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antiques
Dinner is Served…The Changing Face of Dining Traditions
The tradition of sitting down to a fine meal with family and friends is one that dates back as far as civilized mankind. But, it wasn’t until the 18th century that dining traditions began to vaguely resemble our more modern practices. Step back just a few centuries, and what people… Read More »
Hester Bateman Queen of the Silversmiths
Leading Lady Hester Bateman Before the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s put men in factories and made them primary wage earner of the family, women had more latitude in their mode of earning a living — and gaining fame.But even then, the most successful women were often widows who… Read More »
Paul Storr's Lasting Legacy
The Legacy of Paul StorrWithout question, Paul Storr can be considered among history's finest smiths and he will long be remembered for perfecting the works, styles and designs of the Regency period. Storr pursued a career in silversmithing at an early age, apprenticing to Swedish-born… Read More »
A Matter of Honor...The History of the Duel
In 1804, when the Secretary of the Treasury, General Alexander Hamilton, referred to the Vice President as the "embryo Caesar of the United States," Aaron Burr took the only appropriate action...he challenged Hamilton to a duel. The two arrived on the duelling ground as… Read More »
Paul de Lamerie — Setting the Standard
Paul de Lamerie Setting the StandardFor well over 250 years Paul de Lamerie has been universally considered not only one of the most important English goldsmiths, but among the most important English craftsmen of all time. His extraordinary works range from the elegant simplicity of the… Read More »
Chrysanthemum Tea Set by Tiffany
Ask 1,000 antique collectors what drives them and you're likely to get 1,000 different answers. But, at its most basic level, we love antiques for the same reason we love a good book or a great photograph. It's the story they have to tell, who made them, where they came from and who owned… Read More »
The Noble Game of Billiards
Though experts have speculated for centuries about the true origins of billiards, most agree that the game evolved from a lawn game similar to that of croquet around the 15th-century, hence the green cloth resembling grass. The game underwent numerous transformations over the… Read More »
The Genius of John Henry Belter
Few craftsmen in history leave such an indelible mark on their craft that their name becomes synonymous with all other works of that style.Thomas Chippendale was one such artisan as was Louis Comfort Tiffany a century and a half later. Another such name is that of John Henry Belter, a… Read More »
Collecting Antique Walking Sticks and Canes
In centuries past, well-heeled gentlemen, and ladies too, were seldom seen without a walking stick in hand. Unlike today, canes of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, often boasting handles of precious metals and jewels, served as symbols of wealth, power and social stature. They were… Read More »
