When Marvelous Mechanics Make Music
Before iPods, before gramophones, before player pianos were the rage, there were parlor music players. Designed for domestic entertainment, a well-appointed home in 1910 likely had one of these. While earlier mechanical players were large, …
Chinese Artists Fuel Innovation With Collaboration
A recent study on today’s Chinese luxury consumers shows shoppers are choosing premium products over mass products. Tapping into this trend, the past year saw a push by Western luxury brands toward the Chinese consumer …
Are All Inscriptions Equal?
In the Rare Book trade, there is a generally agreed-upon hierarchy for the desirability of collectible inscribed or signed books. It is as follows: The Dedication Copy, Association Copies, Presentation Copies, Inscribed Copies and, lastly, …
Q&A with KAWS Collector and Legend Ronnie K. Pirovino
Ronnie K. Pirovino has been collecting KAWS artwork and collectibles since 2003, amassing one of the world’s largest KAWS collections. He is also an active member of the contemporary art community, appraising collections and curating …
Beyond Fantasy: The Career of Frank Frazetta
Every true fantasy fan knows the name, Frazetta, but the prodigious artist is known for much more. From comic art to corporate logos, album covers to movie production, Frank Frazetta had his hand in all …
Record-Breaking Spider-Man Original Art by John Romita, Sr.
Collectors searching for the value of vintage Spider-Man comic books may be shocked to learn original cover art featuring the Marvel superhero can sell for $150,000-250,000. One such piece – John Romita Sr.’s original cover …
Marilyn Monroe Photos Showcase Classic Film Roles
As her white flowy dress blows up from the air below, Marilyn Monroe quickly pushes the dress down, smiling cheekily at the camera. We’ve all seen this photo. Without fail, Monroe has provided the world …
Proving Provenance: Your Collectible’s Story
In the 1950s, the average American home had a piece of furniture called a telephone table, a simple wooden seat with an attached ledge to place the family’s rotary dial phone. You can easily find …
The Easiest Way To Land A Birkin Without Ever Being On A List
Back in 2001, when Samantha Jones famously tried to bypass the legendary Hermes waiting list during Sex and the City’s fictional “Birkin” episode, a saga exploded across the fashion landscape. The conversation following that season …
Black Panther: From Comic Pages To Feature Film Star
“Introducing the Sensational Black Panther!” That was the cover blurb on Fantastic Four #52 in 1966 … and sensational he was. A fantastic creation from the head of Jack Kirby, refined by the writing of …