Photo Credit: abcdz2000

In 1996, a rare Korean dragon jar from the 17th century was sold for $8.5 million at Christie’s in New York.  It far exceeds its conservative pre-sale estimate of $400,000 to $600,000 because it has a crack running down the side and a firing crack in the base. The buyer who bid by telephone was not disclosed.

This nearly 19-inch rare ceramic jar has a beautiful inlaid dragon design depicted as chasing the pearl of wisdom around the baluster-shaped jar.  The image is boldly drawn with black-brown iron oxide instead of the usual blue and white.  It is the largest version known of this type produced, at a pottery kiln in Gwangju, Korea, in the early 17th century during the Choson Dynasty.  It was believed that during this period ceramic ware was considered to represent the highest quality of achievements from kilns.  White porcelains were preferred because it reflects the ideals of Confucian state.  These “dragon jars” were believed to have been made for ceremonial use.

Photo Credit: RADIUS26

According to the head of Christie’s department of Korean and Japanese art, Sebastian Izzard, he had not known that the jar existed until it was shown to him in 1995 and that it was probably in storage for 50 years.  He said that similar and much smaller pieces are in the National Museum of Korea in Seoul as well as in two other museums in South Korea, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Ataka Collection in Osaka, Japan.

Photo Credit: Elkman

Derek Price died in 1983 and his interpretation of the mechanics of the device is now largely contested and dismissed by other researchers. 

According to Michael Wright of Imperial College in London, some important points in the basis for Price’s reconstruction could not be supported.  He does not agree with Price’s concept of differential gears.  It could be an epicyclic arrangement in which wheels orbit around other wheels but its function is not at all differential. 

Michael Wright was the curator of the mechanical engineering at the Science Museum in London when he first became interested in the device.  He collaborated with Allan Bromley, a computer scientist from Sidney University.  Bromley, who died in 2002, had helped him in the analysis of the tomography of the device. Wright made a reconstruction in 2002 based on his research and on the results of the linear tomography of the device.

Wright is confident that his model is a more sensible reconstruction and made better sense of what they found in the original fragments.  His reconstruction not only models the motions of the sun and moon but also the five other planets known then.  He believed his reconstruction of the mechanism as a planetarium closed the link between the complicated technology we have known all about since Price published his work and the literary accounts of planetariums that we have known for a very long time, and that the mechanism is the first solid point we have in the history of mechanical technology.

Photo Credit: Mauricio Pellegrinetti

A new team was formed to further investigate the workings and purpose of the device.  The Antikythera Mechanism Research Project is a joint program between Cardiff University, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, X-Tek Systems UK and Hewlett-Packard USA, funded by the Leverhulme Trust and the Cultural Foundation of the National Bank of Greece.

The Antikythera Mechanism on permanent display at the National Archeological Museum in Athens includes background information on its chance discovery, the three largest and primary fragments, the results of the radiographs analysis, and the replica built by Derek de Solla Price on the basis of the said x-rays.

The study of this mechanism’s actual purpose and the full range of its capabilities will continue with the advancement of modern technology.

Photo Credit: destinelee

To all antique lovers who will have more free time on their hands this summer, the following is a list of shows for the month of July.  Pack light so you can have more space for the items that you will surely acquire when you attend these events.

• Annual Summer Show and Sale in Denver
  July 18 – 20, 10 am – 6 pm for Friday and Saturday; 11 am – 5 pm for Sunday
  Venue: The Denver Merchandise Mart Expo Building
  Admission Fee: USD$8.00 for the whole event
  160 dealers, free parking, food available inside
  Exact Location click here: Directions to the Expo Building
• Brimfield Antique Shows
  July 8-13
  The biggest outdoor gathering of Antiques and Collectibles enthusiasts in North America
  Exact Location click here: Directions to Event Hall
• Elm Bank Estate
  July 26-27, Saturday 9am – 5 pm and Sunday 10 am – 4 pm
  150 dealers, entrance to the Manor house and gardens
  Exact Location click here: New England Antique Shows
• 104th Ultimate Antiques Show at JMK Shows & Events
  July 25 – 27, Friday 12nn; Saturday 11 am – 7 pm; Sunday 11 am – 5 pm
  150 Exhibit Booths – American, European and Asian Items
  Exact Location click here: Directions to the Birchwood Manor
• 4th of July Antique Show in Idaho
  July 4, 9 am – 5 pm
  Free Admission
  For more details contact: Bill Summers (208-720-5547)
• Hildene Antique Shows in Manchester
  July 12, 8 am – 4 pm
  An outdoor show at the Meadowlands part of an estate built by Abraham Lincoln’s son for the benefit of The Friends of Hildene, Inc.
  Exact Location click here: Hildene Antiques Driving Directions

Photo Credit: PetitPoulailler

One interesting hobby is collecting antique fruit jars.  Fruit jars are glass-canning jars most useful in preservating food in the olden days.  They are so-called because of the fruit pattern design on the glass.

