tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86823794492419150012023-11-15T07:31:01.931-08:00Eclectic Dealer / Paula Gerendasi - AmatoI am an online seller under the ID's EclecticDealer; Eclecticdealer-Paula; EclecticDealer's; Eclectic Dealer, Paula Amato. I currently have a booth on Bonanzle, a store on ECrater and previously had stores located on Ebay and Vendio.
I am a Twitter / Tweeter and also can be found on the Laurelton, NY siteEclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-25174009927403188172013-09-18T14:03:00.001-07:002013-09-18T14:03:43.505-07:00Salvador Dali Brooch Sells for Nearly $150,000<div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt;"><b>It's
certainly eye-catching - but it's price might bring a tear to your
eye.</b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt;">This
three-inch long piece of jewellery in the shape of a human eye, designed by
surrealist artist Salvador Dali, has just been sold for £96,000 ($150.000.00)</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt;"><b>Called
The Eye of Time, the exquisite brooch is made from diamonds and platinum that
form the eye lids and a small gold watch in blue enamel that makes up the eye
ball.</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt;"><b> </b></span></span></div>
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<img alt="The original brooch, made by famed jewellers Alemany & Ertman in New York, was a gift for Dali's wife in 1949" class="blkBorder" height="417" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/07/31/article-2381685-1B0F97F0000005DC-784_634x417.jpg" style="border-bottom: rgb(0,0,0) 1px solid; border-left: rgb(0,0,0) 1px solid; border-right: rgb(0,0,0) 1px solid; border-top: rgb(0,0,0) 1px solid; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="634" />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt;"><b>The
original brooch, made by famed jewellers Alemany & Ertman in New York, was a
gift for Dali's wife in 1949.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt;"><b>But, with
the artist's permission, the company made several copies from his original
designs.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt;"><b>The one
for sale was bought by an Italian man in the 1950s and it has been passed down
through his family ever since.</b></span></span></div>
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<b><img alt="The artists did not design that many pieces of jewellery" class="blkBorder" height="423" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/07/31/article-2381685-098B8FD4000005DC-510_306x423.jpg" style="border-bottom: rgb(0,0,0) 1px solid; border-left: rgb(0,0,0) 1px solid; border-right: rgb(0,0,0) 1px solid; border-top: rgb(0,0,0) 1px solid; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="306" />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 7.5pt;"><b>The artists did not
design that many pieces of jewellery</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt;"><b>The piece
went up for sale at auctioneers Dreweatts of Newbury, Berkshire, and had been
expected to sell for £12,000.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt;"><b>But such
was the interest in the extremely rare item, went for eight times that amount
and was bought by a private watch collector from the US.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt;"><b>James
Nicholson, head of jewellery at Dreweatts, said: 'Privately owned pieces of this
calibre which have never been on the market before arouse considerable interest
globally.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt;"><b>'The Dali
brooch is a fantastic piece. He didn't design that many pieces of jewellery,
probably about 20 in all, so whenever one comes on the market it is very
rare.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt;"><b>'We don't
know how many pieces like this were made but this is the first time one of this
large size has come up for auction.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt;"><b>'I knew
there would be a lot of interest in the piece but because it was so unusual
there was no precedent for me to go on.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt;"><b>'It was
very exciting in the sale room and moved very, very fast, everybody was shouting
down the telephones trying to get their bids in, it was an electric
atmosphere.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt;"><b>'There
were people bidding from all over the world, from the USA, Europe, the UK and
the far East.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt;"><b>'There
was a lot of interest because some collectors specifically look for artist's
jewellery.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt;"><b>'Eventually it sold to a private collector in the US and the
vendor was absolutely thrilled and amazed.'</b></span></span></div>
Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-49495997679064525022013-09-08T11:09:00.001-07:002013-09-08T11:09:45.360-07:00 Tips for Online Diamond Buying<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b>Consumers have more options than ever when it comes to buying diamonds. In addition to jewelry retailers, you can shop conveniently from your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Many of the same considerations apply whether you’re buying a diamond in person or online, but GIA has a few additional tips for shopping online that will help you click the “Buy Now” button with confidence.<span id="more-2633" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b>As with any significant purchase, start by researching your options. Educate yourself about the <a href="http://gia4cs.gia.edu/EN-US/the-diamond-4-cs.htm" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #72562a; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="GIA 4Cs of Diamond Quality">diamond 4Cs</a> and determine which diamond qualities are most important to you. This decision, along with your budget, will help guide your online diamond buying.</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://4csblog.gia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/FB_Icon_V2_watermark.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #72562a; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="GIA Diamond 4Cs Spokes" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2743" height="247" src="http://4csblog.gia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/FB_Icon_V2_watermark-300x300.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="247" /></a><b>When shopping online, make sure you know exactly what you are buying. Some sites show diamonds with a range in carat weight, color or clarity. To ensure you know the value of the stone you’re purchasing, ask for specifics on its 4Cs, not a range. Then, make sure the stone comes with an independent <a href="http://gia4cs.gia.edu/EN-US/gr-diamond-grading-reports.htm" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #72562a; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="GIA Diamond Grading Report">diamond grading report</a>, like those provided by GIA, which provides an unbiased analysis of the diamond’s 4Cs. For added security, you can verify a GIA grading report using the online <a href="http://www.gia.edu/report-check-landing" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #72562a; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="GIA Report Check">Report Check</a> tool, which will confirm that the information on the report matches the GIA database.</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b>Once you’ve decided on the diamond that’s right for you, there are a few quick checks to do on the company you’re buying from. You’ll want to know:</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px 30px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b>• How long has the company been in business?<br />• What kind of reviews has the company received?<br />• Does it belong to any jewelry trade associations? (Associations often have strict requirements around quality and service)<br />• Do they offer secure transactions?<br />• How is their customer service?<br />• What is their return policy?<br />• How will the diamond be shipped? Is the shipment insured? Is signature required for delivery?</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b>There are a few more considerations when buying from online auction sites. In addition to the questions listed above, you’ll also want to look into:</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px 30px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b>• Seller feedback & comments<br />• Is payment processed through a secure service such as PayPal or PayDirect?<br />• Is the seller located in the US?<br />• Is the seller providing sufficient evidence of the diamond’s authenticity? (photographs, diamond grading report)<br />Working with foreign sellers, or using cash, check or money order for your purchase, can greatly reduce your options for recourse in case of a fraudulent sale.</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b>Once your beautiful diamond is in-hand, have an independent appraiser confirm that it matches the description and accompanying paperwork, and provide you with the value of the diamond for insurance purposes.</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><a href="http://4csblog.gia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/laser_inscription.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #72562a; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="laser_inscription" class="alignright size-full wp-image-2745" height="136" src="http://4csblog.gia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/laser_inscription.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="131" /></a>You can also choose to have it laser-inscribed with a permanent and microscopic marking on the gem’s girdle (in some cases the diamond comes with an inscription, or it can be requested at the time of purchase). <a href="http://www.gia.edu/gem-lab-service/diamond" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #72562a; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="GIA Diamond Services">GIA can inscribe a diamond</a> with its unique GIA report number, or a personal message or symbol, for identification.</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b>While the vast majority of online diamond purchases go smoothly, there are cases of false or misleading online sales. US-based consumers have options for recourse, including reporting the website to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or pursuing the case in civil court. Foreign-based retailers that do not have a physical presence in the US, are, for the most part, insulated from recourse, and attempts to recover funds can be very frustrating. However, by following the recommendations above, you greatly increase your chances for a stress-free and secure online diamond purchase.</b></div>
Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-40229411161327954482012-12-05T22:00:00.000-08:002012-12-06T11:05:22.222-08:00THE DUC D’ORLÉANS BREGUET SYMPATHIQUE BREGUET<br />
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Rare Breguet Clock Sells </span><span style="font-size: small;">For Record $6.8 Million</span></h1>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TQoa2gN7-XE/UMA0zZbZYuI/AAAAAAAAAIA/GoIYSCkEVqw/s1600/Nov12SympathiqueClock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TQoa2gN7-XE/UMA0zZbZYuI/AAAAAAAAAIA/GoIYSCkEVqw/s320/Nov12SympathiqueClock.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
<b>The Duc d’Orléans Breguet Sympathique clock set a new auction record for any clock and the second-highest price for any timepiece at auction when it sold for more than $6.8 million at Sotheby’s New York Important Watches & Clocks Auction on Tuesday.</b></div>
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<b>The distinguished example of the exceptionally rare Sympathique clocks, which helped cement the fame and renown of French watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet, was last offered at auction in Sotheby’s 1999 when it sold for $5.7 million. </b><br />
<b>This price has remained the auction record for any clock until Tuesday’s sale.</b></div>
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<b>Invented by Breguet in 1795 and presented to the public for the first time at the Exposition Nationale des Produits de l’Industrie in 1798, </b><br />
<b>the sympathique clock was a system consisting of a clock and a watch. </b><br />
<b>The clock was designed to hold the watch in its cradle, where it was </b><br />
<b>automatically adjusted and rewound. The term sympathique was chosen by </b><br />
<b>Breguet to express the notion of harmony and concord.</b></div>
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<b>The Important Watches & Clocks auction totaled more than $11.6 million marking the highest result for a various-owners sale of watches and clocks at Sotheby’s New York, the auction house said in a statement. In addition to the Sympathique, both vintage and modern wristwatches by Patek Philippe </b><br />
<b>dominated the day’s top results, led by a rare 46 mm 18K Yellow Gold </b><br />
<b>Center Seconds Wristwatch, 1955, Ref 2512/1 that achieved $962,500, </b><br />
<b>more than five times its high estimate of $150,000.</b></div>
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Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-19265074080957933432012-05-17T08:35:00.002-07:002012-05-17T08:35:41.556-07:00Watch Out For Altered Rubies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>There is a new process that improves the look of rubies. Average stones with cracks and flaws are being "enhanced" by being filled with lead glass. Doctored stones are worth about 80 percent less than natural stones. There are reports that antique and vintage rings have been repaired with these less valuable rubies. In addition, most rubies have been enhanced with heat in recent years to improve color or fill cracks—a practice that has found acceptance in the market. But any process that makes a gem seem more valuable than it is should be explained to a buyer. Lead-glass-filled stones need special care. Lemon juice and other solvents make them turn white. There are laboratory tests that reveal the glass filler, so if you plan to buy or repair ruby jewelry, ask for a guarantee backed by a testing certificate.
