Souvenir Bad Elster Spa Glass with a Story to Tell
GC inherited a souvenir blue colored late 19th century glass with the place name “Bad Elster” inscribed in gold. I can guess this little vessel came as a memento from …
Ever Seen Anything More Hideous Than This Rococo Revival Chair?
CP from Santa Barbara sends me a photograph of an ornate mahogany armchair with a carved and cartouche-crested top rail, a pierced and carved back splat and throne-like arms which …
American Empire Furniture Considered Heavy and Dark
GB sends me a photo of an American Empire sofa from the early to mid-19th century. Since I receive many questions of value for this furniture style, I bearer the …
A Muse of Fire and MCASB
Susan Kelejian and Jaye Hirsh with Ojai’s new theater company A Muse of Fire talk about their new production of Belles of Bedlam. Then Abaseh Mirvali and Alexandra Terry from …
A Meandering Path into Parisian Paintings by Paul Reynard
Millions of people email me photos of paintings of nostalgic Paris street scenes. Most of them are straight from the Rive Gauche art seller’s street stalls, painted by unknown semi-proficient …
Humorous Moustiers Candlesticks Make a Political Statement
A local doctor, who reads my column, received this humorous pair of candlesticks from a patient almost 40 years ago. This thoughtful patient purchased them in Paris 20 years prior …
Memorist Myra Mossman
Author Myra Mossman discusses her new memoir, My Random Death.
The Rotten Kids Dolls Appall Appraiser
Well, the universe did it again. I’m terrified of dolls and this past week Jessica sent me photos of twenty-five to thirty dolls which are possibly the most horrifying dolls …
Glazed Ceramic Toilette Set Now Obsolete Due to Indoor Plumbing
JH from Solvang has a Toilette set of glazed ceramic, and of course, she doesn’t use it to wash her face. “I use the Water jug as a container for …
Ensemble Exhibit at the SBMA
Julie Joyce, along with sound and performance artist Chris Kallmeyer, talk about the opening of the Ensemble exhibit at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.