Before the 19th century, people had a hard time storing their food especially in winter time.  Napoleon Bonaparte even offered 12,000 francs to the man who would find a way to prevent food from spoiling.  This will give his soldiers a competitive edge during winter as they will have adequate supply of good food.  A French chef, Nicholas Appert won Napoleon’s challenge.  In 1810, he invented a method of sealing food inside glass jars, preventing it from spoilage.

Since that time, many companies have developed and manufactured better glass canning jars.  Fruit jars were named for its manufacturers.  The biggest manufacturers at that time were Mason, Ball, Kilner, Kerr, Atlas and Putnam.  Most well-known and sought-after by antique jar collectors are the Mason jars.  These jars are so named after its inventor, John L. Mason.  In 1858, he developed and patented a shoulder-seal jar with a zinc srew cap.  The jar had a threaded neck which fit with the threads in a metal cap to screw down the shoulder of the jar and in this way form a seal.

Photo Credit: neoliminalThey come in a variety of sizes, shapes, styles, and colors.  They are avaliable in cup, half-pint, pint, quart and half-gallon sizes with standard or wide mouth openings.  They come in clear, aqua, blue-green, amber and blue colors.  The glass of the jar may be molded or embossed with fruit patterns, diamond patterns, or company names. 

The value of a jar is related to its age, quality, condition and maker.  It would be interesting to note that while most antique jars sell for only a few dollars; some, they say, have sold for as high as $30,000.

Photo Credit: RADIUS26

A Chinese porcelain jar in remarkable condition from the 14th century BC had fetched a staggering price of $27.7 million at Christie’s in July of 2005.  It has doubled its pre-sale estimates, setting a world auction record for any work of art from any Asian culture. 

What made this jar exceptional and unusual is its painting of scenes relating to events that took place in the 6th century BC.  It is an illustration of the historic conflict between the Yan and Qi in the Warring States period (475-221 BC.)  A scene depicting General Wang Yi, known as Guiguzi, who is seated in a two-wheel chariot drawn by a tiger and a leopard, is painted in blue on a white background.  No other example of this scene is illustrated on a porcelain jar.

Photo Credit: Svadilfari

According to the people at Christie’s, the jar was acquired in China during the first quarter of the 20th century by Captain Baron Haro van Hemert of the Dutch marine corp while he was in Beijing from 1913 to 1923, and has been with his family ever since.

The existence of this exquisite porcelain jar was totally unknown to experts.  It was unrecorded until it was published in the Christie’s catalog. This caused quite an excitement among the Chinese and collectors of Chinese antiques.  The successful bidder was the world’s leading dealer in early Chinese art, Guiseppe Eskenazi, on behalf of a private buyer who is a western collector of Chinese porcelain.

Photo Credit: Titanas

The most intriguing artifact recovered is the Antikythera Mechanism believed by many to be the world’s first computer. 

It was in May of 1902 when Valerios Stais, an archeologist, noticed among the artifacts a piece of rock with a gear wheel embedded in it.  It is made in bronze and measures about 33 cm high, 17 cm wide and 9 cm thick.  Radiocarbon dating suggested it was built around 65 BC, but the Greek inscriptions on the device itself indicate it was around 100 to 150 BC. 

This device has puzzled a lot of archeologists and historians because of its uniqueness.  It is some sort of device the size of a shoebox with dials on the outside and a complex assembly of bronze gear wheels on the inside.  No one knows who built it and what it is for.  There is no record of its existence, no scientific text or literary allusion. 

Photo Credit: Daquella manera

Scholars argue that no device of such complexity could exist during the Hellenistic period.  Such technical sophistication of an astronomical computing device would not be for a thousand years later.  Scholars first thought it to be a mechanical clock or an astrolabe, an astronomical calculator used for navigation.  Some suggested it might possibly be a mechanical planetarium capable of reproducing the movements of the planets.

Derek Price, a science historian of Yale University, published in 1974 an extensive study of this device, “Gears from the Greeks.”  According to his research, this device was the oldest proof of scientific technology that survives today.  He concluded that this was an ancient astronomical computer capable of predicting the positions of the sun and moon in the zodiac on any given date. 

The two-dimensional images taken in 1971 and with the help of Charalampos Karakalosof, a professor of nuclear physics at the Greek National Centre of Scientific Research, Price was able to further his study of the inner workings of the device.  He made the first theoretical attempt to reconstruct a replica of this mechanism.

(To be continued)

Photo Credit: antmoose

The artifacts on display at the National Archeological Museum of Athens include the bronze ephebe, the philosopher’s head and the Antikythera Mechanism.

