Collector Buzz

Few eras of history are as interesting or important to the development of Western civilization as the Italian Renaissance, and the period was important for more reasons than one.

Most people associate the Italian Renaissance with enlightenment, a time when people emerged from the Dark Ages and started to embrace things like science and technology. That is certainly accurate, and the world would not be the same if those things hadn’t happened.

The Italian Renaissance was also the time of major breakthroughs in art, music and literature, and a great time of cultural change, as well. It really was a turning point in the history, and that is why it literally means “rebirth.”

Some of the greatest artwork in world history comes form the Italian Renaissance. Paintings like the “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci were both created during this period, as was Michelangelo’s statue of David and the painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

The composer Giovanni Palestrina was also a product of the Italian Renaissance and composed some of the most beautiful sacred music ever written. His music is still performed to this day, and he is easily the most noted of all composers from this period.

Such writers as Dante Alighieri, Petrarch and Giovanni Boccaccio created some of the greatest works in the history of world literature. All three are prime examples of Italian Renaissance writers. Dante’s “Divine Comedy” is typically regarded as one of the greatest literary works of all time.

Going back to Leonardo da Vinci, not only was he a great painter, but he was an inventor, mathematician, scientist and many other things. The term “Renaissance man” comes from people like Leonardo da Vinci, who were proficient in a variety of academic disciplines and occupations.

Niccolo Machiavelli is another example of a Renaissance man and was a brilliant writer and political philosopher. His book “The Prince” is still read in most colleges and universities throughout the world.

The Italian Renaissance spawned so many great thinkers, inventors, artists, musicians and writers that it is difficult to imagine what the world would be like if at not been for the era. People still reflect on that period of history with reverence and awe and wonder how so many great and enlightened minds and historical figures came from a period right after the Dark Ages, when books were burned.

As an Irish-American, I have always been very fond of the book “How the Irish saved Civilization,” which explains how when the rest of Europe went into the Dark Ages, Ireland did not, and a lot of the great ancient works of literature were preserved by Irish monks.

The Italian Renaissance has given us so much more art, music and literature that it makes you realize that there were a lot more Europeans that were thirsting for enlightenment as well.

You may be also be interested in my ancient coins website.

Antiques aren’t just for the rich. Most people have an heirloom of one or another variety or description stashed away somewhere in the house. They might have inherited one, or had the good fortune to find one on the cheap somewhere. When there is an antique lying around the house, it’s only a matter time before you wonder what it could really be worth. There are all kinds of places that people head to for a bit of for a reliable antique pricing. The problem of course is that there is no set value that antiques come with. Their value will depend on how knowledgeable a collector is and how networked he might be in finding a buyer. Incidentally, my own antique passion is old bottles, such as Coca Cola and Jack Daniels.

That apart, there are some factors that can reliably predict how an antique will be priced. The most dependable one of these is the condition that your antique possesion is in. A piece with no chips, scratches or fading is easily worth many times an example with flaws. A professional antique appraiser will know how much each instance of a flaw will take away from the value of a collector’s item. Usually, a chip or two in hidden places wouldn’t matter as much as one in an apparent place.

If an antique pricing expert isn’t enthusiastic about the prospects of the piece you bring in, that’s no reason to lose hope. The location you ask at can be really important to the outcome of your venture. If you are asking about the value of an antique vase in Phoenix while with your particular kind of merchandise, there is only any real hope for demand in Washington or Boston, you’re likely to come away disappointed. Usng the Internet to research demand is a good idea.

Finally, the kind of quote you get for antique pricing in your area is likely to only be current for a while. Antiques and vintage collectibles fall in and out of favor with the snooty set. There is a definite fashion cycle to most antiques. You need to keep track of when a particular item is at the height of its popularity.

When venturing into antique pricing, keep yourself informed with the right pricing guides. They list the highest prices your kind of product has ever changed hands for. It should give you an idea of the kind of price you might be willing to settle for. Make sure that you get to the newest edition of reference book there is. While you’re at it, make sure that you don’t get talked into getting a written appraisal for your antique pricing interests. Those are expensive to get made and don’t really improve your chances over getting a verbal appraisal.