Canadian Glass Paper Weight ca 1895
First produced in France, in around 1845, fine glass paperweights are to this day widely produced, collected, and appreciated as works of art. The most sought after pieces are produced by sole artisans usually in limited editions. When determining a value of any given...
Serving up Riley’s Hotel on a Platter
The Riley House, formerly Bamberger’s Inn was built in 1826 and was a three story, sixteen-bedroom inn with six fireplaces. It was the largest inn west of York (Toronto). After Peter Bamberger died in 1848 his son-in-law, James Riley, became the proprietor and...
Need a Light?
Occasionally things come into our shop that we wouldn’t normally look twice at when we are out and about picking and hunting for unique antiques, curios and other oddities. Case in point, the collection seen here. Check out the full story below.
Unlocking the skeletons in my closet
At the risk of showing my vulnerable side I gotta admit as a kid I was totally creeped out by skeleton keys – not sure if I was alone in this affliction but for some reason or other old keys of this nature gave me the willy nillys! Perhaps it was the rust, the...
Cool Canteens and 28 days without water?
History has is that canteens date back as far as 60,000 years ago; primitive canteens were made from a variety of materials including: hollowed out gourds, ostrich eggshells and animal skin. For hikers, campers, soldiers and field workers canteens were (and still are)...
