Silver Dick

Richard P. Bland, was a Democratic congressman and former Presidential Candidate in the 1896 Presidential Primary. He lost the primary to William Jennings Bryan who in turn lost the election to William McKinley.

The reason we are discussing this obscure person in American history is the fact that he currently holds a place of interest for me in two current categories. The first category being Presidential elections because, let's face it folks....they are THE current topic of conversation. The second category where Richard P. Bland holds my interest is in the category of numismatics and American currency.

He gained the nickname "Silver Dick" (which personally I think the latter part of that nickname should be applied to a lot more of our elected officials) for his support of the silver miners in the mid 19th century.  Bland co-authored a bill (which was vetoed by President Hayes and then overrode by congress) forcing the US government to purchase 12 million ounces of US silver from domestic miners per year. This silver was then coined into Morgan dollars which became known as Bland dollars. These coins mostly circulated in the West and South but the majority found their way into the treasury vaults to sit until The Great Redemption of 1962-63.

The government was in financial crisis in the mid to late part of the 1800's and there was much debate over how to solve the problem. Bland believed strongly in a bimetallic (the use of silver and gold as a monetary standard) currency. He campaigned for this belief for over 25 years. He strongly supported the common man and having tried his own hand at mining was a strong advocate for miners.

Bland was the front runner in the Presidential election until Bryan gave his famous "Golden Cross" speech. After the speech, Bryan became the democratic front-runner but the American people feared Bryan and his ideals might have induced another financial panic so they elected McKinley. Bland continued to serve his country in the capacity of Congressman until he passed away in 1899 at the age of sixty three.

September 11, 2001

Without turning this into a political discussion......9/11 was a day that will be forever etched into the "history" of America. Since we are a site that focuses on the" historical" please share your memories of that day.

Let's Play a Game......

Let's see what all of you armchair appraisers out there know about art, antiques and collectibles. We are going to play a game. I'll post a picture of an item and you post your best guess as to what it is. I'll post the answer after a bit. Good Luck!

Can you guess what these are?

Correct Answer: They are knitting needle covers. Used to cover the points in a decorative manner. Love those Victorians and their decorative flair.

In the Name of Art....???

Oftentimes art and antiques go hand in hand so I'm always intrigued when someone sends me an interesting story. I just have to say IMHO this guy is an idiot. Wouldn't it have been easier to mount a digital camera to a hat and wear that 24/7 instead of having one installed in your head? What do you all think?

Here's the link : http://www.comcast.net/video/artist-s-body-rejects-camera-implant-in-head/1789957520/Comcast/1790634454/

The History of Labor Day

The following information is a re-print of the Department of Labor .Gov's explanation of Labor Day. I thought about writing an article but decided to celebrate with a day off for myself. LOL
Here you go from dol.gov
The History of Labor Day

Check out our Labor Day 2012 page, complete with videos, photo, resources, and more.

Labor Day: How it Came About; What it Means

Labor Day, the first Monda

y in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Founder of Labor Day

More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

The First Labor Day

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Labor Day Legislation

Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

A Nationwide Holiday

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.

Blue Moon

Once in a blue moon…..the phrase for me has a dreamy romantic connotation which brings to mind a dark mysterious sky with a glowing orb in the sky. An orb, upon which if you look and make a wish anything is possible. A rare opportunity!  Well, tonight is a blue moon and while we’ve already done the article for today I felt a blue moon was special enough to do two. What exactly is a “BLUE” moon? Does it have any historical significance? Is it simply just rare?

Technically, a blue moon is: can be one of two things it can be either a physically blue moon such as when the volcano Krakatoa erupted in 1883 and caused the moon to appear blue for nearly two years. It can also refer to an extra full moon in a season.

In the United States the Farmer’s Almanac would calculate the dates of full moons and planting schedules based on what is called a tropical calendar year. Most tropical years contain twelve full moons but every once in awhile thirteen occur.  Each moon was generally named during the year based on its placement in the calendar such as the Harvest Moon, Yule Moon and Easter Moon. The blue moon was often called the Betrayer Moon by or false moon as it did not have any calendar significance.

