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In 1987, Yvonne Oriel found her granddaughter playing with two of her Swarovski crystal hedgehogs. ‘Playing’ is probably...
02/09/2025

In 1987, Yvonne Oriel found her granddaughter playing with two of her Swarovski crystal hedgehogs. ‘Playing’ is probably the wrong description; she was banging them together. Clearly Yvonne’s collection needed a bit more protection, so she started looking for a display cabinet and then gave up smoking to get the cash to buy one when she found it.
Then she started filling the cabinet with more Swarovski crystal figures, until she had 108 of them. Yvonne passed away at the age of 90 and her collection, which is estimated at around $40,000, will go up for auction at Potteries Auctions in the UK on September 11.
"The Swarovski collection didn't just bring my grandmother joy – it prolonged her life," says granddaughter Leanne Gething, who has consigned the collection. "Those hedgehogs represent so much more than crystal figures. They represent the moment beautiful objects inspired a healthier choice." And yes, the hedgehogs are included in the sale, in a small group lot with an estimate of around $200. Other highlights include an elegant paradise roller bird (estimated at $400-$800), a kingfisher from the Paradise Birds collection (estimated at $600-$1200), and coveted Disney figurines including Mickey Sorcerer and Daisy Duck (expected to sell for $700-$1200 each).

In 1942, British couple Pamela and Dudley White were involved in wartime military operations, Pamela as a signals office...
19/08/2025

In 1942, British couple Pamela and Dudley White were involved in wartime military operations, Pamela as a signals officer and David as a naval officer. On one occasion when the pair had shore leave they stayed at the Queens Hotel in Southsea, and when they left they took a silver teaspoon with them. Fast forward 83 years and the couple’s son John was looking through his mother’s effects at his home in Bundanoon, New South Wales, when he came across the spoon – and decided to return it to the hotel. "We thought it would be a nice gesture if we could send it back to the hotel and apologise for having it for so long and hope they hadn't missed it too much", said John, who sent the spoon back with a letter explaining that his parents had borrowed it during a stay at the hotel during WWII. The hotel's manager, Paul Playford, said, "We have a little curiosity cabinet, so it's going to live there along with the pictures and the letter." The hotel no longer uses silver cutlery.

If you’ve got a spare US$3m, the Force may well be with you in September when the lightsabre prop used by Darth Vader fo...
15/08/2025

If you’ve got a spare US$3m, the Force may well be with you in September when the lightsabre prop used by Darth Vader for duel scenes with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in the final acts of both The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983) comes up for auction.
It’s made from a British press camera flash handle that was converted with plastic grips, small electrical wires and a circuit board. And it’s estimated to sell for US$1-3m. ‘This is believed to be the only hero lightsabre prop with verifiable screen-use to ever be offered at public auction,’ says the Propstore website. ‘It is one of the rarest and most sought after “grail” Star Wars props in existence.’ The lightsabre is part of the three-day live streamed event being held in Los Angeles from September 3 to 6, with more than 1000 lots of TV and movie memorabilia.
https://propstoreauction.com/auctions/info/id/456

One of the first ever examples of a so-called coffee table book has sold at a UK auction for $98,000 after being discove...
14/08/2025

One of the first ever examples of a so-called coffee table book has sold at a UK auction for $98,000 after being discovered in the back of a closet in Maryland, USA. The book - Life and Landscape on the Norfolk Broads - which was published in 1886 in a deluxe edition of just 25 copies, presents 40 platinum prints of the Norfolk Broads in photographs taken by Peter Henry Emerson, whose original plates were later destroyed. Born in Cuba to an American father and British mother, Emerson was a trailblazer in the medium of photography. At the forefront of the newly-formed Camera Club of London in 1885, he spent the next decade documenting the life and scenery of the Norfolk Broads and Great Yarmouth. A spokesperson for auctioneers Roseberys said, “Emerson is widely regarded to be the first man to elevate photography to an art form.” The book had been wrapped in brown paper and stored in a closet, where it hadn’t been touched for decades.

From the world’s first printed object to the world’s most famous pop group...Considered to be the most important rare bo...
23/07/2025

From the world’s first printed object to the world’s most famous pop group...

Considered to be the most important rare book event in Australasia, the Melbourne Rare Book Fair celebrates 55 years when it opens on Thursday July 31 at the University of Melbourne. And in true celebratory style, there will be some extraordinary items offered for sale – including the Hyakumantō Dhāraṇī, which was created in Japan between 764-770 CE and is the world’s first printed object.

Also on show will be one of only three letters written on board the HMS Beagle during Charles Darwin’s voyages of scientific discovery, and a hand coloured first edition of the world’s first illustrated encyclopaedia, the 1493 Nuremberg Chronicle.

If that sounds a little too rarified, you’ll also find books by Tolkien, Ian Fleming and Kenneth Grahame alongside May Gibbs, terrestrial globes and maps, a signed portrait of Maria Callas and a magazine autographed by all four of The Beatles.

