A Look Inside of the May Issue of Kovels Antique Trader

The once ubiquitous ashtray, as common in homes as landline phones and console television sets, disappeared as smoking went out of style. But now ashtrays have risen from the ashes, so to speak, as more people covet them as cool and nostalgic collectibles. Our cover story from Kris Manty, who grew up surrounded by ashtrays and smoking parents, writes that vintage ashtrays today are considered décor pieces that fit nicely with the “eclectic grandpa” trend so popular in design and fashion. In a word, ashtrays are hot, and we’re not blowing smoke.

For anyone who clamors for the “good old days,” writer David McCormick shares a story on collecting cast iron tractor seats. While the rugged charm of vintage cast iron tractor seats is undeniable, it’s also true that farmers who spent countless hours bouncing through fields in these unforgiving seats were happy to forego the rigid character of cast iron seats for something softer. For a smooth ride down memory lane, check out McCormick’s story in the May issue.

Speaking of nice rides, we offer a story on five of our favorite flea markets across the country. You’ll tour events as varied as Brimfield and the Rose Bowl field markets, as well as sites in between. On the other end of the spectrum, we take a look at a recent Bonhams auction of Far East treasures offered from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Asian Art played a pivotal role in the collecting mania that swept over America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Costume jewelry expert Pamela Wiggins Siegel provides a fitting tribute to the father and son team of Gene and Ron Verri of Gem-Craft costume jewelry fame. Ron Verri died this past February at age 78 after following in the impressive footsteps of his late father, Gene, in the family costume jewelry business. If you like costume jewelry as much as we do, you’ll want to make sure to catch this story in the May issue.

This month’s Sales Reports focus on three diverse and interesting collecting categories at auction: Barbershop Memorabilia, Maritime Art, and Vintage Bookends. And if you’re still hungry for more, you’ll want to make sure to read Editor Paul Kennedy’s tongue-in-cheek column about the investment opportunities in antique fruit. After a 300-year-old lemon sold for $1,800 at auction earlier this year, Kennedy notes that antique fruit futures are “a-peeling.” You can be the judge of that as you peruse this story and much more in the May issue of Kovels Antique Trader.

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Tags: Collectible