There are lots of interesting tidbits of information regarding blue moons and folklore if you’d like to take the time to read them I’ll provide an interesting link at the bottom. In the meantime, I think we can all agree on the colloquial definition of extremely rare.

http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/bluemoon.html

School in 1912 Continued....

As I was doing research for this weeks articles on back to school 1912 style I stumbled across and exam given to 8th graders in 1912. The website is bullitcountyhistory.com and has links to the county's history but I decided to share the exam here too. (Thank you bullitcountyhistory.com)

So, the questions are ......Are we smarter today? Or were the 8th graders of 1912 ahead?

Rules for Female Teachers

As promised the rest of this week is about back to school about a century ago.

What were the requirements for teaching in the early 1900’s? Here’s some “rules” for female teachers from -Cabell County, West Virginia
Board of Education, 1915

1. You will not marry during the term of your contract.
2. You are not to keep company with men.
3. You must be home between the hours of 8 PM and 6 AM unless attending a school function.
4. You may not loiter downtown in ice cream stores.
5. You may not travel beyond city limits unless you have the permission of the chairman of the board.
6. You may not ride in a carriage or automobile with a man unless he is your father or brother.
7. You may not smoke cigarettes.
8. You may not dress in bright colors.
9. You may, under no circumstances, dye your hair.
10. You must wear at least two petticoats.
11. Your dresses must not be any shorter than two inches above the ankle.
12. You will keep the schoolroom neat and clean, sweep the floor at least once daily, scrub the floor at least once each week, clean the blackboards once a day, and start the fire at 7 AM so the room will be warm at 8 AM.

First Day of School

 “School days! School days! /Good old golden rule days!/ Readin’ and ’ritin’ and ’rithmetic/ Taught to the tune of a hickory stick ...”

Well, it's finally arrived the day celebrated by millions of parents around the world and dreaded by just as many children..... The first day of school. It has arrived in our home and what's generally the norm for the rest of the world is usually not here. I'm sad school is back in session and my feisty, independent little red-head is ready to go.

So, this whole back to school ritual we perform each year got me thinking........ what was school like a 100 years ago? What were the types of things parents purchased for their children? How many children continued in public education up to the 12th grade? How many left early for marriage or work? What were the requirements of teachers in 1912? What were the classrooms like and what types of supplies did the children use? What types of things were taught in 1912 public schools?

For the remainder of the week we'll discuss these topics. For today, I'm going to start where we start each year.....School Supplies and Back to School Shopping.

Boys Back To School Wardrobe 1912 (Photo Courtesy of Oxford Orphanage)

Typical clothing for the 1912 elementary school boy seems to have been knickers or short pants and knee socks with lace up shoes and button up shirts. Boys living in the county typically seem to show up at school wearing overalls.

Girls Back to School Wardrobe Early 1900's (Photo of my great grandmother's school)

Typical clothing for the 1912 elementary school girl would have been dresses and pinafores. Girls hair was generally pulled back with a large bow or braided. Country girls would have had simpler clothing than city girls. The photographs above show the differences between city and country schools although the children in the first photograph were orphans city children still had more formal clothing.

School supplies would have been simple slates and chalk.  Lunches were brought from home.

Summer's Over

Well folks......summer's over and we are back to work. We spent the summer in NY and traveled across the United States in a compact Mercedes Benz jam packed with treasures we bought on our adventures. By the time we returned home this past weekend I wasn't sure there was enough room left in the car for people. We picked up treasures in the "World's Largest Antique Mall" in Ohio and bought dolls, vanity items and vintage purses all along the way. We'll be adding all of these treasures to the shop in the upcoming months along with vintage costume jewelry, antique coins and a huge amount of World War II memorabilia. Check back with us daily for interesting articles regarding the art, antiques and silver coin world. You never know what daily tidbit's we'll surprise you with.

