Collectibles -> Tobacciana -> Cigar

Cigar bands have a rich history, or more accurately, several histories. They’ve been attributed to the Russian queen Catherine the Great, and 19th century England, among other places. One story says that Catherine the Great ordered that her cigars be wrapped in silk to protect her fingers from becoming stained, so that afterwards, rings made of silk were put on cigars to mimic the queen. But even if she had smoked cigars (which there’s no evidence of) and had ordered silk wrappings, that probably wouldn’t have given birth to cigar bands on cigars made in faraway Cuba.

Another version says that in the 1800s, English ladies worried about soiling their white gloves while smoking cigars so they were wrapped with cigar bands allowing them to hold their stogies without staining their hands. And while apparently Spanish cigars from that era actually could stain your fingers, thanks to a chicory-shaded gum that wrapped them, dark wrappers were out of vogue by the middle of the century anyway.

And another version of the origin of cigar bands said they were designed to hold poorly rolled cigars together. Yet, cigar bands were supposed to in no way constrict the cigar. Cigar rolling in Cuba is an art form, with each cigar shaped, packed and rolled by hand. A band to hold it together is unnecessary, and a tight band would alter the density of the cigar, ruining the handwork by the masters. Also, Cuban cigars should have the bands removed before smoking, dispelling this theory.

As the finest cigars in the world have always come from Cuba, their version is more likely to be accurate. Gustave Bock ordered paper rings bearing his signature to be placed on every exported cigar. Banding was common by the middle of the 19th century. The band on a cigar became a badge of honor—people wanted to smoke cigars with cigar bands that bore certain brand names. With the popularity of cigar smoking in Americe, US makers upped production and bands were considered an unnecessary expense. By by the turn of the century, 80% of men in America smoked cigars, and cigar bands became a selling point for certain brands of cigars. Even cheap cigars bore colorful bands as part of their appeal to the consumer.

Cigar bands became throwaway items that people started clamoring to collect, much like matchbooks and bottlecaps. New band styles would sell out quickly, and albums for their collection were handed out by store owners and tobacconists. Then, similar to how green stamps worked, consumers could collect cigar bands and turn them in for other items household items like silverware, bedroom sets, footballs or magazine subscriptions. You could even combine them with tin tags from snuff and coupons from cigarettes.

The cigar bands most in demand are from this era and before. You can usually find vintage lots of cigar bands in online auctions for little money, though some of the more rare brands and designs command higher prices.

Originally posted 2008-10-19 05:00:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Dealers -> Textiles-Linens -> Tapestries

A wall tapestry can be a beautiful addition to your home, whether it’s a reproduction or an antique piece. A tapestry is much more than a woven cloth that covers the wall, it’s often a piece of history that tells a story, and speaks about the period in which it was created. The weaving used to make tapestries was considered one of the major art forms in ancient times, and while many new, modern tapestries are done with machines and focus more on the design than the craftsmanship, you can still find reproductions that are done painstakingly by hand in much the same way original tapestries were created.

Entire stories were told in wall tapestry in times past. Homer’s works were represented in tapestry form, as were other important books, stories from the Bible, and major historical events. Castles and compounds often displayed tapestries, as the aristocracy often owned hundreds of them. Tapestries were status symbols, speaking of wealth and affluence, and their impressive size made them perfect for covered stone castle walls and hallways.

The subject of wall tapestry changed with the times, moving from telling stories of battles and religion to more romantic subjects around the year 1200, during the Gothic period. This revived wall tapestry as an art form after a period of very little creation aside from painting and some needlework. Romantic stories were depicted in each tapestry, with each piece telling a full story. During the Renaissance, the subjects of wall tapestries changed again along with the paintings of the era, to symbolism and imagery. There was less focus on the need to tell a story, but instead they were designed to make an impression.

Most of the best tapestries were produced in Paris from the Middle Ages onward. But during the Hundred Years War, many were destroyed, either from the simple destruction of the violent time, or because many were made with thread that contained precious metals like silver and gold, so the tapestries were burned to retrieve the valuable metals within them. A wall tapestry you might find today would most likely only date back to the Renaissance. Most of these valuable pieces of art are owned by the wealthy, or they’re house in museums. It’s unlikely that the common collector could afford such a piece.

Fortunately, a wall tapestry reproduction is still an amazing piece of art, so much so that they’re quite expensive also, though only a fraction of what a real antique wall tapestry would cost. The only ones worth considering are the ones that are handmade and are true to the original. While you can buy “tapestries” today that are relatively cheap, they’re turned out quickly and lose much of the charm of the original. A true reproduction wall tapestry contains such craftsmanship, it can take up to 4 years to complete. When you find a wall tapestry online ask to see a picture of the back—the design on the back will show you whether it’s truly a handmade piece.

Originally posted 2008-11-14 05:18:33. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Coin collecting is nothing short of an art form, a collection style that mixes the beauty and grace of cast metal and printed paper with a strong sense of history. Coin collecting is like no other collection in the word, full of unique characteristics that drive the coin collecting market.

If you are looking to get into coin collecting you need to make sure that you know how to approach your collection. You need to know as much as you can about coil collecting values and foreign currency – the more that you know about coin collecting, the better. These five different things to look for will help you to keep a strong coin collection.

Value

One of the main things for any coin collecting individual to focus on is value. Coin collecting values continue to ebb and flow, depending on the recent advent of coin finds and the popularity of each coin. Every coin collector must know exactly how much the coins in their collection are worth. They must also understand the actual value of the coins that they are interested in.

Personal Value

While actual value is incredibly important in the world of coin collecting, so is personal value. A collection is an important extension of an individual. Most will simply collect pieces that have a strong meaning or strong pull within them. For some, it is ok to slightly overspend to get the coin that has strong personal value. You need to make sure that you are looking for both coins that are rare and coins that you are drawn to.

Changes in Foreign Currency

Foreign currency changes at a rapid pace, with European countries constantly changing or tweaking their designs. Coin collectors and paper money collectors need to make sure that they know what foreign monies are gaining popularity due to these changes.

Updates on the Counterfeit Market

There is a constant struggle in the coin collecting market that involves coin collectors and counterfeit producers. Individuals are constantly trying to make money off of the market, creating counterfeit monies in an attempt to make quick cash. You must keep updated on the counterfeit coins to look out for to ensure that you do not pay for a counterfeit coin.

Strong Collector Shops

If you are going to get into coin collecting you need to find strong and reliable coin collector shops. These shops work actively to avoid any counterfeit currencies and generally feature fair asking prices for their pieces. Collectors who form strong relationships with these types of shops and their owners will have the best collections.

The world of coin collecting is more complex than many give it credit for. Serious coin collectors must constantly surround themselves with the latest information on values, foreign currency, and counterfeit money. These collectors will have the strongest and most valuable collections of anyone, as they are sure that their collection is correctly valued and authentic.

Photo Credits: flash2

Originally posted 2010-12-15 03:37:01. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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