</b>Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-51200271032282524432012-01-23T15:02:00.000-08:002012-01-23T15:02:51.022-08:0055 of the Rudest Things Rude New Yorkers Do<b>55. Use a plus sign instead of spelling out the "and" in the title of your famous New York-based travel magazine that declares entire cities of people rude.<br />
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54. Take someone else's umbrella from the umbrella bucket WHEN IT'S RAINING. Leaving that broken-ass one that you bought off the street does not absolve you of this sin.<br />
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53. Fail to have your Metrocard/cash or credit card at the ready in the 10-person line of people waiting to swipe their Metrocards/buy something.<br />
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52. Insist on ordering your bagels with the bagel-part scooped out. Go buy a fucking cracker.<br />
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51. Break up with someone on a Post-It note using writing that resembles that of a psychopath. Neatness counts! <br />
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50. Kill squirrels and pigeons.<br />
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49. Feed squirrels and pigeons.<br />
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48. Tell everyone you don't own a television and instead just watch "important things" on Hulu all day. Be smug about this.<br />
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47. Have loud sex in your apartment so as to be overheard by your neighbors.<br />
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46. Move furniture in your apartment late at night so as to be overheard by your neighbors.<br />
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45. Create more rude New Yorkers.<br />
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44. Make people who have kids feel bad. Cuz they might CRY.<br />
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43. Make gender normative statements about a child's hat.<br />
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42. Never call, text, IM, BBM, gchat, Skype, Facebook, or DM again after the first date.<br />
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41. Call, et al, after the first date, repeatedly, until the recipient of your madness must a) confront you directly or b) take out a restraining order. Then Facebook friend 'em!<br />
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40. Give someone bed bugs.<br />
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39. Smoke really fragrant weed without offering the neighbors any.<br />
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38. Push your way into the subway car without letting others out first.<br />
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37. Cling to the subway pole with your buttocks, back, entire body, or peanut-butter-and-jelly- or influenza-sticky hands.<br />
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36. Let your dog defecate on the streets (and fail to pick it up).<br />
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35. Pee outside.This is particularly rude near churches, doorsteps, and humans, unless requested explicitly.<br />
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34. Tip poorly.<br />
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33. Publicly shame your noob out-of-town relatives for tipping poorly and for anything else said noobs get up to. They can't help it.<br />
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32. Fail to wash your hands after using the bathroom. Be really into shaking people's hands.<br />
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31. Accept rounds purchased by others but never offer to pay for one yourself.<br />
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30. Shout loud things that nobody wants to hear and are not even remotely helpful or pleasant in public and/or private places while also taking your pants off.<br />
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29. Allow your cell phone to ring at the Philharmonic. Chosen ringtone: Marimba.<br />
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28. Walk around with your clothing falling off, revealing certain fleshy parts that no one is interested in viewing.<br />
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27. Sing in public, badly. Also, listen to your terribly curated music so loudly that everyone else can hear it, even though you have terrible taste in music and you're not all that great at curating, either.<br />
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26. Walk improperly. This includes oblivious, overt texting while walking as well as spitting.Don't spit. Don't "store" your used gum on the ground either. That karma will find you when you least expect it. <br />
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25. Be a cabbie; refuse to go to Brooklyn.<br />
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24. Be a cab passenger; vomit in cabs.<br />
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23. Sneak into a second movie after you've only paid for the first. Actually, nevermind. This is not rude, this is good business sense.<br />
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22. Forget to say thank you in whichever written or verbal format is deemed necessary by the generosity received. Forget to say thank you back. Forget to say thank you to the thank you's thank you. Die and go to a hell that is full of stationary and pens that are forever running out of ink. <br />
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21. Close talk.<br />
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20. Take up more than your allotted space in this world.<br />
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19. Claim to have to work when you actually don't.<br />
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18. Hold obnoxiously themed baby showers and bachelorette parties that you insist your friends not only attend, at their expense, but also bring gifts to.<br />
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17. Be snarky about other people's important life events.<br />
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16. Claim that you are poor when you make $700,000 a year<br />
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15. Up-stream. <br />
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14. Drink the milk directly out of the container.<br />
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13. Steal someone's gross lunch from the gross office fridge. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?<br />
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12. Act like elderly people don't have a right to exist in this city.<br />
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11. Cheat.<br />
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10. Lie. Unless it makes someone feel better <br />
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9. Cut the wallet out of drunk people's pockets when they pass out while riding the subway.<br />
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8. Pass out on the subway and rely on the kindness of strangers, whom you may or may not have drooled on, to protect you from the lush workers.<br />
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7. Throw pornographic pictures down at the people having the party on the patio below because they are being too loud and having too much fun and it's SO RUDE they didn't invite you.<br />
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6. Have a loud party on your patio and fail to invite the neighbors. When pornographic pictures rain down from above, shout "Fuck you!" and give every window you see the finger. Make it the unmanicured one.<br />
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5. Chuckle, even inaudibly, when the subway door slams in the face of that loser.<br />
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4. Fail to hold the door for the person directly behind you, especially if he/she is disabled, weak, ill, old, holding a large object, a child, or pregnant. If he or she is texting and not paying attention while walking into the door, do whatever the heck you want.<br />
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3. Make incessant fun of Thought Catalog.<br />
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2. Think you are better than other people because you are a New Yorker. <br />
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1. Claim that New Yorkers are rude.</b><br />
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from The Village VoiceEclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-20732336429638879092012-01-19T10:43:00.000-08:002012-01-19T10:45:51.247-08:00If you plan to sell some gold, it helps to know what "meltdown value" is.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O3zRVRXDcWI/Txhje_ej4_I/AAAAAAAAAHE/aYhH9ANrL74/s1600/gold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="98" width="120" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O3zRVRXDcWI/Txhje_ej4_I/AAAAAAAAAHE/aYhH9ANrL74/s400/gold.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>If you plan to sell some gold, it helps to know what "meltdown value" is. It has a value determined by its weight and purity. The lowest price you should take for items made of gold is the actual value when it is melted and formed into bars of 24 karat gold.<br />
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The gold price listed in newspapers or online is given in troy ounces. Grocery and postal scales measure in avoirdupois ounces. Troy ounces are about 10% heavier. Your jewelry will probably be marked 14K or with another indicator of the purity of the metal. Our calculator ( http://www.kovels.com/Gold-Calculator/gold-value-estimator.html )does the arithmetic to measure the value changes necessary to go from 10K, 12K, 14K, or 18K gold to 24K, the gold that is made into bars. The only thing the buyer is paying for is the gold. Any mounted stones or other metals do not count and an adjustment is made for them.<br />
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Buyers pay a little less than full value because they sell the gold to be melted and, of course, they want to make a profit. Just fill in the blanks and click to learn the value of your items.<br />
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Note:<br />
The design, maker, and valuable gems that might be in your jewelry could add value, so a piece may be worth more to someone buying and selling antiques. So ask any local dealer or auction house what they would pay before you consider meltdown value.</b><br />
