January 5th, 2012
There was a time when no amusement park or playground was complete without a carousel ride. Children and even adults could take pleasure in a whimsical ride atop an array of horses and other fanciful creatures carved by the most skilled artisans of the day. Though quality examples of these nostalgic masterpieces come few and [...]
October 26th, 2011
When King Louis XV took an interest in porcelain and became a primary shareholder of what would become the Sèvres factory in 1752, he intended to catapult the international status of French porcelain to the finest in the world. It’s believed that his motivation came from his famed mistress, Madame de Pompadour, who possessed a [...]
August 12th, 2011
Few figures in Modern history evoke images of leadership, integrity and political prowess as does Winston Churchill. His iconic speeches and steadfast direction during World War II galvanized the Allied forces in Britain and abroad. Few people realized that, though he was most revered for his rolls as statesman, orator, historian, politician and writer, Churchill [...]
July 19th, 2011
When was the last time you went outside on a clear night for the sole purpose of looking at the night sky? I sometimes wonder about the level of amazement that must have gone through the minds of early man, observing comets, eclipses and moon phases with a surreal combination of awe and trepidation. These first [...]
July 5th, 2011
The “taking of snuff” was a very social activity among Europe’s upper class, beginning in the early 16th century. It’s hard to believe a habit that caused frequent, and at times messy, sneezing fits would become so en vogue, but it did. And, with such widespread usage by seemingly every person of importance in the [...]