From Arts & Crafts England, a little musical jewel box and a hand-hammered brass tray. The music box, made in the 1920’s or 30’s, is crafted in the form of a planked trunk. It plays Irving Berlin’s popular tune, “Always”, which he wrote and gave as a wedding gift to his bride, Ellin McKay—along with […]
Shown above, a Late-Victorian English Steel Hat Box, circa 1880′ or 1890’s. Durable, functional, and aged with a beautiful patina, this container would have been used to protect a delicate hat—probably during carriage travel. Today it could be used for storage or to house anything from dog food to magazines to fireplace kindling. This handsome, […]
And, if yesterday marked four months ’till Christmas, today marks four months ’till Boxing Day—the day when (traditionally) English servants and tradesmen would get the day off—and maybe a present—from their employers. Speaking of boxes, the one pictured above—made of quarter-sawn oak in the early Twentieth Century—is very handsome, indeed. The oak strapping and brass […]
Bretagne—or “Brittany” as it’s called in English—is a little spit of land that juts off of France’s Northwest coast, into the English Channel, due south of England. It has a history of being invaded, occupied, and influenced by the various tribes and empires that came along: the Celts, the Romans, the Britons, and the Gauls. […]
Leo Baekeland was a Belgian-born scientist and inventor living in New York City. He was attempting to find a synthetic replacement for shellac—which to that point had been derived from beetle shells. Instead of solving that problem, Baekeland inadvertently invented a synthetic plastic which he called Bakelite—and, on this day in 1909, he announced his […]
On this day in 1778, British explorer Captain James Cook sailed past the Hawaiian island of Oahu with his ships the HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery, making him the first European to lay eyes on Hawaii. Two days later he landed—this time on the island of Kauai—at Waimea. Cook made an impressive entrance, with his […]
I’m just back from the UK where I spent ten days hunting treasures for the shop. It was exhausting, yet fruitful; nevertheless, I’m glad to be back. I’m also glad to report that all merchandise has arrived—no worse for wear—and is cleaned-up, priced, and sitting on the shop floor. Awaiting your visit! The piece above, […]
Another favorite of mine is antique boxes—and I hunt for them on my trips. The oak box above, from a British collector, was made in the late Victorian era—1880’s or 1890’s. It has a light Gothic Revival feeling, modeled after a trunk, with studded strapwork and decorative brass mountings. See it in the shop, along […]
Ancient warriors believed in Moss Agate. It was considered a “strength stone,” enhancing concentration, persistence, endurance, and success—the attributes desired of any good warrior. Today, New Age believers will recommend Moss Agate to let go of anger or bitterness and to help balance emotional energy. As an “abundance stone,” Moss Agate is also thought to […]
