The Grand Era of Dining
A young 20 year old reader, JE, saw a piece of furniture in a local antique shop, and sent me a photo. She likes it but doesn’t know how to …
The History of Dinnerware
Elizabeth Stewart, PhD talks about the history of dinnerware and the value of this 18th century pewter plate.
Viva La Spanish Flavored Textiles
GM, who works at a local secondhand store, offers plenty of Fiesta Costumes for sale as I write this. A Rio Grande Vest at the shop evokes the Spanish Colonial …
Are these slag glass candlesticks made by Tiffany?
Elizabeth Stewart, PhD explains how to tell if these Art Nouveau slag glass candlesticks are made by Tiffany & Co. or not. Mantel pieces such as these are considered garnish.
Fabulous Art Deco Daum Glass
GD showed me a simply fabulous Daum Nancy colorless glass decanter from France, made in the early 20th century. Created in the Art Deco style, we see a frosted glass …
Are we through with the Joy of Things?
A client cancelled an appointment with me yesterday. He said he felt sick and tired of his family and colleagues suggesting he ‘de-clutter.’ He decided he didn’t care about valuing …
The Nude Male Model
JE owns a “life study” figure by Charles Arthur Fries (1854-1940). Why did Fries, known in his later years for his Southern Californian landscape paintings, sketch a strange little nude …
A Tale of Art Forgery
This week TT came into the office with a nice oil painting signed A.G. Deacon. This oil on canvas landscape, a view of a French vineyard, came with memories, as …
F. Hopkinson Smith: An Artist with Technical Know-How
PS sends me a beautiful oil pastel on paper, signed F. Hopkinson Smith (1838-1915). The painting depicts a canal scene in Venice, but look closer, you will see an amazing …
Material Testimony to the Story an Object Tells: Judaica
DB from Oxnard sent me this photograph of a most beautiful mystery silver item, which appears to be a tea or coffee pot. But in this little item contains a …