Antiques
For Father's Day gifts, think antiques
Father's Day is coming in June, so think ahead and try to find a unusual gift for your father. Shop at a flea market or antiques shop.
Date: 05/31/2012 | Home and Garden
Garden art by Weller is still a hit with collectors
Art pottery made by Weller is a favorite among collectors. The company made art pottery in Zanesville, Ohio, from 1893 to 1948.
Date: 05/24/2012 | Home and Garden
Horns and antlers made some most unusual chairs
Furniture has been made from carved and joined pieces of wood for centuries, but in every century there are a few designers who are intrigued by the forms of nature and use them to create furniture.
Date: 05/17/2012 | Home and Garden
Doorstops were once intricate, clever and colorful
Iron doorstops are among today's top-selling collectibles. They are probably not propped against a door to keep it open but are instead displayed like rare porcelain figurines on a prominent shelf.
Date: 05/10/2012 | Home and Garden
Enjoy all things vintage
Everything old is new (and hip) again at Ruffles & Rust market
Date: 05/10/2012 | Home and Garden
Centuries old, aquariums have always been a way to keep fish
Did you have a bowl filled with pet fish when you were young? The idea dates back to the Roman Empire, when carp were kept in marble tanks.
Date: 05/03/2012 | Home and Garden
Ironing clothes was even more of a chore before electricity
Permanent-press fabrics have relieved most households of the need to iron clothing. In past centuries, ironing was an almost daily duty of a woman in the home. Before about the 10th century, cloth was ironed with smooth wooden or glass pieces and a pounding stick.
Date: 04/26/2012 | Home and Garden
Baseball card nets $1.2 million at auction
ST. LOUIS -- A New Jersey man paid $1.2 million for a rare 1909 Honus Wagner baseball card in an online auction that brought interest from many potential buyers who had never owned a card before, the sale organizer said.
Date: 04/21/2012 | Nation & World
Dual-purpose furniture did double duty
Dual-purpose furniture has been made for centuries. By the 1700s, there were chairs with large, round backs that flipped down on the top of the arms to make a table.
Date: 04/19/2012 | Home and Garden
Cast-iron animals have been living in our gardens for decades
If you don’t already have rabbits hopping around your garden, you might want to buy an antique garden rabbit to fool your friends.
Date: 04/12/2012 | Home and Garden
How classic Prince Albert prank got its start
Our ancestors enjoyed jokes any day of the year, not just on April Fools' Day. By the 1850s, potters were making puzzle jugs with holes that let liquid dribble down a shirt front and beer mugs with a ceramic frog or snake inside waiting to appear when the beer was gone.
Date: 04/05/2012 | Home and Garden
Horse's fame lives on in objects that bore his name
History becomes more interesting if you learn about it through objects and stories. It's the "rest of the story" that adds to the fun. A large pail that once held Dan Patch Roasted Coffee auctioned recently for $2,035. The bright-red can features a horse and rider in a harness race.
Date: 03/29/2012 | Home and Garden
Be careful with names when studying antiques
Seeking information about antiques and collectibles sometimes can be difficult because so many terms have more than one meaning.
Date: 03/22/2012 | Home and Garden
'Antiques Roadshow' to shoot segment in Seattle on Aug. 18
It's time to find out if that ugly vase your grandmother gave you is worth keeping."Antiques Roadshow," the hit traveling PBS appraisal program, will film Aug. 18 in Seattle.
Date: 03/20/2012 | Life
St. Patrick's Day tchotchkes catching on with collectors
St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated in Ireland for more than a thousand years. The modern celebration on March 17 is a religious holiday in Ireland, with church in the morning, then a parade and dancing, eating and drinking later in the day.
Date: 03/15/2012 | Home and Garden
In all different forms, time pieces have rich history
A stick's shadow, sundials, clocks, watches and wristwatches have all made it easier for people to tell time.
Date: 03/08/2012 | Home and Garden
Realistic Weller pottery is popular
Weller pottery was first made in 1872 in Fultonham, Ohio, but by 1882 Weller had moved to Zanesville, one of the main cities where pottery was made in Ohio.
Date: 03/01/2012 | Home and Garden
Gothic furniture by Rohlfs didn't fit the mission mold
Arts and Crafts, or mission, furniture is described in most catalogs and books as functional and simple, with straight legs and arms.
Date: 02/23/2012 | Home and Garden
George Washington souvenirs still sought after today
Presidents Day, still officially named George Washington's Birthday, is celebrated on the third Monday in February. But it has not always been celebrated on that day.
Date: 02/16/2012 | Home and Garden
Valentine's Day cards and gifts originated centuries ago
Valentine's Day has been celebrated for centuries. By the 1790s, romantic cards were being given to that "special" person.
Date: 02/09/2012 | Home and Garden
Tea paraphernalia of all shapes and sizes interests collectors
Tea, it is said, was first drunk by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung about 2737 B.C. Then someone in China invented a device that shredded tea leaves, making it easier to brew tea.
Date: 02/02/2012 | Home and Garden
You don't need to grease if you're using a baking mat
Q: I know that you are a big fan of Silpat (silicone) nonstick baking mats, but some recipes call for greasing a cookie sheet or using parchment. Are these methods interchangeable?
