The empty box of Ivory Snow detergent was much like the other product boxes that turn up on the auction tables. The cute happy baby on the front drew a smile from me but didn’t…
Category: Family
The idea formed in the middle of Christmas dinner, as the family feasted on good food and reveled in great company. The talk around the table may have been about how other ethnic families celebrated…
Reader asks about black Georgia ancestors named Jarrell
Posted in Black history, Family, and slavery
Friday at Auction Finds is readers’ questions day. I try to guide readers to resources for them to determine the value of their items. I’m not able to appraise their treasures, but I can do…
The items were laid out peacefully on the auction table like the remains of a relative. Tintype photos in beautiful cases of relatives long gone. Small personal books and Kodak photos. A heavily worn Bible in a…
The only thing missing was the baby. Week after week, baby gear kept appearing at auction. First, I saw a heavy wooden cradle with rockers at both ends. Then, I began seeing carriages and strollers, potty…
First, let me tell you about a child who was apparently loved: I picked up at auction a small blue cardboard case covered in royal blue satin. I looked inside and saw a cute pair…
I’ve seen the little shoes that parents have cast in bronze as a memory of the time when their babies were cute and little and oh-so-precious. Imagine my surprise when I came upon a whole baby…
Treasures in your home
Posted in Black history, collectibles, Culture, Ephemera/Paper/Documents, Family, and Photos
Next weekend, I will be joining another history buff in a presentation on historical treasures to look for in your home. It’s part of the 2012 Black History & Culture Showcase that has been held in…
The pain of selling a relative’s estate
Posted in Death, Family, Home, and Personal items
The woman watched as the auctioneer directed bidders to a burgundy leather recliner on the porch of the man’s home. We were standing in the living room and a few of us glanced toward the…