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Believe it or not, we have the Civil War to thank for the invention of mechanical banks. Here’s why: during the conflict both the North and South created their own paper money. The public, however, was leery of these new currencies, which lacked intrinsic value. On the other hand a coin, no matter its value, would always be useful as metal – therefore worth keeping. Shortly after the conclusion of the war, the first mechanical bank appeared. Half bank, half toy, it was designed to encourage youngsters to save by giving them a little free “show” with each penny inserted.  [...]

Poaching is not boiling. Boiling is way too aggressive. Rather, in poaching, the liquid should be kept at a very low simmer - no bubbles rising, just enough to make it shiver. The result is a delicate flavor, perfect for showcasing delicious sauces. A great example is the poached egg, so versatile that in 1903 Escoffier included 141 variations in his monumental cookbook, Ma Cuisine. Earlier, in 1894, the perfect cure for a hangover had been created by Lemuel Benedict when he topped a toasted English muffin with ham, poached eggs and creamy Hollandaise.  Delicious. It’s not just eggs that can be poached.  We [...]

Nothing says summer more than the fragrance and taste of just-picked fresh fruit. The first strawberry of the season, the sweetness of raspberries, lush, liquid cherries... Delicious now, more cherished still in the dead of winter–when the taste of jam takes you back to these precious/fleeting days of Summer. Now, while we’re in the thick of it, you need to be making preserves. And we have what will make it a success, solid copper jam pans. First, the basics. You won’t find a better heat conductor anywhere. That means you’ll spend less time boiling away the fruit's flavor, color and texture. [...]

Date/Circa:  1890 Origin:  England Size:  61" wide by 28" deep Catalogue no: A0307 Price:  $275 It’s winter in Great Britain and there is no electricity [yet].  How do you dry your clothes? You can use a “winter hedge row”, a tri-fold wooden frame that allows a few pieces of wet clothing to be hung by the fire.  OR, if you are a laundress in an 1880's English Manor House, you can use a large wooden rack, suspended from the ceiling.  The rack can be lowered via a pulley system, loaded with freshly-cleaned and bleached laundry, then pulled up to the highest reaches of the [...]

Date/Circa:  1930 Origin:  England Size:  32" high, 36" x 21" Catalogue no: A10100 Price:  $1280 The benefits of wicker and rattan without any of the drawbacks: that’s how Lloyd Loom got started. Eager to take advantage of the tremendous interest in Far Eastern imports, an enterprising American, Marshall B. Lloyd, twisted kraft paper around steel wire.  He then put the paper “threads” on a loom and wove them into wide sheets – suitable for use in any piece of furniture. They didn’t warp. They didn’t snag. They didn’t develop mold. And, just like that, demand grew and grew. Across the pond, furniture makers William Lusty [...]

Date/Circa:  1870 Origin:  England Size:  4 Gallon, 2 Gallon & 1 Gallon Catalogue no:  A0549 Price:  $1175 Question: How is a grain of wheat related to these beautiful copper measures? Answer: It all started in 1258 when England's King Henry III decided to standardize measurements throughout the Empire.  At that time, liquid measure and weights were thought to be directly related.  So, here was his proclamation:  One English penny shall weigh the equivalent of 32 wheat grains (from the midst of the ear), 20 pennies make an ounce, 12 ounces make a pound, 8 pounds equals a gallon of wine. For [...]

Date/Circa:  1850 Origin:  England Size:  7" High x 9" Wide X 5" Deep Catalogue Number:  A0815 Price $1175 Mid-19th century England was abuzz with industry. The age of industrialization was providing more and more to the general population. Manufacturing was new and different, cost effective, and welcomed - by all but a few.   Among the detractors was Augustus Welby Pugin. I n direct opposition to the rapid rise of manufacturing, he and his followers firmly believed in preserving and reviving the traditional methods of craftsmanship and skills begun centuries earlier. Industrialization affected all the arts and crafts. Take brass for instance. [...]

Date/Circa:  1890 Origin:  France Size:  40" High x 29" Wide Catalogue No:  A0270 Price $975 We take our reflections for granted. To us, a beautiful mirror is just an accent - a decorating detail.  It was not always so inconsequential. For hundreds of years, Venetians jealously guarded a monopoly on making reflective glass.  In the 16 th century, the cost of a single Venetian mirror is estimated to be the equivalent of a present day battle ship.  When French nobility "stole" three Italian craftsmen to teach the process to the makers of Versailles Hall of Mirrors, the Venetians sent agents to poison [...]

Date/Circa:  1905 Origin:  Germany Size:  7" High Catalogue No:  A0812 Price $350 Hammering copper makes it stronger, so imagine the strength of this beautiful German Art Nouveau teapot.  Each facet first is created with a roughing hammer, then, when the perfect shape is achieved, a finishing hammer is used to refine the texture and appearance.  Finally the surface is polished until it gleams. It is said that coppersmiths often went deaf over time due to the repetitive banging.  The facets add a special beauty to the pot - like a rippling stream just outside a country cottage.  Also adding to [...]

Date/Circa: 1900 Origin: England Size: Pot stands 10" high and has a 10" diameter Catalogue No: Ao571 Price: $330 It's winter. It's cold and it's dark. Let's face it, it's not palm trees and gentle breezes out there. When I can't go to the sunshine and warmth, I go to my kitchen. What could be a more satisfying substitute than an afternoon's peaceful work of chopping and browning, the delicate handling of fresh herbs, the aromas, as the flavors slowly develop and, most importantly, the pleasure of sampling the fruits of my labour: a hearty stew or soup. Be inspired [...]