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Q I found this horseshoe shape hat pin while sorting out my late aunt's jewelry. A jeweler told me it is 14 karat gold with diamonds and offered me $25, [...]

Presents advice on collecting antique trade signs in the U.S. Value of two trade signs auctioned in the country; Description of several antique trade signs; Tips on identifying duplicates of antique trade signs.

Deals with the antiques and antique collecting designed during the 1940s and 1950s, collectively known as the American Modernism period.

The article provides information on vintage or antique textiles. It discusses the vintage textile collections formed by museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of New York City and The Art Institute of Chicago in Illinois, since the early 20th century. It also cites vintage auctions pioneered by some suction houses, like William Doyle and Sotheby's, in 1993 focusing on celebrity-owned or worn clothing and accessories.

The article offers information on 1950s and 1960s studio pottery of interest to collectors. It discusses the interest among collectors in antiques that feature various techniques of artists and in mid-century modern design. It mentions that pottery during the 1950s and 1960s illustrated the philosophy of each artist, including the popularity of Zen or the Abstract Expressionism in the mid 1950s. Tips on how to know the top qualities of pottery are provided.

The article focuses on the art of collecting advertising tins. It mentions that the age and rarity of such tin matters in the price difference of the products. According to the author, the popularity of the category is another factor that affects the price of the antique items owned by private collectors.

The article provides information on collecting antique repeater pocket watches. Around 1710, the sun and moon dial watches were popular, followed by ornamental cases embossed with gold, silver or enamel. The Carillon repeater usually has a chromatic sequence of three tones produced by bells that chime every quarter of an hour. Collectors are advised not to slam the case shut when closing repeater watches.

The article presents the mirrors which used to an expensive rarity but are difficult to sell today. American mirrors was an art form during the Federal period where they featured a crest trimmed with carved laurel swags, beading and cornucopias. By 1800 the convex mirror came into use where the typical frame had gilt border with small, gilt balls. Collectors are advised to check the back of a supposedly antique mirror frame for tool marks to determine its age.

The article discusses the fake antique tea caddies that could deceive antique collectors. It is advised to examine the style, form, and design, and check the date marks before purchasing a tea caddy since reproductions of these are still being made. It also discusses a brief history of tea caddies from 17th century until it became an antique collectibles in its comeback in the 20th century.

The article offers tips on buying and selling antiques and collectibles at auctions in the U.S. as of January 2012. It explains that auction houses like Garth's and Skinner are selective about what they accept for their auctions and that there are no guarantees that accepted items will sell for their estimated value. It talks about browsing the Internet for surprising auction results, noting that auction houses are flooded with items people want to consign due to the economic downturn.

This article reveals that rolling pins, just like other vintage and antique kitchen objects, are seriously collected. Rolling pins, often decorative and made of such materials as glass, copper or ceramics, come in various sizes. In 18th-century, some of the most beautiful examples were made of glass in Nailsea and other glass blowing centers in England. Handmade wooden rolling pins often decorated with varicolored woods or inlaid with ivory or bone are the ones collectors search for.

The article discusses shopping for antique folk art paintings. A background is offered on the 18th- and early 19th century paintings done by formal and traveling folk artists and their depiction of folk portraits. It offers guidelines on how to determine the price of a folk art painting, such as attribution to a known artist, the quality of the work, and the authenticity of the painting.

The article cites several reasons why an antique enthusiast cannot afford to collect ones including the rarity of the items and their historical significance.

The article features the odd chair names with shapes to match created in the 1960s and 1970s which were often made out of popular new materials introduced at the time, such as fiberglass, reinforced plastic or a combination of fiberglass, plastic and metal.

The article deals with the high-cost of purchasing antique music boxes. Parlor music boxes, with their golden oak cabinets and cases, were considered oddities and sold for less than a thousand dollars, including metal disc. These days, you can expect to pay $36,000 for a Regina Corona mahogany cabinet music box or $2,700 for a simple Regina Victorian music box.

The article focuses on the value of presentation pieces and their historical significance.

Offers tips on detecting the antiquity of redware.

Features several antique clocks available for auction in the U.S.

Presents information on the design of antique purses.

Discusses various types of antique tables, including butterfly tables.

Presents a letter to the editor in response to the article "The Antique Detective," published in a previous issue of the "Antiques & Collecting Magazine."

Focuses on the American Rockingham antiques made in Bennington, Virginia during the 19th century. History of Rockingham pottery; Features of a Bennington antique; Information on Bennington pitchers.