Grandmother’s Lace Collar
SB sends me a beautiful lace collar that belonged to her grandmother Elsa. Such collars were expensive in the mid-19th century and a young married middle-class girl would’ve been hard …
Malcolm McDowell
Ojai Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Honoree Malcolm McDowell. On November 3 a screening of O Lucky Man! will be followed by a Q&A with Mr. McDowell led by actor/writer Peter …
Japanese Tansus Chest
SL sends me a photo of a gorgeous Japanese tansu that reflects, in a remarkable way, how a piece of furniture can tell the social history of a culture. Tansus, …
Stitch and the Contemporary Collectible
Dr. Jumba, the evil scientist who created Stitch, spoke to the Galactic Council about his creation: “he is bulletproof, fireproof and can think faster than a super computer. He can …
“The West-Dressed Woman”
Santa Barbara Historical Museum Historian Michael Redmon and Guest Curator Sharon Bradford discuss “The West-Dressed Woman” exhibit.
Silver Multi-Formed Epergne from Shanghai
J.A. sends me photos of a lovely silver multi-formed epergne (flower holder) with the unique hallmark “Tuck Chang,” a 19th century silversmith from Shanghai, China. When we think of silver, …
Celluloid Siren Box
RM has a little box, 4 inches wide, 8 long and 5.5 inches tall, made of “composite.” The medium is not wood, not gesso, not plaster, but a combination of …
“Face To Face with the Great Whites”
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Director Greg Gorga and Master Photographer Ralph A Clevenger discuss the “Face To Face with the Great Whites” exhibit.
Fascinating Chinese Table Lamp
MAM sends me a photo of a fascinating Chinese table lamp that is a four-sided gently sloping rectangular shape in colored glazes on white with floral enameling, setting off a …
How to evaluate a postcard
JF sends me a picture postcard from the Panama Pacific International Exposition of San Francisco, circa 1915. What follows is a key to valuation of postcards in general – and …