Hunting Down the Most Collectible Movie Posters, from 1930s Horror to 1960s Sci-Fi

Rudy Franchi knows movie posters inside and out. That’s because he’s more than a poster dealer, more than an Antiques Roadshow appraiser, more even than a respected author on the subject. Franchi is also a film buff, as his years running the Bleecker Street Cinema in New York City attest. In this wide-ranging interview, Franchi talks about how he got his start in the movie-poster business, and the life experiences that prepared him for his … (continue reading)

The Charms of Christmas Ephemera and the Changing Face of Santa Claus

Dolph Gotelli is a professor emeritus of design at the University of California, Davis. Gotelli is well known in the Christmas community for his elaborate exhibits and seasonal displays, which feature items from his collections of ephemera, Santa Clauses, and Christmas-related toys. Recently, we spoke with Gotelli about Christmas in the Victorian era, which is his specialty and chief passion. A member of the Golden Glow of Christmas Past,  Gotelli can be contacted via … (continue reading)

Vintage Christmas Ornaments, From Cardboard Dresdens to Silvered Kugels

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 them—from the embossed cardboard ornaments made in Dresden to the wire-strung glass-bead ornaments of Czechoslovakia…. (continue reading)

How Miriam Haskell Costume Jewelry Bucked Trends and Won Over Hollywood

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 some of Hollywood’s most glittering stars. No, Pamfiloff is also impressed by the moxie of … (continue reading)

Collecting James Bond, Doctor Who, and The Beatles

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 sought after by collectors, recalls some of the most interesting items she’s ever listed for … (continue reading)

Why People Flip Over Vintage Pinball Machines

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 college, video games were really big. I went to Purdue University. They had a huge … (continue reading)

Mid-Century Modern Furniture, from Marshmallow Sofas to Hans Wegner Chairs

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 of these … (continue reading)

Vintage Swimwear Expert Pam Fierro Explains How Bathing Suits Got Skimpy

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 opposed to showing everything off, like the modern string bikinis do. It’s more modest and … (continue reading)

Jewelry as Sculpture: The Birth of Modernist Studio Jewelry

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.

My background is in fine art. My B.A. was in Art Education, so I started … (continue reading)

Dress Hound Cherie Federau Explains How She Makes Vintage Work for Her

Cherie Federau talks about vintage dresses, discussing the various types of dresses and how to identify the eras they originate from, as well as noting celebrity and cultural influences. Cherie can be contacted via her blog, The Shrimpton Couture Blog.

I’ve pretty much always been a little bit fashion-nutty, ever since I was about 16 years old and I discovered Vogue. I started like a lot of other people, buying vintage to recreate the looks … (continue reading)

Jim Schottenham Casts His Net for Vintage Fishing Reels

Jim Schottenham talks about antique fishing reels, discussing their history, the different styles and designs, the materials that were used, and some tips on how to identify your reel. He notes prolific reel makers, such as Pflueger and William Billinghurst, and acknowledges lesser-known craftsmen. Jim works for Lang’s Sporting Collectibles and is the president of the Old Reel Collectors Association. He can be contacted via his website Side-Mount Reels, which is a member of … (continue reading)

Carole Tanenbaum on Costume Jewelry’s ‘Wow’ Factor

Carole Tanenbaum talks about vintage costume jewelry, discussing the major designers (such as Coco Chanel, Schiaparelli, Trifari, and Schreiner), popular fashion trends, and the origins of costume jewelry. She can be contacted at her website, caroletanenbaum.com.

My husband and I have many collections. We were in London at one point in the ’80s, and I saw a fabulous collection of vintage costume jewelry. Each item was like a little object of art. I … (continue reading)

Coca-Cola’s Historian and Archivist Talks About His Favorite Frosty Beverage

Phil Mooney was the historian and archivist for The Coca-Cola Company for three decades. In 2009, we spoke with Mooney about Coca-Cola collectibles, the artists who created many of Coke’s most famous images, and some of the rarest pieces he’s ever seen.

As the archivist for Coca-Cola, I’m interested in preserving the history of this company. Integrally tied to that history are all of the things that we’ve used to market and promote the products. … (continue reading)

In Postal History, Every Stamp Tells a Story

Richard Frajola talks about postal history, discussing covers, stamp designs and markings, and the detective work involved in determining how letters got to their destination in the 19th century. He can be contacted via his website, PhilaMercury, which is a member of our Hall of Fame.

I have a stamp collection, but I don’t consider myself a collector. I have a collection of my initials on stamps from Great Britain. I’ve been collecting those for … (continue reading)

Jonathan Snellenburg Ticks off the History of Watches and Clocks

Jonathan Snellenburg is the Director of Watches and Clocks for Bonhams New York. Snellenburg holds a Ph.D. in geochemistry, did post-doctoral work in extraterrestrial geology at the American Museum of Natural History, and graded diamonds as a gemologist for the Gemological Institute of America. Recently we spoke with Snellenburg about the impact of culture and technology on the evolution of timepieces, as well as the opportunities for novice and seasoned collectors alike.

I grew up outside of … (continue reading)