Ethnographic

new stuff

2008-06-18T22:36:00Z

I have recently aquired hundreds of native american artworks from kachina dolls, baskets, pottery,paintings, and other unique items I am trying to find buyers for some of these things if you could assist me in giving me an idea of what some of this stuff is it would be great I have a museum in az that has helped some but any info would be great

iTaggit helps users value collectibles from MLK era

2008-01-22T19:54:00Z

Martin Luther King Jr. was best known for his “I Have a Dream” speech, given at the 1963 March on Washington. He was the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and was one of the main leaders of the American civil rights movement. Since his assassination on April 4, 1968, people have been increasingly interested in preserving his memory by collecting Martin Luther King memorabilia.

MLK memorabilia is available in a wide range of prices. From $1.00 postcards to autographs worth over $200.00, you’ll be sure to find something that fits into your collection. Scour your favorite antique stores, garage sales and, of course, the web to find MLK memorabilia you'll treasure. While buttons and photos can be found, books recording the life and noble causes of Dr. King are by far the most plentiful collectible available.

Users like AnneMarie, who has a Martin Luther King Jr. Funeral Fan, can organize collections at iTaggit.com. If you have a Martin Luther King Jr. collection and are unsure what it is worth, you can value collectibles as well.

The Magna Carta Is For Sale

2007-09-27T15:46:00Z

    That's a headline I never thought I'd read, but its true. Sotheby's Auctioneers, who specialize in antique appraisals and auctions in New York, is expected to announce that the historical document will be put up for auction some time in mid-December and they estimate that it will sell for $20 million - $30 million. The owner is none other than former presidential candidate, Ross Perot. His foundation purchased it for $1.5 million in 1984 from the relatives of James Thomas Brudenell, who was the Earl of Cardigan and led the Light Brigade in 1854 during the Crimean War. The auctioneer will be David N. Redden, a Sotheby's vice chairman who has sold several great pieces over his career including a copy of the Declaration of Independence for $7.4 million in 2000 and also items from Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis's estate in 1996 including a $574,500 humidor from President John F. Kennedy and a $415,000 rocking chair.
    Don't remember exactly what the Magna Carta is? In simple terms, the Magna Carta is a historical document which laid down the fundamentals of English law. The literal translation is “Great Paper,” and King John of England agreed to it in 1215 and continued to revise it through the 13^th century. To put it in perspective, some very unhappy colonists complained about King George III violating it before they decided to dump a lot of tea into their harbor. The event and the laws that they demanded equality for both contributed to the creation of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The Perot version of the Magna Carta dates to 1297 and was endorsed by King Edward I. It is considered by some experts to be the most important version because it is the one that was entered into the statute books in England. It is the only copy that is privately owned and the only one known to be in the United States, where it has been open to public viewing until last week at the National Archives. Sotheby's says that the 16 others are owned by the British or Australian governments or by ecclesiastical or educational institutions in England.
    Looking for antiques or an antiques price guide? Put your stuff on iTaggit and add it into the “What's It Worth To You” collection!

Treasure Tuesday: MLK Funeral Fan

2007-08-21T20:00:00Z

So last year my friends and I started going to Round Top, Texas every Fall and Spring for their huge Antiques Fair. It's fields and fields of vendors out in the middle of Texas Farm Land - mostly centered around Round Top, Pop. 77.

One of my most unique finds was this promotional fan from the Hemphill Funeral Home of Houston, Texas. Printed in 1967, the fan features a well known photograph of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and one of his most famous quotes. "I have a dream that one day this Nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self evident; that all men are created equal.'"

I pinned it up in my cubicle at work, and look at it every day for inspiration. Recently, I wanted to find out more about the fan, and started researching it using iTaggit's tools. I found out that the tradition of printed fans was very common in African-American Churches during this time, and that it still survives in some places. I just could not find any detailed info about the actual history of this kind of item online.

This is a case where I will be better off going to a Library, or better yet, going and interviewing African-American Funeral Home owners in person. Sadly, a lot of this kind of history is taken for granted - like the plastic bread loaves we used to raise money for Church when I was a kid! You see something everyday, and don't think it has any historical value.

I LOVE History, especially African-American History, and now I am impassioned to keep searching for more. I found a few other fans for sale online - ranging from $15 to $215! The value of this fan is personal for me - it was printed in 1967, one year before Dr. King's assasaination, and is from my home State of Texas. I know how hot it gets here - especially in Houston!

What items do you have with an interesting story? Look at your walls and in your closets - surely there is something of value that deserves to be shown off to the world! I am off to research more about these fans!