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French Art Deco Medal Set by Paul-Marcel Dammann

French Art Deco Medal Set by Paul-Marcel Dammann
Photo Credit: jamoni10

French Art Deco Medal Set by Paul-Marcel Dammann

Buy It Now Price: $420 (price as of 2017; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This Art Deco medal set by the French Artist Paul-Marcel Dammann was created in 1932 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Compagnie Parisienne de Distribution d’Électricité (Parisian Electric Distribution Company).

-This exquisite set contains two identical medals struck in different metals – one in solid silver and the other in bronze.  The medals feature an attractive rendition of the personification of electricity on the obverse and a woman bestowing light on the Parisian skyline on the reverse.

-The Compagnie Parisienne de Distribution d’Électricité, or CPDE, was founded in 1907 with an initial capitalization of 100 million gold francs and was subsequently listed on the Paris Stock Exchange in 1908.  It was eventually nationalized and folded into the EDF group (Électricité de France) in 1946.

-Both medals are impressively large, with a diameter of 64 mm (2.52 inches).  The silver medal weighs a massive 132 grams (4.24 troy ounces), while its bronze counterpart is a hefty 120 grams (3.86 troy ounces).  Art medals this large are rather unusual and very desirable.

-This Art Deco medal set was designed by Paul-Marcel Dammann, a French artist who lived from 1885 to 1939.  Although he was best known for his Art Deco pieces, his other work was also well regarded.  Paul-Marcel Dammann won many awards throughout his career, including the coveted Premier Grand Prix de Rome in 1908.

-This Art Deco medal set comes in its original, fitted case!  It is always a pleasure to be able to find a high quality antique in its original case.  The original case modestly boosts the value of the medal set, as well.

-The original case is stamped with the name of the medal manufacturer, “Arthus Bertrand Paris”.  Arthus Bertrand is a famous French medal-making firm that was founded in the early 19th century during the Napoleonic era.  The company still operates today and is responsible for producing the coveted French Legion of Honor medal.

-This Art Deco medal set is a magnificent celebration of 1930s artistic style.  The design is streamlined and bold, yet also sports a geometric sensibility that is characteristic of the Art Deco zeitgeist.  I especially enjoy how the artist subtly worked lightning bolts into the obverse design to pay homage to the issuing company – Compagnie Parisienne de Distribution d’Électricité.

-I believe that antique European art medals, especially French art medals, are ridiculously undervalued in today’s marketplace.  Therefore, I find the $420 asking price for this impressive Art Deco medal set to be completely reasonable.

 

Cons:

-This French Art Deco medal set is close to the top of the price range for European art medals.  Excellent examples can usually be found in the $100 to $300 range.  However, because of its superlative design, extraordinarily large size and original case, I believe this Art Deco medal set is well worth its premium price.

-Subject matter significantly affects the value of antique art medals.  Some topics, like automobiles, aviation and royalty, tend to have higher valuations assigned to them then other topics.  The 25th anniversary of the founding of the Compagnie Parisienne de Distribution d’Électricité is mid tier in terms of its desirability.

Contemporary Men’s Walnut Valet Box by Ron Lentz

Contemporary Men's Walnut Valet Box by Ron Lentz
Photo Credit: RonLentz

Contemporary Men’s Walnut Valet Box by Ron Lentz

Asking Price: $149 (price as of 2017; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This sleek, contemporary men’s walnut valet box was handmade by Ron Lentz, an accomplished, self-taught woodworker operating in a small town just outside Richmond, Virginia.

–A valet is a dresser-top box used to store a man’s personal accessories, such as his keys, watches, cufflinks, rings, glasses and wallet.  A valet can be either a box with a lid, or a deep tray that is open on the top.  By keeping all of a man’s personal effects in one place, a valet can really help clean up a cluttered space.

-This men’s walnut valet is 12.5 inches (31.8 cm) long by 7.5 inches (19.1 cm) wide by 2.25 inches (5.7 cm) deep.  The interior of the valet is divided into three compartments that are all lined with green suede.

-This men’s valet is made from magnificently-figured solid walnut that has been carefully rubbed with natural walnut oil and wax to protect its surface.  The very best woodworkers never stain their fine woods, but instead allow them to show off their natural color and texture, as in this instance.

-This walnut valet combines a distinctly angular form with a sweeping, organic arc to create an unmistakably masculine work of art.

–I love a good hardwood box.  The finest examples are skillfully handcrafted from some of the most expensive woods in the world, including mahogany, cherry, ebony, walnut and cocobolo.  I’m certain the very best will eventually become heirloom quality antiques.

-This walnut valet is signed by the artist, Ron Lentz.  This is a very desirable attribute because really fine hardwood boxes aren’t simply woodworking or handicraft specimens.  They transcend those petty labels to stand as exquisite works of art.

-Unfortunately, if Mr. Lentz’ Etsy profile photo is accurate, he is getting on in age and I’m not sure how many more years of productive woodworking he has left.  This is yet another example of the coming crisis in contemporary art that I’ve written about before.

-This piece would make a great gift for a brother, father, husband or other man in your life.  Of course it would also make a satisfying treat for yourself too, if you are so inclined.  In light of the fact that this contemporary walnut valet is useful, stylish and even has the potential to appreciate in value as artwork, I think the $149 price tag is well justified.

 

Other Ron Lentz Valet Boxes for Sale on Etsy

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

 

Cons:

-Buying contemporary art is a high risk endeavor, at least from an investment perspective.  It is analogous to buying penny stocks in the stock market; you may do great, but don’t count on it.  Of course, the fact that this walnut valet is eminently functional certainly offsets some of the risk here.  Even if the piece ends up with no significant value on the secondary market in another decade or two, it will still have provided its owner with tremendous value through its organizational function and stunningly good looks.

