From the June/July 2018 Issue
In Search of an Opening
Pocket corkscrews were a practical accessory for the well-dressed man or woman. You never know when you might be called upon to uncork a bottle of wine. If you were […]
From the April/May 2018 Issue
Bring on Spring
A variety of antique vessels was made for blooming bulbs. Antiques dealer Jorge Welsh recently offered for sale a group of charming porcelain objects. Made in China in the mid-18th […]
From the February/March 2018 Issue
Beauty in the Night
The “Night Clock” was designed by papal request. Once upon a time, there was a pope who couldn’t sleep… That could be the opening line of a story—a story about […]
From the October/November 2017 Issue
What Shines Within
Knife boxes were necessities for a well-appointed dining room. At Mount Vernon, George Washington’s Virginia estate, tours of the house begin in the elegant New Room. (Completed in 1787, it’s […]
From the August/September 2017 Issue
What’ll You Wager?
These drinking cups are designed for thrills and spills. Ever since people began imbibing intoxicating spirits they’ve found ways to make it a competitive sport. Yet, while drinking games can […]
From the April/May 2017 Issue
Sultanic Ceramics
Iznik pottery was an Ottoman Empire favorite. Sultan Suleiman I “the Magnificent” lived up to his name. During his reign, from 1520 to 1566, the ruler of the Ottoman Empire […]
From the February/March 2017 Issue
Horsey Set
South American equestrian silver was made to be noticed. The homes of wealthy landowners in 18th- and 19th-century colonial South America were not fancy. Instead, people showed off their wealth […]
From the December 2016/January 2017 Issue
Make Mine a Toddy
The founding fathers’ favorite drink inspired some unusual objects. As winter rolls in, you might contemplate sipping a hot beverage to keep the chill at bay. Maybe a toddy, smooth […]
From the October/November 2016 Issue
Something to Write Home About
The vargueño is the “most Spanish of Spanish furniture.” To call a vargueño a “portable writing desk” deprives it of the admiration it deserves. Even if it originally was designed […]