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This was all proved by The KovelsEclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-40195521702531265312011-12-15T11:30:00.000-08:002011-12-15T11:30:15.133-08:00Unpaid Winning Bids Change Terms of AuctionsThe most expensive Chinese work of art, sold in November, 2010, in London for $83 million, had not yet been paid for according to a Bloomberg News article. It is one of many unpaid for purchases by the Chinese bidders. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WIwXTUt8J6o/TupKgsq9lEI/AAAAAAAAAGw/KH4aLJ7hDa0/s1600/vase-chinese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="275" width="188" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WIwXTUt8J6o/TupKgsq9lEI/AAAAAAAAAGw/KH4aLJ7hDa0/s400/vase-chinese.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Some auction houses now ask for deposits before the auction for very expensive items. This delayed or non-payment habit reaches into lower than the million dollar range and auction houses tell us that they are having trouble collecting for some items selling at $100,000 or less.Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-26453949438008263702011-12-08T20:31:00.000-08:002011-12-08T20:32:52.665-08:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-25K7hlN2frw/TuGNZ5-hFAI/AAAAAAAAAGc/95GMYH3cLAI/s1600/pepsi.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-25K7hlN2frw/TuGNZ5-hFAI/AAAAAAAAAGc/95GMYH3cLAI/s400/pepsi.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683979680917558274" /></a>If Pepsi-Cola is your favorite, how about bidding for a 2 1/8-inch brooch shaped like a Pepsi bottle. It's a gold, ruby, emerald, and diamond piece of jewelry that belonged to Joan Crawford. Some of her belongings are being auctioned Dec. 7 by Doyle New York. <br /><br />Topped by an accented ruby bottle cap and set throughout with emeralds and diamonds, this tiny Pepsi bottle brooch owned by Joan Crawford would make a great lapel pin, according to Louis LeB. Webre of auction house Doyle New York. <br /><br /> Photo Courtesy of Doyle New YorkEclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-15918238205802715442011-11-22T17:25:00.000-08:002011-11-22T17:26:49.177-08:00Record Set for a Folk Art Painting<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0YomIPHTrTQ/TsxLpgLYUEI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/Wrw5Jy15smw/s1600/painting-folk-art-abigail-rose-portrait-si110511-0293-s.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 259px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0YomIPHTrTQ/TsxLpgLYUEI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/Wrw5Jy15smw/s400/painting-folk-art-abigail-rose-portrait-si110511-0293-s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677996406591737922" /></a><br /><br /><br />A 1786 folk art painting of Abigail Rose sold at a Skinner auction in Boston for a record $1,271,000. It broke the previous record for an American folk art painting, $1,248,000, set at Christie's in 2007.Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-61558865640335146072011-10-11T20:03:00.000-07:002011-10-11T20:06:52.965-07:00The 10 Stupidest American Holidays<h4>Columbus Day</h4> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 17px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px">The problem with Columbus Day isn't just Columbus himself (though celebrating him is dicey), or the Italian-Americans who enjoy celebrating one of their cultural heroes. The problem is that not everyone gets today off. You know just what I'm talking about, as you sit in your cubicle reading this because half of the people you need to talk to to get your job done have today off. Schools are out, the government is closed, but your office is open. That means you have to find a place to put the kids all day and listen to people talk about their long weekend plans while you have to work and hope it rains and ruins everyone's free day off. That's quite a legacy to leave, Columbus.</p> <h4>Flag Day</h4> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 17px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px">Do we really need a whole day to celebrate our flag? It's great that we have a symbol for our country, but why go out of our way to recognize it in some way? Every other country has a damn flag, it's not like having a flag makes us special. And just look at our flag. It's kind of a design nightmare. It's got all these bars and stripes and different colors and strange angles. As far as flags go, ours is a little cluttered. Maybe every year on Flag Day we should have a design competition to come up with something new? I'd support that.</p> <h4>Father's Day</h4> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 17px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px">This is such pandering. It's like Gillette and the American Tie Federation saw how much success Hallmark and 1-800-FLOWERS had with Mother's Day and decided to horn in on the action. Most dads could care less about getting presents or attention or brunch or anything. They probably appreciate that you call them, that's nice. Either that or your father was an asshole who treated you badly and divorced your mother for some new bitch with kids of her own and he doesn't even really talk to you that much anymore. What an asshole! Who needs to be reminded of that?</p> <h4>Groundhog Day</h4> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 17px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px">Who the hell even came up with this holiday, and what does it even mean? On February 2, there's this critter in Pennsylvania who comes out of his hole and either sees his shadow and get scared and something happens or he doesn't see his shadow and then nothing happens. No one understands it. Not even the news stations that cover it every year. There are more rules to this than Ultimate Frisbee. It's supposed to make spring come more quickly or something. It doesn't. It's February! We still have two more months of cold. How about giving us "Take a Trip to Florida" day? That's all I really want in February.</p> <h4>Patriot's Day</h4> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 17px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px">This is a day that is only celebrated in Massachusetts, our second Least worst state, but it doesn't mean they need a whole day off just to themselves. The Patriots, they're good and all, but they're not all that. They haven't won a Super Bowl in six years! Look at Tom Brady these days. He's making more headlines for his hair and loving Uggs and being a prolific babydaddy than he is for making passes and touchdowns. Stop being so cocky, Boston, your team isn't that important.</p> <h4>Arbor Day</h4> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 17px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px">A day for the planting and caring of trees? Really? What, have we been hijacked by Greenpeace? Do you have to hug the trees after you plant them? And what good are trees if they won't take care of themselves? You want trees to sit in your yard or on the street or wherever and just grow and be strong and not have to be tended to like some blooming invalid, right? What happens when the GOP finds out about this and tries to shut it down because it's some pro-environmental action? Won't they try to do the same thing to Arbor Day that they did to ACORN? Too many questions!</p> <h4>Talk Like a Pirate Day</h4> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 17px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px">Yes, mateys, this is stupid. And if you keep trying to make it happen, you're going to have to walk the plank.</p> <h4>Confederate Memorial Day</h4> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 17px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px">Ostensibly this is a day to commemorate all the lives lost by the Confederacy during the Civil War. While people dying in war is always sad, these people were defending, you know, slavery. So, um. Yeah. Remember that.</p> <h4>Casimir Pulaski Day</h4> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 17px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px">This is a holiday in March that is celebrated in the Chicago area, mostly by the large Polish population. That's fine, but Pulaski—a Revolutionary War hero—also has a federal holiday in October. I don't want to discount the great things this gentleman did to win our freedom, but does he really need <em>two</em> holidays? I mean, the only other person who gets two holidays is Jesus. Oprah doesn't even have one. Do something about that, Chicago.</p> <h4>Mardi Gras</h4> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 17px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px">Alright, Mardi Gras in New Orleans is fine. If you want to go and wade through streets paved in vomit and bad decisions and show off your body parts, be my guest. Actually, be New Orleans' guest. If you want to do it anywhere else, then you're just a drunk who is looking for an excuse to get shitfaced on a Tuesday. How about going to celebrate your first day of sobriety at a meeting instead? Then you'll have a nice, easy to remember anniversary to celebrate every year. If drinking a hurricane on Fat Tuesday means that much to you, then take your tourism dollars down to New Orleans. They'd be happy to take them.</p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 17px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px"><br /></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 17px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px">thanks to GAWKER</p>Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-83788087615962617592011-09-28T19:14:00.000-07:002011-09-28T19:28:02.332-07:00Reality TV Shows for Collectors<strong><br />ABC The Great Big American Auction, in production<br /><br />A & E Storage Wars, Wednesdays 10 p.m.<br /><br />BBC Antiques Roadshow UK, day varies, 11 p.m. (reruns)<br /><br />Discovery American Treasures, Tuesdays, 7 p.m.<br />Auction Kings, Tuesdays 10 p.m.<br />Oddities, Thursdays 10:30 p.m.<br /><br />Fox Buried Treasure, Wednesdays 8 p.m.<br /><br />HGTV Cash & Cari, Sundays 7:30 p.m.<br />Cash in the Attic, Wednesdays 8 p.m.<br /><br />History American Pickers, Mondays 9 p.m.<br />American Restoration, Fridays 10 p.m.<br />Pawn Stars, Mondays 10 p.m.<br /><br />Lifetime Picker Sisters, Tuesdays 10 p.m.<br /><br />National Geographic Auction Packed, Tuesdays 8 p.m.<br /><br />NBC It's Worth What?! Tuesdays 8 p.m.<br /><br />PBS Antiques Roadshow, Mondays 8 p.m. (check local listings)<br />History Detectives, Tuesdays 8 p.m. (check local listings)<br /><br />Spike Auction Hunters, Tuesdays 10 p.m.<br /><br />Syfy Hollywood Treasure, Wednesdays 10 p.m.<br /><br />TLC Auctioneer$, Saturdays 10 p.m.<br /><br />My Collection Obsession, in production<br /><br />Tru TV Hardcore Pawn, Tuesdays 9 p.m.<br /><br />Network TBD Antique Warriors, in production </strong>Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-6640220393000127352011-07-13T13:39:00.000-07:002011-07-13T13:39:19.709-07:00<strong>Jewelry dating from ancient Egypt to modern day will be displayed in the new jewelry gallery at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The exhibit, 'Jewelry, Gems and Treasures: Ancient to Modern,' will run from July 19, 2011, to November 1, 2012. Of special interest is the studio jewelry selected from the Daphne Farago Collection of about 650 pieces. The collection is the most complete ever assembled of studio jewelry. It was donated to the museum in 2006 and 150 pieces were exhibited in 2007-08. It has been in storage since then. The collection includes jewelry by Alexander Calder, Man Ray, Sam Kramer, Art Smith, Harry Bertoia, Margaret de Patta, Ed Wiener, Betty Cooke and many other studio artists.</strong>Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-1896952373671082642011-01-25T12:03:00.000-08:002011-01-25T12:21:32.413-08:00A $5 Million Desk and a Chair From Salem Made a Record-Setting Pair at Christie's<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/TT8wp6UXb4I/AAAAAAAAAEo/aJx9p-Hb3DA/s1600/deskandchair.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 302px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566221161040670594" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/TT8wp6UXb4I/AAAAAAAAAEo/aJx9p-Hb3DA/s400/deskandchair.jpg" /></a><br /><div><br /><a href="http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/36801/a-5-million-desk-and-a-chair-from-salem-made-a-record-setting-pair-at-christies/?printer_friendly=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.artinfo.com/email_friend?s=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" rel="nofollow"></a><br /><a class="enlarged-image" onclick="javascript:popup_display_image_direct('/news/enlarged_image/36801/235842' ); return false;" href="http://www.artinfo.com/news/enlarged_image/36801/235842"></a><br />Courtesy Christie's Images LTD 2011<br />This Chippendale block-and-shell carved and figured mahogany bureau, attributed to John Goddard, sold for $5,682,500 at auction.<br /><a class="enlarged-image" onclick="javascript:popup_display_image_direct('/news/enlarged_image/36801/235905' ); return false;" href="http://www.artinfo.com/news/enlarged_image/36801/235905"></a><br />Courtesy Christie's Images LTD 2011<br />This Federal-era carved mahogany side chair that craftsman Samuel McIntire sold for $662,500.