Innehållsförteckning för January 2026 från Kovels Antique Trader

One of this year's most galactic auctions took place at Sotheby's in July. A 54-pound Martian meteorite, named Northwest Africa 16788 (NWA 16788), attracted a record $5.3 million and was sold to a bidder who has since remained anonymous. NWA 16788 was discovered by a meteorite hunter in 2023 in Niger's Sahara Desert near the city of Agadez. Laboratory analysis determined that the meteorite was a genuine fragment of the Martian crust. Scientists believe it was blasted off Mars about five million years ago by a powerful asteroid strike before wandering the solar system and eventually landing in the sands of Agadez. Meteorites do appear at auctions from time to time; however, Martian specimens remain exceptionally rare. Fewer than 500 confirmed pieces exist, and most weigh in at only a…

TIFFANY STUDIOS “NASTURTIUM” TABLE LAMP Louis Comfort Tiffany was one of America's preeminent masters of the decorative arts. His Tiffany Studios became famous for achievements in glass, especially vibrantly colored windows and lamps. Public taste shifted during the 1920s, and the scrolls and natural curves central to Tiffany's designs fell out of favor. Scholars rediscovered his work in the 1950s, followed by the art market a decade later. Today, Tiffany Studios pieces are prized for their high production quality, natureinspired designs, and stunning colored glass. This Tiffany Studios “Nasturtium” Table Lamp, circa 1905, 23 1/2 inches high with a 19-inch shade, sold for $175,000 on February 1 during the Fine and Decorative Arts Auction at Fontaine's Auction Gallery. Bob Dylan Poster and Lyrics After suffering serious injuries in a motorcycle…

On the battlefield of social peacocking between old money and new wealth during the Gilded Age, sumptuous jewelry was the most potent weapon. For the Vanderbilts, America's wealthiest family during that time, their magnificent jewels, made by the most prominent luxury brands like Cartier and Tiffany & Co., were emblematic of their standing as the pinnacle of high society. A collection of twelve dazzling pieces from Gladys Vanderbilt's collection, amassed during the Gilded Age and Belle Époque era, from around 1870 through 1914, went up for auction at Phillips Geneva on November 10 to robust enthusiasm. The glittering star of the sale was “The Vanderbilt Sapphire,” an exceptional diamond and sapphire brooch made by Tiffany & Co. in the early 20th century. It achieved a whopping $3.57 million, more than…

CALIFORNIA Every first Sunday of the month, Alameda. Alameda Point Antiques Faire, 3900 Maine St., Alameda, CA. The Alameda Point Antiques Faire is the largest antiques show in Northern California, boasting 800 dealer booths. All items are 20 years old or older. For more info, visit alamedapointantiquesfaire.com. Every second Sunday of the month, Pasadena. World's largest flea market at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena. More than over 2 million items offered for sale by more than 2,500 vendors. Shop for rare and unusual, vintage collectibles, antiques, new items, arts and crafts and second-hand items. SH: early birds, 5-9am; regular admission: 9am-3pm. For more info, visit rgcshows.com or call 323-560-7469. Every second Sunday of the month, Sacramento. Sacramento Antique Faire, located at Sleep Train Arena, East Entrance, Sacramento. SH: 6:30am-3pm, rain or…

Looking back on 2025 feels like opening a box I packed months ago and forgot about (something that my recent move has provided in spades). There is a mixture of surprise, recognition, and a bit of nostalgia that comes when you rediscover the things that tether you to who you once were (home dweller, digital editor) while simultaneously freeing you to move into a new phase (apartment dweller, magazine editor). This year marked a shift for Kovels Antique Trader as we stepped into a new editorial chapter. I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge the steady hand that guided this magazine for so many years. Paul Kennedy's leadership shaped the voice, the wonder, and the sense of fun that our readers have come to rely on. Being given…

An antique crock made in honor of a family house cat stole the spotlight (as cats typically do) at Crocker Farm's fall stoneware auction that closed on November 15. Made in the 19th century and well-known among stoneware enthusiasts, the circa 1850 crock sold for $170,000, more than four times its high estimate of $40,000. The special and historically significant five-gallon crock, standing 14 inches high, has what is considered the finest-known depiction of a house cat in 19th-century American ceramics. The delightful folk art decorated piece depicts a cat playing with a ball of yarn and has bold cobalt blue swaths that form the cat's body, forehead, and ball, slip trailing to its face, arms, and tail, and upswept slip-trailed swags throughout its body. Below the cat is heavy…

It may be the 21st century, but a major retro renaissance is giving styles from past decades a second life through the design concept called “Newtro.” A fusion of the words “new” plus “retro,” Newtro is an aesthetic that blends antique or vintage pieces with modern functionality. The main foundations of Newtro design—furniture, lighting, and retro color palettes—are giving things like antique armoires, oversized lounge chairs from the ‘90s, and bold ‘80s hues like neon pink (in small doses) the spotlight again. Another component of Newtro is mixing retro-inspired electronics with modern technology, such as vintage-style radios with USB outputs and throwback turntables with Bluetooth. The Retro Revival The Newtro design concept, which originated in South Korea, celebrates and reinterprets vintage styles from the ‘70s to ‘90s (mid-century is also…

Philadelphia is just one of many places across the country that is celebrating the United States Semiquincentennial. Here is a list of exhibitions, programming, and more taking place this year at some of the nation's biggest arts and history institutions. Christie's During its Americana week, the auction house Christie's is honoring the Semiquincentennial with two major sales. The first is The American Collector on January 13 that will offer both Americana, ranging from folk to silver to rare books, and objects once owned by important American figures. Following the event will be the We the People: America at 250 auction on January 23. It will celebrate America's 250th with a sale of arts and decorative works alongside important historical documents and books, such as Founding Father Rufus King's printed and…

When you're known as the Prince of Darkness, you naturally need a special throne. The late heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne had several, in fact. One of these, the personal throne he used at his final public appearance, was a highlight at Goldin's Fall Music Memorabilia Auction, which closed on November 12. The black gothic-style one-of-a-kind piece sold for $23,180. Adorned with skulls, a bat, and two gold lions on each of the armrests, Osbourne used it at the Comic Con Midlands in Birmingham, England, on July 12, 2025, ten days before he died at the age of 76. It's signed, “Ozzy Osbourne Was Here,” a fitting touch to his last appearance and a final testament to his enduring influence. Goldin offered more than 500 treasures of some of music's…

While the festivities may have lasted for all of 1876, one event stands out not just as a celebration of U.S. history, but also of the nation's place on the world stage: the Centennial Exhibition. Formally named the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufacturers, and Products of the Soil and Mine, the exhibition was held on May 10 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was the first World's Fair in the United States. The many visitors to the exposition (over 10,000,000, when it ended on November 10) enjoyed the sights of several buildings constructed specifically for it, including the first Women's Pavilion at a World's Fair. But there was one popular structure at the Fair in Philadelphia that had been there much longer; in fact, it is considered the birthplace of the United…