The Antikythera Ephebe, dated 340 BCE, was retrieved in several fragments and had to be restored.  It was first revised in the 1950s under the direction of Christos Karouzos.  It is a bronze statue of a young man of languorous grace.  It is well muscled and stands approximately 7 feet tall.  The right leg is drawn back so that only the toes touch the ground.  The right arm is raised while the left arm is hanging loose on the side.  His right hand is holding a spherical object.  This statue has puzzled archeologists as there are no known copies of this type.  The spherical object in his hand was said to have been the object of speculation and controversy among archeologists. 

Some said the statue depicts that of Paris holding the “Apple of Discord,” while others argue that it is the statue of Perseus holding the head of Medusa.  This is considered to be one of the most brilliant products of the Peloponnesian bronze sculpture, probably the work of the famed scuplto Euphranor.

The Antikythera Philosopher is a portrait head of a bearded, elderly man, perhaps a philosopher of the Hellenistic period.  It is dated 200-250 BC.

(To be continued) 

Photo Credit: swanksalot

Swords are one of those fascinating items in the world of warfare and that is the reason why they are considered a collectible.

There are so many types that were created in the past. Each sword has their own story to tell from the way it made, who made it, and what material was used in making it. That story does not end there. Another page will be written for the owner and if it was a prominent figure and was active in battle then more pages are needed to document the story behind one sword.

The word ‘Sword’ comes from an old English term, ‘Sweord’ which basically means to wound or hurt. It has a basic description of a long-edged metal blade used for cutting or thrusting weapon. Owners regarded it with much respect.

One of the most popular and revered type of sword is the Japanese Samurai Sword. It plays a huge part in the Japanese culture and tradition.

Photo Credit: ElektraCute

Among the Japanese swords, the handmade kantana are regarded to be the highest form in the art of sword making. In the early Japanese times, they revere the use of samurai and they go by a certain code, which revolves around, “The Way of the Sword.” Usually a certain sword would pass on from generation to another. The words ‘Honor’ and ‘Respect’ interlinks with the sword. The forging of a samurai was considered a sacred art in Japan and it would took them hours and sometimes days just to forge one. 

They still have this reverence for the samurai sword up to this day. Collectors around the world are really quite fascinated with them. Some even have them framed in one of the prime areas in their residences.

You can find so much history connected to a samurai sword and that is the reason why the film industry continues to make movies about it.

Check these images to see different types of samurai swords: Pic1, Pic2, Pic3, Pic4.

Photo Credit: blucolt

The old Chinese Vases are more known to be valuable to a lot of collectors. They fetch a large amount of money when they are auctioned but there are still other vases that are very collectible just like the ones that came from Italian workshops.

If used properly to decorate a house, it can give an air of elegance and sophistication in a room. Sometimes, they even serve as conversational piece when you have guests. Something that can help you entertain people during a party.

The amazing thing with these antique Italian vases is that they have an aura of opulence that makes people think that they are more expensive that what it really is.  There are so many out there in the market either by online or by traditional brick and mortar stores.  So, its either you bid for it or out rightly purchased it.

There is one thing you might want to consider when buying these antique items. Ask yourself if you are buying the items for investment or decorative purposes.  In answering that question, you can easily limit your budget as to how much you are willing to spend for it.

Photo Credit: destinelee

The following are different types of Italian Vase. Some items are much more expensive, which will be auctioned in Sotheby’s next month and there are others you can find on online antique shops. that is very affordable but looks as if it belonged to an Italian count centuries ago.

A pair of Fernando Maria Campani Large Vases circa 1730, 25,000 to 40,000 GBP.

Two pieces of Italian neo-classical vases in white marble and covers, 4,000 to 6,000 GBP

One large decorative Italian ceramic urn, USD$52.00

A Italian Castelli c 1930, USD 399.00

Antique Hand-Painted Italian Ceramic Pitcher, USD$680

Capo Di Monte Italian Vases, USD$150 

Photo Credit: hslo

It took two years to complete the retrieval of the artifacts from the shipwreck with the help of the Greek Government. 

They were able to salvage Hellenistic and early Roman pottery, amphorae, household items, coins, jewelry, marble and bronze statues, statue of a Greek philosopher’s head, a bronze ephebe, a discus thrower, a marble horse, statues of Hercules, Aphrodite, Apollo, Hermes, Odysseus, Achilles, and other artifacts.  Some of these artifacts were damaged and had corroded because of the salinity of sea water.

Photo Credit: loloieg

Studying, reassembling, and dating the retrieved artifacts took much longer and proved to be much difficult than the marine excavation itself.  Research reveals the ship, approximately 50 meters in length, sunk sometime between 50 and 80 BCE, 25 meters off the coastline. 

A sample of the hull planking from the ship was carbon dated in 1964 and had been calibrated and found to have a calendar date of 220 BC, +/- 43 years.  Coincidentally, studies of ancient manuscripts show that it was during that period when General Sulla, commanding the Roman legions, has conquered Athens and that one of his ships, returning to Rome from Greece, containing the spoils of war, were lost in the Aegean Sea because of a storm.

(To be continued)