written by Luke Honey
The appeal of the toy soldier is as old as recorded history. Toy soldiers, or at least, more accurately, 'soldier figures in miniature,' have been discovered in the tombs of the Pharaohs in Ancient Egypt. The Romans manufactured miniature soldiers in lead- found in excavations in Spain, Britain, Germany, and Ethiopia- and intended, possibly, as children's playthings.
August 2022 was marked with a historical sale for Sports Memorabilia. First collector card with Mickey Mantle from 1952 sold for $12,6 million becoming the most expensive one ever sold. The growing market of Sports Memorabilia brings billions today. Maybe it's time to dust off your old card collection and see what is really worth?
written by Patrick Morgan
NFTs, crypto-currency, the blockchain. These are the investment buzzwords of Millennials and Generation Z. Digital wallets and virtual assets are certainly here to stay, but can they transform how we see, feel and appreciate art ? Or, for that matter, how we buy and sell art?
The aim of this article is to give a brief overview of this area of the antique furniture market, and to show what to look for in the category and recent trends in the market. The market has changed noticeably in the last 25 years.
by Angelina Barzey
Exquisite gold plated and encrusted diamond makeup compacts, Marilyn Monroe’s signature red lips, Greta Garbo’s flawless skin complexion… 1950’s was certainly a time where vintage makeup brands such as Max Factor, Maybelline, and Lancôme flourished in the industry. Today, people all around the world are collecting vintage makeup, and some have even sold for thousands of dollars. Read this article and learn more about antique makeup brands throughout history today!
by Tom Orr
For many, comic books are like a nostalgia speedway back to careless childhood. Our favourite and timeless heroes such as Spider-Man, Batman, X-men but also Asterix and Obelix, Tintin, and many others can still make clearing out the attic take longer time than it should. Today the comics are not only considered an entertainment but also a respected art form that inspired many bestselling and loved Hollywood productions and TV series. But did you ever wonder how much your old comic books may be worth? Read our Expert article and find out!
Vintage fashion can provide a thrill for fashionistas, history lovers, and niche collectors alike, so it is no wonder that today the area enjoys such a lucrative market amongst enthusiasts.
written by Joanna van der Lande
Ancient Greek bronze sculpture, 2000 years old Roman marble bust or maybe a turquoise scarab amulet straight from an ancient Egyptian tomb? Although in general those things belong in the museums, the collector's market for antiquities is growing and is as fascinating as ever. Who would not love to have a piece of ancient history in their collection! Read our Antiquities Expert explaining the joys and hardships of collecting ancient artefacts.
written by Valerie Hammond
For centuries the world has been mesmerised with shiny objects and precious metals. Diamonds used to be “a girl's best friend” and a person was thought to be wonderful if they were “worth their weight in gold“. But we also had “the silver screen“, “served on a silver platter“ and, of course, “look for the Silver Lining“ plus many other notable quotes about this wondrous metal.
Gold, shiny bright and very expensive. So, if all that glitters is not gold, could it be silver? Silver, a precious metal, shiny, bright and far more affordable.
written by Crispian Riley-Smith
It happens very rarely that the drawings by major Old Masters, such as Michelangelo come up for auction sales. And yet, the Art Market is full of surprises! Read a first hand report from this historical sale last month!
written by Urszula Frick
Whether it is an old photograph of our late relative, a majestic depiction of a royal in a coronation suit, or one of the many unknown faces caught in glittering baroque frames in a museum gallery, portraits are one of the most powerful images humans can create. Not only because they show a specific person but also because they often are a reflection of this person in a certain moment of their life, through the eyes of an artist.
written by Patrick Morgan
In the process where Western World is trying to make amends for its colonial past, many of the artworks got caught in the dispute of where they belong. Art repatriation is a delicate subject and as the objects looted during colonialism or war should be returned where they belong, the matter seems to still lack the clarity. Read more about the processes of cultural repatriation of art ant antiquities to the countries of their origin, and the influence this process has on the art market.
written by Nicholas Skeaping
Terrier, Corgi, Dachshund, Poodle, Pug, Boxer, Shiba Inu, German Shepherd, Greyhound or Mongrel. The breed really does not matter, dog owners will love them all unconditionally, treating them as family members. Read our article and unravel the dog-human relationship through the history of art.
written by Jean Lafortune
Collecting stamps is probably one of the most popular hobbies there is. You do not need a great knowledge to start just your curiosity and some patience. Your collection can reflect you interests, personality, profession or taste. Read the article and learn more about collecting stamps from our VMS Expert.
Since the beginning of recorded history, people have entertained themselves by playing and listening to music.
written by Jasper Jennings
Once a scientifically valuable visual representation of flora and fauna, today vintage bird and flower prints are finally praised for their artistic value and are becoming one of the favourite genre for prints collectors. Read about the history of natural history prints and tips on how to get them!
written by Crispian Riley-Smith
Collecting Old Master Drawing is fascinating and very rewarding to the collector. Drawings are the often the first glimpses, the sketches of the first ideas of something that later could have become a masterpiece. Read more if you are interested in how to start collecting Old Master drawings, where to look for them and how to take care of your collection.
Annie Lebovitz, Cindy Sherman, Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange or David LaChapelle are just some of the biggest names to know when it comes to collecting photography. But what to look for when you are just starting your photography collection? Check out ValueMyStuff's Buyer's Guide to Collecting Photography!
Written by Peter le Rossignol
What if you could enter a real treasure trove filled with the most amazing royal jewellery, glittering gems, diamonds and pearls, all in one place? Take a moment and let our Jewellery and Precious Stones Specialist guide you through the World’s most exquisite and famous pieces ever made!
Written by Patrick Morgan
Genuine, fake or forgery? In the field of tribal arts, these are by far, the most common questions asked of experts, whether a piece comes from Africa, Oceania or the Americas. Ultimately all tribal art artefacts will fall into one of these three categories and knowing the difference before buying is a crucial first step in building a respectable collection. Here are the expert tips on how to tell them apart!
