$65,000 Frogs and Other Outlandish Objects at the Winter Antiques Show

Of the billions of objects produced during civilization's history, very few have endured to the present day. If this year's Winter Antiques Show at the Park Avenue Armory is any indication, those that managed to stand the test of time did so, it seems, at random: A mishmash of more than 70 dealers from around the world have crowded into the Armory's drill hall with objects ranging from a 2,500 year old bronze helmet to a ceramic vase by Picasso and a collection of illustrated 15th century manuscripts.

A few of the objects make intuitive sense: Yes, jeweled objets d'art by Fabergé and stunning vases from Sèvres were likely to (and did!) make the cut. Those are the type of thing people generally do their best not to throw out or destroy. But a pair of ice skates from the 1860s? (Cost: $2,100.) Their survival seems, to the untrained eye, to reflect something closer to blind luck.

The following objects are a mix: a few obviously valuable pieces and many more whose inherent worth might require a balletic leap of faith. If you're in New York, you can check them out yourself from Jan. 22 through Jan. 31.