Kovels Antiques & Collecting: Art Nouveau
By Terry and Kim Kovel
Art Nouveau
In design, the line between art and science isn't always clearly drawn. This has been true for centuries. One of the most influential figures in the art nouveau movement of the late 19th to early 20th century was a scientist, not an artist.
This lamp resembles the famous Tiffany lamps of the early 20th century. Its mushroom motif and asymmetrical curves recall the stylized nature shapes of art nouveau. PHOTO CREDIT: Kovels.com
Beginning in 1889, biologist Ernst Haeckel published a series of books called "Art Forms in Nature" that captured the geometric structure and intricate beauty of sea life, microscopic organisms, plants, animals and insects. While art nouveau designs are stylized and exaggerated, especially human figures, the influence of nature, especially as captured by Haeckel, is clear in the organic asymmetrical shapes and the use of plants, animals, birds and insects as subjects or motifs.
This lamp shaped like a cluster of mushrooms with long stems and graceful curving shapes may not have been made in the art nouveau period, but it is definitely art nouveau style. Its leaded glass shades, bronze base and nature inspiration are reminiscent of Tiffany lamps, themselves emblematic of art nouveau, but compared to them, it was a bargain. While authentic Tiffany lamps can sell for record-setting prices of thousands of dollars, this mushroom lamp sold for $344 at a Hindman auction.
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Q: My mom has a Furby Baby in its original box and is wondering what it could be worth and how to sell it.
A: Furby and Furby Babies are battery-operated electronic toys that can "talk." The toys have their own language, "Furbish," but can learn to speak English and several other languages. Furby was created by Dave Hampton and Caleb Chung. They sold the rights to the toy to Tiger Electronics Inc., which became part of Hasbro in 1998. Furby quickly became "the toy" to have and millions were sold. Furby Babies were introduced in 1999. They are smaller and know more phrases. They were made in 25 different colors. Hasbro stopped making the original toys in 2000 but has made new Emoto-Tronic Furby toys since then. Furby Babies sell today for about $20 to $40 without a box and $40 to $60 in the original box.
TIP: When moving, stuff glasses and cups with crumpled paper, then wrap in bubble wrap.
CURRENT PRICES
Doll, china, shoulder head, flat top, molded hair, painted black, blue eyes, bead necklace, cloth body, jointed, leather lower arms and boots, lacy dress, 27 inches, $105.
Poster, travel, Besancon La Mouillere, woman and two children in summer clothes, buildings and landscape in background, multicolor, lithograph on paper, frame, Lucien Pillot, c. 1925, 40 x 25 inches, $160.
Musical instrument, ukulele guitar, S1 Uke, soprano, mahogany, applied neck joint, C.F. Martin, 30 x 10 inches, $610.
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