Mortar and Pestle: An Ancient Tool Re-emerges
IC sent this photo of a very heavy, 9″ diameter stone mortar and pestle. I find it difficult to ascertain the age of this beauty. Mortar and pestles go back, …
Antique Pitchers Live to Tell Stories for New Generation
MM grew up with two identical German antique milk pitchers representing twin sentimental looking lions. She got a brilliant idea and plans to give them to her great-great nephews, who …
Kevin McKiernan: From Wounded Knee to Standing Rock
Filmmaker Kevin McKiernan talks about the Santa Barbara premiere ( Tue, Dec 10, 7 pm at Marjorie Luke Theatre) of his documentary From Wounded Knee to Standing Rock: a reporter’s …
The Value of Fine Antique Furniture in America
Imagine me driving through a beautiful wrought iron gate in Montecito. I enter a grand house filled with fine antique furniture, loved for 40 years. Get ready, I think, because …
Vintage Clothing and What to Do With It
RB, a loyal reader from Santa Barbara, sent me a photo of a wonderful silk blouse she made in the 1950’s. It won her a prize in Home Ec. A …
La Cumbre Center for Creative Arts
Director of the La Cumbre Center for Creative Arts, Mike Cregan, joins artists Daniel Elmer Landman, Sol Hill, and Karen Gooding Haub to talk about their Grand Opening.
WOW – A World War I Patriotic French Poster in Good Shape
CS sends me an image of a French advertising poster originally drawn by the under-appreciated Symbolist artist Lucien Levy-Dhurmer. CS’s family apocrypha claims this dates to the early 1900’s. He …
Capodimonte Porcelain Urns Reminiscent Liberace’s Taste
LH inherited two porcelain urns she displays in her home in Paso Robles. She asked me if they are ‘good’ Capodimonte. I answered, that they’re not the top of their …
35th Annual Vaquero Show & Sale
Get into the Vaquero spirit with Michael Haskell, Sarah Ettman-Sterner, Jim Jeeter, and Diane Stewart who talk about the fine art and memorabilia on exhibit and available for purchase at …
Weird Book Related Objects: The “End”
D from up-state sends me a pair of American bookends in frosted glass with a turquoise blue bust of a woman, her hair as a bouquet of flowers. I put …