My goal is to publish new posts twice a week — Mondays and Thursdays. However, if you don’t see a new post on Thursday, it’s because I was too busy, so please look for a new one the following Monday.

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Christie’s New York sold The Private Collection of President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan, September 21-22, 2016, with total sales of $5,740,625, far surpassing the total high estimates. I wish I had known about the sale in advance, but unfortunately I missed it. I would have loved to own a souvenir of President Reagan, but realistically I probably wouldn’t have been willing to pay the high prices.

The top lot of the sale, #126, a Bulgari diamond, sapphire and ruby ring, in the motif of an American flag, was owned and worn by the first lady. The final price of $319,500 made a mockery of the pre-sale estimate of $5,000 – $7,000.

The second highest lot of the sale was the most interesting and historically significant — a graffiti-covered piece of the Berlin wall, hand-signed by the president. One of Reagan’s most famous quotes, from a speech he made in West Berlin on June 12, 1987, was “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” It too, far exceeded its high estimate of $20,000, realizing $277,500, including buyer’s premium. It should have brought even more.

Another very cool lot from the sale, #100, was an official NFL Wilson football, signed and inscribed by Reagan, “Win One For the Gipper Ronald Reagan”, in its original box. It’s a paraphrase from his 1940 film, Knute Rockne, All American. No trouble again with the pre-sale estimate of $5,000 – $10,000. This one scored a touchdown at $93,750, including buyer’s premium.

If you had to have something from the sale as a souvenir, you could have bought lots 414 or 415 for as little as $750, but they were pretty boring. For the complete results of the sale, click here.

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I hope to put together videos of the glassblowing demonstration we saw in Murano, Italy, for uploading to youtube for this Thursday’s post, but I don’t guarantee it. You’ll want to see it if the process of glassblowing interests you.

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Our next show will be in Winnetka, Illinois, November 4-6, 2016. This is our only fall show in the greater Chicago area (and probably our last show of the year). We always look forward to exhibiting there, especially to see all our friends and clients. Put it in your calendar. It’s a lovely show!

Click here to check my website for the latest items and to look around. I will update it as often as time permits. We’re still very much in business between shows, so please don’t hesitate to email or call. I always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on my website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. And remember to keep reading my blog.