News Archives
There is still a place for Christmas cards, and they can make wonderful collectables
Greetings cards initially became popular in the United States in the 1880s, thanks to the development of offset lithography, a form of printing. Hallmark, one of the biggest names in greetings cards, has been around since the earliest days, when savvy British makers...
BRING IN YOUR GOLD, SILVER AND JEWELLERY TO BE AUCTIONED!
Gold, silver and jewellery are doing extremely well at auction, so if you have anything you would like valued, do bring it along to our saleroom and we would be happy to help. Alternatively, do send us an email or give us a call at sales@johnnicholsons.com or 01428...
Antiques and collectables play a role as important relics that bring vital links to heroes of the past
As Remembrance Day falls, it is worth recalling not just the fallen but the medals they received in recognition of their bravery and sacrifice. The field of campaign medal collecting can serve as a poignant reminder of those who have fallen, the qualities they had and...
It’s worth doing your homework when you buy or sell at auction
It’s worth doing your homework whether you are preparing to sell at auction or buy. One of the most important reasons is provenance. This is the history of ownership of an item. The more significant it is, the better, and if you can trace it back through solid...
How to assess items for value and auction lots for estimates
Watching the Antiques Roadshow recently, I was reminded of the most important question a professional should ask when valuing something: why are you having it valued? This is because valuations will differ depending on the answer. This might sound a little odd, but...
How did hallmarks come about and why are they so important?
The system of British hallmarks dates back a few centuries, but the concept of hallmarking dates back thousands of years, to the time when coins first emerged as currency. Individually stamped by local officials, those early coins would have been made of electrum (a...
Treasure chests! Three Louis Vuitton trunks sell for almost £260,000 at John Nicholson’s
When John Nicholson’s sold an exceptionally rare Louis Vuitton wardrobe steamer trunk dating from the 1920s or earlier for £162,500 including premium on June 11, it hit the headlines.Now, only a month later, another Explorer trunk has sold at the auctioneer’s for...
The Silly Season brings out the funny and bizarre, but also a reminder of the best in game painting
This time of year is what the media call the Silly Season, traditionally a period when news is thin on the ground and reporters will file copy on bizarre tales that wouldn’t normally make it into print. They do this because many newspapers and news websites are...
Tastes and technology may change, but a good eye will mean success in the long term at auction
I have just completed a Q&A for a trade magazine, and it made me think, once again, of how the public view not just auctions but the wider art and antiques trade. While there are still a few people running cobweb-ridden, cluttered shops in country backwaters,...