Clik here to view.
The Devil with a Hammer in His Hand
QUESTION: I’ve always been fascinated with decorative ironwork. Seeing it on my first trip to New Orleans got me hooked. Ever since, I’ve sought out decorative gates, window grills, and railings. Most...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Little Japanese Treasures
QUESTION: While most people go to antique shows looking for items to add to their collections, I go to see what I can discover that I’ve never seen before. And though the larger items dominate the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Mark of the Lady of the House
QUESTION: I recently purchased a beautifully crafted device at an antique show. The dealer called it a chatelaine and said that it dated to the 1860s. What attracted me to it were the small objects...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Buckets of Fun at the Seashore
QUESTION: As I was browsing a local antique mall, I noticed an old tin sand pail sitting on a shelf along with a variety of other old toys. Seeing it brought back a flood of memories of vacations at...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Teapot King
Aladdin TeapotQUESTION: My mother was an avid tea drinker. When she was a young woman, she began buying old teapots at flea markets and yard sales. When I grew up and left to go on my own, I started...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Seeing the World in Almost 3-D
QUESTION: When I was a kid in the 1950s, I received a View-Master stereoscope for Christmas. It came with several reels of photos, plus I could buy additional ones. I loved viewing photos of my...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Keeping the Railroads on Time
QUESTION: My grandfather worked as a conductor on the Pennsylvania Railroad. When he died some years ago, I inherited his pocket watch. For a long time, I thought it was just another old pocket watch....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Mysterious Mauchline Ware
QUESTION: As I browse the booths of antique shows in my area, I’ve come upon small ochre-colored wooden boxes in various shapes with a black printed image of a historical landmark, most of which seem...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
QUESTION: My grandmother loved to sew. She made her own clothes and some of those of her family. Over the years, she assembled quite a collection of sewing items. Some of the most interesting were the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Musical Chair for Musical Chairs
QUESTION: This summer while vacationing on Cape Cod, I spent some time antiquing. In one of the shops I discovered an unusual chair. It looked like a fancy side chair but the seat had hinges. When I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Shaping the Modern American Lifestyle
QUESTION: For the last several years I’ve begun to purchase various pieces of Mid-Century Modern furniture and accessories. While doing so, the name Russel Wright has come up frequently. I understand...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Silent Greeters to the World of Tobacco
QUESTION: When I was a little boy, my mother used to take me shopping with her in our little midwestern town. On the way to the emporium, we used to pass by a strange looking shop. I didn’t like to go...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Fragments of Beauty
QUESTION: Some time ago, I was browsing at a local flea market where I came upon a small decorated wooden box on one of the tables. The top had a serious of interlocking blocks that formed a sort of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Descendant of the Laptop
QUESTION: On one of my first trips to England, I enjoyed antiquing as I traveled the countryside. In a shop in the Cotswolds, I discovered an unusual box. It had a lid that opened a out into what...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Brightening the World with Loetz Glass
QUESTION: I like to collect art glass. Over the years, I added many pieces to my collection. Recently, I discovered a beautiful vase at an antique show. The dealer said it was made by Loetz of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Snake Eyes
QUESTION: From my first visit to Arizona, I was taken by the beauty of the turquoise jewelry I found there. I’ve been back several times since and each time I discover new artisans. I especially like...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Clock is Ticking on Clock Collecting
QUESTION: I’ve been interested in clocks for a long time but only recently have I had enough extra cash to start a serious collection. How do I know what clocks to collect? I have a limited...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Going Nuts for Nutcrackers
QUESTION: My family comes from a German background. When my ancestors first arrived in the United States back in the 1880s, they brought with them many of the customs and traditions. This included how...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Dreaming of a Brite Christmas
QUESTION: For several years I’ve been searching for older ornaments for my Christmas tree. I’ve seen a good number at flea markets and antique cooperatives. Many of these are still in their original...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Charm of Russian Nesting Dolls
QUESTION: My introduction to Russian nesting dolls occurred on a trip to Russia. Vendors selling wooden dolls in a variety of sizes and themes seemed to be everywhere. I purchased several sets of...
View Article
