Object of the day: Tibetan Buddhist Ritual Vessel

Tibetan Buddhist Ritual Vessel ‘Kapala’ 
(Tibet 1700 to 1900)
Bone, Silver, Coral, Turquoise
Description / Expertise 
A Tibetan Buddhist Ritual Vessel ‘Kapala’ the Human Cranium Mounted with a Silver Band Decorated with Four Silver Skulls set on panels etched with scrolling leaves and studded with turquoise. The interior with a central silver rosette studded with a section of red coral. Old smooth patination to the skull
The skull 17th Century, the silver mounts 19th Century

Size: 
8.5cm high, 15.5cm wide, 19.5cm deep – 3¼ ins high, 6 ins wide, 7¾ ins wide

Vintage Toy & Collectible Auction #54 at Serious Toyz

As usual, Serious Toyz will offer an outstanding array of diecast vehicles, including literally hundreds of 1950s-1960s Matchbox cars, all MIB!

Coin-operated machines include the 1930s "All-Win Deluxe" gambling machine, a 1960s "Health Garde" condom machine (with contents), 1933 "Select-Em" dice gambling machine, & a 1902 clockwork "Zeno Chewing Gum" machine. All work well and come with keys.

"Zeno Chewing Gum" machine, 1902

This auction is going on NOW and will end Friday, January 6th for Character / Classic Toys and Saturday, January 7th for toy vehicles. 
To see catalogue and prices see Serious Toyz website and bid online!!!

The object of the day: 7th century Chinese terracotta horse

Large terracotta Horse , Tang Dynasty (China 618 to 907)

Size
Height 61 cm., 24"
Length 63cm., 24 3/4"

The painted pottery horse in a walking stance with a rare detachable blanket saddle .
The horse belongs to a group of grey pottery figures which are modelled around an iron armature and dating from the early Tang period, 7th Century
Shaanxi province

Status
FOR SALE

How to know if it is antique?

An antique, according to the dictionary, is "a piece of furniture, tableware or the like, made at a much earlier period than the present." It is not, however, necessarily out-of-date or oldfashioned. A chair that was built soundly from good hardwood around 1820 and is comfortable to sit on is never out-of-date. A 7 1/2-inch-high octagonal teapot of blue Staffordshire is monstrous in comparison to contemporary streamlined pots, but it makes as good tea as it did more than a century ago.

How many years old must a chair, a plate, a trivet, a fan, or a clock be to warrant its being called an antique without anyone's arguing the point? Some people insist on a precise number of years, such as 80 or 100. The 80-year span is justified on the basis of two generations, each one covering 40 years. Yet a watch that is only 75 years old is likely to look old-fashioned, and so perhaps it also is an antique. Certainly anything that is 100 years old deserves the label.

The object of the day: Handpainted silk trade banners

The unique handpainted silk trade banners were made to illustrate the various trade groups represented in the Maine association. Each year a special parade would take place, and members (blacksmiths, shipbuilders, printers, masons, butchers, etc.) would carry these banners - representing their trade.
The group of 17 banners was estimated between $125,000 and $225,000, and sold on James D. Julia Auctions for $125,350. The price was exciting news, but the buyer and the circumstances of purchase were even more newsworthy. The winning bidder was Richard D'Abate, Executive Director of the Maine Historical Society. D’Abate represented a consortium of many Maine historical institutions.