The woman was obviously proud of her home. She had taken photos of it as it was being built in 1954: The land laid bare to hold it, the wooden frame that would contain its…
Capturing a 1950s dream home in photos
Posted in Home
Month: November 2012
A few years ago, I was walking past the greeting cards section of a department store when I saw Ebony magazine covers on several cards. I had never seen any before and was delightfully surprised.…
Nostalgic tin & paper advertising signs
Posted in Advertising, and collectibles
The vintage 1965 New York World’s Fair advertising sign sparked a memory for my auction buddy Janet. “I got sick and I couldn’t go,” she said, missing her chance to give up a buck to see…
Browbeating at a luxury estate auction
Posted in Art
The woman in the serigraph print was obviously an African queen. I could tell by her clothing, her head wrap, and her regal posture and direct stare. The auction house had hung the print farther away…
It was as if artist Gwendolyn Bennett was reaching out to me from the beyond. I had seen a landscape painting by the artist more than a week ago at the Swann Auction Galleries’ twice-yearly…
I don’t know Frederick Holland Jr., have never met him. But I have a lime-green case with papers and photos from his years serving in the U.S. Army in the 1940s, enrolled in a beauty school, hanging out…
Whimsical sculptures from old doll heads & tins
Posted in Art, collectibles, Crafts, and Dolls
I had only just arrived at the crafts festival, on the lookout for that unique something-something that would wow me. I had dipped into one vendor’s space after another – not lingering, just glancing and moving on.…
Fridays at Auction Finds are readers’ questions day. I try to guide readers to resources for them to determine the value of the items that they own. I’m not able to appraise their treasures, but…