</div><br /><div><br />NEW YORK— The recently wobbly American furniture and folk art segment of the auction market received a big jolt of confidence on Friday when an 18th-century Chippendale block-and-shell mahogany desk attributed to Newport, Rhode Island, cabinetmaker John Goddard, sold for a whopping $5,682,500 at Christie's. Dating from circa 1765, the figured knee-hole desk — or bureau — rocketed past presale expectations of $700-900,000 and easily crushed the result made during its last auction appearance, when it sold for $940,000 at Sotheby’s New York in January 2005. </div><br /><div><br />Multiple bidders chased the piece to the $3 million threshold, where the battle was taken over by American furniture dealers C.L. Prickett and William Samaha, both known for having deep-pocketed clients, who drove it to the $5 million hammer price (before the hefty buyer’s premium). Prickett was the winner, sending a handsome return to the table's Midwestern seller, considering that the piece had appreciated sixfold in that many years' time.</div><br /><div><br />Though it stands as a record in American furniture for the bureau form, and the fourth priciest piece of American furniture to sell at auction, it lags far behind the most expensive ever sold, the so-called Nicholas Brown Chippendale block-and-shell desk and bookcase, also made in Newport in circa 1760-1770, that fetched a staggering $12.1 million back at Christie’s New York in June 1989. </div><br /><div><br />During the 18th century, the Rhode Island port city was a bustling hub, flush with rich merchants, and cabinetmakers there had the pick of the finest imported woods available. Goddard was one of the best-known American craftsmen from that period. </div><br /><div><br />The record bureau carries the "attributed to" tag since the piece isn't signed by Goddard, but it was undoubtedly made by him, since he presented it to his daughter, Catherine Goddard on the occasion of her marriage. It stayed in her family through several generations of descendants until it was sold by the maker's great-great-granddaughter in the early 1900s. A surviving handwritten label affixed to the top drawer of the table indicates that the elaborately carved and appointed desk was a wedding gift. </div><br /><div><br />"This desk bears all the unique characteristics and quality of construction that make Newport furniture of this era so highly prized among collectors," said John Hays, the deputy Christie's Americas chairman who took the sale. </div><br /><div><br />The Goddard desk was the sole lot of the 280 offered that hit the seven figure mark. The entire sale made $12,766,625, with a buy-in rate by lot of 20 percent and, by value, six percent.<br />Another record of sorts was realized by a Federal-era carved mahogany side chair that craftsman <em>Samuel McIntire</em> is believed to have finished for Salem resident Elias Hasket Derby in the last decade of the 18th century. It made $662,500 against a puny $30-50,000 presale estimate, a record for any piece of Federal furniture. </div><br /><div></div>Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-30735379925668104192011-01-20T10:23:00.000-08:002011-01-20T10:31:24.430-08:00Damaged Warhol Painting Gets Top Dollar<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/TTh_bHqFPfI/AAAAAAAAAEg/Pz2WC8L8qrY/s1600/mao.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 332px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 325px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564337443504995826" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/TTh_bHqFPfI/AAAAAAAAAEg/Pz2WC8L8qrY/s400/mao.jpg" /></a><br /><div><strong>Collectors rarely shoot holes in expensive art, but Dennis Hopper, the actor and art collector, thought his Andy Warhol screenprint of Mao Zedong looked dangerous one dark night. He shot two bullet holes in the picture. Warhol thought it amusing and signed one "warning shot" and the other "bullet hole." The picture, estimated at $20,000 to $30,000, sold for $302,500 at a Christie's auction on January 12, 2011. It is a one-of-a-kind because of the artist-signed bullet holes, so the "damage" didn't lower the value.</strong></div>Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-31266046416387549082010-12-16T08:57:00.000-08:002010-12-16T09:01:29.305-08:00"Save Our History" Auction Records SetIt was "save our history" week at New York auctions last week, with record prices set at Sotheby's for three items:<br /><br />1) An original copy of the Lincoln Emancipation Proclamation sold for $3,778,500, the highest price ever paid at auction for a U.S. Presidential document. The 1863 document that declared the slaves were "forever free" was signed by President Abraham Lincoln. The copy that sold, one of 48 originals signed by Lincoln, belonged to Robert F. Kennedy, who bought it in 1964 while he was attorney general of the United States. The new owner remains anonymous.<br /><br />2) The guidon (the flag carried on a pole that identifies the unit going into battle) carried in Custer's 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn sold for $2,210,500. The swallowtail flag was found after the battle hidden under the body of a dead soldier. All other flags had been taken by the Indians. This flag belonged to the Detroit Musem of Art and had not been on display for over 80 years. The money will be used to buy items related to American Indians.<br /><br />3) The third bit of history was the document that listed the 13 rules for the game of basketball invented by James Naismith in 1891. It sold for the highest price of all, $4,338,500. The money from the sale will go to the Naismith International Basketball Foundation.Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-34056303336130233472010-12-05T14:17:00.000-08:002010-12-05T16:08:22.554-08:00Duchess of Windsor’s Jewels Sell for $12.5 Million<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/TPwRNZS57gI/AAAAAAAAAEM/-96mbfM1uWA/s1600/Cig%2BCase.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 199px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 149px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547327762839760386" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/TPwRNZS57gI/AAAAAAAAAEM/-96mbfM1uWA/s400/Cig%2BCase.jpg" /></a>An onyx and diamond panther bracelet (1952) by Cartier sold for 4.5 million pounds at auction. It had been estimated to fetch between 1 million pounds and 1.5 million pounds at Sotheby's during a sale of jewels formerly owned by the Duchess of Windsor.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/TPwRNRyVeJI/AAAAAAAAAEE/QOaiHAViY3U/s1600/Flam.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 199px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547327760824105106" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/TPwRNRyVeJI/AAAAAAAAAEE/QOaiHAViY3U/s400/Flam.jpg" /></a>A ruby, sapphire, emerald, citrine and diamond flamingo brooch designed by Jeanne Toussaint for Cartier sold for 1.7 million pounds with fees. The item had been estimated to sell for at least 1 million pounds at Sotheby's Nov. 30 auction in London of jewels owned by the Duchess of Windsor.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/TPwRNMOGyoI/AAAAAAAAAD8/TpZ9TqWOKBg/s1600/Pan%2BBrac.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547327759329970818" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/TPwRNMOGyoI/AAAAAAAAAD8/TpZ9TqWOKBg/s400/Pan%2BBrac.jpg" /></a>An 18-carat gold and gem-set cigarette case by Cartier. The item was given to the Duke of Windsor by the Duchess of Windsor as a Christmas present in 1935. Estimated at 150,000 pounds to 200,000 pounds, it was one of 20 pieces that formerly belonged to the Duchess that were sold by Sotheby's in London. The final price was 181,250 pounds<br /><strong>Jewels that King Edward VIII gave the woman for whom he abdicated sold for 8 million pounds ($12.5 million) in London tonight, almost twice the presale estimate, as collectors battled for works by Cartier.<br />The King of England stepped down in 1936 to become the Duke of Windsor and marry U.S. divorcee Wallis Simpson. Sotheby’s was offering 20 pieces that previously belonged to her. The Windsors were enthusiastic jewelry collectors. They commissioned pieces from Cartier and other makers during their courtship in the U.K. and married life in the Bahamas and France.<br />Eleven Cartier pieces were included in the sale that was estimated to raise as much as 4.2 million pounds at hammer prices. Among these was an onyx-and-diamond bracelet designed, with the Duke’s encouragement, in the form of a panther by Jeanne Toussaint for Cartier in 1952. This fetched 4.5 million pounds with fees. It was estimated to sell for between 1 million pounds and 1.5 million pounds, as was a flamingo-shaped brooch by Toussaint that the Duchess bought in 1940. The brooch fetched 1.7 million pounds with fees.<br />“The inscriptions tell the story of perhaps the greatest love story of the 20th century,” said David Bennett, Chairman of Sotheby’s Jewelry in Europe and the Middle East.<br />An unidentified owner was selling the items, which were acquired at Sotheby’s record “Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor” sale in Geneva in April 1987, the year after her death. At that auction, the panther bracelet and flamingo brooch sold for the equivalent of 860,082 pounds and 497,942 pounds, said Sotheby’s.<br />Charm Bracelet<br />The Duchess’s Cartier diamond charm bracelet today sold for 601,250 pounds against a low estimate of 350,000 pounds. The piece featured nine gem-set Latin crosses that commemorate moments of personal significance to the couple, including an assassination attempt on the King.<br />An 18-carat gold and gem-set cigarette case by Cartier inscribed with the words ``David from Wallis Christmas 1935'' and engraved with a map of holiday destinations they enjoyed together fetched 181,250 pounds. It was estimated to sell for at least 150,000 pounds.<br />All four lots went to telephone bidders. The flamingo was bought by the Collection Cartier and the panther was a record for a piece by Cartier, said Sotheby's. The panther was also the most expensive bracelet sold at auction.<br />Sotheby's 1987 Duchess of Windsor sale in Geneva fetched 75.4 million Swiss francs ($71.7 million), which remains an auction record for a single-owner collection of jewelry.<br />Today’s 20-lot sale carried an official low estimate of 2.9 million pounds, based on hammer prices. All the lots sold.</strong><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(Article by Scott Reyburn who writes about the art market for Muse, the arts and culture section of Bloomberg News.)</span>Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-61848657180297710222010-11-20T19:07:00.000-08:002010-11-20T19:27:52.586-08:00"Impressions" - World Travel Photo & Video Journal: Michelangelo - the architect! Behold the crowning jewel of Rome - the cupola of St. Peter's Basilica<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/TOiRroQG5SI/AAAAAAAAAD0/-F6nxIMoX0w/s1600/St.%2BPeter%2527s.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541839520204776738" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/TOiRroQG5SI/AAAAAAAAAD0/-F6nxIMoX0w/s400/St.%2BPeter%2527s.bmp" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://impressions-theeurotraveler.blogspot.com/2010/11/michelangelo-architect-behold-crowning.html">"Impressions" - World Travel Photo & Video Journal: Michelangelo - the architect! Behold the crowning jewel of Rome - the cupola of St. Peter's Basilica</a></div>Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-24750119849041414102010-05-02T09:03:00.000-07:002010-05-02T09:06:46.855-07:00The Amazing Cucumber<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/S92i6xGMNMI/AAAAAAAAADc/YSHZA89f3dE/s1600/cucumber.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466704653193065666" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/S92i6xGMNMI/AAAAAAAAADc/YSHZA89f3dE/s320/cucumber.jpg" /></a><br /><div><strong>This information was in The New York Times several weeks ago as part of their "Spotlight on the Home" series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.<br /><br />1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Folic</span> Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.