The Pearly Wonders of Renaissance Bling

Pearls have always been in a league of their own. As souvenirs from the depths of New World waters in the 15th century, they were simply something diamonds, emeralds, and rubies could never be: alive. Pearls were ghostly. They were animal, and alien. They ushered in a quiet war and a “Pearl Rush” of their…

Elaborate Cabinets that may contain Portals to Narnia

Is there anything more voyeuristically delish than seeing where rich people put their money? We’re not just talking beautiful cars and eccentric homes (though we love that, of course). We’re talking about the trappings of truly next level wealth; of the moment when something as simple as a cabinet is transformed into a work of…

There might be a Secret Painting Hiding in that Old Book of Yours

Books can be magical things, but some as it turns out, may be more magical than others. They might look like ordinary old books, but they’re hiding a curious little secret in plain sight. A fore-edge painting is a scene painted on the edges of the pages of a book; invisible when closed. The technique…

The Coded Couture of Antique Lacework

They were like snowflakes spun from silk, sought after just as feverishly as gold on the black market. Whether they were twisted with pearls or tied with silver knots, no two pieces of lace were the same in 1765. All too often forgotten in dusty attics today, for centuries, lacework was all about how you…

The Vault

Collectors Item du Jour (Vol. II)

I’m no art collector but I do confess I like to hang a lot of things on my walls. I prefer not to worry about what’s gaining value on the art market or where I can find an original so-and-so. In fact, I take pleasure in finding art on the internet – that is, curating…

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Making a case for Mouthwatering Majolica

They say you are what you eat. But what about what you eat with? We love a good bout of antique hunting, from the Paris Flea Market to one-of-kind auctions – and in matters of dishware, “Majolica” officially has our attention. You can spot the curious ceramics by their decorations of fish, fruit, and other…

Curiosity du Jour: Inside Out Handbags of Yore

Empty a woman’s handbag inside out and you’ve got the right idea about the chatelaine. Before purses were a woman’s primary accessory, this curious contraption that fell into the annals of fashion obscurity over time, once commonly served to carry her daily armour. Designed very much like a tool belt worn at the waist, the chatelaine…

Parisian woman with Turkish Veil on Rue de la Paix, 1914: A Short Story Challenge

It’s amazing to see how our minds can wander in different ways; how many variations of a story can come from a single picture. We recently proposed a new challenge for our readers to become the storyteller, prompted by a historical found photograph with a brief caption as the only clue: “Parisian woman with Turkish veil, seen…

Desirable du Jour: Tissue Books

Every now and then, you can stumble upon something that stops you in your Instagram-scrolling tracks. For us, it just so happened to be a collection of unloved vintage books that have found novel purpose thanks to Parisian artist Inès Mélia … as one-of-a kind hanky holders. But don’t tell me a book has never…

The Tokyo Subculture of 1950s Rockabilly Gangs

They say rock’n’roll never dies, but there’s one slick-back haired subculture in a corner of Tokyo, Japan that’s making damn well sure of it. Suited up in full-leather gear and greased with obscene amounts of hair gel, the Tokyo Rockabilly Club has been gathering every Sunday in the city’s famous Yoyogi Park near Meiji-Jingumae station…