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CDC Warns of Mercury in Antiques
The CDC recently warned people that antiques containing mercury may pose a health hazard. Antiques
that may contain mercury include mirrors, clocks, barometers, thermometers and lamps. The hazard comes about when an antique
is moved, jostled or the old seals leak, releasing the mercury. According to the CDC, exposure to high amounts of mercury can
lead to brain damage as well effect the heart, kidneys and lungs.
Dumb Mikey and the Fifty Piece Puzzle
Mikey walks into the bar in Arlington and orders a drink downs it really quick and orders another. Knowing his customer, the bartender knew that Mikey was celebrating something and it was serious, because Mikey was usually too cheap
to buy more than one drink. The bartender’s curiosity finally got the better of him and he asked, “Mikey, what’s going on, seems
like you are celebrating something.”
Upcoming Antique Shows & Flea Markets
NOVA-Antiques.com provides the most comprehensive antiques show and flea market calendar
for the Mid Atlantic region.
Click here to view the most current antiques and collectibles shows calendar . . . > > >
Click here to view our flea
market directory and review pages . . . > > >
Record Auction Prices for Paintings & Artwork
Many records have been broken in the fine art world this week both Christie’s and
Sotheby’s have announced this week. The most intriguing part has been that the record for a piece of art by a living artist
has been broken twice this week.
The CDC also affirms in the report that many states restrict the sale of items with mercury in them. Many antique dealers are
now worried that this report will hurt the antiques business. Experts say that many of the items that are sold today, such as
barometers and thermometers are a very small portion of the antiques market. Others say that many of the items that contained
mercury at one time or another have long since lost it.
If you do have antiques that contain mercury and it does happen to spill you
shouldn’t panic, but do get expert help in removing the spill. Do not try to vacuum the spill as the heat of the vacuum could
vaporize the mercury and make things worse.
Mikey looks up smiles and says, “That obvious huh . . . well I just finished a 50 piece puzzle in less than 3 days.” The bartender
looks ruefully at Mikey and says, “so what?” Mikey looks up at him, with pride in his eyes and says, “Well, on the box it says
3-5 years.”
A Brief History of Heisey Glass
Although the Heisey Glass Company was founded by Augustus H. Heisey, in 1896 in Newark, Ohio, Mr. Heisey
had already had much experience in the business. Aside from marrying one Susan Duncan, daughter of George Duncan of Duncan Glass fame,
he had worked at King Glass Company of Pittsburgh and the Ripley Glass Company. In 1893 after spending some time out west, Heisey
decided to open his own glass company. The first Heisey Glass Company products were pressed glass pieces, but they were made in such
a manner that they appeared more expensive than they actually were. Flawless glass combined with a high finish and firepolishing,
the glass appears as brilliant as crystal and is known as elegant glass to collectors. However, most Heisey glass is easily identifiable
by its marking.
Heisey is also known for having been one of the first companies to adopt a nationally and internationally recognized trademark symbol.
Introduced in the early 1900’s the Heisey trademark has always been an H within a diamond. Although some early creations had a paper
label, most Heisey glass are impressed with the logo. The logo is usually about .25 inches long and is normally at the base or stem
of the piece. However, the logo is not the only thing that makes Heisey Glass so attractive to collectors. Heisey Glass also produced
some of the finest etched glass of the early to mid 20th Century. Their Orchid Pattern is probably one of the most recognizable and
popular patterns among collectors.
Quartzsite Arizona a Collector’s Gem
Heading to Arizona anytime soon? You should make it a point to stop in the town of Quartzsite
for a very unique experience. Boasting over one million visitors each year this tiny town that was founded in 1856 by Charles
Tyson is the mecca for gem and mineral collectors and enthusiasts. Originally an old fort that had been built to protect his
water supply from attack by Native Americans, this town has endured a few name changes and was a stop for a stage coach route; but
no name is more prominent than its current name. For more information please visit their website.
Talk about keeping it in the family, a descendent of Napoleon’s brother recently sold at auction a gold encrusted
sabre that once belonged to the French emperor to another member of the family for a mere $6.4 million. This set the record
for not only a souvenir from the great emperor, but also for a sword and weapon. The gold encrusted saber is reported to have
been forged by Nicolas Noel Boutet, was highly decorated and included the head of Jupiter on the end of the handle. In 1978,
the sabre was classified as a French Historical Monument.
On Thursday, Christie’s reported that a record was set for an artwork of a living artist. Selling for more than $15.6 million,
the portrait by Lucian Freud, who was born in 1922 and now makes his home Britain, was of his friend Bruce Bernard. The previous
record price, set in February, was for a painting by a living artist was by Peter Doig titled White Canoe. Lucian Freud paintings
are very collectible and can be found in the collections of many of the rich and famous including John McEnroe and Queen Elizabeth.
On Friday, Sotheby’s auction house announced that a Damien Hirst piece, Lullaby Spring, broke the same record and sold for over $19.1
million. Hirst was a leading member of a group called the Young British Artists of the ‘90’s and is best known for his controversial
art, which in a lot of cases has included formaldehyde and dead animals. This particular piece of was a stainless steel cabinet
with 6,136 handcrafted multi-colored pills.
Recent Estate Sale Find – West Virginia Glass
Recently we purchased a Pitcher and Tumbler set from a local estate sale. Although
we have seen these pieces before, we had never seen it in the beautiful lavender color and the price was right so we purchased it. Upon doing some research, we discovered that the pitcher and tumbler were made by the West Virginia Glass Company in the 1950’s and
the pattern was known as Blendo; frosted glass over clear with a gold or gilt trim. This particular set was in such good condition
and the color was so phenomenal that we knew it would pique a lot of interest at our upcoming shows. We were correct on all
counts, after many people stopped to look and admire the set; we sold it within hours of putting it out.
