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 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 …
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 …
Another Elizabeth Stuart’s Tray
BR sends me a tray which has been in her family for 80-years. That makes it at least early 20th century. The fascinating thing about this silverplated tray is the …
The Golden Age of German Beer Steins
More than any spirit container, I love German Beer Steins the best. So when KL sent me his, I translated it. On one side, Die alten Deutschen, the old-time German, …
How to Research an Item, from Rare Books to Fine Art
Apropos, a reader asked how I go about researching an item. “You must be good at googling,” she said. Although I am, this kind of analysis entails: knowledge of WHAT …
Hobnail Pitcher Made Lemonade Look Sweeter
PK has a cranberry opalescent hobnail water pitcher with a clear blown glass applied handle. “Hobnail” is a stud of glass that imitates the old “boot” soles of the era. …