SCREAMING!!!!

According to CNN: "
Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream" sold at Sotheby's in New York for $119.9 million on Wednesday night.

The amount is a record for a work of art sold at auction. The version of "The Scream" sold is one of four painted between 1893 and 1910, and is one of the best-known images in modern art."

The painting was created after Edvard Munch visited his sister in an asylum and was deeply pained by a romantic break-up. The painting was estimated by some to bring in 200 million. Guess the economy is down even for billionaires. This only fetched $119.9 Million!

WASP Pilot Faye Wolfe Olney

I've been busy the last few weeks sorting, liquidating and preparing an estate sale for a client whose father was a WWII pilot. I've stumbled across several interesting items and treasures. Among my favorites in this current estate was a photograph of a smiling young woman in in a flight jacket and pilot's hat. The photograph was labeled Faye Wolfe Olney WASP Class 44-4.

I was intrigued by this woman. Who was she? What was the WASP Class 44-4? Well, I've had a lot of trouble identifying this woman but what I do know is that she became a pilot in WWII. She was part of a limited group of women (just 1,074). These women served their country by flying non-combat missions for the Army. These women had pilot's licenses and were trained "the Army Way". Over 25,000 women applied to the WASP program but ultimately only 1,074 earned their wings. WASP standing for Women's Airforce Service Pilot.

Most of the women in the WASP were white. There were two Chinese American women, one of whom died after a collision on a runway. There was a single Native American pilot and no black women were allowed to join. The WASP were considered civil service and did not receive military benefits.

For a time morale was low among these brave women who stepped forward to serve their country and shine as examples for young women of future generations. In order to boost the spirits of these brave young women a newsletter was started called the Fifnella Gazette. The name Fifinella came from a story about flying gremlins by Ronald Dahl and the logo for these women's uniform patches and decals was drawn by Walt Disney.

So, Miss Faye Wolf Olney still remains a research in progress. I've been able to locate her name several times as a graduate of the WASP program on websites and archives but I've yet to learn anything about Faye the woman. If anyone knows who she was contact me and tell me all about her. I believe these women should be remembered and honored not only for the service to their country but for pushing the envelope and opening doors for the young women to follow behind them.

Friendship Albums, A Tribute To Everyday Women

As I mentioned earlier this month March is National Women's History Month. I've been remiss in writing because I got distracted in researching.

I'm going to share with you today a small sampling of women's friendship albums. These albums are little tributes to the women who lived everyday lives in the 19th century. These were generally not poor women but were middle to upper class women who had simple educations and a little leisure time.

These albums bring to life the bonds shared by friends, expressions of love, sympathy and support to one another. The albums are decorated with art done by women and include paintings, weaving of hair and ribbons as well as poetry and flowers. These books don't necessarily record events of historical importance but the simple events important to these women such as marriages, births, deaths and a glimpse into the everyday life of a woman.

Oftentimes these books would be purchased to document years in school and would continue through the young married years, other times the books would continue for decades. These albums are truly treasures. Please enjoy the sampling and let me know if you have any of your own.

A Passion for the Pretty

March is Women's History Month and a big part of women's history includes handcrafts. For the rest of the month I'm going to share with you some samples of beautiful art created by women. Some of the items were created with practical purposes in mind others were created for gifts, friendship and still others for the sheer pleasure of creating.

I've recently had the pleasure of discovering that tatting, something I believed was a dying art is actually alive and well. Tatting is a technique to make lace. It is a beautiful handmade product that can be used on anything that you would normally use lace on. It can also be used by itself for doilies.

I'd like to introduce you to a reader and tatter.....

Ninetta Caruso. Ninetta says "I've been tatting for about 20 years, and I usually do it every day, even a little. I love every type of handmade lace." The following photos are samples of Ninetta's work and I'm sure you will agree she is a talented artist with a Passion for the Pretty. Ninetta says she seldom keeps her work and gives most of it away to friends and relatives and she finds it enjoyable to create new patterns. For more information about this talented artist and to view larger photos of her work please visit. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ninettacaruso
Thank you Ninetta for your time and talent.

