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 …
A fine doll from the first years of the 20th century
ES sends me a porcelain-headed doll with jointed limbs. Her grandmother brought it with her when she immigrated to the US in 1916. The doll wears modern (polyester) clothing, and …
Ten tip for going through an elder parent’s possessions
K.K. writes: “When my mom died after living with me for over 8 years, I thought I’d prepared. NO. The next 10 months were hard, emotional. It’s one reason I …
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. …
Camel sculpture would see bump in value if made of different material
J.E. has a great-looking plaster sculpture of a lovely camel standing squarely on four skinny legs, bending his neck to gaze at his viewers. This 3-foot unsigned piece is painted …
Can you claim damage from the Thomas Flood on your homeowners insurance?
If the storms and mudflows in Montecito, Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, and Summerland impacted you, and you have questions about your insurance, listen to this vital conversation with John J. Thyne …
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 …
Citrus and cyanide
J.H. sends me a ceramic fumigation pot, alongside a photo of her grandmother’s house, in the first quarter of the 20th century set in an unincorporated area of West Covina. …
Before Bread Machines We Had Dough Boxes
LS sends me a photograph of a dough box, which, in its heyday (1850) would have weekly felt the weight of “three pecks” of flour to make the family’s bread. …