<br /><br />2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">caffeinated</span> soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.<br /><br />3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.<br /><br />4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.<br /><br />5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">phytochemicals</span> in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!<br /><br />6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!<br /><br />7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explorers for quick meals to thwart off starvation.<br /><br />8.. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.<br /><br />9. Out of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">WD</span> 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!<br /><br />10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.<br /><br />11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">phytochemcials</span> will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.<br /><br />12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but it won't leave streaks and won't harm your fingers or fingernails while you clean.<br /><br />13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!<br /></strong><br /><br /></div>Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-14466507355459877952010-01-10T12:11:00.000-08:002010-01-24T06:40:28.728-08:00<span style="color:#000066;"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ffffff;">Great Buying and Collecting Tips for 2010</span></strong><br /><br /></span><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">In spite of the economy, antiques can still be fun and could be profitable. Here are some collectibles that seem ready to go up in price over the next few years. So go to garage sales, flea markets, malls, and shops and look around. Even if you don't spend any money, the walking is good exercise and it's an inexpensive way to spend the day. Good luck--go find a treasure and share these tips with your friends<br /><br />Chinese and Japanese furniture from the nineteenth century, whether dark wood or lacquered, is down in price and not selling well at auction. If you like it, buy it.<br /><br /><br /><br />Carved wooden sculptures made after 1920 are now low-priced, but they're starting to sell at top auction houses. Look for works at least 12 inches high by known artists like Hans Hagenauer.<br /><br /><br />Eighteenth-century Chippendale desks with dropdown fronts are very low-priced because they are not practical as computer desks. Some desks have an open area near the drawers in the dropdown section. It can store a laptop--a new idea that makes the desk usable again. Prices will go up.<br /><br /><br />Enameled metal ashtrays, bowls, vases, and jewelry were very much in style in the 1950s. They were made with colorful, often abstract, decorations. Out of style until the 1990s, they are still low-priced. Buy pieces that are covered front and back with enamel. If a copper back shows, it was probably made by an amateur. Buy signed pieces for best resale value.<br /><br /><br /><br />Japanese kaiju (meaning "strange beast" or "monster") toys have been the rage in Japan for over 25 years. (Think Godzilla.) Plastic and metal toys between 2 inches and several feet tall sell in Japan and in a few shops in other countries. Early kaiju toys are selling for hundreds of dollars. As interest grows, so will prices of newer toys--the way the prices of robot toys grew.<br /><br /><br />Look for old, working electrical household goods like electric fans, toasters, typewriters, telephones, television sets, computers, and even early handheld electronic games. There are collectors for all of these, usually people who like to repair the items. Often the old item is of little value until repaired, but prices are in the hundreds of dollars for the right make and model in working condition.<br /><br /><br />DIY works for antiques too. Dig your collection of bottles and it is bound to be profitable. Search attics, river beds, Grandma's house and garage sales for unrecognized treasures.<br /><br /><br />Furnish your garden and patio with antiques--planters, statues, pieces of old buildings, old flower pots, tools, fences, and even birdhouses and birdbaths. Prices have been going up for large statues, fountains, and urns. Gardening is another way to join the movement of "going green." A collectors garden should always have extra space near plants for collectibles.<br /><br /><br />Some things seem underpriced for no apparent reason: Glidden pottery, 1960s designer furniture made of metal, 1950s wooden costume jewelry, modern-design aluminum serving pieces.<br /><br /><br />Buy what you love. There is the joke of the damn fool theory of collecting: "If I was damn fool enough to buy this, there must be another damn fool who will buy it from me.<br /><br /><br />*Many thanks to Kovels for sending this to me and allowing me to share it</span></strong>Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-59166550308300432232009-08-21T13:01:00.000-07:002009-08-21T14:04:52.478-07:00The 3 Forms of Jewelry / Jewellery Plus More Terms<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/So8GpKjTLQI/AAAAAAAAAC0/ztYVdIqUB_Q/s1600-h/1comb4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 271px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372520184753106178" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/So8GpKjTLQI/AAAAAAAAAC0/ztYVdIqUB_Q/s320/1comb4.jpg" /></a><br /><div><strong>Photo #1:</strong> Earrings with glass and rhinestones, c.1980 by Givenchy. "Fruit salad" motif</div><div><strong>Photo #2:</strong> Sautoir necklace with dyed green chalcedony, diamonds, 18k yellow gold, and platinum c. 1970 by Van Cleef & Arpels. Makers mark "AV" for Vassort, Paris. </div><div><strong>Photo #3:</strong> Hinged bangle Bakelite bracelet, c. 1935-45. "Philadelphia" style with serrated design; butterscotch-colored Bakelite base with geometric design laminated fins.</div><div><strong>Photo #4:</strong> Brooch/pendant with carved opal, demantoid garnet, diamonds, 18k yellow gold, and platinum, c. 1890. A carved opal depicting a sea nymph with ocean waves by Marcus & Co.</div><div>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong>Fine Jewelry -</strong><br />is made with precious metals, karat gold and platinum. When a piece is set with gemstones only the precious gemstones ruby, sapphire, emerald or diamond will qualify to be designated as Fine.<br /><br /><strong>Bridge Jewelry -</strong><br />The name is quite descriptive. This type of jewelry is made of precious metals also - usually sterling silver. The gemstones used are semi-precious such as aquamarine, garnet, citrine, amethyst , turquoise, etc. Basically any gemstone that is not one of the ones listed under fine is considered to be semi-precious.<br />Bridge jewelry is so named because it is the bridge between fine jewelry and costume jewelry.<br /><br /><strong>Costume Jewelry -</strong><br />This type of jewelry is made with base metals that are gold, rhodium or silver plated and is normally set with faceted glass stones such as rhinestones or crystals.<br />The term “costume jewelry” didn’t really come into being until the 20th century. There are a couple of apocryphal tales. Some people say that Coco Chanel was the first to call it costume jewelry. Other people say Florenz Ziegfeld of Ziegfeld Follies coined the term. Another source says that the first time it was used was in the New York Times. It was sometime around 1920, after World War I, when the words “costume jewelry” were first used.<br /> <br /><strong>Some of the many costume jewelry terms are:</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Cabochon</strong><br />A stone that has a rounded, domed surface with no facets, or a paste with a flat back.<br /><br /><strong>Diamante</strong><br />Faceted, highly reflective crystal or glass stones cut to resemble gemstones.<br /><br /><strong>En trembling</strong><br />A piece of jewelry with a motif that is mounted on a tiny spring so that it trembles when the wearer moves.<br /><br /><strong>Jelly Belly</strong><br />An animal pin that has a clear Lucite or glass stone in the center for the "belly."<br /><br /><strong>Duette<br /></strong>A pin or brooch that can be worn as two separate pins or clipped together as one.<br />Gilding Process by which a base metal is plated with a very thin layer of gold.<br /><br /><strong>Paste<br /></strong>Crystal or ordinary glass with a high lead content, which has been cut and faceted to look like a gemstone. Also known as rhinestone or diamante.<br /><br /><strong>Vermeil</strong><br />Sterling silver plated with gold. Also called silver gilt or gold wash. During the 1940s, most American costume jewelry was made of vermeil sterling silver.<br /><br /><strong>Russian Gold plating</strong><br />A coppery gold matte finish first used on costume jewelry in movies in the 1940s because it reduced the glare produced by studio lights.<br /> </div>Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-82872850376393642342009-08-21T12:51:00.000-07:002009-08-27T11:57:59.457-07:00Jewelry / Jewellery Hallmarks: Gold & Silver<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/SpFzsRHiL2I/AAAAAAAAADU/KOW482cdSoY/s1600-h/1hallmark_symbols.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 106px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373203034776153954" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/SpFzsRHiL2I/AAAAAAAAADU/KOW482cdSoY/s320/1hallmark_symbols.jpg" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><div><div>Many people confuse hallmarks with makers' marks. A hallmark is nothing more than an indication of metal content, a guarantee of purity or quality, which may include a maker’s mark and other marks. Makers' marks alone are not considered hallmarks. Hallmarks are most often found on precious metal objects. Jewelry is exempted from hallmarking under certain circumstances. When a piece of jewelry is hallmarked, the marks can yield clues to country of origin and, sometimes, date of manufacture, as well as indicate the metal content of the piece.<br /><br /><br /><strong>American and European Fine Jewelry Hallmarks:</strong><br /><br /><p><strong>Gold Jewelry Hallmarks:</strong></p><p>Besides the usual American marks of 10k, 14k & 18k seen on gold jewelry numbers are also used to mark jewelry today. These marks are primarily found on jewelry of European origin.</p><p>.375 is 9kt gold, a mark often found on English jewelry.</p><p>.585 is 14kt jewelry (58.5% gold in the metal mix)</p><p>.750 is 18kt gold jewelry (75% gold in the mix)</p><br /><br /><p>PLAT or Platinum if the jewelry is 95% or more platinum. Other marks are Pt1000, 1000Pt or 1000Plat for pure platinum; or Pt950, 950Pt.</p><br /><p>If less than 95%, the mix is shown such as 10% irid plat, meaning the item is 90% platinum and 10% iridium (Iridium is actually more expensive than platinum. It is added for strength.). In addition, sometimes you will see imported items with 800 Plat, an 80% platinum alloy popular in a few foreign countries.</p><br /><p><strong>Silver Jewelry Hallmarks:</strong></p><br /><p>Sterling Silver jewelry is often marked 925 or .925 (92.5% fine silver in the mix)</p><p>Other European silver jewelry hallmarks include .800, .813, .875, .935, .980 and any other number of other variations that depend upon the amount of silver content.</p><br /><p>European countries also use a variety of other symbols to mark silver jewelry and non-jewelry items.</p><p>These marks can be used in conjunction with purity or other designations.</p><p>England: the walking lion Scotland: the thistle, before 1975 Russia: hammer and sickle in star mark Sweden: "S" (in hexagon indicating 830 silver or higher) France: a boar’s head (from 1838 to 1961) and outside of Paris, the crab mark.</p><br /><p><strong>Non-Gold Jewelry Hallmarks:</strong></p><p>HGE is Heavy Gold Electroplate (plated, not solid gold) .</p><p>Gold Filled is marked to show, by weight, an amount of a gold layer on the outside of base metal. For example, the mark 1/12 14kGF. This means the gold layer is 14k and is 1/12 the weight of the total metal in the item.