Josainne des Fontaines, A Premier Female Leader in Military Model Making

I have found myself very inspired by the creations of Josainne des Fontaines, who was a premiere female military model maker. Her creations are extremely rare, and I have found that she deserves more exposure and recognition for her skill and careful attention to detail in her figures and drawings.

Josianne des Fontaines, Bouloge-sur-Seine, worked by commission only in order to preserve her freedom of choice. Her precision to detail and accuracy were based on literature and personal history of the character, including national characteristics. Each model is unique and created from a number of parts. The nude metal core came first, and then she would build upon that layer by layer. Next came the costume, sheet by sheet and soldered separately. Continue reading

Appraising Cuban Art: An Introduction

Cuban art is as diverse as the island’s population. It is a combination of a myriad of styles and influences, including African, European, South American and North American elements. This guide will help you to prepare for having your Cuban art appraised. Anubis Appraisal & Estate Services, Inc. provides USPAP compliant appraisals of…

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Tara Ana Finley Accredited Appraiser Featured on the Fox Network Show “Strange Inheritance”

Tara Ana Finley, ISA AM accredited appraiser was featured on the Fox Network Strange Inheritance show to discuss the Orson Munn collection of toy soldiers. Jamie Colby the journalist of the show describes Strange Inheritance as “Antique Roadshow meets Ancestry meets Dateline” and it is Fox Network’s highest rated reality show.…

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Appraisal and Sale of Antique Sterling Silver

Since the discovery of silver, it has been used to create beautiful decorative objects for daily use. Antique sterling silver preserves its creation period through the various decorative styles that are representative of its maker and era. In addition to stylistic attributions, most antique sterling silver can be identified by hallmarks or markings. In the 1840’s,…

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Antique Dolls: Tips on Appraising

Tips for Collectors’ On Hiring an Accredited Appraiser Who Specializes In Antique Dolls A Brief History: The history of dolls and doll making practices dates back thousands of years to Ancient Greece and Egypt. Antique dolls were originally made as children’s toys, but have now become hot collectors’ items. During…

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