The event covers rare books, maps and works on paper at the largest antiquarian book fair in the southern hemisphere, where it brings together the world’s leading rare book experts and dealers.

Hosted by the Australian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers (ANZAAB), the Melbourne Rare Book Fair has celebrated a long and rich connection with books and literature for 55 years, says convener and ANZAAB Vice-President Tim White. “It has become an essential part of the global rare book calendar. This year Melbourne hosts the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers Symposium, bringing distinguished speakers from around the world to our UNSECO City of Literature. For collectors, scholars and enthusiasts alike, the Melbourne Rare Book Fair is a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of rare books and history and perhaps take some of it home with them.” Maybe even the world’s first printed object…

The 2025 Melbourne Rare Book Fair runs from July 31 to August 2 at Wilson Hall, The University of Melbourne, and admission is free. For more information go to www.rarebookfair.com

A Union Jack that was flown from HMS Spartiate at the Battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805, has sold at Christie’s Lo...
16/07/2025

A Union Jack that was flown from HMS Spartiate at the Battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805, has sold at Christie’s London for $2.22million. This Union Flag would have been flown prominently by HMS Spartiate, most likely from the foretopgallant stay, as she sailed slowly towards the waiting line of the Franco-Spanish fleet off Cape Trafalgar. Under ordinary circumstances Union Jacks were flown only when in port, from a jack staff on the ship's bowsprit, and their use in battle at Trafalgar was in accordance with a specific order issued by Nelson only 11 days beforehand, on 10 October 1805: 'When in presence of the Enemy, all the ships under my command are to bear White Colours [i.e. the White Ensign] and a Union Jack is to be suspended from the foretopgallant stay'. This was to enable the British ships to recognise each other in the confusion of battle: Nelson insisted on a yellow and black paint scheme for his ships, the 'Nelson Chequer', for the same reason.
Click here to read more:
https://antiquestovintage.com.au/snippet/flying-the-flag-for-2-22m/

It took 10 minutes and nine determined collectors, but in the end it was a Japanese private collector who won the prize ...
13/07/2025

It took 10 minutes and nine determined collectors, but in the end it was a Japanese private collector who won the prize – the original Birkin handbag – for a record-breaking $15.19m.
Yes, that’s right – ‘m’ for million. For a handbag. Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's global head of handbags and fashion, said the price was a "startling demonstration of the power of a legend and its capacity to ignite the passion and desire of collectors seeking exceptional items with unique provenance, to own its origin.”
Click here to read more:
https://antiquestovintage.com.au/snippet/is-this-fashion-historys-most-coveted-accessory/

After celebrating 40 years in May, Brisbane’s Empire Revival has also announced its expansion.Originally known as The Pa...
04/07/2025

After celebrating 40 years in May, Brisbane’s Empire Revival has also announced its expansion.
Originally known as The Paddington Antique Centre and housed in the spectacular heritage-listed Plaza Theatre on Latrobe Street, the business opened in May 1985 with a small group of independent traders and today has more than 60 antique dealers, artisan makers, jewellers, designers, stylists and treasure-hunters operating from the vintage theatre that was built in 1929.
Owner Suzy Baines took over the business in 2008 and rebranded it to Empire Revival in 2018. She says, “We’re proudly local and deeply collaborative. Every visit feels a bit different.” From antique furniture and Art Deco jewellery to vintage fashion, bespoke tiles and a huge selection of second-hand books, there’s plenty to see at this bustling centre, including the rotating exhibitions at the Loft Gallery.
So where will Empire Revival be opening next? Well, in keeping with the current Brisbane venue of an old theatre, the business will be expanding into the Great Hall of the Art Deco Regent Theatre in the charming New South Wales town of Murwillumbah. “It’s a beautiful, heritage-listed space that has been thoughtfully renovated,” says Suzy. Empire Revival will be joining a whole host of creative businesses in the town’s Arts Precinct. Opening dates have yet to be confirmed.

How much would you pay for a record sleeve? That is, just the sleeve – no record? Well someone thought a price of $46,60...
01/07/2025

How much would you pay for a record sleeve? That is, just the sleeve – no record? Well someone thought a price of $46,600 was reasonable enough when they bid for a scarce picture sleeve from 1966. And no, it wasn’t the Beatles or the Stones: it was a promo single for The Velvet Underground, released to promote the band’s upcoming debut studio album and quite possibly never containing any vinyl. The sleeve – one of only four or five known to exist – carried an estimate of $25,000 and was sold by UK auction house Omega.