</p><br /><p>Many gold plated items do not have enough gold to rank and be marked as plated. These will have no mark.</p><br /><p>Vermeil is gold wash or flash over sterling silver.</p></div></div></div></div>Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-17722945281726667112009-08-18T08:11:00.000-07:002009-08-20T07:47:31.760-07:00Conflict / Blood Diamonds<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/SorHeyDG-3I/AAAAAAAAACs/o5QcjyOSj9Q/s1600-h/Blood+diamond.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 242px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371324837237554034" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/SorHeyDG-3I/AAAAAAAAACs/o5QcjyOSj9Q/s320/Blood+diamond.jpg" /></a><br /><div><br />Diamonds symbolize so much: as the stone most commonly used for engagement rings, the diamond is a powerful token of love, purity, and prosperity. Its value relies heavily on its image of being clean, the most perfect thing that nature provides us, so, the current controversy over conflict diamonds (also called blood diamonds) puts a lot at stake.<br />About one in every ten gem diamonds, it has been estimated, is smuggled from four African nations, Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Angola, that feed money to a large black market. Some of the profits go to criminal gangs, some to brutal ruling regimes, some to outright terrorists. And the stones are mined under oppressive conditions for the smallest of wages, using methods that damage the countryside. </div><div></div><div><br />Part of the problem is human and part is geological. </div><br /><div><br /><strong>The Human Side</strong><br />The human part is the diamond market, an ancient secretive business where dealers trade stones back and forth, combine lots from different sources, and sell them across many borders during their trip to the jeweler. American law demands certification only from the last country to export the stone. It has never been very important to know where a stone comes from—once cut and polished, a perfect diamond sheds its history. And no one in the business is interested in changing things any more than they have to. </div><br /><div><br /><strong>Child Labor: </strong>Lack of regulation, harsh labor conditions, and poor wages make child labor a regular practice in the conflict diamond trade. Children are commonly considered an easy source of cheap labor and are often sent into small areas of mines that adults aren't able to enter. They are often given dangerous and physically challenging tasks, such as moving earth from pits, or risking their lives to landslides to be lowered into small holes or pits on ropes.<br />In Angola, a recent study found 46% of miners are under the age of 16, with many of the children working because of war, poverty, and the absence of education. And in India, where more than half of the world's diamonds are processed, child labor is commonly used for cutting and polishing diamonds. Taken on as "apprentices," these children suffer for years in dangerous conditions for little to no pay until they are replaced, often by younger siblings.<br />To dispose of the leftover ore contaminated with Cyanide and other toxins ("tailings"), a mine will create a dam which gets built up over the life of the mine. The gradual building of the dam generally causes the structure to be unsound. In the last 25 years, these dam failures have accounted for three-quarters of all major mining accidents. In 2000, a gold mine resulting from a tailings dam failure in Romania spilled more than 100,000 gallons of cyanide-laced mine waste into the Tisza river, killing 1,240 tons of fish and contaminating the drinking water supplies of 2.5 million people.</div><br /><div><br /><strong>Violence & Smuggling:</strong> Despite continuing efforts to regulate the industry, diamonds remain more of a curse than a blessing in many parts of the world. While many of the wars from which conflict diamonds originated have abated, state sanctioned violence in the diamond industry has not. In Africa and South America, violence still plagues many mines, with local populations displaced to make way for diamond development.<br />Smuggling is also rampant in the industry, making the global diamond trade one of the largest black markets in the world. Diamond smuggling intensifies violence and instability in diamond-producing regions. It also reduces the amount of money flowing back into diamond-producing communities, depriving the government of tax revenues needed for basic services.<br /> <br /><strong>Fueling Conflict: </strong>Since the beginning of the 20th century, diamond-rich regions and their neighbors have endured unspeakable devastation for their wealth. The terms "conflict diamond" and "blood diamond" only entered the public consciousness recently, as the funds used to conduct devastating civil wars in Africa that ended millions of lives were traced back to diamonds. The conflict diamond trade has dealt permanent scars to people and nations around the world, fueling bloody civil wars, human rights abuses, child labor and terrorist organizations.<br />Despite widespread acknowledgment in the industry of their existence, these conflict diamonds have been smuggled into other regions and are now indistinguishable from the rest of the supply. Until now, it has been nearly impossible to verify the origin of diamonds and the conditions in which they are produced. The diamond industry's attempt to address the problem of conflict diamonds resulted in the Kimberley Process, which has been deemed woefully inadequate by independent NGOs and government monitoring bodies. The fact remains that conflict diamonds still exist.<br /> <br /><strong>The Geological Side</strong><br />Geologically, gem diamonds lend themselves to anonymity. They are as anonymous as cash. Diamonds are extremely pure minerals, built of a tight matrix of carbon atoms and nothing else. Stray atoms of nitrogen, boron, or hydrogen—a few parts per billion—are the most significant impurities. These can barely be measured accurately with (expensive) current techniques.<br />Uncut gem-quality stones differ only subtly around the world:<br />South African and Indian gems include yellow and blue stones.<br />East African diamonds are etched.<br />West African and Canadian stones are fibrous.<br />Siberian diamonds tend to be sharp-edged and clear.<br />Some Australian stones are pink.<br />Experts can tell where uncut stones originate, but only if they have a batch of a hundred or so to inspect. Judging origins is largely a matter of statistics. and pinpointing one mine, or even one country, is rarely simple.<br />Moreover, a large fraction of contraband diamonds are mined from riverbeds in placer (sedimentary) deposits, not hard rock. Because diamond is extremely hard, grains can travel very far from their origins. The diamond placers of southwest Africa, for instance, include stones from forbidden Angola as well as legitimate Namibia. </div><br /><div><br /><strong>My Final Thoughts</strong><br />In my opinion only human-based systems have any hope of keeping diamonds conflict-free: unbreakable codes, certified containers and rigorous chains of custody. Along those lines, the world's diamond dealers are proceeding with the Kimberley Process, which was endorsed by the United Nations Security Council in January 2003 as part of the UN's conflict diamond program.<br /> <br />In closing I have to add that Diamonds are anything but an “investment”. Did you know that 1-carat diamond will set the buyer back about $5,000, which amounts to $710,000? Even worse than a car once it’s driven off the dealer's lot, a diamond will never be worth what you’ve paid for it. Try to trade it or sell it or pawn it and you’ll be sorely disappointed. Do you know why? Because their “worth” has been artificially inflated! Diamonds aren’t scarce or rare.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="color:#ffffff;">Question to all of you:</span> </div><div>People protest animal testing in the cosmetic industry and protest against people wearing furs but I am yet to see the same people protest against wearing Gems mined as stated above. How about People for the Ethical Treatment of Humans? Is this not a cause for concern?</div><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#ffffff;">Footnote:</span></div><div>What is happening with Diamonds is also happening in Burma/Myanmar with Rubies. Instead of calling the Rubies Pigeon Blood Red I think the name should be changed to Human Blood Red</div>Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-67129468212727181072009-08-16T08:05:00.000-07:002009-08-17T16:04:22.612-07:00Understanding the Four C's of Diamonds<strong><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></strong><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/SomLNjzXnDI/AAAAAAAAACE/xeP2klWMzlI/s1600-h/Diamond+cut.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 161px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370977095681285170" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/SomLNjzXnDI/AAAAAAAAACE/xeP2klWMzlI/s320/Diamond+cut.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/SomKOVGfhZI/AAAAAAAAAB8/Cso6_H14doY/s1600-h/Diamond+carat.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 161px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370976009403205010" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/SomKOVGfhZI/AAAAAAAAAB8/Cso6_H14doY/s320/Diamond+carat.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">These are the standards by which diamonds are graded,<br />and ultimately determine their value. They are Cut, Color,<br />Clarity and Carat weight. Below is a brief<br />description:</span><br /><br />CARAT WEIGHT<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Contrary to popular belief, a large stone<br />alone does not make a diamond valuable. While bigger can be<br />better, it's not the only factor. All the other C's carry as<br />much weight in the end, and be sure to use the size as a<br />factor, though not necessarily a determining one. A carat is<br />actually a measurement of weight, not size, equal to 200<br />Milligrams.<br /><br /></span>COLOR<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The less color the better. In other words,<br />everything else being equal, a colorless diamond will be<br />much more valuable. Diamonds range in color from colorless<br />to brown, and are ranked by letter starting with<br />"D",(colorless) to "Z", (brownish) This is determined under<br />special lighting, and does not include the "fancy colored<br />diamonds", as these are graded differently. In short, the<br />clearer the better!</span><br /><br />CLARITY<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Another important characteristic of a diamond's<br />value is it's clarity. This deals with the number and size of<br />any inclusions; small clouds, crystals, feathers or cavities<br />noticeable under 10X magnification. The clarity grades are<br />F-Flawless (extremely rare); IF-Internally Flawless; VVS1,<br />VVS2- Very, Very Slightly Included; VS1, VS2 - Very Slightly<br />Included; SI1, SI2- Slightly Included; and I1,I2,I3-<br />Included. All you really need to know about this though,<br />(other than your diamond's grade) is that you should not be<br />able to see any inclusions with the naked eye.<br /></span><br />CUT<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Most people think that the cut of a diamond refers to<br />it's shape. That's not so. It actually refers to the way a<br />diamond is shaped to refract light, thus enabling it to<br />sparkle. This is quite an art and requires that each facet<br />of the stone be cut at precise angles to each other, in the<br />correct shape and size, to bring about the desired effect.