Life
Before 20th century, Victorian furniture had many designs
Many authors define American Victorian furniture in terms of one of the many design types used from 1840…
Life
Flora Danica dishware fit for a Danish queen
Spring brings flowers, and this year designers are using more floral prints than usual for fabrics and designs.
Life
Jeep character first appeared in Popeye comic strip in 1936
What’s a “jeep”? To a car collector or soldier, it is a special kind of vehicle that can…
Life
Strange antiques can inspire wonder about their purpose
Strange antiques and collectibles with mysterious shapes and unknown purposes are sometimes part of a larger piece.
Life
Strange round cabinet mimicks those from England
Fifties furniture is very popular with vintage collectors today, but some earlier Art Deco designs from the 1930s…
Life
19th century memorabilia honored Father of Our Country
While Valentine’s Day is always Feb. 14, President’s Day can be any one of seven dates, the third…
Life
Vintage homemade Valentines sell for upwards of $100
Valentine’s Day is a holiday that has its roots in ancient times. But it was celebrated with gifts…
Life
16th century cricket table had nothing to do with sport
16th century criquet table had nothing to do with sport
Life
Porcelain figurine a ‘nod’ to Chinese decorations
Two types of collectors bid for a porcelain figure of a well-dressed French couple that was sold at…
Life
‘Sewing bird’ helped 19th century women with vital chore
Sewing was an important part of the life of a woman during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Life
Serious Santa Claus tree stand an unusual find
All the early Christmas trees were freshly cut trees from a nearby forest. By the 19th century in…
Life
Punch bowl featuring punchy puppet picks up thousands
If you were getting ready for the traditional Christmas party in 1860s England, you might have been searching…
Life
Small creatures inspire expensive jewelry
Colorful butterflies are admired and even the inspiration for expensive, valuable jewelry.
Life
This $2,124 turkey is no toy
This 16-inch-high turkey made in 1907 is not a toy, but a “package” that held game parts.
Life
If only the legs of this chair could talk
Danish modern chairs were offered in stores in the U.S. in the early 1950s. The Scandinavian designs were…
Life
Humble iron doorstop from century ago may be valuable
Iron doorstops became a hot collectible with rising prices about 1990. A 1985 book picturing doorstops and several…
Life
Kakiemon enameled porcelain plate popular with collectors
An auction catalog offered a “rare Kakiemon enameled porcelain plate” from the 18th century, but there was no…
Life
Commemorative plates flourished long before Princess Diana
In past centuries before the invention of the camera, heroes and celebrities were remembered with figurines, prints and…