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Bet you never knew about Capriccio paintings, employed when 16 -19th century painters were commissioned to portray architecture. They deliberately depict great architecture often in crumbling ruins in a complete …

Mary Kay sent me photos of a rustic looking hickory rocker and armchair finished with hickory rushed seats and backs, and a round low table. On the underside we see …

TY owns a lovely Weddige lithograph of two young nymphs. The dark haired one holds a large shell over the head of the blonde, who offers her mate a smaller …

My favorite objects? What in my tiny condo keeps me amused during the Pandemic? And why? Is it beauty, functionality, or symbolism? The first object is a 18th century tea …

One crisp January day during the Pandemic JF hiked up by Lake Arrowhead, near some defunct train tracks, and found this steel plate. He lugged it in his backpack the …

Sally of Santa Barbara wrote on behalf of her mom, who owns a cast-iron donkey toy bank used in Franklin D. Roosevelt‘s “Dimes for Dems” campaign. Sally, this bank is …

Out shopping the thrifts in Ventura, FT fell in love with what she calls a “throwback” style of furniture. She asked what I know about this vintage Bar Cabinet. I …

I hear this question a lot: “Do you think we’ll sell this piece of furniture here in Santa Barbara?” Generally I answer, if it’s not Renaissance Revival, and moreover, if …

PM sent me a photo of a hyper realistic baby doll. I don’t complain about appearing on the list doll appraisers, but as my readers know, I don’t like DOLLS. …

Robin sent me a photo of a yellow, pink and blue Chinese Ceramics bowl that she bought at a yard sale for $10 a few years ago. Her question: Is …