A table at the Old Jail Arts Center in Albany, Texas caught my eye. It's always nice when museums feature decorative arts, but it's especially nice when museums of this size include furniture. The round inlaid center table with a classical form features prominently our first president. I assumed being in this small-town Texas museum … Continue reading George, You’re a Long Way from Philadelphia…
The primitive roots of much of what we think of as Americana makes New York City seem an odd place for it. Yet each January thousands of visitors descend on the city to take in the best in the category. Things have changed somewhat this year, gone is The American Antiques Show (TAAS), the once … Continue reading Americana and Its New York Home
Several items at Case Antiques auction in Knoxville caught my attention, and while I was out during bidding, the prices seemed to rise to a point where it didn't matter. Both items on my radar went well above what I expected. The first was a 13" Parian bust of Robert E. Lee. Depending on the … Continue reading Classical Finds Hammer High at Case Antiques Auction
In this series, the UAA team will list some of the interesting items that we have found in auctions, antique shops, shows or eBay. We neither own the items or have the capability of examining the items in person in some cases. It mainly serves as an inventory record of what interests us (not necessarily in … Continue reading A Gaggle of Interests – Jan 16, 2011
Trying to drum up interest in an empire game table these days may be a little like trying to sell a tree after Christmas. The country is just not in the mood for empire. A table coming up at Christie's January 21 seems to have several things going for it beyond a stately and adorned … Continue reading Streisand’s Table, Acquired Taste
Two classical sideboards at auction recently caught my attention. The first has massive carving on the back splat remotely comparable (in terms of the scale of the carved area) only to one in storage at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh. This sideboard is being offered at Dargate auctions in Pittsburgh December 5. The description … Continue reading Classical Sideboards at Auction
October days in Texas can be really hot and the biggest fear for outdoor shows, even those protected by a tent, is rain. But neither heat nor water came to dampen the fall shows in Round Top, Texas. While there are a number of shows going on simultaneously, we had time to visit only the … Continue reading Things are Just Right at Round Top, Texas
Each year the biggest auction houses in New York have their American sales. A few months before Antique Week, the events provide a good opportunity not only to see items that may not be on public view again for sometime, and see others before they move through the retail chain. Saturday provided the opportunity to … Continue reading America At Preview
A snowstorm in New York doesn't seem to have kept bidders away from Christies Interiors sale. Today the sale moved from paintings to furniture and decorative arts. I wondered if many items would sell below estimates. While results are mixed, some items are performing well--especially the hurricane shades. Some furniture also proved to have significant … Continue reading Christies Interiors Day Two
Urban Art & Antiques 