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France, 1848 AE Essai 10 Centimes, PCGS SP65RB, Maz-1315, Iridescent toning

Photo Credit: Atlas-Numismatics

France, 1848 AE Essai 10 Centimes, PCGS SP65RB, Maz-1315, Iridescent toning

Buy It Now Price: $395 (price as of 2016; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This is a bronze French 10 centimes essai from 1848. “Essai” is a French term for a pattern or trial, a specimen coin struck by a national mint for test purposes.

-Essais often have unique designs that were never used for circulating coinage, as is the case with this 10 centimes trial piece.

-Because essais are test strikes, mintages are very low and generally fluctuate anywhere from a handful of specimens to a few hundred. This extreme rarity enhances the desirability of trial pieces.

-The obverse features a crowned, laureate bust of Liberty executed in the finest neo-classical style. The reverse is a simple, yet elegant wreath enclosing the denomination and date. A mid 19th century French artistic sensibility really shines in this art work.

-This specimen is impressively large for a bronze fiduciary coinage, with a diameter of about 30 mm (1.18 inches) and a weight of about 10 grams. It is about the same size as a U.S. large cent from the same time period.

-This essai coin has a rich, red-brown patina on the devices (raised surfaces) set off by stunning violet-blue toning in the fields (recessed surfaces). It is difficult to overstate how gorgeous this coin is. Toning this magnificent positively impacts value.

-This coin is certified by the well-regarded third party grading service PCGS. It has been assigned a grade of MS-65, or mint state 65, on a scale of MS-60 to MS-70. A score of 70 represents perfection while 60 is a very banged up, but still uncirculated piece. MS-65 is a very high score for an almost 170 year old coin and is equivalent to Gem Brilliant Uncirculated. The PCGS certification also guarantees the authenticity of the specimen.

Cons:

-This essai is struck from bronze instead of a precious metal like silver or gold. If it had been struck from a precious metal, its desirability would be substantially increased, but so would its price.

-Because the coin is French, there may be somewhat limited collector demand in the future. I see this as being the only significant investment risk associated with the piece. Of course, if this coin was a more highly prized U.S. issue, I would also expect the price to be about 10 times higher, if not more.

-A mere 10 years ago it was possible to purchase many 19th century French essais for only $100 or $200 each. However, as with many investment grade antiques, prices have increased substantially during the past decade. Given this specimen’s PCGS certification, superb condition and unparalleled eye appeal, $395 seems like a very equitable price.

Metal Abstract Modern Wall Art Sculpture by Jon Allen – Constant Variation

Photo Credit: Metal-Wall-Art-by-Statements2000

Metal Abstract Modern Wall Art Sculpture by Jon Allen – Constant Variation

Buy It Now Price: $125 (price as of 2016; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This is a contemporary wall sculpture that measures 14 inches (35.6 cm) wide by 14 (35.6 cm) inches tall by 2 inches (5.1 cm) deep. It was created by Jon Allen, a well-known contemporary artist currently working in Florida.

-It is made from high quality aircraft-grade aluminum and is finished with a UV resistant clear coat. These are good quality materials and the piece is obviously professionally crafted with great attention to detail.

-This contemporary wall sculpture is a phenomenal example of what I call “neo-cubism” – a.k.a. 1980s style. The bold use of primary colors, coupled with simple shapes and varied textures, combine to give a visually stunning effect. The play of shadows across the work as one changes viewing angles as well as the textured, guilloche enamel-like appearance of the colored metal blocks also contributes meaningfully to the work’s je ne sais quoi.

-While neo-cubism is most closely associated with the 1980s in the common conscience, the style staged a significant comeback in the 2000s after hibernating throughout the 1990s. The look is still current as of 2016.

-Although this work appears as if a Rubik’s cube barfed on a wall after drinking too much vodka, it perfectly embodies the spirit of neo-cubism. The $125 price point seems reasonable for a piece that so utterly exudes the zeitgeist of the contemporary era.

Cons:

-The work is non-representational and very contemporary, which could be either a pro or a con, depending on your tastes.

-This work is not one-of-a-kind; the artist has sold other copies. I don’t see that as being a large drawback, but for some people who strictly demand uniqueness it would be an important factor.

-This contemporary wall sculpture is absolutely new, fresh from the artist. It is not antique, or even vintage, and therefore is not seasoned at all. Seasoning is the process where lower quality or faddish items are removed from the pool of potential investment-grade antiques via attrition. Because I have screened this item carefully for both high quality materials and composition, however, I don’t believe that will be an issue.

-Buying art directly from the artist for investment purposes is generally quite challenging. It is sort of like investing in penny stocks. There is a great deal of risk offset by a lot of reward if you choose wisely.

