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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. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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, …

C.B. sends me a photo of what appears to be a contemporary wall-mounted wooden sculpture. A further look shows its title is “Leader Clothes Dryer Pat’d July 4, 1899, GEM …