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AN-TIQUE (an-teek)
An object having
special value because of its age, especially a domestic item, piece of
furniture or decorative arts object esteemed for its artistry, beauty,
mechanical ingenuity, or period of origin. |
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The
Antiques Almanac, a five-edition-per-year online magazine for beginning and
intermediate antiques collectors and those just interested in finding out about
old things, is your first stop on the Web in your search for information
about antiques and collectibles. Here, you’ll find articles on a variety
of American and international antiques, including furniture, china,
glass, silver, and other decorative arts from the Colonial, Empire,
Victorian, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco Periods, plus vintage and modern
collectibles, interesting historical facts, antique tips, and
recommendations for caring for your collections. Come back often to see
what's new. And be sure to tell your friends about us.
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This
edition's
theme:
"The Sporting Life"
Volume 18 No. 3
This edition features articles about
antique and vintage sports memorabilia.
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Behind the
Eight Ball
During
the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England, the game of billiards had
moved indoors to a wooden table with green cloth to simulate grass and a
simple border around the edges. The term "billiard" came from the French
for either the word "billart," one of the wooden sticks, or "bille," a
ball. Since the early 19th century, it has been known as the "Noble Game
of Billiards," but in fact all sorts of people played the game from its
beginning. In 1600, Shakespeare mentioned it in his play "Antony and
Cleopatra."
More Antiques Articles |
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Batter Up!
For
years, baseball was the sport of choice for many youngsters.
So it’s only natural that those same young players, now
adults, should want to relive the thrill of those sandlot
and Little League games by collecting equipment owned and
used by some of the greatest names in professional baseball.
Collecting vintage baseball equipment is an education in the
evolution and innovations that have led to the high tech
game of today.
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Collectibles Articles |
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The
Sport of Kings
Betting
on the nags has been popular for several hundred years. The $2 bet on
the weekday afternoon handicap at Alameda is a far cry from the big
bucks bet on the big races, especially from the famous modern ones like
those if the Triple Crown, such as the Kentucky Derby. Over the years,
an assortment of memorabilia from these races—tickets, programs,
souvenirs—have hit the collectibles market.
More
Special Features
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Gone Fishin'
To avid fishermen,
fishing is an art form. And some antique fishing equipment
can be worth as much as a work of fine art. Such is the case
for split-cane fly rods and minnow buckets.
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Antique Spotlights
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Going for Gold
While millions of people from all over the world
watch the Parade of Nations into the Olympic Stadium in order to see
their country's representatives, just as many collectors eagerly await
the flood of Olympic collectibles that will be made available once the
games have begun.
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Collecting Articles
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The
2025 Summer Edition
featuring
"The
Sporting Life"
is here
Go through the menu and read all the
New!
articles. |
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Exploring
the Origins of Today's Sports
Sports have played a central role in human culture for
thousands of years. In ancient civilizations, sports weren’t
just forms of entertainment. They were a vital part of
social, religious, and political life. The ancients used
sports to promote physical fitness, social cohesion,
religious devotion, and even military training.
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Memorabilia of the Endless
Summer
by Bob Brooke
From that
day in 1907 when George Freeth took to the waves at Huntington Beach,
California, on his crude surfboard, making him the first surfer in the
United States, to the promotion of the sport by Delbert “Bud” Higgins
and Gene Belsheat, the sport of surfing has skyrocketed worldwide. And
here, too, is the only International Surfing Museum.
Read more. |
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Hitting the
Slopes
by Bob Brooke
Skiing has a
history that dates back at least 8,000 years, with the
earliest skis found in Russia around 6000 BCE. Initially
used for transportation and hunting, skiing evolved into a
popular recreational sport in the mid-1800s, particularly in
Scandinavia, and has since spread worldwide. In fact, the
word ski comes from the Old Norse word skíð which means
"cleft wood", "stick of wood" or "ski."
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Surf's Up!
Long before Sandra Dee
became the face that launched a thousand surfboards, the kings and
queens of Hawaii rode the waves on carved slabs of wood. Balancing
on solid planks up to 18 feet long, Hawaiian royalty dominated the
seas in a display designed to reinforce their dominion over their
subjects.
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How to Recognize and
Refinish Antiques for Pleasure and Profit
Have
you ever bought an antique or collectible that was less than perfect and
needed some TLC? Bob's book offers tips and step-by- step
instructions for simple maintenance and restoration of common antiques.
Read an
Excerpt |
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BREAKING
NEWS
"Rosebud," The Sled Used in the Film "Citizen Kane," Sold for
a Record $14.75 Million
The sled famously known as
Rosebud, from Orson Welles’ Hollywood classic masterpiece
Citizen Kane, sold for a remarkable $14.75 million. Gremlins
director Joe Dante has owned the iconic prop since 1984. The
previous auction records for any of the screen-used Rosebud
versions were $60,500, sold to Steven Spielberg in 1982, and
$233,000 to an anonymous buyer in 1996. |
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BIZARRE
ANTIQUITIES
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The Roman
Farmer's Calendar, also known as the "Menologia
Rustica," was a practical guide used by Roman
agriculturalists to keep track of the seasonal
activities related to farming and land
cultivation throughout the year. It offered
month-by-month advice about times for planting
and harvesting crops, as well as periods
designated for livestock breeding and caring. It
also included information about changing weather
patterns. |
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