Article Archives: What’s in the Attic?

Time for a Tupperware Party?

January 20, 2022 | by Linda Hamer Kennett

DuPont chemist Earl Tupper had long dreamed of a line of home products made of plastic, but in spite of his endless experimentation, nothing seemed durable or flexible enough to suit his needs. All of that changed with the invention of polyethylene in 1944. Within two years he completed his … Read More

2022: The Year of Lucite

January 13, 2022 | by Linda Hamer Kennett

Transparent, durable and flexible, Lucite, originally used for the windshields of wartime bombers and submarine periscopes, has once again made its way into the homes of America. I say once again because, while it is the newest craze for 2022, it is far from new to the world of interior … Read More

2022 Top Collectibles

January 6, 2022 | by Linda Hamer Kennett

2022 has arrived and with it the predictions from the experts on the best things to collect. Whether you are a speculative collector looking to turn a profit or just out for the thrill of the hunt, here are a few things to be watching for. Sports memorabilia — The … Read More

A Right Jolly Old Elf — Collecting Vintage Santas

December 23, 2021 | by Linda Hamer Kennett

Santa Claus, as we know him today, first appeared in the 1823 Clement C. Moore poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” where he is described as “chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf.” This figure was popularized in 1863 with a series of illustrations by Thomas Nast that appeared … Read More

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

December 16, 2021 | by Linda Hamer Kennett

It is believed that the first official “Christmas card” was the joint effort of two Englishmen, artist John Horsley and postal worker Henry Cole. Their three paneled card featured a center panel depicting three generations of a family raising their glasses in a holiday toast and two side panels depicting … Read More