Collecting Antiques
I’m A Blue & White Snob
Confession time…I’m a blue and white ceramics snob and not ashamed to admit it! I’m tired of the trending blue and white, but not giving up on my passion either. I am never going to own a $5,000 Kangxi jar even though my tastes could easily go there! Instead I buy 19th century export and…
Read More3 Things You Should Know About Tobacco Leaf Porcelains
Curio IQ Series: Let’s take a short and sweet lesson in antiques! The 3 things you should know before buying and collecting Tobacco Leaf china. Tobacco Leaf porcelains are one of the most easily recognized china patterns out there. The distinctive multi-colored leaves and the bold pink flower instantly catches your eye. For centuries it…
Read More3 Things You Should Know About Staffordshire Flatbacks
Curio IQ Series: Let’s take a short and sweet lesson in antiques! Today we are discussing collecting and decorating with Staffordshire flatbacks. Staffordshire flatbacks are my favorite English antique beating out transferware ceramics and even Wedgwood. I just adore the folksy charm and history they reveal about popular culture of the Victorian era. Decoratively, the…
Read MoreA Paragon of Beauty – Ruminations on a Portrait
Some of you keen observers noticed this charming lady serenely smiling out of the Hunt Collection sale photos from Thursday. I’m excited to introduce you to the newest resident here at Dogwood House: Fräulein Auguste Strobl (1807 – 1871)! Auguste came to me by way of auction, and I must confess to only leaving a…
Read More3 Things You Should Know About Wedgwood
Curio IQ Series: a short and sweet lesson in antiques, discussing Wedgwood ceramics. Here’s 3 things you should know to start a collection! I’ll never forget my first real introduction to Wedgwood ceramics — the polished basalts, the velvety jaspers, and delicate curling reliefs. I was a registration assistant working on a cataloging and photography…
Read More3 Things You Should Know About Opaline Glass
Curio IQ Series: Let’s take a short and sweet lesson in antiques! If you’ve flipped through a design magazine or coffee table book in the last 30 years, then chances are you’ve spied a table or two set with brilliant aqua goblets in varying sizes but all with a timeless wafer stem. This bold color…
Read MoreThe Grandmillennial’s Pocket Guide to Chic Antiques
About The Grandmillennial’s Pocket Guide to Chic Antiques: your on the hunt resource to the chic antiques Grandmillennials adore!
Read MoreCollector’s Notes: Blue and White Chinese Porcelain
An overview of blue and white Chinese porcelain for the budding collector that delves into the history and how to authenticate antique porcelains. Think you’ve got a consuming passion for decorating with blue and white Chinese porcelain? Take a look at these obsessive displays! Image via La Gazette Drouot Don’t be confused by the perspective.…
Read MoreWhat is a Classically Charming Curio?
Exploring the nature of classically charming curios and just what gives them that unique je ne sais quoi! You may have noticed I recently changed Pender & Peony’s motto to… in pursuit of classically charming curios I was looking for a phrase that better reflected the day to day hustle and bustle of the shop…
Read MoreThe Spirit of Things
I was talking with a friend the other day about what I do and she made the comment that shopping estate sales makes her sad. She said it was even a bit depressing to her when she saw all these belongings “abandoned” for buyers to pick through and then to think that the family didn’t…
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