By Maribeth Keane and Jessica Lewis, Collectors Weekly Staff (Copyright 2009)

Jerry and Darla Arnold know how to do Christmas right. With thousands of antique Christmas ornaments in their collection, it takes almost two-dozen trees just to showcase a fraction of their bounty every year. Recently, Jerry spoke with us and shared his deep knowledge of German Christmas ornaments in the United States and the variety of materials used to make …

By Kurt M. Semon

This article discusses household silver in the first half of the 18th century, noting its foreign influences in style (especially French) and silversmith Paul Lamerie, of whom the most information has been preserved over time. It originally appeared in the January 1946 issue of American Collector magazine, a publication which ran from 1933-1948 and served antique collectors and dealers.

Possession of silver articles has always been …

By Evangeline H. Bergstrom

This article talks about paperweights that were created using pinchbeck, or fake gold, noting their production processes and the materials used, and describing some specific examples. It originally appeared in the November 1945 issue of American Collector magazine, a publication which ran from 1933-1948 and served antique collectors and dealers.

An insurance broker picks up his telephone, and recognizes the voice of one of his clients, a …

By Maribeth Keane and Jessica Lewis, Collectors Weekly Staff (Copyright 2009)

Sheila Pamfiloff is such a fan of Miriam Haskell jewelry that she co-authored (with Cathy Gordon) a book on the costume-jewelry legend and her company. For Pamfiloff, the Haskell story is not just about how Haskell almost single-handedly elevated tapestry beading to a fine art, or the fact that she was one of the biggest suppliers of fashion jewelry to …

Ever wonder how Antiques Roadshow really works? How they pick who gets on TV? Whether the people on the show have fun? Whether the appraisers really know what they’re talking about?

As longtime fans, we’d always been curious about Roadshow. So when we were offered backstage passes for the show’s August 2009 taping in San Jose, and free rein to wander the set and talk to whomever we wanted, we …

By Jessica Lewis, Collectors Weekly Staff (Copyright 2009)

Stephanie Connell gets to play with some of the coolest collectibles on the planet. As an Entertainment Memorabilia Specialist with Bonhams in London, she spends her days casting her critical eye on James Bond movie posters, Beatles merchandising products, and costumes worn by the various actors who have played Doctor Who. In this interview, Connell tells Collectors Weekly which actors are most …

By Maribeth Keane and Ben Marks, Collectors Weekly Staff (Copyright 2009)

Clay Harrell talks about collecting vintage pinball machines, and his personal road to pinball wizardry, from Gottlieb to Williams to Stern. He can be reached via his website, PinballHQ.com, or check out some of his personal collection.

I didn’t really get into to pinball machine collecting until maybe 15 years ago, but when I was a freshman in …

By Maribeth Keane and Jessica Lewis (Copyright 2009)

Ray Kilinski talks about collecting vintage Coca-Cola memorabilia. He discusses the differences between old and new Coca-Cola items, favorite pieces from his collection, and the hobby in general—from the way people specialize to events held by clubs.

I started collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia back in the early 1970s. I was working the night shift at a company, and as I walked home one morning …

By Ben Marks, Collectors Weekly Staff (Copyright 2009)

Frank Maraschiello is the vice president of the 20th-Century Decorative Arts department at Bonham’s, New York. Recently we spoke with Maraschiello about Mid-century Modern design, from George Nelson’s famous marshmallow couch to Eames chairs to the furniture of George Nakashima.

Mid-century Modern used the technology of mass production to produce good-looking pieces of furniture out of the latest materials. A number …

Anybody who collects vintage 20th-century American music posters is probably aware of Hatch Show Print, a letterpress shop in Nashville that’s been in continuous operation since its founding in 1879. Known for its simple, well designed posters for performers like Johnny Cash, Elvis, Hank Williams, and Dolly Parton, the shop’s history was celebrated in a beautiful book published in 2001 by Chronicle Books.

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By Maribeth Keane and Jessica Lewis, Collectors Weekly Staff (Copyright 2009)

Pam Fierro talks about the evolution of vintage swimwear from the 1920s through the 1980s. She discusses the changing styles, famous designers, and the various materials that were used. Pam can be contacted via her blog, Glamoursplash.

I started collecting swimwear in 2000 or 2001. I really like how vintage swimwear looks on people. It accentuates the body as …

By Maribeth Keane and Jessica Lewis, Collectors Weekly Staff (Copyright 2009)

Marbeth Schon discusses American modernist studio jewelry, noting its most popular designers, the materials used, and the movement’s rise in popularity. She talks about influential museum exhibits, as well the ways in which designers took inspiration from each other. Marbeth can be contacted via her website, MSchon.com.

My background is in fine art. My B.A. was in Art Education, so …