Tsuchiya Koitsu Woodblock Print, Japan, Benkei Bridge, Shin Hanga Style, Listed Artist

Photo Credit: alembix

Tsuchiya Koitsu Woodblock Print, Japan, Benkei Bridge, Shin hanga Style, Listed Artist

Buy It Now Price: $298 (price as of 2016; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This is a Japanese woodblock print in the “shin hanga” style. Shin hanga translates from the Japanese as “new woodblock prints” and are descendents of the traditional Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock prints of the Edo and Meiji eras.

-Shin hanga was an early to mid 20th century Japanese print movement that combined traditional Japanese themes with groundbreaking Western artistic understanding of light and perspective. It was an export-oriented artistic movement that was wildly popular in the West in the period between World War I and World War II. Even today, shin hanga prints possess an attractive, unmistakably modern quality.

-This particular shin hanga print is titled “Benkei Bridge” and was created by Tsuchiya Koitsu in 1934 and published by Doi Hangaten. It shows a famous bridge in Kyoto, lined with blooming cherry trees, in an atmospheric night scene.

– The seller claims this Benkei Bridge woodblock print is a reprint from just after World War II. The offset seal in the lower left-hand corner is consistent with an early post-war impression.

-Tsuchiya Koitsu (born 1870; died 1949) was a landscape specialist Japanese woodblock print artist renowned for his striking use of light and shadow. Benkei Bridge is one of his most popular works.

-The print measures 10.5 by 15.6 inches (26.7 by 39.6 centimeters). This is an “oban” format print, the largest of the commonly encountered sizes.

-The work is unframed and in good condition, with no apparent rips, stains, or trimmed margins. $298 is an excellent price, provided the work is genuine and as described.

Cons:

-Almost all shin hanga Japanese woodblock prints were reprinted one or more times in the mid to late 20th century. An original is, of course, far more desirable and expensive than a reprint. Among reprints, those made during the lifetime of the artist are also more valuable then later reprints from the 1980s or 1990s. You should assume that any print you find for sale online is a reprint, unless it comes from a highly reputable source.

-I would have preferred that the seller include a photo of the back of the print. All woodblock prints bleed through to the back to some extent. This is considered a sign of authenticity as any copy of a woodblock print created via laser-jet or other modern printing method will not have this bleed-through.

Antique GIA Cert .63ct Diamond & Sapphire 18K White Gold Deco Engagement Ring

Photo Credit: DiamondTen

Antique GIA Cert .63ct Diamond & Sapphire 18K White Gold Deco Engagement Ring

Buy It Now Price: $1,185 (price as of 2016; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This is a 1.6 gram, 18 karat white gold ring set with a 0.57 carat diamond and two small flanking accent sapphires. The diamond is an old European cut stone which is the correct cut for a ring of this era.

-This 1920s antique ring displays phenomenal art deco style – sleek angularity abounds. The beautifully engraved fluting on the shoulders may reflect a very slight Egyptian revival influence. The Egyptian revival style came into vogue after the discovery of Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings in 1922.

-The central stone is a stunning, investment-grade specimen of an old European cut diamond, with good color and few inclusions. The charming, slightly warm, rock crystal-like appearance of this stone is typically of old cut diamonds. However, old mine and old European cut diamonds are often visibly yellow or brown to the naked eye. They are also commonly more heavily flawed than modern cut stones. This stone suffers from none of those flaws, making it a superior example of an antique cut diamond.

-The central diamond has J color (nearly colorless) and SI1 clarity (eye-clean) according to the accompanying GIA diamond certification. The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is a well known and respected diamond grading company. The GIA certification for this diamond increases the desirability of the ring.

-The white gold mount is in good condition, with only modest wear on the ring’s filigree shoulders and the base of the shank. This is somewhat unusual; rings of this age often have heavy wear, sometimes to the point where decorative elements are nearly obliterated or the bottom of the shank is nearly worn through.

-The vast majority of the intrinsic value of this piece is concentrated in the central diamond. This is both normal and desirable for a piece of high quality, investment-grade jewelry. In fact, I would guess that the central diamond is conservatively worth $1,000, meaning you aren’t paying much for the setting or its value as an antique. $1,185 is a very good price for this ring; it strictly limits your downside risk.

Cons:

-The seller claims that the small (0.03 carat each), triangle-cut sapphires on each side of the main stone are natural. This cannot be independently verified, but would be unusual given the time period and cut. Most calibre-cut, accent sapphires from this era are synthetic. However, while unlikely it is not impossible for them to be natural either. In any case, regardless of whether the sapphires are synthetic or natural, the value of the ring is not significantly impacted.

-This ring is not explicitly hallmarked as 18 karat gold. Instead it has been tested by the seller as 18 karat gold. We are taking the seller’s word that the ring is as described, although I should note that the large diamond and excellent workmanship are completely consistent with a high karat setting.

-The ring is size 5.5, which is only appropriate for slim fingers. Of course, the ring could relatively easily be resized. In fact, the seller offers resizing for an additional $75.

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