Browsing Category

Spotlight

Hand-made Jarrah Burl Watch Box

Hand-made Jarrah Burl Watch Box
Photo Credit: Yanni Wood Alchemy

Hand-made Jarrah Burl Watch Box

Asking Price: $141.82 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This marvelous Jarrah burl watch box has been hand-crafted from Australian Red River Gum and then capped with a gorgeous burled Jarrah wood lid.  It stores up to a total of three fine watches in separate compartments on black velvet cushions.

-This Jarrah burl watch box measures 20 cm (7.9 inches) long by 11 cm (4.3 inches) wide by 9 cm (3.5 inches) tall.

-Watch boxes are specially designed for the secure storage of fine modern or vintage wristwatches.  I would be perfectly happy keeping my prized Rolex, Patek Philippe or Vacheron Constantin in this superb Jarrah burl watch box.

–Jarrah wood comes from a species of Eucalyptus tree (Eucalyptus marginata) that is native to the southwestern corner of Australia.  It is a hard and dense wood that varies from light brown to dark burgundy in color.

-Burl is an unusual area of tightly interlocking grain found in trees that have been injured, insect damaged or otherwise stressed.  This forms highly figured, swirling patterns in lumber that are very beautiful and highly sought after by experienced woodworkers.

-Red River Gum is another type of Eucalyptus tree (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) that is widespread throughout Australia.  Its name is due to the fact that it only grows near rivers or floodplains.  Much like Jarrah, River Red Gum is a very hard, high density wood with light salmon pink to dark reddish brown tones.

-This Jarrah burl watch box is a one-of-a-kind heirloom quality piece that has been hand-made by Yanni Rigos, the founder of Yanni Wood Alchemy and a gifted Australian woodworking artist.

-Unlike many exotic hardwoods, Australian Jarrah and Red River Gum are not endangered species.  In addition, Yanni Wood Alchemy exclusively uses salvaged woods acquired from licensed lumber dealers, further reducing their environmental impact.

-Given the level of workmanship evident in this unique Jarrah burl watch box made completely from native Australian woods, I would not hesitate to pay the $142 asking price.  It is obvious to me that this item will eventually become a coveted future antique.

 

Hand-made Hardwood Watch Boxes for Sale on Etsy

(These are affiliate links for which I may be compensated)

 

Cons:

-The only thing that gives me pause about this wonderful watch box is the shipping cost, which clocks in at just over $50 from Australia to the U.S.  Of course, that may be an acceptable price to transport such a treasure halfway around the world!

 

Read more fascinating Antique Sage fine hardwood item posts here.

-or-

Read in-depth Antique Sage investment guides here.

NGC Certified Silver Roman Republic Denarius

NGC Certified Silver Roman Republic Denarius
Photo Credit: ModernCoinMart

NGC Certified Silver Roman Republic Denarius

Buy It Now Price: $229 (per coin) (price as of 2019; item no longer available)

Pros:

-Each ancient Roman Republic denarius is a random example dating between the 3rd and 1st centuries BC.  They are all certified in Choice VF condition by the third-party coin grading service NGC, which also guarantees the coins’ authenticity.

-The Roman Republic denarius weighed approximately 4.5 grams (0.1447 troy ounces) of 96% to 99% fine silver, which was as pure as Roman refining technology could functionally achieve.  Therefore each denarius contains slightly less silver than a pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver quarter, which has 5.6 grams (0.1808 troy ounces) of pure silver.

-The Roman Republic denarius was first struck in 211 BC and continued to be minted until Augustus ascended to the Imperial purple in 30 BC after defeating Marc Antony and Cleopatra at the battle of Actium.  The denarius was still retained as a denomination in the Roman Empire and continued to be struck until the mid 3rd century AD, when it finally succumbed to rampant inflation.

-The obverse of a Roman Republic denarius usually features a Roman god or goddesses, typically either Apollo or Roma.  The reverse often portrays a quadriga (chariot drawn by four horses) or the Dioscuri – the twin demi-gods Castor and Pollux – on horseback.  However, it should be noted that a great variety of subjects could be emblazoned on these ancient numismatic masterpieces.

-It was during the Roman Republic that Roman power expanded widely in the Mediterranean basin.  This was the period when Rome defeated Carthage in the Punic Wars, annexed Gaul (modern day France) and subjugated the Greek city-states.

-Roman Republic denarii are one of the classic coins of the ancient world and are far rarer than later Roman Imperial denarii coins.  However, because Roman Republic denarii were struck in significant quantities they are still widely available to discerning collectors and investors alike.

-The denarius was the most important denomination in both the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire.  It was the workhorse coin of the Roman world, commonly used in daily transactions from Syria in the east to Spain in the west.

-The Roman Republic denarius is one of the more undervalued ancient coin series, which is quite surprising considering how historically important the Roman Empire was to Western civilization.  As a result, I find the buy-it-now price of $229 for an NGC certified Choice VF example to be quite a bargain.

 

Cons:

-This is not really a con per se, but it is possible to purchase slightly lower grade VF examples for $209 or higher quality XF specimens for $259.  All of these conditions and price points are acceptable, so I will leave the ultimate choice up to the buyer.

 

Read more fascinating Antique Sage numismatic spotlight posts here.

-or-

Read in-depth Antique Sage investment guides here.

