Antique Detective

What You Should Know About Old Toys Before You Buy or Throw Them Away

What You Should Know About Old Toys Before You Buy or Throw Them Away

By Anne Gilbert    Read this and shed a tear with me! Back in the late 1950s my son received one of the hottest toys on the market for Christmas. It was a bright red, tin plate robot named “Machine Man” that ran on a battery. It was one of a set of five different designs produced in Japan. The box […]

by · August 7, 2019 · 0 comments · Antique Detective
Antique Detective Q & A

Antique Detective Q & A

By Anne Gilbert    Q. I recently inherited this pretty pink glass cookie jar that belonged to my grandmother. The raised design appears to be a bunch of flowers. It is 5” in diameter and in good shape. There are no makers marks. What can you tell me about age, maker and value?    L.M. Lancaster, PA    A. From your photo you […]

by · August 7, 2019 · 0 comments · Antique Detective
Antique Detective: Unique Paper Art, Old or New, Very Collectible

Antique Detective: Unique Paper Art, Old or New, Very Collectible

By Anne Gilbert    There is nothing new about paper art be it sculptures or dollhouses or furniture. It has existed in many forms and in nearly every culture for hundreds of years. For example the Vietnamese have never stopped turning it into vases and bowls. These days they make it from newspapers. Japan is known for Origami (the Japanese term […]

by · June 3, 2019 · 0 comments · Antique Detective
Antique Detective: Variety of Collectibles for Cigar Smokers

Antique Detective: Variety of Collectibles for Cigar Smokers

By Anne Gilbert    You can spend a little or you can spend a lot on objects made for cigar smokers. They offer a history of changes in cigar manufacturing and accessories. For example in their beginning many different items were needed before a cigar could be smoked. Manufacturers didn’t make cigars with both ends open. A bit of the sealed […]

by · April 9, 2019 · 0 comments · Antique Detective
Mid-Century Modern Textiles Rare But Still Around

Mid-Century Modern Textiles Rare But Still Around

By Anne Gilbert    If you are searching for authentic wallpaper and fabrics made in the 1940s/50s they are scarce but can be costly. However the good news is that even small pieces have been reborn as pillow cases or framed as art. Originally they may have been drapes or furniture fabrics. Or, magnificent murals or wallpaper.    After World War 11 […]

by · March 12, 2019 · 0 comments · Antique Detective, Feature Article