Kachina Dolls

As I prepared for an appraisal this past week I decided to do some homework on Kachina dolls. I'd seen them before, had one or two come into the traveling appraisal show I worked for and had a basic knowledge of what they were but no particular personal interest.

As I began reading about these "dolls" I became more and more intrigued by what they were actually intended to to portray. In the back of my mind I'd always had the thought that they were sold to tourists and had a "story" about being spiritual. The more I read the more I realized how wrong my presumptions were. (Yes, I can be wrong. lol) The dolls are not "dolls" at all but are carved religious icons. These icons are carved from Cottonwood, painted and dressed in ceremonial attire.

The word Kachina or Katsina refers to a Spirit of the Pueblo religions originally and primarily the Hopi people but other Southwestern Native American Pueblos also worship in the same manner. According to Wikipedia, "A kachina can represent anything in the natural world or cosmos, from a revered ancestor to an element, a location, a quality, a natural phenomenon, or a concept. There are more than 400 different kachinas in Hopi and Pueblo culture. The local pantheon of kachinas varies in each pueblo community; there may be kachinas for the sun, stars, thunderstorms, wind, corn, insects, and many other concepts. Kachinas are understood as having humanlike relationships; they may have uncles, sisters, and grandmothers, and may marry and have children. Although not worshipped,^[2] each is viewed as a powerful being who, if given veneration and respect, can use their particular power for human good, bringing rainfall, healing, fertility, or protection, for example. One observer has written:<sup>[3] "

In ceremonies twice a year the Kachina dolls are created and then passed along to the young girls of the tribe. I became curious about the dolls and the different types and began googling whatever I could find. An interesting website which lists a glossary of Kachina's in Kachina-Dolls.com. I was impressed with the Kachina dolls their varied representations and the Hopi people.</sup>

Spring Fever

Well, it is official I have Spring Fever. I can't focus on a single subject long enough to write a sentence let alone a blog article. I've started four in the past week....Kachina Dolls, Antique Jewelry, Historical tidbits and then.....I started another on Victorian handcrafts when I got that creative tingle where I must create but don't know what. (You know!) Well, I'd love to blame this lack of focus on the beautiful weather here on the California coast but the truth is...I'm a gemini and I'm always easily distracted (Oh Look something shiny!) but this past week has been even worse.

So, here's what's coming in the next few days. I am hereby in BLACK & WHITE committing to completing the aforementioned articles. Check in tomorrow as I will be telling you all about Kachina Dolls which aren't actually, just dolls.

Appraising Coach

Recently, we have been overwhelmed with people seeking appraisals on their "designer" handbags. I personally evaluate at least two a week. Why is this happening? Are people needing money and deciding to liquidate their valuables? That's possible. Are people still buying them at purse parties? I know eBay is cracking down on people selling "designer" items without proof. So, I suppose that's another reason people are having their bags, "appraised".

Coach seems to be the bag to copy these days. In the past month, I've personally evaluated and disappointed four "Coach" owners. So, as a public service let me post some information.

If you are considering buying a Coach bag from an online auction: Beware if the seller has only provided one photo of each of the purses. I would also suggest checking out their feedback. Another tip would be to contact the seller and ask if they can provide a store receipt for the handbags.

Tips for Buying Genuine Coach Bags:
*Coach does not sell to wholesalers or middle men. They only sell their bags through Coach, Coach Outlet, The Coach website and authorized high-end retailers.
*Coach does not sell blemished or seconds. If someone is selling the item as a "second" beware its a fake.
*Coach should be numbered and have a creed.
*Coach should come with a dustbag, usually a deep chocolate with red drawstring and white letters. (There are now newer dustbags, with the company colors)
*The Coach price tag is a bi-fold tag with the word COACH written in brown centered in the front. The interior is imprinted in black are the style number, colors, the SKU number & bar code, a brief abbreviated description, and the price.
*Coach only uses superior craftsmanship. Every detail should be perfect including the evenness and number of stitches on the leather.
*Coach only uses genuine leather.
*Coach CC's are centered and run horizontally never vertically.
*Coach uses heavy thread and double stitches seams.

