Fairmont Royal York Hotel Desk Lighter

This vintage smoking center contains compartments for holding cigarettes, a lighter and a tray that could be used for ashes or pins. The piece measures 6” wide by 4 1/2” deep by 6 1/2” tall to the top of the cover which comes off to reveal the lighter. One sold recently for $449 after 12 bids on eBay while a few months ago, one also garnered 12 bids and sold for $622. The real Fairmont Royal York Hotel, formerly the Royal York Hotel, is a large and historic hotel in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Opened in 1929, the Royal York was designed by Ross and Macdonald and built by the Canadian Pacific Railway across the street from Union Station. With 28 floors, the Chateau-style building was the tallest building in Toronto at that time. When built, It boasted 1,048 rooms - each with radios, private showers and bathtubs. The 1.5 acres of public rooms included a 12-bed hospital, 12,000-book library and ten ornate passenger elevators. The Concert Hall featured a full stage and mammoth pipe organ weighing 50 tons, which surpassed anything else in Canada with 300 miles of copper wire. There was a glass-enclosed roof garden, the largest hotel kitchen in Canada with a bakery that could produce over 15,000 French rolls a day, a 66-foot-long switchboard manned by 35 telephone operators, its own bank and golf course (now known as St. George Golf & Country). A $100 million renovation from 1988 to 1993 restored the original elegance with refurbished guestrooms, public spaces, a health club, lap pool and the first-ever American Express Travel Service Centre. In July 2008, the Royal York installed three beehives on its 13th-floor rooftop terrace to serve its in-house garden, which already provides its nine restaurants with fresh herbs, vegetables and flowers. Three queens and their 40,000 workers provide the chefs with up to 700 pounds of honey. The hotel named the hives the Honey Moon Suite, the Royal Sweet and the V.I. Bee Suite.

Gingerbread House and Building Architecture

Frank Lloyd Wright's famous masterpiece, Fallingwater, has been recreated in gingerbread. Reader, Paul C. sent me this tip. I found more examples of eatable gingerbread architecture including an Eiffel Tower, Independence Hall and Rockefeller Center. Also, a spectacular Empire State Building, gothic churches and cathedral gingerbread buildings - some even have flying buttresses.

Fine Silver Souvenir Buildings

While souvenir buildings are made of many different materials, a few have been produced in precious metals including silver. An exceptional silver building replica of the medieval city gate tower named Eschenheimer Tower recently sold on eBay. After 29 bids, it realized a price of $2,247. The exquisite work of master silversmith, Lazarus Posen, is from circa 1930 and most likely one-of-a-kind. The miniature measures with base: 6” H x 2.5” square. The firm Lazarus Posen was founded in Frankfurt on the Main in 1869, in 1938 the company was forcefully closed and looted on Kristallnacht or Night of Broken Glass. Silver hallmarks: 800 Crescent Moon, Crown, P in shield and POSEN. Weight silver (without marble base): 217 gr - 6.97671 oz (troy) - 0.48 Lbs Pounds. The real Eschenheimer Turm was built in Frankfurt, Germany in was built in 1428 by master builder Madern Gerthener and architect of the Kaiserdom. The tower was once one of about 60 towers encircling the city. Most were demolished between 1806 and 1812 when the old city walls were torn down. The Eschenheimer turm was saved from demolition thanks to the intervention of French ambassador Count d'Hédouville. Today the tower is one of Frankfurt's most famous landmarks. Originally used as a gate, the tower today has heavy traffic flows around it. Since 1992, you can again reach the Eschenheimer Turm by walking from the pedestrian-only Schillerstrasse, before you could only reach it via the subway station. That same year a café opened at the base of the Tower. Another rare sterling silver building model is replica of a soccer football stadium, The Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain. Produced in the 1980's, this building replica has been on eBay for a buy-it-now price of $7000 for a long time. The artisan handmade model is set on a dark red wood base. The stadium is the home to the football clubs in the world, Real Madrid, which officially adapted the present name, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 4th, 1955 in honor of the club president Santiago Bernabeu. The real stadium has hosted the European Cup Final on 3 separate occasions - 1957, 1969 & 1980. The finals for the 1964 European Nations Cup and the 1982 World Cup have also been held at the Bernabeu. This model was made before a new cover for the Padre Damian side was put in place. Marked 925 for sterling silver and maker's mark. Measures: 10.63in X 12.2 and a height of 3.94in. Weight: 159oz. Net silver weight: 3380gr / 108.67oz.

Architectural Gift Guide

Gift ideas for a fan of architecture can be both easy and difficult. At least there is a theme, but finding the right gift may not always be easy. Check out this etched stainless steel iPhone or mobile device cover with international buildings and architectural theme. Designer Patrick Chirico lives gets inspiration from his neighborhood in Brooklyn, N.Y. and creates decorator pillows of brownstones and buildings. Keep warm with this a soft Lambs wool skyscraper scarf. A large glass Capitol dome would make a smart center feature to a holiday table. Crate & Barrel’s Milk Chocolate Grahams come in a house-shaped boxes. C&B also offers a “Fish House” an architectural fish habitat for your modern home. Toys are always a good idea for budding architects. I’ve written in the past about holiday gift ideas.

Rare 1928 Los Angeles City Hall Bank

Fellow building collector Howie, recently acquired a very rare LA City Hall coin bank. On the bottom plate is written, “Art-vertising corp., Los Angeles cal.1928. This is when the bank was manufactured and also the date when the real building was constructed. The metal bank has its original green paint and measures about 6 inches tall, 4 3/4 inches long, and 3 1/4 inches deep. According to Howie, “Art-vertising corp., seems to have made a metal prudential life insurance company rock of Gibraltar bank that is #1264 on page 121 of Moore's penny bank book, 4th edition. Also an Abraham Lincoln, some cars, etc., kind of like Banthrico. “ I've written previously about the LA City Hall building.