-Walnut is the most expensive temperate hardwood generally available, but many varieties of fine tropical hardwoods, like mahogany, ebony, rosewood and bubinga, are all substantially more expensive.

19th Century Japanese Pumpkin Netsuke

19th Century Japanese Pumpkin Netsuke
Photo Credit: matsu-kaze-japan

19th Century Japanese Pumpkin Netsuke

Buy It Now Price: $330 (price as of 2017; item no longer available)

Pros:

-Here is a wonderfully patinaed, hand-carved pumpkin netsuke from Edo era Japan, circa 18th or 19th century.

-In the Edo era, before 1868, Japan was ruled by the Tokugawa shogunate and its samurai retainers.  At the time, everyone wore kimonos, even samurai.  Netsuke were functional wardrobe accessories used to secure a traveler’s purse to his kimono sash.

-This antique pumpkin netsuke measures 36.5 mm (1.44 inches) tall by 45 mm (1.77 inches) wide.  Although it may not seem like it, this is actually a fairly sbustantial size for a netsuke.

-Technically, this netsuke carving isn’t actually a pumpkin!  Pumpkins were originally endemic to North America and were extensively cultivated by Native Americans.  While a few people in 19th century Japan certainly knew about pumpkins, this carving almost certainly represents a kabocha – a type of pumpkin-like Japanese squash.

-This old pumpkin netsuke is probably made from boxwood, the world’s premier carving wood.  Boxwood was used extensively in miniature hand-carved objets d’art in both Europe and Japan before the industrial era.

-Although freshly-cut boxwood starts off as a neutral, cream-colored wood, it gradually darkens over time, developing a beautifully rich and deep patina.

-I love the way the artist left some of the wood’s natural fissures and gnarls intact in order to add texture and interest to this pumpkin netsuke.  It is this phenomenal attention to detail that elevates antique Japanese netsuke to their status as legitimate works of art.

–Japanese antiques in general, and netsuke in particular, distill the very best attributes of Japanese craftsmanship and aesthetics into tangible objects that you can hold in your hand.  These works of art are, in my opinion, extremely undervalued in today’s market.

 

Cons:

-This 19th century Japanese pumpkin netsuke carving is unsigned; it would have been more valuable with a signature.  Netsuke carving was treated as a bona fide art form by the Japanese, and many of the very finest examples were signed by their creators.  In spite of this minor drawback, I believe this netsuke is still worth every penny of its $330 asking price.

-This netsuke carving has a very small, unobtrusive crack on the underside of the pumpkin that does not compromise the structural integrity of the piece.  It is not only acceptable, but expected for 150 to 200 (or more) year old wooden antiques to have minor defects of this nature.  I believe it has little to no impact on the value of the piece.

British Sterling Silver Edwardian Monteith or Punch Bowl

British Sterling Silver Edwardian Monteith or Punch Bowl
Photo Credit: Antiques-by-Sue-and-Otis-Moore

British Sterling Silver Edwardian Monteith or Punch Bowl

Buy It Now Price: $799.99 (price as of 2017; item no longer available)

Pros:

-Downton Abbey elegance is on display with this sterling silver Edwardian monteith, or punch bowl, produced during Great Britain’s Gilded Age.

-This Edwardian monteith measures 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) tall by 8.125 inches (20.6 cm) wide; it is not a small piece.  The bowl also weighs an impressive 700 grams or 22.51 troy ounces, a clear indicator of its high quality.

-Monteiths – large silver bowls with distinctively scalloped edges – were first made in the 1680s.  They were originally used to cool wine glasses by filling the monteith with ice and slotting the wine glass stems into the bowl’s crenulated rim.

-By the 20th century, monteiths had largely evolved to become ice holders or punch bowls – functions they still excel at today.  If filled with ice, a sterling silver monteith would also do a great job of chilling a few beers or carbonated beverages at your next intimate soiree.

– Like most British sterling silver, this Edwardian monteith is fully hallmarked, a feature that is always appreciated by antique silver collectors and investors alike.  The piece was made in London in 1910 by Harrison Brothers & Howson.  Interestingly, the firm of Harrison Brothers & Howson Ltd is still making sterling silver goods today!

-With silver currently trading at $16.97 per troy ounce, this Edwardian monteith contains $353 worth of the precious metal.  That means the buy-it-now price of $800 represents a modest 127% premium over the item’s intrinsic value.  This is a shockingly low premium considering the superb quality and heavy gauge construction of this 100 plus year old sterling silver masterpiece.

-I love this punch bowl’s chased and repoussé decoration.  It manages to be both streamlined and opulent all at once, making the piece a magnificent example of graceful Edwardian style rendered in solid sterling silver.

-Antique sterling silver flatware and hollowware is one of the most undervalued areas of the antique market right now.  This Edwardian monteith represents an unusual opportunity to invest in a classic piece of sterling silver that is both functional and desirable.  And if the $800 asking price is too much for your wallet, you can always make the seller a lower offer!

 

Cons:

-Some people are put off by antique silver because they believe it to be too stuffy or formal for regular use.  But I think sterling silver works just as well in informal settings or relaxed gatherings as plastic cups and paper plates.  And it looks a whole lot better doing it!

-People living in small apartments or condos might have difficulty finding the room to store this relatively large sterling silver punch bowl.  Alas, this is one of the few downsides of collecting antique sterling silver!