The following information is directly from the Company Profile Page on Coach.com

Coach was founded in 1941 as a family-run workshop. In a Manhattan loft, six artisans handcrafted a collection of leather goods using skills handed down from generation to generation. Discerning consumers soon began to seek out the quality and unique nature of Coach craftsmanship.

Now greatly expanded, Coach continues to maintain the highest standards for materials and workmanship. Coach’s exceptional workforce remains committed to carefully upholding the principles of quality and integrity that define the company. We attribute the prominence of the Coach brand to the unique combination of our original American attitude and design, our heritage of fine leather goods and custom fabrics, our superior product quality and durability, and our commitment to customer service.
During the last decade, Coach has emerged as America's preeminent designer, producer, and marketer of fine accessories and gifts for women and men including handbags, women’s and men’s small leathergoods, business cases, weekend and travel accessories, outerwear, scarves, jewelry, fragrance and related accessories. Continued development of new categories has further established the signature style and distinctive identity of the Coach brand. Together with our licensing partners, we also offer watches, footwear, and sunwear bearing the Coach brand name.
Coach’s distribution strategy is multi-channel. There are currently over 400 Coach stores in the United States and Canada, with more slated to open this calendar year. In addition, Coach has built a strong presence in the United States through Coach boutiques located within select department stores and specialty retailer locations. In 1999, Coach launched its online store at www.coach.com and evolved it into an important sales channel in the United States, and an effective marketing and advertising vehicle for Coach both domestically and abroad.
While Coach continues to be one of the most recognized accessories brands in the United States, its long-term strategic plan is to increase international distribution and target international consumers. Through Coach Japan, wholly owned by Coach since 2005, the company leverages a large growth opportunity in this important market for imported handbags and accessories. Similarly, the Company acquired its retail businesses in Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China in 2009. As this emerging market rapidly grows, the Coach brand enjoys increased recognition. Intent on maintaining a consistent brand strategy domestically and abroad, this ownership structure provides Coach with complete control of its distribution in Japan and China. With a global vision in place, Coach is available at over 900 department store locations in the United States, 159 international department stores, retail stores and duty free shops in over 20 countries, 155 department store shop-in-shops and retail and factory stores operated by Coach Japan, and 28 company-operated locations in China.

Coach’s corporate headquarters remain in midtown Manhattan on 34th Street, in the location of our former factory lofts. Coach is a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, traded under the symbol COH.

History and Traditions of Leap Year

Well folks, today is Leap Day, February 29, 2012. My cousin's mom (yes, I know technically she'd be an aunt, but since she and my Uncle divorced I think it's simpler to say my cousin's mom) but I digress....the point I started to make is that my cousin's mom was born on Leap Day. I've always found that extremely cool that one year a day exists and for three other years its as if the day vanished into the ether. It got me wondering how Leap Year came to be and if there were any special traditions or superstitions regarding that day (aside from aging more slowly then your contemporaries.) I believe my ex-aunt is technically younger then my cousins.

So here's what my super sleuthing skills came up with:

• A leap year consists of 366 days as opposed to our usual 365. (mad math skills)
• Leap Years occur about every four years but special criteria must be met.
• The year is evenly divisible by 4;
• If the year can be evenly divided by 100, it is NOT a leap year, unless;
• The year is also evenly divisible by 400. Then it is a leap year.
• Due to the Earth's rotation if we didn't add an extra day every 4 or so years we'd lose six hours a year and after 100 years our calendar would be off over 20 days.
  
