KOVELS ANTIQUES
Kovels Antiques: Sailors made ‘shell pictures’ for valentines 
Valentine’s Day has been celebrated for centuries. By the 1790s, romantic cards were being given to that “special” person. The idea of cards and gifts has continued, and collectors search for all types of valentines of the past – everything from pasted-together lacy cards and “mechanical” cards that pop open into a 3-D display, to very modern talking cards.
By By Terry Kovel , February 10, 2012
Kovels Antiques: Silver infusers popular in late 19th century
Tea, it is said, was first drunk by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung about 2737 B.C. Then someone in China invented a device that shredded tea leaves, making it easier to brew tea.
By By Terry Kovel , February 03, 2012
Kovels Antiques: Characters from books, TV seem to stick around
Toys often were made to resemble famous people or characters in plays, books or TV shows. Sometimes the character that inspired the toy is forgotten, but the toy remains popular with collectors because it is so well-designed, unusual or lovable.
By By Terry Kovel , January 27, 2012
Kovels Antiques: Technique covered bronze with paint
What is “cold-painted bronze”? The term is used online to describe colorful bronze or spelter figures, but almost no one explains what it means.
By By Terry Kovel , January 20, 2012
Kovels Antiques: Figurines were ‘photos’ of 18th, 19th centuries
Figurines were the “photographs” of the 18th and 19th centuries. Well-known politicians, royalty, sports figures, actors, writers, religious subjects and newsworthy criminals, places and events were the inspiration for the figurines. They were made to sell, so the figurines had to depict something that would add decorative value to a home.
By By Terry Kovel , January 06, 2012
Kovels Antiques: ‘Swinging-arm clock’ one of most famous of mystery clocks
Mystery clocks have been popular since the 18th century. The clock seems to have no mechanism, yet keeps time.
By By Terry Kovel , December 30, 2011
Kovels Antiques: Santa inspired by many cultures
Santa Claus has changed in appearance throughout the centuries. He is now a mixture of the Dutch, German, Scandinavian, British and American characters that have represented Christmas. The earliest Santa-like figure was Saint Nicholas of Myra, a fourth-century Greek bishop. He was pictured as a thin bishop in religious clothing.
By By Terry Kovel , December 23, 2011
Kovels Antiques: Picture frames elaborate during Victorian times
Picture frames were very elaborate during Victorian times. The rectangular frame for an oil painting could be 3 or 4 inches deep with several different types of carving on the borders. And the frame often was covered with gold leaf. Small frames were sometimes made of carved pieces of dark wood joined in a crisscross fashion.
By By Terry Kovel , December 16, 2011
Kovels Antiques: Chestnuts have been eaten since prehistoric times
A Chinese porcelain “chestnut basket” recently was offered for sale at a Virginia auction. We looked at the basket, which appears to be a bowl and underplate, and wondered if the reticulated (cut-out) areas were simply decorative or if they were important because the bowl held chestnuts.
By By Terry Kovel , December 09, 2011
Kovels Antiques: Authentic Shaker furniture prices have come down
The Shakers are a religious group that came to America from England in 1774 led by Mother Ann Lee. The group grew until there were 18 Shaker communities in the eastern part of the country.
By By Terry Kovel , December 02, 2011
Kovels Antiques: Thanksgiving has changed through years
Thanksgiving dinner in America during the 18th and early 19th centuries was very different than it is today. The traditional menu today includes turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes, corn, fruit and pumpkin pie. But at the first Thanksgiving, potatoes were unavailable. Cranberries were nearby but there was no sugar, so the berries probably were not eaten.
By By Terry Kovel , November 25, 2011
Kovels Antiques: Glass traps, pottery kept ants away from food
Ants have been sneaking inside warm houses for centuries. Our ancestors did not use poison, but they had a way to keep the ants away from their food.
They made ant traps of pottery or glass designed to keep ants from climbing up the legs of a kitchen or dining room table.
By By Terry Kovel , November 18, 2011
Kovels Antiques: Many football toys made over the years
During football season, fans shop for T-shirts, banners, nodding heads, glasses and other souvenirs of the game. Through the years, many football toys also have been made.
By By Terry Kovel , November 11, 2011
Kovels Antiques: Halloween décor can scare up big auction prices
Vintage Halloween decorations are best-sellers today, and their values continue to rise. And sometimes a rare holiday piece will bring an exceptionally high price.
By By Terry Kovel , November 04, 2011
Kovels Antiques: Clocks common antique claimed to be ‘haunted’
We have heard many stories about “haunted antiques” through the years, and we often ask readers to send us their stories. Clocks seem to be the most likely to be haunted.
By By Terry Kovel , October 28, 2011
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