Date: 01/26/2012 | Home and Garden
Some toys desirable for many years
Toys often were made to resemble famous people or characters in plays, books or TV shows. Sometimes the character that inspired the toy is forgotten, but the toy remains popular with collectors because it is so well-designed, unusual or lovable.
Date: 01/26/2012 | Home and Garden
Cold-painted bronze creates colorful figures
What is "cold-painted bronze"? The term is used online to describe colorful bronze or spelter figures, but almost no one explains what it means.
Date: 01/19/2012 | Home and Garden
Popular furniture styles can endure for hundreds of years
Some furniture styles are so popular that they are copied by cabinetmakers for hundreds of years. Some copies are easy to recognize as copies because their construction is modern: new nails, machine-made mortise-and-tenon joints holding drawer parts together, telltale marks made by modern saws...
Date: 01/12/2012 | Home and Garden
Figurines immortalized 18th century celebs
Figurines were the “photographs” of the 18th and 19th centuries. Well-known politicians, royalty, sports figures, actors, writers, religious subjects and newsworthy criminals, places and events were the inspiration for the figurines.
Date: 01/05/2012 | Home and Garden
Mystery clocks attracted attention in 19th century shops
Mystery clocks have been popular since the 18th century. The clock appears to have no mechanism, yet keeps time. One of the most famous is the "swinging-arm clock." A tall classical figure, usually bronze, holds some long rods with a pendulum bob on the bottom and a ball with a clock face on the...
Date: 12/29/2011 | Home and Garden
Modern Santa Claus image is a mixture of many traditions
Santa Claus has changed in appearance throughout the centuries. He is now a mixture of the Dutch, German, Scandinavian, British and American characters that have represented Christmas.
Date: 12/22/2011 | Home and Garden
Old picture frames were often elaborate creations
Picture frames were very elaborate during Victorian times. The rectangular frame for an oil painting could be 3 or 4 inches deep with several different types of carving on the borders.
Date: 12/15/2011 | Home and Garden
Home and Garden calendar
SeriesSustainable gardening lecture series: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. every other Friday, Jan. 6 through April 13, Mukilteo Presbyterian Church, 4515 84th St. SW, Mukilteo. Tickets to the full eight-lecture series are $85 in advance.
Date: 12/15/2011 | Home and Garden
Chestnuts easy to find, but not chestnut baskets
A Chinese porcelain "chestnut basket" recently was offered for sale at a Virginia auction.
Date: 12/08/2011 | Life
Shaker-made furniture now relatively rare
The Shakers are a religious group that came to America from England in 1774, led by Mother Ann Lee. The group grew until there were 18 Shaker communities in the eastern part of the country.
Date: 12/01/2011 | Home and Garden
Everett woman’s collection of corn ware is a harvest of whimsy
Margie Betker of Everett has always had a thing for dishes.
Date: 11/24/2011 | Life
A smart but smelly way to catch ants
Ants have been sneaking inside warm houses for centuries.Our ancestors did not use poison, but they had a way to keep the ants away from their food. They made ant traps of pottery or glass designed to keep ants from climbing up the legs of a kitchen or dining room table.
Date: 11/17/2011 | Home and Garden
Iron football toys survive, but their game has been lost
During football season, fans shop for T-shirts, banners, nodding heads, glasses and other souvenirs of the game. Through the years, many football toys also have been made.
Date: 11/10/2011 | Home and Garden
Estate of generosity
Everett Assistant League runs estate sales for benefit of many
Date: 11/08/2011 | Local News
Do you have a haunted antique?
We have heard many stories about "haunted antiques" through the years, and we often ask readers to send us their stories.
Date: 11/03/2011 | Home and Garden
Vintage Halloween collectibles scarily popular
Vintage Halloween decorations are best sellers today, and their values continue to rise. And sometimes a rare holiday piece will bring an exceptionally high price. Morphy Auctions of Denver, Pa., sold this Vegetable Halloween Man last year.
Date: 10/27/2011 | Home and Garden
Vintage flea market set for Saturday at Monroe fairgrounds
Ruffles & Rust, a vintage flea market, will feature more than 90 vendors from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, including artists, crafters, antiques dealers and others.
Date: 10/20/2011 | Home and Garden
Vintage linens lend traditional flair to home
Contemporary home decor is yielding a little this season to a more traditional style evocative of the Edwardian and Victorian eras. We're seeing steamer trunks used as tables, Victorian illustrative prints and wallpapers, and new versions of period furniture.
Date: 10/20/2011 | Home and Garden
Political collectibles make good on promises
Politics is in the news every day, and we're reminding collectors that buttons, signs, medallions, bandannas and even canes were made for past election campaigns. They are a collector's challenge.
Date: 10/20/2011 | Home and Garden
'Big' market for fortune-telling machines
Zoltar the Fortune Teller is the coin-operated machine in the movie "Big" that changed Tom Hanks' character into a grown-up.
Date: 10/13/2011 | Home and Garden
Leeches: An ancient treatment still used today
Antiques sometimes remind us that Grandma's home remedies are still the best. In 2004, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of leeches by doctors.