• Julius Caesar invented the leap year but his criteria was only that the year be divided by 4.
• Also, traditionally mens' and womens' roles reverse on this day and women can propose marriage to men. If the man turns her down he is expected to pay a penalty and give her a new gown or 12 pairs of gloves to hide the shame of no engagement ring on her hand.
• Leap Year and this tradition are also where we (in the USA) get the tradition of February Sadie Hawkins dances where the woman asks the man.
  

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the only verified example of a family producing three consecutive generations born on February 29 is that of the Keogh family.

Peter Anthony was born in Ireland on February 29, 1940, while his son Peter Eric was born on the Leap Day in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1964. His daughter, Bethany Wealth, was, in turn, born in the UK on February 29, 1996. (timeanddate.com)

A Norwegian family named Henriksen from Andenes holds the official record of number of children born on February 29. Mrs. Karin Henriksen gave birth to 3 children on consecutive February 29; her daughter Heidi in 1960 and her sons Olav and Leif-Martin in 1964 and 1968 respectively.(timeanddate.com)

Hope that thirst for information has been quenched but if not check back...you never know what my eclectic brain will uncover.

About Estate Sales and Liquidations

We serve individuals, families, estate trustees, executors and attorneys. We are committed to helping people with the arduous and emotional task of liquidating personal property. We are a staff of caring professionals. We conduct our sales in a speedy and efficient manner with the goal of obtaining for you, our client the highest possible prices.

Here’s What We Offer: • FREE appointment/consultation to discuss the best means of liquidating your personal property. There are a variety of ways to liquidate personal property, aside from the traditional on-site estate sale. Let us explore the options with you. • FREE appraisal/evaluation of items by a certified and experienced appraiser should you choose our firm to liquidate your property. (Written appraisals for tax/estate/donation purposes are available on a separate fee schedule.) • FREE advertising of your estate sale in a variety of venues. (Antique News Publications, Local Newspapers, and Online Ad Services such as Craigslist, Fogster and Ebay.) • FREE promotion, we promote your sale on our website in addition to advertising. We also prominently place signs guiding people to the sale. • FREE credit card processing. Sometimes, a sale would be lost if the customer couldn’t pay with a credit card. We never want our clients to lose a sale due to their inability to accept all types of payment. Our company absorbs the high cost of credit card processing and you benefit from increased sales. • Event hotline and email newsletter: We have a number where the public may call to ascertain information on our upcoming sales and we also regularly send out information in our online newsletter and daily blog. • We work on commission. It is in both our best interests to garner the maximum prices for your merchandise while still maintaining its salability. • We will sell everything possible from the muffin papers in the kitchen cabinet to the family car in the garage. • We conduct on-site or online estate sales. Sometimes due to inclement weather it would better serve our clients to have an online estate sale. (Ask us for our flyer detailing both.) • We give you a clear list letting you know which items sold and for how much and you’ll have your check by Certified Mail within 14 days of the close of the sale. • Items not sold, if salable will be picked up and donated to a local charity. • Broom-Clean, we will leave your home clean and free of debris generated from the sale. If you require additional removal or clean-out of non-salable items we offer clean-out services.

Antique Victorian Meerschaum Pipe French Carved Woman Leather Case JF Paris

This is a breathtaking antique meerschaum pipe. It comes in its original lined case. The interior of the case is marked with a cherub and JF Paris. The case is is scuffed on the exterior but is solid and sturdy. It measures about 5 1/2". The pipe itself has discolored from years of tobacco use but is absolutely gorgeous. It measures about 3 1/4" from the bowl to the end of the screw edge. There is no mouthpiece.