<br />Each diamond shape has different measurements for it's<br />particular dimensions. There are eight basic shapes popular<br />today, and they are, in no particular order; heart,<br />princess, pear, marquise, radiant, emerald, oval and round. </span></strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><br /><br /><div><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong></div></strong></span></div>Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-61664096634706784352009-08-16T08:04:00.000-07:002009-08-17T16:50:09.476-07:00Antique Jewelry - Helpful Terms & Explanations<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/SomGZAmWXoI/AAAAAAAAAB0/ghEwsLTTw2w/s1600-h/antique-jewelry-collection.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 176px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370971794831728258" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/SomGZAmWXoI/AAAAAAAAAB0/ghEwsLTTw2w/s320/antique-jewelry-collection.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/SoglfPNMQzI/AAAAAAAAABs/OZCVKZx2lKQ/s1600-h/MyStoreCollection.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 254px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370583774227350322" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/SoglfPNMQzI/AAAAAAAAABs/OZCVKZx2lKQ/s320/MyStoreCollection.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>Berlin Iron Antique Jewelry<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">During the Napoleonic Wars (1789-1815) as in many wars, the populous of the Prussian region was encouraged to donate their gold and silver jewelry and tableware for the war effort. Berlin Iron became a substitute for finer metals. It was iron that was lacquered black and was worn by in place of the jewelry they surrendered. A few pieces are inscribed, "Gold gab ich fur Eisen" (I gave gold for iron). French artists also picked up the fashion and produced Berlin Iron as well. There it was for the exceptional lace-like ornate styles. Some pieces are signed, such as by the famous maker Geiss others are unsigned. It was produced well into the mid 19th century and a bit later, its appeal still holding long after precious metals were back in circulation.<br />Today pieces are quite rare and collectors abound with prices rising every year. Often the jewelry is quite large, fine, lacey and delicate in design, that and together with its coal black surface has an indescribably handsome appeal.<br /><br /></span>Antique Cut Steel Jewelry<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">As early as the 16th century, cut steel production began in Europe. Tiny pieces of actual steel are faceted and shaped, often with facet structures similar to a rose cut diamond, some with a few facets, others highly faceted. Each element has a post at the back and these pieces are inserted into a brass or metal base. They are set close together to form a bed of faceted steel beads in the desired overall shape. Some early work is quite fine, often later work the pieces are larger individual studs and not as refined. Cut steel flourished in the later 18th and later 19th centuries, and finally popularity waned in the earlier 20th century.<br />The craft was created to imitate the shimmer of diamonds. Their refraction and glimmer, particularly in certain light, has remarkable brilliance. Steel has an alluring appeal with its distinct gray blue coloration, and catches the light from a myriad of angles. It is no wonder it has become so collectible and prized today. Mathew Boulton, an 18th century industrialist, owned a factory in Birmingham, England where cut steel jewelry was manufactured in great quantity. This was no mere substitute however, being prized for its own merits and often exceedingly expensive in its day. In great vogue at the later part of the 18th century, even Napoleon’s second empress, Marie-Louise commissioned a suite, as well as Queen Charlotte, wife of George III. Antique cut steel was often used for similar items as those set with gems, diamonds or paste jewelry. Shoe buckles, hair ornaments, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, chatelaines, and more were all fashioned in this remarkable material.<br />Steel is thought to be so durable, but is quite ephemeral given the possibility of rust if not cared for over time. Thus many pieces did not often survive. Caring for pieces today is simple: avoid cleaning with water or getting wet or moist. If an article of cut steel does get damp, simply thoroughly dry immediately. One old method of storage is to place in potato starch; or you can put in a box with rice grains to absorb moisture. To clean use a small soft toothbrush to whisk away any dust or dirt and polish with a soft cloth.<br /><br /></span>Victorian Essex Crystal Jewelry<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Essex crystals, sometimes referred to as reverse crystals, reverse painted crystal, Cook's crystals or even Wessex crystals, came into being in the mid to later 19th century. Rock crystal is cut en cabochon (a back flat, the front rounded and smooth). Skilled artists then carved out the rock crystal from the back in a desired form – often animal motifs. Once carved out, the depressions were then carefully painted in detail. Mother of pearl was often used as a base and backing and once turned to the front, an extraordinary image is evident in-the-round.<br />Horses, dogs, cats, pheasants and sporting scenes were some of the more featured themes. Even hare, boar and other exotic sporting animals can be found. A wide array of dog breeds is available as well. Depending on the size of the crystal, and the skill of the artisans involved, some are rich is detail and can be viewed from the side and appear near life-like in their three dimensional nature. Later reproduced in the early 20th century, some were often pressed glass imitations, with far less detail, and machine-like quality of color and subject matter (Scottie dogs are common). However, examples from this era can still be exceedingly fine.<br />However, antique fine Essex crystals are nearly unmistakable. Made until the early part of the 20th century, the skill and craftsmanship needed, and fashion and tastes changing, as the way of most things, the technique died out. No one having the time or willing to afford to pay for such labor intensive work, these are now highly collectible today and pricing is every rising.<br />Mountings range from brooches, to cufflinks, pendants, bracelets and other jewelry forms. Some are quite massive, others delicate and petite. Look for ones with great depth and fine painting. Subject matter too determines price as some dogs breeds, for instance, are much more common than others. Certainly the setting can greatly influence price as well as condition. Chips and cracks are to be avoided. A world unto themselves, their imagery is captivating and it is no wonder they have become so sought after today.<br /><br /></span>Halley's Comet Brooches<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Celestial events captivated the imagination and were interpreted into jewelry as early as the 18th century. Passing comets, stars and moons all insinuated their way into precious metals and objects of personal adornment. With the passing of Halley's Comet in 1836, England in particular began to produce diminutive brooches representing this most famous of comets. Almost all are under one (1) inch in length (although a few are larger) and come in a variety of materials and gems.<br />From gold to cut steel, diamonds to strass or paste, these antique brooches are an area of collecting that spark wonder and allude to the mysteries of our universe. Often worn in small groups, they possess a head, often of one larger gem, a linear element and a tail also studded with a tinier gem. Some are elaborate, others simple and austere. Continuing the tradition, later generations still produced them until the early 20th century when they fell out of favor. Occasionally later costume jewelry we see large comet-like rhinestone brooches set in base metal but these stylistically have little relation to their earlier forbears.<br /><br /></span>Antique Lover's Eye Miniatures<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Portrait miniatures of just an eye, often referred to as lover's eyes, are as captivating, symbolic and evocative as jewelry can be. There is controversy over the origins, but certainly began with the portrait miniature itself. Portrait miniatures were the photographs of their day, and were tiny paintings of family, loved ones and those departed and were usually extremely personal remembrances often set in jewelry and worn close to the person.<br />It was the late 18th century when the painted eye alone first appeared. It is reported to have begun when the Prince of Wales and Mrs. Fitzherbert wanted to exchange portrait miniatures. However, their romance was a secret as Mrs. Fitzherbert was a Catholic widow. One of the court miniaturists came up with the idea of painting just an eye. Only the wearer would know whose eye it really was. The Prince later married Maria Fitzherbert in 1785 but it was declared illegal. Had the marriage continued, the Prince could not have become George IV and taken the crown, with a Catholic wife.<br /><br />The eye miniatures were popular from around the 1780's to around 1830, and fell from popularity once Queen Victoria reign began. While some eye portraits were painted after that time, most fall within that time period. Some do date later however. While originally their purpose was love related, as with almost all trends, they changed over time and some are in honor of friendship and others of a memorial nature.<br /><br />Lover's eyes are most often set in brooches, but occasionally rings and even boxes and stickpins. As with any artist, there were good and bad portrait painters, and thus good and bad portrait miniatures. However, there are some factors to look for.<br /><br />They are highly sought after and very collectible today. However, this means that fakes are produced, particularly in England. Eye miniatures were rather scare in their day so a buyer should be careful from whom they purchase eye miniatures. Be wary in particular of very fancy settings and mounts. Forgers take out hair and inserts from lockets and crystals and place in it either a newly painted eye, or a very convincing piece of an old portrait miniature they have cut out. The fancier the setting - gem set, fancy bracelets, rings, intricate settings, the more one needs to be careful. Also, Victorian settings may be suspect, as most eyes were Georgian, though again not always.<br />One is to look for overall aesthetic appeal - is the eye the right size and shape for the "frame" in which it sits? It is an eye sitting in a great deal of empty space? Does it look lifelike? Does it have bags under the eyes, or a brow, perhaps a shadow of a nose or hair so appears to be painted from someone's eye? Or is it just a "dead" looking eye? Are the colors subtle and have lifelike skin tones? Does the paint bead up, or does it seem part of the ivory? Is the crystal covering chipped at the edges? Is the gold rim chipped and obviously removed? Does the ivory piece have ragged edges or not fit properly? No edges should be visible ideally. Most all miniatures were painted with watercolor and gouache and when viewed with a good loupe or magnifying glass is extremely delicate - almost like tiny points of color.<br /><br />It is very hard to tell if a miniature is real if it actually came from a period miniature to begin with! If buying from the internet, make sure you email or call a dealer with any questions you may have. All honest dealers will be more than happy to take back an item if you are not satisfied so know a dealer's return policy. Examine the jewelry with a magnifying glass or loupe. Also, be sure to obtain a written invoice clearly stating a description and price.<br />Prices are quite high and usually range from $3000 up to well over $6000 depending on the quality of the painting, and the setting itself, the rarity and overall aesthetics of the jewelry. Some settings can be encrusted with diamonds or pearls; others are just more simple coral or gold. And remember, dealers - even the most experienced - are not perfect so trust your instincts.