The trunk was an eyesore. It was big and ugly with patches of its black cover missing, revealing the wood underneath. The wooden slats were dirty, and the metal hinges were rusty. The interior was…
Category: Antiques
Cutouts of baseball fans carry on tradition of ‘dummy boards’
Posted in Antiques, collectibles, Culture, Ephemera/Paper/Documents, and history
Have you ever heard of “silent companions?” I hadn’t heard of them until my friend Rebecca mentioned them in light of the move by the Philadelphia Phillies and other baseball teams to fill their stands…
The auctioneer was being decidedly honest. He didn’t expect the collection of condensed milk containers – however lovely – would sell well or at all. Not a single one had attracted a bid on the…
Hoping for – but not getting – a big win at “Antiques Roadshow”
Posted in Antiques, Appraisals, collectibles, Ephemera/Paper/Documents, and Native Americans
The appraiser looked a bit tired and seemed indifferent. He watched as I approached the table but he didn’t lean forward in a welcoming gesture. It was closing in on 12 noon, and the “Antiques Roadshow” had been…
First, I saw the beautiful hutch with burgundy glass tile emblazoned with two emblems, and then its beige freckled marble top. Just around the corner was an oval table with a white marble top on…
The many incarnations of the noble typewriter
Posted in Antiques, collectibles, and Equipment
Most of the typewriters on the tables at the auction house appeared to be in good condition, bearing little of the dust I’ve seen on some that have been stored in basements for years, unseen…
The mottled and dirty metal box was shut when I approached it at the auction house, but I noticed the words “Fragile” and “Eggs” on the soiled lid. The top also held an address label and two…
I was walking among the furniture and other large tabletop items at the auction house when I came upon a display of oversized machines. There were about a half-dozen wood and iron contraptions – one of them was…