Unconventional Coffee Table by Jeff Lederman

In the 1980s, a friend’s mother decided to redecorate with unfamiliar modern style furniture. She bought a small wooden table that was painted red designed by Jeff Lederman, an Ohio artist. The table had won a prize for design in an Illinois state contest. Lederman was a busy artist who changed interests and occupations many […]

Diamond Zipper Necklace, Cartier Style

Who knew a zipper could be high fashion? At least it is when it’s made of 18K white gold and 13.50 carats of diamonds! It sold for $18,450 at Morphy Auctions of Denver, Pennsylvania. It is really a necklace, not a zipper, although the pull is functional. It is described as “Cartier-style.” Cartier jewelry became […]

Louis Vuitton Escale Time Zone Watch

The Louis Vuitton Escale Time Zone watch features the world’s 24 time zones. Escale (“stopover” in French) was created to appeal to the world traveler not only with the time zones but with the colorful flags of the world represented on the watch’s face. The images of the flags also link the contemporary wristwatches to […]

Tramp Art Picture Frame

The most heartfelt things are made by hand. This picture frame can surround a loved one with colorful hearts. It’s an example of American folk art known as “tramp art.” Tramp art emerged after the Civil War and continued its popularity through the Great Depression. Frames were made from reclaimed wood, usually cigar boxes or […]

Royal Worcester Ram’s Head Pitcher

Since 1751, Royal Worcester has been known worldwide for its collections of porcelain goods. It remains one of the oldest producers of tableware and decorative items in England. In the late 19th century, Royal Worcester designed unique pitchers and ewers with handles that were parts of animals or tree branches. Stag horns, dragons, winged creatures, […]

Amphora Vase

Collectors use the names “Amphora” or “Teplitz” for art pottery made in the Turn-Teplitz region of Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) from the late 19th to the early 20th century. The best known and most elaborate examples are decorated with applied three-dimensional figures in an Art Nouveau style. An Amphora piece might look like it […]

Arts and Crafts Umbrella Stand

Arts & Crafts furniture was in style from the late 19th to the early 20th century. It was very different from the ornate styles of the earlier Victorian era. It had the advantage of new tools and mass-production. The Arts & Crafts movement promoted skilled craftsmanship, quality work, and simple, sturdy shapes. Iconic Arts & […]

Desk Blotter by Tiffany Studios

Tiffany Studios is synonymous with luxury and decorative items like jewelry, useful pieces made of precious metals and elaborate stained-glass lamps. The company also made practical objects, such as its line of commercial desk accessories made from about 1890 to the 1930s. Desk sets include items that office workers are unlikely to see today, like […]

Dachshund Letter Opener

It’s a Wiener dog from a Wiener workshop! Vienna, Austria, or Wien in German, was a major European cultural center. The Weiner Werkstätte may be the most famous Viennese workshop of the 20th century, but it was not the only one. This dachshund-shaped letter opener sold for $813 at a Rago auction. It was made […]

Chinese Red Porcelain Vase

The Hundred Treasures theme was popular in Chinese art during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Many objects of daily life that impart symbolic meaning were incorporated into artwork. A single vase can be a symbol of female fertility, yet this red Chinese porcelain has several small relief vases on its surface to suggest even more meaning. […]