<br /><br /></span>Antique Micro Mosaic Jewelry<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The origins of micro mosaics date back centuries to Roman times and portable mosaics began as early as Caesar’s reign. Micro mosaics are made of heated glass that is pulled into small strands and cut into tiny pieces called tesserae. Metal oxides are added to the glass to achieve color. The tesserae are then placed and glued to form an image. The mosaic is placed within a surround of stone or glass and then placed in a frame. Micro mosaics were either set in jewelry or occasionally framed just as a miniature painting would be. Even in the early 18th century, micro mosaics were sold to visitors in Italy and the art form reached great popularity in the mid to late 19th century. Micro mosaic jewelry has today once again found favor and is highly prized for its intricacy, charming depictions and delicacy of work. Venetian mosaics employ a variety of shaped tesserae; Roman mosaics are often comprised mostly of rectangular shapes of tesserae. Mosaics from Florence are termed pietra dura and use pieces of shaped hardstone to form images, the pieces of stone usually much larger and set in a black background.<br />The value is determined by a number of factors. Condition as always is one of the most important factors. But the size and delicacy of the work in a micro mosaic should be considered. Much 20th century jewelry for tourists used relatively large tiles and is quite crude compared to earlier pieces. Some go from fine work, to extremely fine tesserae no larger than a needle tip that resembles a painting, the tiles merging into one image. Also, subject matter is important. Most common are flowers, architectural scenes in Italy or Europe, or religious themes. However, some contain bug images, animals, highly realistic landscapes, birds, flowers, dogs, or other more unusual subjects. These can command higher prices.<br /><br /></span>Antique Paste Jewelry<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">What is paste? The origins of the term paste are unknown. However paste is a collective word used for cut leaded glass that is faceted to resemble gems or precious stones. Sometimes it is referred to as strass. Georges Frederic Stras, a Parisian jeweler in 18th Century France lends his name to these stones. Around 1730 and after, he became world famous for his paste jewelry (sometimes the term French paste is still used today). Appointed to the post of jeweler to the King of France in 1734, Stras's fame was assured. He used a mixture of glass and lead that makes glass highly reflective and began mounting them in the most sumptuous of settings. The stones are coated with a metal coating or foiling, sometimes tinted, to make them even more brilliant and refractive. The mid and later 18th Century was awash with paste and even Marie Antoinette wore it copiously.<br /><br />The craftsmanship required to cut paste is demanding and is thought to be more difficult than the art of cutting diamonds. Diamonds are harder thus easier to work with in many respects. Examining 18th Century paste shows the variety of stone cuts - marquise, oval, pear and all manner of shapes and sizes. A surprising variety of shades and colors was utilized. The jewelry can be of very high quality and skill and is usually set in silver. Paste was used in everything from men's shoe buckles, to the most magnificent of tiaras. Most strass or paste jewelry ranges from the 18th century through about 1850, but the word has come to be used to encompass other finer imitation stones through the early 19th Century. Paste jewelry has drawn a special collector, thus quite expensive and more and more difficult to obtain, particularly in the earlier examples or ones with color. Its luster, glow and shimmer are incomparable.<br />Black dot paste is paste which has a tiny black dot painted on the very bottom underside of the stone. It is thought to have mimicked the open culet of early diamond cuts, which often look quite dark or black. The culet is the bottom of the stone, where in today's modern stone cuts all the facets come to a perfect point. In years past, the facets did not meet in a point but joined around a flat area on the bottom. Black dot paste is one hallmark of very fine quality paste. However, there are many examples of excellent paste which do not have these tiny black dots.<br /><br /></span>Pinchbeck Jewelry<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Copper and zinc are the two metal that when combined made a very convincing gold substitute. Christopher Pinchbeck, born in 1670 and lived until 1732 discovered the alloy. It was used quite extensively as a durable yet less costly metal than gold, but fell out of favor during the mid-Nineteenth Century after 9K gold was legalized. Often it is termed Pinch for short. It is evident today why the metal was as successful as it has a lovely color, sheen and look and has been styled in a grand manner with just as much care, skill and attention to detail as an item in gold. Quite scarce today, it has become highly collectible and is admired for its own attributes. Often gilt or rolled gold pieces are incorrectly identified as Pinch. Pieces that date after about 1840 are rarely of true pinchbeck.<br /><br /></span>Antique Pique Jewelry<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Pique is the now lost decorative art of inserting minute bits of metal into a medium to form a design. Tortoise shell, ivory, mother of pearl and even other metal have all been the basis on which to inlay this work. Often brass, silver and gold are the primary metals with which are then worked into the medium. There are two types of pique. Pique pose and pique point. Pique pose uses pin head shaped pieces of metal and pique point flat strips. Dating to the 17th century, this marvelous craft decorated small personal objects such as etui, boxes, portrait miniature covers and then later into the 19th century was revived and was seen in jewelry as well.<br /><br />In some cases, such as with tortoise shell, this base material is heated or wetted rendering it malleable and then grooves are prepared. Metals points and strips are then inserted into the heated or wet materials, and once cooled or dry, it then seals itself around metal.<br /><br /></span>Stuart Crystal Jewelry<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">King Charles I was executed in 1649. He was part of the Stuart Monarchs in England that reigned from 1603 to 1714. Loyal followers of his began to wear, sometimes in secret, rings that often had a faceted rock crystal with locks of his hair, initials, or rings with his image to show their loyalty to his reign. As with many trends, it began there but transformed to a more personal memento. Stuart Crystal jewelry, as it is now termed, stemmed from that political origin.<br /><br />While memento mori and memorial jewelry had been worn since the 16th Century, memorial rings arose worn for family and loved ones often with a faceted crystal, underneath a skull, a lock of hair, bits of silk, or tiny gold cherubs or crowns and bits of twisted gold wire referred to as a cypher or cipher. Not always memorial in nature, some examples are seen which were a tribute to marriages or other rites of passage. This type of ring and jewelry maintained popularity until around the early to mid 18th Century. Often slides, stickpins and lockets in a number of shapes and sizes (but always quite compact) are also found made in the same manner. These types of jewelry are quite rare and have become highly collectible and of course, pricing on the open market reflects this. The facets of the crystals with the tiny mementos beneath are so fascinating and enigmatic it is no wonder their presence has inspired many an enthusiast.<br /><br /></span>Vauxhall Glass Antique Jewelry<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">As early as the 18th century, England began producing items of jewelry from their famous glassworks factory outside of London. Situated in Vauxhall, the glass ware and jewelry simply began to be referred to as “Vauxhall Glass“. Although there seems to be no concrete proof the jewelry was produced at that factory, the term stuck. A number of colors were produced from clear, to deep blacks and a rich burgundy red. Little has survived of those early pieces but they were evidently quite adored in their time. What most often survive today are 19th century examples. Revivals of this material occurred in the mid to later part of the 19th century, patents were taken out, and various items were again produced. Insects and bugs, tiaras, earrings - all manner of jewelry was produced in this reflective, appealing material. Often it can be recognized by its mirror backing, but it is not always the case. A few pieces do survive so collecting is still possible.<br />Share</span></strong>Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682379449241915001.post-47403705958815675372009-08-16T08:02:00.000-07:002009-08-17T12:52:45.617-07:00Care of Antique Jewelry<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/Som04QIILAI/AAAAAAAAACk/5akZAzSBf2o/s1600-h/Jewelry+Care.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 61px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371022909110758402" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bY8Xx8WQzWA/Som04QIILAI/AAAAAAAAACk/5akZAzSBf2o/s320/Jewelry+Care.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><strong>Care & Cleaning of Antique Jewelry<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Jewelry which is open backed (usually made after 1840) can often be cleaned using a mild jewelry cleaner or even a window cleaning product that is based on ammonia and water. Often water alone is sufficient. A light rub with a soft, lint free cloth or a very soft old toothbrush used dry or in combination with these liquids can remove dirt and grease. However, opals, pearls, turquoise, and other soft and porous gems should never be cleaned in this manner. When in doubt please consult your local jeweler. We do not recommend ultrasonic cleaners for any antique jewelry.<br />Do not rub hard or use harsh fabrics as these can mar the surface of stones. Over time even wearing jewelry while sleeping can affect the surface of the stones. Be cautious about leaving jewelry in areas where the temperature is too extreme in either direction or is in direct sunlight for any period of time.<br />Jewelry should be stored in cotton or soft cloth and care should be taken that pieces do not knock against other pieces of jewelry. Storage in dry humid-free areas are best. Do not store at length in closed, air tight plastic bags or boxes. With a modicum of care, the jewelry you adore can last many more lifetimes to come.<br /><br /></span>Special Note for Georgian & Earlier Jewelry (Circa 1840 - prior)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Any jewelry which is closed back most likely has set stones which are foiled on the reverse. This is a metal coating that allows the stone to reflect more light. No closed back jewelry should ever be placed in water or left on the hands while washing or engaging in any other activity where water may come in contact with the stones. Any tiny gap between the mount and the stone can let in moisture and the foiling can be spoiled and change color. Be careful wearing jewelry in heavy rain as well.<br />Never clean any early jewelry (those with closed backs) with water or any other liquid. Use only the softest toothbrush to very gently brush away dust or old dirt. You may also use a very soft, lint free cloth to clean the surface of stones and gold and silver. Silver cloths for silver mounted jewelry or gold and silver treated cloths are fine as well to use for metal areas. Eyeglass cloths are ideal for removing light grease and dirt.<br /><br /></span>Repairs<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">If repairs are needed, make sure the person(s) you choose has a good deal of experience with antique jewelry before entrusting pieces to their care. Don't be afraid to ask questions about their level of confidence with antique jewelry. Often, the older the piece of jewelry the more expertise is required to restore or repair the item. </span></strong></div>Eclectic Dealer / Paula M. Amatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02775194024252463363noreply@blogger.com1