Silver Fuchi & Kashira Set from the Bakumatsu Era

Silver Fuchi & Kashira Set from the Bakumatsu Era
Photo Credit: Matsu-Kaze Japan

Silver Fuchi & Kashira Set from the Bakumatsu Era

Buy It Now Price: $285 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This solid silver fuchi & kashira set from the 19th century Japanese Bakumatsu era features gilt trim, exquisite decoration and a prominent kamon motif.

-The fuchi in this set measures 42.6 mm (1.68 inches) long by 22.3 mm (0.88 inches) wide.

-The Bakumatsu period was a turbulent time in Japanese history, extending from the arrival of U.S. Commodore Perry’s “Black Ships” in Edo Bay in 1853 until the final collapse of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1868.

-Antique Japanese samurai sword fittings, like this silver fuchi & kashira set, are incredibly popular with collectors today.  The fuchi was a metal collar that fit underneath a sword’s tsuba, or hand guard.  The kashira was the butt-end of a sword handle, also known as a pommel in Western parlance.

-This silver fuchi & kashira set is being sold by Matsu-Kaze Japan, a respected antiques dealer located in Japan.  In addition, the set comes in a traditional Paulownia wood case for storage purposes.

-The kashira (pommel) in this set is engraved with a kamon, or family crest, consisting of two crossed feathers within a circle (not visible in the photo above).  Kamon were a visual way to advertize your family connections during the feudal Tokugawa shogunate, when status was often determined by lineage.

-It is rather unusual to find a set of antique Japanese samurai sword fittings constructed from solid silver.  It is more common to find them made from bronze, iron or specialty alloys like shakudo or shibuichi.

-I am of the opinion that antique samurai sword fittings are egregiously undervalued in today’s antique market.  This is particularly puzzling given that Japanese culture is taking over the world via anime and manga.

-Although the seller does not mention its exact weight, this fuchi & kashira set contains a considerable amount of silver and would have been equivalent to at least 4 Bu worth of Japanese silver coins in the 1860s.

-It is shocking to me that you can buy genuine 150 year old samurai sword fittings that have been meticulously hand-crafted from solid silver for less than $300.  This fuchi & kashira set would make a superb investment for the discerning Japanese antique lover or samurai fan!

 

Cons:

-Are you kidding me?  There are no cons here, only upside.  The worst you could possibly argue is that the set would be more valuable if the kamon (family crest) could be identified.  But that seems more like a (future) pro to me, than a con.

 

Read more fascinating Antique Sage Japanese antiques spotlight posts here.

-or-

Read in-depth Antique Sage investment guides here.

Set of 1960s Enameled Soviet Silver Teaspoons

Set of 1960s Enameled Soviet Silver Teaspoons
Photo Credit: Arezona.store

Set of 1960s Enameled Soviet Silver Teaspoons

Buy It Now Price: $195 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)

Pros:

-Bright cloisonné enamel and lustrous gilding highlight this set of half a dozen vintage Soviet silver teaspoons from the 1960s.

-Each silver-gilt teaspoon measures 4.5 inches (11.5 cm) long and weighs 14.6 grams (0.47 troy ounces).  The total weight of the set is 87.7 grams (2.82 troy ounces).

-These Soviet silver teaspoons feature cloisonné enamel, where individual enamel cells are built up using a wire frame.  Cloisonné is one of the classic types of enamel-work and was very popular in Russia from the time of the Czars straight down to the modern day.

-According to the seller, these teaspoons were made in the major port city of Leningrad (modern-day St. Petersburg) in 1966.  Unfortunately, the photos of the hallmarks are not clear enough to verify this attribution.  However, we can definitively state that these genuine Soviet era teaspoons were fashioned from solid 87.5% silver sometime in the 1960s.

-Use your newfound Marxist credentials to impress your left-wing friends by showing off these mementos from the height of the communist Soviet Empire!

-Although the communist government in Russia banned the production of gold and silver items immediately after the 1917 Revolution, Joseph Stalin soon resurrected silversmithing in 1927.  Rather than simply being reminders of indulgent bourgeois privilege, Stalin decided that silver luxury goods could best be used to reward loyal Party followers.  He established 15 silver workshops spread out over the USSR, creating a thriving Soviet silversmithing industry.

-Vintage Soviet luxury goods are currently substantially undervalued.  This is most likely because our first impression of the former Soviet Union is ugly concrete apartment blocks and long queues in barren stores.  However, not every part of their material culture was subpar – a fact that antique collectors and investors are beginning to wake up to.

-This set of Soviet silver teaspoons would almost certainly have resided in the house of a Communist Party official or someone else who was similarly advantaged.  I doubt the average Soviet citizen would have had access to something so luxurious.

-These Soviet silver teaspoons are still housed in their original fabric-lined box, complete with CCCP emblem!  In addition, the entire set is in perfect condition.  This is rather unusual for enamel work, which has a pronounced tendency to chip.

-Less than $200 for a magnificent set of enameled silver teaspoons from the 1960s glory days of the Soviet Empire?  And housed in its original box, no less?  This is simply a no-brainer in my opinion, especially given the fact that the seller is willing to entertain lower offers.

 

Cons:

-As noted above, the photos of the hallmarks are a bit on the blurry side.  I have absolutely no reason to believe this set of Soviet silver teaspoons is anything other than what it claims to be, but being able to verify it via the hallmarks would have been ideal.

 

Read more fascinating Antique Sage antique silver spotlight posts here.

-or-

Read in-depth Antique Sage investment guides here.