Article Archives: What’s in the Attic?

Capodimonte: True Italian art or QVC special?

November 26, 2015 | by Linda Hamer Kennett

Capodimonte, literally translated, “The top of the hill,” is the name given to the most delicate of all Italian porcelains. It was produced with soft-paste porcelains of only the highest grade by the top Italian artist of the day. The subject matter was drawn from nature with each piece requiring … Read More

A Good Imagination and a Pile of Junk

November 19, 2015 | by Linda Hamer Kennett

Barn doors used as a headboard, shelves supported by 1800s corbels, an old mail sorter hung on the wall as a wine rack or a bench made from the tailgate of a ‘57 Chevy pick up; everywhere you look it is apparent that the “re-purposing” bug that first hit in … Read More

Valuable Collection or Just Good Marketing?

November 12, 2015 | by Linda Hamer Kennett

The need to acquire and the joy of surrounding ourselves with things we love compel many of us to become collectors. The problem arises when people collect with the intent of seeing their collections increase in value. While some collectibles grow in value, many do not. This is especially true … Read More

All That Glitters Isn’t Silver

November 5, 2015 | by Linda Hamer Kennett

Silver serving dishes, trays, tea sets and flatware were a must have in the households of the mid-1900s. Our mothers and grandmothers would never have considered serving a formal dinner without them. Beautiful by design and often referred to as the family silver, these pieces were often not silver at … Read More

Halloween Memorabilia

October 29, 2015 | by Linda Hamer Kennett

The elegance of the late Victorian period in America provided the perfect setting for the celebration of Halloween. The elaborately decorated homes of the elite welcomed guests who spent the evening in full costume playing bridge, mahjong, and parlor games. Winners of these games, as well as those judged to … Read More