Innehållsförteckning för February 2026 från Kovels Antique Trader

It is difficult—if not downright impossible—to trace the true history of Valentine’s Day. There are enough stories about its origins to fill a box of assorted choco lates: some apocryphal, some unsubstan tiated, and a few with just enough truth to make them worth nibbling. The name Valentine comes from the Latin for “wor thy, strong, or powerful”—a solid resume for anyone planning to be a symbol of love, martyrdom, and greeting cards. Long before roses and paper lace entered the picture, ancient philosophers were trying to figure out why humans behaved so foolishly in love. During the second century A.D., the Roman physician Galen, following in Aristotle’s footsteps, decided the answer was simple: it was all in the blood. Galen believed the heart heated and churned the blood, which…

ARIZONA February 13-14, 2026, Phoenix. Phoenix Antiques, Bottles & Collectibles Club 43rd Antique Show & Sale. El Zaribah Shrine Auditorium & Conference Center, 552 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85008. Earlybird Friday ADM: 12pm-2pm $15.00. Gen. ADM: Friday 2-5 & Saturday 9-4. Show Hours: Opens Fri 12:00pm and ends Sat. 4:00pm. Contact: Patty George, blakelycollectibles@yahoo.com. 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…

Valentine’s Day has come a long way since its murky beginnings. The name Valentine itself comes from one, or perhaps several, early Christian martyrs remembered in Roman tradition. Legends vary. One tale describes a priest who defied Emperor Claudius II’s ban on marriage by performing weddings in secret. Another tells of a Valentine who healed his jailer’s daughter and signed her a tender note, “From your Valentine.” Whatever the truth, February 14 became associated with the memory of these martyrs in the 5th century, when the Catholic Church designated it as a feast day in their honor. However, romance as we think of it in modern times did not arrive all at once. It was not until the Middle Ages, Valentine’s Day became linked with courtly love. History credits the…

As much as apple pies and baseball are American traditions, so too are textiles. In fact, one of the most famous symbols of American identity is a piece of fabric: the American flag. Through the talented hand and creative mind of its original maker, Betsy Ross, colony unity was woven together into a piece of art. Many artistic and decorative objects made in the United States, both old and new, hold this ability. A statue of a famous statesman, a piece of paper with decorative calligraphy, and even the squares of a quilt made centuries ago can evoke a sense of time and place—whether good, bad, or in-between—from America’s past. Such is the basis of the upcoming exhibition, America 250: Common Threads. Opening on March 20 and continuing until July…

When it comes to jewelry dating to the 1930s, I have to admit that Mazer’s designs have always been a favorite of mine. Not that I run across these pieces very often at prices I’m willing to pay, but when I do, I’m thrilled. One of the reasons this jewelry is so special is the quality. Many costume jewelry companies employed skilled craftsmen and designers with high jewelry experience during the Great Depression—Mazer was no exception. In fact, Joseph Mazer owned a fine jewelry establishment before he ever went into business with his brother, but that’s just the beginning of the story. The History of Mazer Bros. The Mazer brothers, Joseph and Louis, started making shoe buckles in the early 1920s. By 1927, they were producing beautiful costume jewelry in…

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, suitors often carved love tokens out of whatever material was at hand. For sailors, a common material was sperm whale teeth. Sailors on whaling voyages spent months or even years at sea pining for their wives and sweethearts and passed the time by making special gifts for them of scrimshaw—the folk art of etching designs onto teeth, as well as bone. These love tokens often depict ships, portraits of loved ones, and patriotic imagery. At its Holiday Auction: Fine Arts, Décor, Modern and Antique Furnishings, Estate Jewelry and Maritime Auction on December 6, Rafael Osona Auctions of Nantucket, Massachusetts, offered more than two dozen whale teeth. The top lot was a scrimshaw whale tooth with an etching of the ship Wiscasset and the words…

From the tip of his chef’s hat to his blue button eyes, scarf, and that signature giggle, Poppin’ Fresh (better known as the Pillsbury Doughboy) has been a cultural icon since 1965, rising to stardom quicker than Grands! Biscuits inflate in the oven. Super collectors Lial and Sandy Miller of Willow Spring, North Carolina, and Bailey Essary of New Douglas, Illinois, have turned their fascination with the Pillsbury mascot into full-blown collections. In separate interviews, the Millers and Bailey shared how their love for the Pillsbury Doughboy began and what keeps them collecting. “Thirty years ago, Sandy saw a commercial and the Doughboy giggled, and she giggled because it was cute. That weekend, we found a Doughboy cookie jar, and I lifted the head. The jar giggles, she giggles and…

In 2026, the Lunar New Year begins on February 17. It is commonly called the Chinese New Year, although many countries across East and Southeast Asia celebrate. Each year is associated with one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. 2026 is the Year of the Horse. Japan observed the Lunar New Year until 1873, when the Gregorian calendar was offi cially adopted. Despite the calendar change, the twelve zodiac animals have remained important in Japanese culture. This ivory netsuke dates to the late 19th century and may have been made before the switch to the Gregorian calendar. It shows the zodiac animals clustered together, a design that has been carved by several artists. This one is signed by Toyosai. The age and signature, along with the highly skilled…