A last minute rescue for Moorcroft PotteryTo paraphrase Mark Twain, the reports of Moorcroft Pottery’s closure were grea...
25/06/2025

A last minute rescue for Moorcroft Pottery

To paraphrase Mark Twain, the reports of Moorcroft Pottery’s closure were greatly exaggerated. To be more precise, they weren’t exaggerated so much as premature. When news broke in April that the firm had ceased trading and been placed in liquidation, the general consensus was that the pottery would be closed for good; an auction and recovery service was engaged to dispose of he assets for the creditors. But that didn’t take into account the determination of William J Moorcroft, the grandson of founder William Moorcroft, who pulled together an offer in which all assets have been purchased, including Moorcroft’s stock of art pottery, trial pieces and historic archive.
“The return of Moorcroft is wonderful, not just for the ceramics industry but for the city of Stoke-on-Trent,’ said William J. Moorcroft. “We look forward to an exciting future that continues the legacy of my grandfather, William; my uncle, Walter; and my late father, John.” Production is slated to recommence in July.

Remember when everyone was playing Pokémon? If you’re older than a teenager, the craze – which started in 1996 when the ...
23/06/2025

Remember when everyone was playing Pokémon? If you’re older than a teenager, the craze – which started in 1996 when the Pokémon franchise was launched - might have passed you by, but today there are thousands of collectors of Pokémon cards and they’re spending up big. Really big, in some cases.

You’d better be sitting down for this. The world record for a Pokémon card is US$5.275m. That’s the amount paid in July 2021 by US YouTuber and professional wrestler Logan Paul (more on him in a minute) for a 1998 Pokémon Japanese Promo Illustrator – Holo, considered to be the rarest card in the world. On a (much) smaller scale, however, the cards are also making inroads in the world of traditional antiques, as provincial auction houses in the UK are including them in their sales – and getting thousands of pounds for them. At Lay’s Auctions in Penzance, Cornwall, a set of Pokémon cards in their timed online sale of Coins, Railways and Collectables attracted 138 bids and sold for $29,000 (estimate $200-400). Another group of cards in the same sale, with the same estimate, made $17,000. “Given that this is Lay’s first foray into the Pokémon world, we were delighted with the result we achieved,” said a spokesperson for the auction house. “Our vendor had no idea they had such a valuable collection.”

A report in the UK trade newspaper Antiques Trade Gazette says the spike of interest in buying and selling the trading cards can be pinpointed to the lockdown period of 2020, when many people cleared out their lofts and attics and rediscovered forgotten collections. And this is where Logan Paul entered the picture. He spent lockdown creating YouTube shows in which he would buy and unbox a previously unopened set of cards to see if it happened to contain a rare edition – for example, a Charizard, which is from the first generation of Pokémon and is rare, but even more so in the limited edition holographic run (a 1995 example with a scarce blue back has a suggested value of US$493,230 according to the Vaulted Collection website). Paul’s unboxing of his cards – the video is called ‘I bought a $200,000 box of Pokémon cards’ – attracted 12 million viewers. By October 2020, the term ‘Pokémon’ had climbed to 30th spot for the most searched-for term amongst users of thesaleroom.com – up from its previous ranking of around 800.

Which is why they’re now popping up in auction houses across the UK and also here in Australia. The London firm of Stanley Gibbons Baldwin – known for its sales of stamps, coins and medals – has been holding Pokémon and trading cards auctions online for the past two years. “In one case, a gentleman who used to collect cards with his daughters was offered £18,000 from someone who came to his house. We are selling his collection at auction and have so far generated £180,000 for him, with more to come,” said spokesperson Roy Raftery when speaking to the ATG. And it may only get bigger: in 2026 the Pokémon franchise turns 30.

Want to keep in touch with what's going on? Go to our BRAND NEW website:
www.antiquestovintage.com.au
You'll find Snippets, Features, lots of Events (upcoming fairs and auctions), Restore and Repair information, Courses and Associations and hundreds and hundreds of items for sale from trusted, professional dealers. It's amazing!

It was estimated to sell for around $15,000; a 1965 pop-art inspired mini dress that was part of a small single-owner fa...
11/06/2025

It was estimated to sell for around $15,000; a 1965 pop-art inspired mini dress that was part of a small single-owner fashion collection that belonged to the late American model Peggy Moffiit. But fierce competition saw the bidding end up at ten times the estimate with the dress being knocked down to a museum at $192,500 (including buyer’s premium). Designed by Pierre Cardin, it’s thought that Peggy probably acquired the dress as payment for a modelling job she did for Cardin in Paris in 1965. The cyclamen pink silk of the dress was entirely covered in shocking pink sequins and black spots, with the upper edge and straps backed in pink chiffon. The image shown here was taken by Peggy’s husband, photographer Bill Claxton. “Claxton’s images of his wife wearing these incredible clothes added to the value of the works,” said auctioneer Kerry Taylor from Kerry Taylor Auctions (London, Paris and Jersey City). “Whenever a garment was illustrated by a photograph of Peggy wearing it the bidding escalated.” A case in point: the infamous monokini. It caused a scandal in 1964 when Claxton photographed Peggy wearing the swimsuit, which exposed the wearer’s breasts as a political and feminist statement. The monokini sold to another museum for a top estimate price of $20,500.

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