Menorah
J.E. sends me a treasured many branched Hanukkah menorah that she found (or, I should say, found her) in a thrift store in Santa Barbara. She discovered this treasure in …
Swimming in dollars? Estimating the value of ‘fish-course’ flatware
G. J. has a “fish-course” set of silver plate flatware that dates to the last quarter of the 19th century. I have seen many of these elegant services, and they …
Mauchlin Ware Eyeglass Case
Scotland was the center in the mid 19th century of what we call The Cottage Industry: people are always amused when that old paisley shawl really did come from a …
Chinese bi disc comes full circle
S.H. is helping to close down her late friend’s home. She found a framed disc carved with curling beasts mounted under glass. The material, she thinks, is bone. The outside …
Foxy marketing made these stuffed toys collectible
J.S. from Santa Barbara has a little stuffed toy fox from the 1960s capturing all the kitsch and whimsy of the era. The fox is wearing a visor and double-breasted …
How old maps offer direction in valuing them
A.S. from Santa Ynez has a 26-inch square, canvas-mounted, blue-toned old map of a “Portion of the Rancho Santa Margarita, and adjoining lands, San Luis Obispo, CAL, property of Ferdinand …
How to downsize and declutter Part Three
Elizabeth continues her discussion on downsizing and how to get rid of the stuff you no long need. In this episode she talks about what to do with items you …
Is vintage travel toaster worth a lot of dough?
R.S. from Lompoc has a vintage Empire Trav’l-Toast Multi-Purpose Toaster, which plugs into a car’s cigarette lighter and operates on 12 volts. Right on the yellow metal box (from which …
How to downsize and declutter Part Two
Dr. Elizabeth Stewart continues her discussion on downsizing and how to get rid of the stuff you no long need. In this episode she talks about how to donate items …
The ‘Brainstorm Beanie’: Bright idea or silly gimmick?
A.C. in Lompoc has a complete boxed “Brainstorm Beanie,” circa 1954, marketed by the Jim Prentice Electric Toy Co. What makes this so special? The condition! Children’s toys are not …