Between 500 CE to 1500 CE in Europe technological advancement almost ceased. During this period, sundials placed above doorways were used to identify midday and four "tides" (important times or periods) of the sunlit day. Then, in the first half of the 14th century, large mechanical clocks began to appear in the towers of several large Italian cities.

When a customer purchases an item from an online seller, the item they receive should be exactly as it is described in the item listing. If the description states the item was made in 1960 or it is made of bronze, then it should be. If the item is damaged, then this should also be noted.

By now, many of you may have heard about the stolen Norman Rockwell painting found in movie director Steven Spielberg's collection. Spielberg is an avid art collector who sits on the board of the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The case is currently being litigated in Federal Court in Nevada and is expected to drag on for most of this year.

Developing a business plan is the best method of creating a profitable antique business. Many practices and procedures go into making a business plan. Items to be considered include: what kind of antiques will I carry, where will I buy these items, where will I sell these items, how much can I pay for a given item and how much will my business cost me to operate?

Collectors, the following procedure is a proper procedure to follow when you are considering buying an item to add to your collection.
DO NOT LOOK AT THE PRICE TAG.

Most new antique businesses fail in the first two years. In my opinion, the major reason for nearly all failures is the lack of a business plan. New dealers have the belief that it is easy to make money in the antique trade. They operate under the assumption that all they need to do is buy an item and sell that item for more money then they paid. Nothing could be further from the reality of the antique trade.

Polished surfaces of stone or metal have been used as personal mirrors for at least 8,000 years. Being self-aware and more than willing to gaze upon our own likeness served as impetus for the development of mirrors, as in pre-history it seems they were independently invented all over the world. A sense for local fashion undoubtedly assisted in their implementation.

Recently, on several Internet e-commerce shopping sites, we have noticed an increase in items marked 'Made in Germany,' or with various marks incorporating a name once common to a particular region in Germany – Prussia, that are being described and/or cataloged as though they are R.S. Prussia or R.S. Prussia 'related' items.

As we know, people new to handling decorative arts objects can sometimes mistake mass produced transfer printing for hand painted decoration. This occurs for several different reasons. The lovely portrait or floral image they are considering may be so well done it tricks their untrained eye into believing it was painted by hand. Another incorrect assumption often happens for similar reasons.

Recently we have seen everything from 1960’s jelly glasses sporting cartoon characters to ladies white nylon slips from the 1980’s being described as ‘Rare’. Statements to lend credence to the applicability of the term are sometimes made. Such as, “I couldn’t find another piece like this ANYWHERE on the internet!” or “None of the china matching services carry these plates.”