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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 …

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, …

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 …

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 …

“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 …

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 …

PP sends a picture of a pinball machine with a label on the back “Modified by Wurlitzer Distribution Corporation, Pico Blvd, LA.” The card game related pinball machine is dated …

Just in the last 4 months, I received many emails asking for values of Japanese Kimonos, emails from all over the world. A great-uncle brought a black kimono back after …

JS sent me a photograph of a large oil portrait of a man with a red umbrella. It’s signed, somewhat illegibly, DeGroot, DeGroat or DeGroote. Those spellings are within reason …

J from Santa Barbara has this little box of what appears to contain instruments of torture. Is it some kind of medical thing? He asks. His great great Uncle came …