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Written by J. C. Vaughn
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Collecting American pop culture, from carnival amusements to media memorabilia
Whether you’re a serious collector, a casual enthusiast or simply someone searching for just that right item or series of articles to give a playroom or office a distinctive personal touch, the time has never been better for acquiring vintage pop-culture collectibles. Never before has so much unique material been available to buyers, with nostalgia driving its popularity and value.
The market for entertainment collectibles is definitely changing. Not all that long ago, it was common for an in-crowd of experienced players to know who was buying which significant pieces, and whose collections held certain iconic items. That is rapidly become a thing of the past, especially since Internet live bidding has exposed premium buying opportunities to a global community of collectors.
A recent example of the success the vintage pop-culture collectibles market has experienced occurred when the New York firm Guernsey’s auctioned the Pugliese Collection on March 15-16 in Las Vegas. Assembled by Anthony Pugliese over the course of decades, the collection included pieces from the worlds of film, television, magic, music and more.
Click here to read the complete article in the May 2008 issue of Style Century Magazine.
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Written by Tom Hoepf
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When Ed Sexton, co-owner of Swank Lighting, recalls the weeks he spent sifting through a warehouse find of vintage Murano glass lamps, he can hardly contain his excitement.
“It was like the most incredible Easter egg hunt ever,” said Sexton. Hundreds of lamps in every color of the rainbow spilled from wood shipping crates that had been stored in a New Jersey warehouse for half a century.
“We would take a hammer and crowbar to open the crates and pull out these incredible glass lamps,” said Sexton. The cache launched Sexton and his partner, Doug Taylor, into the vintage lighting business they call Swank Lighting. They sell the designer table lamps at a showroom in Houston and on eBay.
Read the complete story in the April 2008 issue of Style Century Magazine. Click here to read this issue. |
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No frills - cheap thrills |
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Written by Catherine Saunders-Watson
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The acknowledged godfather of unfussy household décor for the masses, IKEA has been keeping it plain and simple since 1943, with U.S. branches successfully pumping out the big-box, do-it-yourself mantra for more than 22 years. But now there’s a new player on the field that promises not only to furnish your home smartly, but also clothe your family and clean your house in an economical, ecologically friendly way. The name of this rising star of new-age retailing? MUJI.
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Written by Karla Klein Albertson
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The Russian art market has roared ahead in 2007, fueled by tycoons intent on repatriating their cultural heritage
Whether tsarist bauble or nonconformist painting, Russian art has been on the fast track in 2007, fueled in great part by natural resource tycoons intent on repatriating their cultural heritage. At Christie’s London sale of Russian art in June, The Rainbow – a serene landscape by Konstantin Somov – set a new world record for a Russian painting at auction when it sold for $7,327,952.
The sale total exceeded $35 million, and Christie’s broke down the buyers by country of origin. Not surprisingly 70 percent were Russian, 20 percent European, and only 5 percent American. Later this month, a recently uncovered Fabergé egg – estimate $12 to $18 million – promises to set the record for a Russian object of any type.
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Written by Alan Jaffe
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Contemporary bar ware adds a fresh twist of humor to a jigger of retro style
The gown and tux are back from the cleaners. The menu is planned from canapé to crème brûlée. The iPod is docked. The wine cellar’s stocked.
Now all you need for the perfect holiday bash is the right bar ware. |
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