Features

Curated articles that explore the rich intersections of history, craftsmanship, and collecting culture. These long-form pieces are your gateway to learning something new, seeing the familiar in a fresh light, and connecting with the past meaningfully.
/ enslaved labor, Features, old houses, The White House
Hoban’s 1793 north elevation drawing reduced the building from three to two floors because of a concern that there was not enough stone at the government quarry to complete both the Capitol and the President’s House. – White House Historical Association, Original Plans Courtesy of the Maryland Historical Society Title image: This drawing has also been used in the title image of this article and has been edited for clarity of viewing

Building the White House

By Lina Mann, Historian, The White House Historical Association “I wake up every morning in a house that was built ...
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/ Features, old houses
In 2020 we closed on a c.1740 house in Brookfield, MA

Our (Very) Old House

By Kaitlin Servant In January 2020 we said goodbye to the house we had lived in for the past ten ...
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/ Antique Shops, Estate Sales, Features, garage sale, thrift store
buying in person tag sale

A New Road Map to Buying In Person

by Judy Gonyeau, managing editor Not too long ago, buying good used or antique items in person was the thing ...
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/ Danna Crawford, eBay, Features, WorthPoint
Danna Crawford inducted into eBay Hall of Fame in 2008

Danna Crawford: A Treasure Hunter who Knows the Business

Danna Crawford is a self-made social-marketing expert who went from having three jobs while raising her family to creating her ...
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/ dead horse bay, Features, mudlarks
Trade Token dated 1666 photo Jason Sandy

The History of the Mudlark

by Jessica Kosinski A lark is a type of bird, so when you hear the term “Mudlark” you might think ...
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/ american fashion, Features
A 1992 Tommy Boy Carhartt jacket sold for $3,780 at Sotheby’s.

Carhartt: The Original Workwear Brand

by Judy Gonyeau, managing editor In 1889, the Industrial Revolution was up and running thanks to the practice of mechanical ...
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/ Features, Vogue
August 1954 cover featuring Young Americana Fashions for 1954 during the “Decade of [Jennifer] Daves”

Vogue: America’s Fashion Bible

By Maxine Carter-Lome, publisher On December 17, 1892, American businessman and socialite Arthur Baldwin Turnure published the inaugural issue of ...
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/ Features, Hallmark Collectibles
Hallmark’s 2009 Cousin Eddie’s RV Ornament National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation selling on eBay for a very high price of $575. Pricing generally runs from $99 to $400.

When You Care Enough to Send the Very Best

By Maxine Carter-Lome, publisher “On January 10, 1910, a teenager from Nebraska stepped off a train in Kansas City, MO, ...
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/ Cake Toppers, Donald-Brian Johnson, Features
Wonderful facial features highlight this crepe paper pair, circa 1930. Marked “A Reed Product, C.A. Reed—Williamsport, PA.” Groom 5-1/2”. $175-$200/pr.

Crowning Glories: Wedding Cake Toppers

Wedding Cake Toppers By Donald-Brian Johnson The sun shines merrily, in a brilliant blue sky. The birds are chirping, the ...
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/ Features, Glass, Rene Lalique
In 1888 René Lalique registered his “RL” stamp and engraved the unique pieces created in his workshop with these letters. photo: Lalique SA

René Lalique: Master Jeweler Turned Glassmaker

by Maxine Carter-Lome, publisher When the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts opened its gates to the public on ...
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/ CMoG, Corning Museum of Glass, Features
Display in the Fire & Vine Exhibit Courtesy of Corning Museum of Glass

Fire & Vine: The Story of Glass and Wine

Fire & Vine: The Story of Glass and Wine by Judy Gonyeau, managing editor with Katherine Larson, curator of ancient ...
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/ barnstorming, Features, Hancock Shaker Village
The Round Stone Barn at the height of summer, photo: Hancock Shaker Village

A Simple Gift: The Shakers Crafted An Agricultural Archetype with the Round Stone Barn

By Jennifer Trainer Thompson, Director, Hancock Shaker Village The Round Stone Barn at the height of summer, photo: Hancock Shaker ...
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/ Antique Glass Bottles, Features, Milk Bottles
Trish Manfredi, Domestic Cow Antiques & Events photos by Peter Blieberg and Trish Manfredi

