visit: www.bibliobot.com

Bayko was the world’s first plastic construction toy and was produced in Liverpool between 1934 and 1964. It is an architectural toy and can be used to build a wide range of buildings from a simple shed to a Skyscraper “limited only by the child’s imagination” as early literature said.

The Bayko Collectors Club is a thriving community that holds regular meetings, organizes exhibitions and holds auctions for its members. And it has now started to also offer an Online Forum for its members, using Toy Collector’s Construction Forum (the Bayko Club is open to enthusiasts of any of the 1,200 plus construction toy companies that have existed). To visit the new Construction Forum just go to http://www.toycollector.com/forum/construction.

Toy Collector is the portal hoping to attract many of the 2.5 million toy collectors world-wide. It combines the best of the various toy forums, an individual collector’s blog, Youtube, eBay and other sites used by all of us today. All its content is created by the people who know best, the collectors themselves.

Toy Collector plans to significantly increase its functionality over the next few months, adding Toypedia, the database of every toy ever produced and Toy Group functionality allowing any toy related group to organize itself better.

obin Throp, Organizer of the Bayko Collectors Club says: “It’s great to pool resources with Toy Collector; we look forward to telling the world more about Bayko.” Pete Bradley who has an excellent website himself on Bayko (http://www.baykoman) and will also act as moderator for the new forum believes “While admitting that Lego was more versatile and therefore hastened the end of Bayko, Bayko wins hands down on realism – we expect to gain many more members once to our club they see how much fun Bayko is.”

The third annual Antiques at Elm Bank event on the grounds of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society headquarters in Wellesley, will be held July 26-27.

Antiques from the 18th to mid-20th century will be available, including Federalist and Victorian furniture, European and Asian ceramics, china, sterling silver, art, estate jewelry, antique toys, Indian art and baskets, quilts and linens, period frames and mirrors, brass bells, clocks, desk accessories and walking sticks.

Admission to the event is $10. Details at 781-862-4039 or www.NEAntiqueShows.com

NEW YORK - Carlton Hobbs LLC, the noted international antiques dealer, has announced the company will offer an independent and accredited expert assessment, at no cost to its clients, of any item purchased from the firm in the last 15 years. Should any item be found to have an issue of authenticity or degree of restoration, it will become eligible for Carlton Hobbs’s longstanding policy for a full buy-back.

Carlton Hobbs analyzed its sales of approximately 2,100 objects over the past 15 years, and of this total far less than 1% have been earmarked for further review as to the authenticity or degree of restoration, and the purchasers are being notified directly.

In doing so, Carlton Hobbs will provide clients the opportunity to reaffirm the origins and condition of each object, as well as the quality and appropriateness of any restoration undertaken. The company said it is taking action to reassure clients of the importance it places on authenticity and integrity of objects clients purchased from the company.

This program is in response to industry-wide concerns recently expressed in the London antiques community about reproductions and replicas of historical pieces alleged to have been misrepresented as authentic period artifacts. Carlton Hobbs understands this debate was launched in litigation to which Carlton Hobbs is not a party. Regardless of the source of this debate, Carlton Hobbs is reaching out to its clients to reassure them of the authenticity of the objects they acquired.

Verifying the authenticity or degree of restoration of antiques requires specialized skills in documentation, analysis of materials and identification of working techniques to confirm the period when a piece was made, as well as interpreting the signs of wear and damage.

Antique furniture typically undergoes some form of restoration. This is due to the wear and tear of continuous use over hundreds of years. During this time many pieces endured wars, were moved by sailboat or by horse and carriage, and sustained the impact of modern transportation and the environment.

This verification is part of an action plan Carlton Hobbs is announcing today. The company believes this plan will benefit its clients and the antiques profession.

The Carlton Hobbs Plan is comprised of the following:

1.Client Guarantee - Clients whose objects are subject to further review will have their purchases examined to reaffirm the origin and condition of each object. Such clients, or their representatives, are being notified and need to take no further action. All Carlton Hobbs clients, upon request, are also eligible for this service and may contact Carlton Hobbs’s New York office.

2.The Carlton Hobbs Registry - Together with history and provenance, each piece of Carlton Hobbs furniture will now also include, where possible, a comprehensive narrative of any work performed on the specific object. The firm will begin the lengthy process of interviewing past suppliers and restorers to assist in this effort. Any object’s narrative can be continually updated by future owners and restorers.

Stefanie Rinza, managing director of Carlton Hobbs, said: “The history represented by the antiques that grace clients’ homes is worth preserving in the best, most accurate way.