What you Don’t Know About Your Grandfather and the Geisha
PB’s grandfather, a bigwig with Westinghouse in the 1930’s, went to Japan to explore a joint business with Mitsubishi. The Board of Mitsubishi Goshi presented him with a delicate porcelain …
Rare Japanese Ivory Netsuke For Sale! Not!!
CH has inherited, from her great Uncle, rare Japanese ivory Netsuke figures. These are delightful, whimsical small carved figures, worn for centuries by the gentleman of Japan, suspended on cords …
How to Date a “Made in ________” Antique
CW has sent me, via email, a few antiques for me to price in the past. By the way, if you need valuation advice, don’t be shy, email me a …
Finding the Key to this Vintage Lock
LA is wondering about her friend’s mind. The friend collects vintage locks and LA wants to know if this is an unhealthy obsession. No, LA, many folks collect vintage locks. …
An Early Steam Punk Drafting Table
CB sends me a photograph of an old drafting table which intrigued me. This form of furniture isn’t designed for the uses of the body (eating, sleeping, sitting) but for …
Family Heirloom Reflects Long History of Mirrors
EP owns a little pressed brass beveled glass mirror, inherited from her grandmother. The repoussé design of the courting couple depicted gives away its date. She’s in a hoop skirt, …
A Cameo Parure with a Family Connection
JA sends me a lovely parure of three-coral cameo jewelry pieces. Parure implies a set of three or more matching pieces of jewelry made to match. The history of a …
For the Love of Vintage Hats
MG from Santa Barbara received a collection of mid 20th century hats from her grandmother. Notably one, a streamlined head-fitted cloche style with a large silk label: “Mr. John.” This …
Benjamin Disraeli, a Great Find in Rare Books
“You don’t even know who I am” (a famous Disraeli quote). Christa and Elaine of a local estate sale company called to say “The Clearing House” sent them a 20-volume …
Selling Collectable Books? Learn the Market
PL owns a series of nine books, Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great, dating from 1916 to 1925 by the author Elbert Green Hubbard (1856-1915). If you know the …