There was a time when the dining table was not simply set—it was *composed*. In the late Victorian era, individual doilies placed beneath dinner and dessert plates were a quiet but essential part of formal entertaining. These small linens protected … Read More
There are times, as a collector, when the object itself must stand in for the archive. This Alberta Lingerie nightgown is one of those times. Unlike many better-documented lingerie houses of the mid‑20th century, Alberta Lingerie left behind little in … Read More
These valentines would be easy to overlook. They are not rare masterpieces of paper engineering, nor do they dazzle with silk fringe or elaborate pop-up construction. They are, in fact, quite ordinary—softly printed, prettily colored, meant to be sent, received, … Read More
There are moments in collecting when an object, long familiar, suddenly asks to be seen again—not with fresh eyes, but with kinder ones. This Tiffany & Co. fan has been with me for many years. It rests in its original … Read More
Winter has always demanded ingenuity. Long before electric heat, fleece linings, or factory-made cold-weather gear, warmth was something you planned for, patched, knitted, and carried with you. The smallest solutions often mattered the most. One of my favorite winter … Read More