Lincoln Engraving

A.K. sends an old engraving on paper of Abraham Lincoln in oval form, bordered by scenes from his life. The bottom is printed “Photograph by MB Brady” with a Lincoln …

Silver candlesticks’ history is golden

G.R. uses a pair of Polish Judaica candlesticks for the weekend Shabbos family meal. They date from the last quarter of the 19th century. They’re marked with the Polish double …

Chinese temple vase

PS sends me a large red Chinese temple vase with two huge black painted dragons curling along the sides. The vase stands about 36” tall, the base material terracotta. Two …

The Personality of the American Home

The Personality of the American Home, an expert’s look at Generations of People Who Own ‘Stuff,’ is a result of five years of observations of appraiser’s clients, spanning four generational …

Art Deco sofa – to reupholster or not

T. A. from Santa Barbara has an interesting quandary regarding the Art Deco sofa pictured. Is its antique value worth the cost to reupholster the piece? Or should T. A. …

My Scottish Repoussé Find

I have often been tempted to photograph an antique I myself have found, and last week, returning to Santa Barbara from an appointment in Calabasas, I stopped at an industrial …