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, …
Wall Mounted Clothes Dryer
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 …
The ultimate back scratcher
My friends at the Unity Shoppe asked me to identify an odd-looking stick thing with a head like a padded cloud (called a plaquette), with a long hardwood handle in …
Moving!?
What to do when faced with a BIG move? I helped a lovely Santa Inez family move their older dad to the East Coast. Here are some hints of ways …
Local legends in the art world: Popo and Ruby Lee
S.F. has a portrait of a young woman wearing a turban over flowing hair, with her delicate hands in a prayerful gesture. The piece is signed Popo and Ruby Lee, …