The Do's and Don'ts Before Downsizing or Liquidating an Estate

Do’s and Don’ts Before An Estate Sale

• DO NOT, DO NOT throw anything away. Even if you think that old Hershey’s chocolate box holding dad’s nails in the garage is nothing but rubbish, LEAVE IT BE!!! You would be surprised at how many times we’ve had a buyer come looking for a specific item only to be told by the owner that it had been thrown out. Please do not clean or throw out anything. We are professionals and know what buyers are looking for as well as how to best clean and present the items to potential buyers.
• Do NOT sell anything prior to the estate sale or have your own yard sale without first consulting with an appraiser. We are professionals and know which items are valuable and which are not. We can liquidate the entire contents of the home quickly and efficiently without the emotional strain placed on the owners/family.
• Do NOT sell piece-meal to dealers. When doing this it allows the best pieces to go before the sale opens leaving the less desirable objects behind. This will deter buyers from even looking.
• Do Cover the property with insurance.
• Do tell friends and family about the sale and the dates available for shopping. If two or more family members want the same item leave it in the sale. The family member that wants it the most will purchase it from the sale and eliminate all of the fighting.

A Letter To Our Appraiser

Dear Amanda,

I want to thank you for serving as our “celebrity guest” and liaison with the KMAX T.V. Crew during our 44th Annual Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair on Historic Sutter Street in Folsom on December 5th. Countless shoppers and collectors were made... aware of our event as a result of your live broadcast the day of the event. You were very gracious setting aside the time from your busy schedule and arriving at any early hour!

We certainly look forward to visits from you at future events.

cc: Jim Snook, President, Board of Directors, Folsom Historic District Association



Shannon Cheyne, Manager, Folsom Historic District Association

Sincerely,

Carole Berry, Event Coordinator
Folsom Historic District Association

A Tip About Antique Glass

Something I was just reminded of in an unpleasant way!!! Glass is fragile and does not handle extremes in temperature change very well. Many people store their fine china or crystal and pull it out for use around the holidays. Before unpacking glass or china that has been stored in a cold environment be sure to let it warm up before handling or washing it. The change between cold glass and warm wash water can lead to a disaster.

Jewish Bridal Belt

An interesting appraisal that came across my desk. It is estimated that a group of wealthy Jews immigrated to Yemen in approximately 629 BCE. There relationship with the Arab world, and their traditions are different then any other Jews in the rest of the world. The Yemenite Jews faced times of equality with the rulers of Yemen as well as times of oppression. There are still Yemenite Jews today although the populace is much smaller then it was prior to the formation of the State of Israel and the Jewish immigration of the 1950's. The Yemenite Jews passed along some of their arts and crafts to the Israeli Jews but many of the Yemenite traditions have been lost over time. The Yemenite Jews were unique in that they manufactured and crafted their jewelry and religious artifacts themselves and often times from raw materials they themselves made. The Yemenite Jews were the leaders in the arts and crafts industry. Almost all jewelry in Yemen was made by Jewish artisans. It was against several Muslim rules for the Jewish people to have better items then their Muslim counterparts. Therefore the Jewish people of Yemen adopted a look a faux poverty. The exception to this was in the elaborate jewelry worn by Jewish women. Since the Jewish people were the ones making the jewelry they made exceptional pieces for themselves particularly bridal jewelry.

The item being appraised was a Jewish bridal belt possibly from Yemen. Circa late 1800's. It was common for the Yemenite Jews to make jewelry out of silver with gilt accents. I would suspect this is made of silver with gilt accents, but it is difficult to tell without seeing the item in person. Yemenite Jews were plainly dressed with the exception of brides and new mothers. Both women were allowed to wear exceptional jewelry on those occasions. The Yemenite Jews were exceptional craftsmen as evidenced by the surviving 19th century jewelry. This belt is elaborate in both craftsmanship and design. The bridal belt is exchanged with the groom on the eve of the wedding signifying the bride and grooms lives being tied together. These belts were generally elaborate pieces of jewelry and were sometimes loaned out by synagogues to a bride who could not afford her own. I was able to locate only four other bridal belts in my research and could not find auction results for any comparable pieces. My price estimate is based on auction results for other Judaic artifacts. I would not be at all surprised to see auction results
* Current Fair Market Value: $1,500.00
* Replacement Cost: $3,000.00