Vintage Milk Bottles: A Collectible with Many Possibilities

Trish Manfredi, Domestic Cow Antiques & Events photos by Peter Blieberg and Trish Manfredi The vintage milk bottle is, for ...
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/ barnstorming, Colonial Williamsburg, Features
The 18th century threshing barn at Clover Hill in Albemarle County, Virginia. While slightly modified over time, the building essentially stands as it did when Thomas Jefferson visited in 1796 to view the wheat threshing machine installed by William Douglas Meriwether. photo: Jennifer Wilkoski, 2017

Agricultural Buildings in the Colonial Capitol and Beyond

An overview of 18th century agricultural buildings in Williamsburg, VA, and throughout the greater Chesapeake Region by Jennifer Wilkoski Shirley ...
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/ barnstorming, Features, The Auto Archaeologist, Vintage Cars
Barn Find: 1969 Dodge Daytona

My Top Six Barn Finds

By Ryan Brutt, The Auto Archaeologist Barn Find: A barn find is a classic car, aircraft, or motorcycle that has ...
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/ Black Inventors, Features, History of Dry Cleaning, National Dry Cleaning Day, Thomas Jennings, U.S. Patent
Portrait of Thomas Jennings Dry Scouring Inventor

Thomas Jennings: “Dry Scouring,” U.S. Patent No. 3306x

By Maxine Carter-Lome, publisher In 1820, Thomas L. Jennings (1791–1856) was a well-known tailor among gentlemen of wealth and taste, ...
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/ 18th Century Boston, Enslaved Boston, Features, Historic Deerfield
Figure 2. Shirt (detail), English and American, c.1790. White, plain-weave linen. Historic Deerfield, Gift of the Cooley Family, Hartford, Connecticut, direct descendants of Col. Elisha Porter, 2017.30.3. photo: Penny Leveritt. 18th century Boston tailoring trade

Behind the Seams: Enslaved Labor in the 18th century Boston Tailoring Trade

By David E. Lazaro, Curator of Textiles, Historic Deerfield In late summer of 1741, Boston tailor Richard Billings (1699-1776) announced ...
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/ Antique Marketplace News, Art Deco, Donald-Brian Johnson, Features, Vintage Living
Modern serving ware designs for Chase, by Russel Wright. Clockwise from left: Cocktail Ball on Olympia Saucer; Pancake & Corn Set; Devonshire Pitcher; Antarctic Ice Bowl; Individual Coffee Set; Ice Bowl & Tongs.

Around the House with Art Deco

By Donald-Brian Johnson • Photos by Leslie Piña “Art Deco was the last truly sumptuous style.” – Alastair Duncan, Art ...
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/ Art Deco, Features, Purses
Trio of mesh purses by Whiting and Davis (from l-r) a compact purse with Guilloche enamel compact top; iconic skyline of New York; and enameled color using the Cubist style

Art Deco Purses

by Paula Higgins Art Deco purses are highly sought after, currently among the most desired of all antique and vintage ...
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/ Features
Two J. Schmidt black glass perfumes with Oriental Neiger Bros. jeweling.

Czech Art Deco Vanity

by Marsha Crafts and Bonnie Salzman photos by Marsha Crafts The formation of the country of Czechoslovakia at the end ...
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/ Features
Cunard's illustrious Queen Mary

Gone to Sea: The Art Deco Ocean Liners

By Bill Miller Ocean liners were once described as the “greatest moving objects made by man.” They were also great ...
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/ Features
The Hôtel d’un Collectionneur was a highlight not just of the Exposition, but of French Art Deco in its entirety. Designed by Pierre Patout, this pavilion was created for the furniture manufacturer Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann.

1925 Exposition: Art Deco on the World Stage

By Maxine Carter-Lome, publisher The Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes (International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial ...
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/ Features
Bone and Horn Walking Sticks, silver knobs and ferrules, longest 36”. 19th century, realized $1,125 in 2018 photo: Heritage Auctions, HA.com

Nineteenth Century Walking Sticks

By Melody Amsel-Arieli Nineteenth century walking sticks, also known as canes or handstaffs, apparently harken back to the humble shepherd ...
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/ Features, Misc
Image depicting the inside of a New York gentlemen’s club

The Traditional Gentlemen’s Club and Its Etiquette

by “The Gentleman”  •  edited and extra copy by Judy Gonyeau According to Wikipedia, the term gentleman refers to any ...
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/ Features
American Tailor and Cutter illustration, November, 1893

American Fashion and Tailoring as made by The John J. Mitchell Publishing Company

by Judy Gonyeau, managing editor, with information shared by Jean Druesdow, director emerita, Kent State University Museum A gentleman never ...
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