Date: 10/06/2011 | Home and Garden
Snapshot brings up memories of simple times
Friday started on an up note about a drop-leaf table.My sister, who lives in Ellensburg, sent me a photograph, via email, of the kitchen at our family cabin on Camano Island.
Date: 10/03/2011 | Local News
Antiques & collectibles: The inventive founders behind successful brands
Antiques collectors who do research know that important companies grow from small companies with very talented founders who solved both personal and business problems.
Date: 09/29/2011 | Home and Garden
Antiques & Collectibles: Up-to-date finish sometimes improves old furniture
Original finish on antique furniture is not always a plus. Sometimes the furniture is so worn and scarred, it is too unsightly for the living room.
Date: 09/22/2011 | Home and Garden
Victory garden memorabilia still flourishes
Vegetable gardens in back yards, schools and public spaces are not a new idea, and a small group of collectors like memorabilia from this forgotten part of the war effort.
Date: 09/15/2011 | Home and Garden
Sundials stand the test of time
Sundials are not just garden ornaments. They can tell time if set up properly.
Date: 09/08/2011 | Home and Garden
Sundials stand the test of time
Sundials are not just garden ornaments. They can tell time if set up properly.
Date: 09/08/2011 | Life
Antiques & collectibles: Beer steins got lids to help prevent spread of deadly disease
Beer steins have long been popular. Today's stein is a beer container with a hinged lid and a handle.
Date: 09/01/2011 | Home and Garden
'Pop Goes the Weasel' inspired by antique yarn winders
What's a weasel? It's an animal, of course, but in some parts of Montana you might put weasels on your ice cream, because some Montanans call M&Ms "weasels."
Date: 08/25/2011 | Home and Garden
Wedding cup tradition back in vogue to assure a happy marriage
The wedding cup that looks like a woman holding a swiveling cup above her head is showing up at modern wedding celebrations. The cup is used for a toast and as a trial for the bride and groom.
Date: 08/18/2011 | Home and Garden
Anything can have a second life as decoration
Antiques and collectibles are named for their age. Antiques must be more than 100 years old to be legally called "antiques." Collectibles can be anything made less than 100 years ago.
Date: 08/11/2011 | Home and Garden
My, what a popular collectible Little Red Riding Hood is
Folk tales like Little Red Riding Hood have been part of everyone's childhood since the 14th century. The stories taught lessons. Red Riding Hood originally was the story of a young girl going into dark woods filled with dangers.
Date: 08/04/2011 | Home and Garden
Hidden messages add to antiques' allure
Antiques are mysterious in many ways. Some, like an asparagus server, were made to do jobs that are no longer necessary. Some, like the Jenny Lind bed with spiral posts, are named for forgotten celebrities.
Date: 07/28/2011 | Home and Garden
'Fake' pieces can be valuable to collectors
Sometimes "fake" is fine in the world of collectors. There are examples of faux marble made from plain white marble with a skillfully painted marblelike pattern. Inexpensive woods were grain-painted. Jewelry was made with foil-backed glass that resembled diamonds.
Date: 07/21/2011 | Home and Garden
Coin-operated machines make attractive collectibles
New slot machines and pinball games are designed to look modern and up-to-date. They have flashing lights and moving decorations and they make lots of noise.
Date: 07/14/2011 | Home and Garden
Cartoonlike 'Brownies' delighted 19th century children
In the days before Disney, many imaginary sprites that excited children's imaginations could be found in books. In 1881, Palmer Cox wrote an illustrated story about a group of characters called "Brownies" for Wide Awake magazine.
Date: 06/30/2011 | Home and Garden
Icons of phrenology still popular as collectibles
Phrenology, the study of the shape of the skull, supposedly could tell the shape of your brain and information about your behavior. The "science" became popular about 1810, years after it was developed by German doctor Franz Joseph Gali in 1796.
Date: 06/23/2011 | Home and Garden
Icons of phrenology still popular as collectibles
Phrenology, the study of the shape of the skull, supposedly could tell the shape of your brain and information about your behavior. The "science" became popular about 1810, years after it was developed by German doctor Franz Joseph Gali in 1796.
Date: 06/23/2011 | Life
Stars on flag-decorated antiques reveal pieces' ages
Flag Day was first celebrated on June 14, 1889, in a public school in Fredonia, Wis. The teacher thought the pupils should celebrate the 112th anniversary of the official adoption of the Stars and Stripes.
Date: 06/16/2011 | Home and Garden
Antiques: Trolleys conveyed drinks at the dinner table
A trolley, according to an American dictionary, is a cart or wagon of several types that moves on a track or wire. But in England and other parts of Europe, the definition can include a wine trolley, a cart that was used to serve wine.
Date: 06/09/2011 | Home and Garden
Stars and Stripes wave proudly on Victorian-era toys
May is the month we celebrate a holiday that goes back to 1868, after the Civil War. Flags were put on soldiers' graves in the North, and Gen. John A. Logan of the Union Army declared May 30 to be "Decoration Day" for the nation. Twenty-seven states celebrated it that year.
Date: 06/02/2011 | Home and Garden
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