Finding the Key to this Vintage Lock
LA is wondering about her friend’s mind. The friend collects vintage locks and LA wants to know if this is an unhealthy obsession. No, LA, many folks collect vintage locks. …
An Early Steam Punk Drafting Table
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 …
Family Heirloom Reflects Long History of Mirrors
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, …
A Cameo Parure with a Family Connection
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 …
For the Love of Vintage Hats
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 …
Benjamin Disraeli, a Great Find in Rare Books
“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 …
Selling Collectable Books? Learn the Market
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 …
Pinballs and Jukeboxes: Quaint Nostalgia
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 …
Gender Bending Wedding kimono
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 …
How a Pro Researches Art Not attributed to a Known Artist
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 …