KOVELS ANTIQUES
Kovels Antiques: Furniture often unmarked but still distinctive 
Collectors prize furniture that is created by a famous maker, but antique furniture is often not identified with a label. Experts can “attribute” a piece to a maker by comparing it to other known furniture that has a label or a history of ownership.
By By Terry Kovel , July 27, 2012
Kovels Antiques: Pottery tiles lesser known, but still lovely
Bargain-priced American art pottery vases are hard to find. But art pottery tiles made by important companies still are inexpensive, because they have had little publicity.
Tile collectors in England and Holland pay high prices for tiles made in their country. Rookwood Pottery of Ohio, and Low Art Tile Co. of Massachusetts probably are the most famous makers in the U.S.
By By Terry Kovel , July 20, 2012
Kovels Antiques: Victorian-era ads featured veggies acting as humans
Fresh vegetables were part of the diet of the Victorian household during the warm, growing months. But stored root vegetables and home- canned food were used on snowy days.
By By Terry Kovel , July 13, 2012
Kovels Antiques: Once-popular ‘dummy boards’ hard to find now
A “dummy board” is a decoration first used in the 16th century, probably in Holland, then England. It is a figure made from a flat piece of wood carved to make a tall flat “person” to stand in a corner of an empty room.
By By Terry Kovel , July 06, 2012
Kovels Antiques: America’s symbols varied and evolving
Many figures have been used through the years to represent America. The earliest was the Indian Queen, who was the European symbol for North America from about 1570 to 1776.
By By Terry Kovel , June 29, 2012
Kovels Antiques: Porcelains from China remain popular
Chinese porcelains of past centuries are selling for very high prices today.
By By Terry Kovel , June 22, 2012
Wedding cake traditions are relatively new
The bride and groom topper on a contemporary wedding cake often is made of plastic or sugar. But the traditions of wedding-cake toppers and even wedding cakes do not go back very far.
By Terry Kovel, Special to The Forum , June 14, 2012
Kovels Antiques: Furniture that breaks all the rules
‘Fantasy furniture” is a term used to describe tables and chairs that don’t fit the rules of any recognized style. Chairs made of cow horns or parts of spinning wheels, and tables held up by carved bears or shaped like large hands are “fantasies.”
By By Terry Kovel , June 08, 2012
Kovels Antiques: Seek antiques when looking for gift for Dad
Father’s Day is coming in June, so think ahead and try to find a unique gift for your father. Shop at a flea market or antiques shop. Some of today’s movies and TV series have made the “look” of the 1950s and ’60s popular.
By By Terry Kovel , June 01, 2012
Kovels Antiques: Garden Ware meant to be half-hidden
Art pottery made by Weller is a favorite among collectors. The company made art pottery in Zanesville, Ohio, from 1893 to 1948.
By By Terry Kovel , May 25, 2012
Kovels Antiques: Chairs made of horns have unique charm
Furniture has been made from carved and joined pieces of wood for centuries, but in every century there are a few designers who are intrigued by the forms of nature and use them to create furniture.
By By Terry Kovel , May 18, 2012
Kovels Antiques: Doorstops now more decorative than functional
Iron doorstops are among today’s top-selling collectibles. They are probably not propped against a door to keep it open but are instead displayed like rare porcelain figurines on a prominent shelf.
By By Terry Kovel , May 11, 2012
Kovels Antiques: Decorative fish bowls date back to ancient Rome
Did you have a bowl filled with pet fish when you were young? The idea dates back to the Roman Empire, when carp were kept in marble tanks. Once panes of glass were made, a pane could be used on one side of the tank so people could more easily watch the activities of the fish.
By By Terry Kovel , May 04, 2012
Kovels Antiques: Ironing history reveals many collectible items
Permanent-press fabrics have relieved most households of the need to iron clothing. In past centuries, ironing was an almost daily duty of a woman in the home.
By By Terry Kovel , April 27, 2012
Kovels Antiques: Dual-purpose furniture still useful today
Dual-purpose furniture has been made for centuries. By the 1700s, there were chairs with large, round backs that flipped down on the top of the arms to make a table. There also were chairs that could be flipped over to be used as library steps.
By By Terry Kovel , April 20, 2012
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