Italian Barometer/Thermometer
R.S. sends me an ornate Renaissance Revival style hand carved 19th century barometer/thermometer marked G & L Guanziroli, who was a maker of optical instruments in London (Hatton Garden) in …
ViewTex Filmstrip projector
JF sends me a ViewTex Filmstrip projector from the 1960’s, sourced from Alpha Thrift, complete with its own brown leatherette suitcase. It’s heavy, because of its streamlined style metal shell. …
Doll Horrors
M.M. of Santa Barbara tortured me this week by sending not just one, but a group of dolls, all well-loved. M.M. explained that as an only child she played with …
Could this be a de Chirico worth millions?
T. has a fascinating painting that he found in his grandfather’s attic. It resembles a valuable piece by Giorgio de Chirico of 1915 entitled “La pureté d’un rêve” (the purity …
Buddha Bodhisattva
L.S. from Lompoc writes me a lovely card in which she stuck two photos of a clay Buddha purchased 25 years ago at an estate sale, a heavy thing at …
Silver-plated biplane bound for pilot’s collection
BI sends me a little silverplated model of an early 20th century bi-plane. She asked if it’s worth keeping and polishing? I love all things aeronautic, since my brother won …
Papua New Guinea Mask
E.E. sends me a huge Oceanic tribal mask from Papua New Guinea’s Sepik River area. This would scare anyone with its awesome energy. E.E. tells me her husband won’t have …
American Indian baskets hold valuable history
J.E. has three American Indian baskets, one at 13″ diameters, the other at 7″, and the smallest at 4″. Her family passed these down from her great uncle, who was …
En Grisaille Tea Caddy
SJ sends me photos of a lovely little architecturally scalloped wooden tea caddy, picturing a monochromatic scene of lovers. This is a technique called “en grisaille,” painted with black, white …
A Saucy Paper Collectible
PS sends me an old theater program from Treasure Island’s California Auditorium of 1940: Clifford C. Fischer’s Folies Bergere, showing a gorgeous “doll” with a strategically placed feather boa, pearls, …