Days Gone

A sofa is a word adapted into English from Arabic, by way of Aramaic. These days it refers to any couch, though originally it referred only to the luxuriously cushioned seats of esteemed guests in the royal palaces of Arabia. Sofas are always upholstered and designed for reclining and relaxation. A love seat or loveseat is a small, compact couch that seats two. Small couches have existed at least as long as large ones, but the love seat, as we know it, was designed in the 1700's to seat one woman wearing a wide bustle. As time passed, the little couches became known as intimate rendezvous spots for lovers (these were the days of Casanova, remember). Scandalous! Responding to this, furniture...

When it comes to the bedroom we all know that bedding and accents are important, but a key area of bedroom design that is often overlooked is the flooring. Many people have wall to wall carpet in their bedroom and, therefore think that they are "stuck" with that color or design. The truth is that you can jazz up your flooring by simply laying a carpet on top of your wall to wall carpet. Beautiful and durable, oriental rugs can add warmth and charm to almost any bedroom. This type of rug goes with many bedroom design styles, romantic, Victorian, shabby chic, Tuscan, Morrocan, oriental and many more. Oriental rugs come in many different designs and colors so you should be able to find one that...

The cufflink has always been associated with the upper echelon of most societies. According to the National Cufflink Society, this sign of high fashion and power has decorated the pharaohs of Egypt, Noblemen of Greece and the modern high powered executives of Wall Street. According to national records, in the late 1700's is approximately when buttons became less fashionable and manufacturers started cutting slits into the cuffs of dress shirts. The modern day names for these shirts are French cuff. What You Didn't Know About Cufflinks: 1. Patricia and Gene Klompus founded The National Cufflink Society which is now based in Vernon Hills, IL. 2. The Tour a' Guilloche machine was the first machine with...

We've all had the experience of going to networking events and collecting business cards. Some people have so many cards that they make a special database of people they met at networking events. Others keep the cards in a box or business card files. I've got several files full ofcards myself. Sometimes I don't even remember who all the people are. Periodically I purge the file of the unknowns to make space for new ones. Is everyone you meet a potential client or referrer? It starts with the conversation you have when you first meet the person. Focus on those in your target market and/or those people who know lots of people in your target market (influencers and strategic partners). It is with those...

Have you ever thought about using antiques to brighten up your home? Some people consider antiques to be a little dated and they would never think of having them in their own home; however they can add a sophisticated touch without looking too imposing. How to Make Antiques Work for You Antiques are generally associated with old houses. However more and more people are starting to use them in their modern homes as they find that they can really brighten up the living space. You can purchase antiques from a number of different places and it is even possible to find them at your local flea market. So what classes as an antique? Well generally an antique is old. It may sound obvious but people do still...

Black lights are becoming more and more popular. Black lights are used for art, decoration, medicine, and more. Because of the way the light is emitted, black lights enhance fluorescent patterns. This opens the door for many different forms of black light decorations. One of the most common decoration is black posters. You can also buy hand held lights. These can be very handy, because they can spot dirt that regular light doesn't show. These are usually battery operated lights. Black light forms are a light form that gets very close to the ultra-violet spectrum. Because of this, it is able to illuminate certain colors, and is useful in a variety of other situations. Black light posters are a...

If we compare women with men, the latter are known to be minimalist when it comes to jewelry collectibles. They often wear necklace, bracelets and rings. We can notice that most men consider their wedding ring as the most precious jewelry that they have. However, if you're a bachelor who wants to keep a fashionable look, try to shop for classic watches men must have. Classic watches are highly available in the market since consumer loves its timeless designs and details. They are categorized according to the year they were made and developed. Like antique collectibles, the value of classic watches tends to go higher as you count the number of years from the time it was crafted. The longer the gap is...

Harley Davidson collectibles are popping up in all kinds of places you never saw them before. As more people embrace the iconic American brand a growing market is being created for unique, original and antique collectibles. Harley owners and lovers of the brand are die-hards who don't stop at simple motorcycle accessory or apparel purchases. America's love affair with the motorcycle began to gain serious traction after World War II. Many vets returned home and craved a taste of the adventure and excitement they experienced during war and turned to motorcycle riding to get it. Movies like "The Wild One" and "Easy Rider" etched the idea of the wild biker into our collective psyche. Real life...

g for a unique music box? What about an antique music box? You can find many antique music boxes that are still playing. Here are some tips on how to get a vintage music box. First thing you need to worry about is if the box in a working condition or does it need repairs. Of course it is easier to buy a working music box, but you will pay more for it. If the box is not working, don't get discouraged. A music box is a delicate mechanism that can be easily damaged, but most damages usually can be repaired as well. You can actually find very good deals buying damaged antique music boxes and repairing them. Types of antique music boxes There are two types of old music boxes - disc and cylinder boxes...

ody"> Chairs crafted by Thomas Chippendale were dazzling examples of quality furniture in their day. Today, they remain extraordinary examples of antique furniture. Chippendale style, ball and claw and ladder backs, there's lots to know. Here's your guide to one of the world's most celebrated chairs. Who is He. Thomas Chippendale (1714-1779) was an English furniture maker in the mid 18th century whose work was influenced by English, French and Chinese furniture design. A Book Made Him a Household Name. In 1754, Thomas Chippendale published the first of three editions of his book, Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director. It put him on the map. This illustrated directory showed examples of the...

Antique collector is one who is interested in the purchase and storage of antiques. If you are new to this field and want some information about how to start about, you have come to the right place. You must have seen a serious antique collector who does make a lot of money in the process. Don't you remember how you used to go about collecting stamps, cards, coins etc? You even used to trade it with friends when you wanted some new one into your collection. Being an antique collector is quite difficult. There are certain things you need to keep in mind if you are starting off now. Remember to ask yourself why you are starting this process of making antique collectables. Is it just to satisfy one's...

Ballerina Music Boxes, inlaid music boxes, musical jewelry boxes, cylinder music boxes, and antique music boxes are delicate and beautiful. As most music box and antique collectors know, in order to preserve them, sometimes repair and restoration is needed. For this special work, it is important to choose a company that is reputable and an expert in this area. This is the second part of an interview with music box and mechaical insturment repair and restoration expert, Mr. Jim Weir Jim does all kinds of antique musical box repairs and restoration. His work includes comb repairs, releading and tuning, dampering, cylinder repairing, and organ bridge work. Jim also offers all manner of musical box...

Well-made woodcraft furniture produced by skilled woodworkers has always been in demand, and that demand has grown with the realization that woodcraft furniture increased in value over time. Finely-made woodcraft furniture develops a patina as it ages, giving it a character much sought-after by antique collectors. Just walk by your local antique shops and see how many of its most prominently displayed items are pieces of woodcraft furniture. Whether you are interested in using the high-quality woodcraft furniture--chairs, tables, or cabinets, for example--or, as with wall mounts or mirrors, just using it for ornamental purposes, you may be wondering how to buy it as inexpensively as possible to...

The digital camera has become, for the normal family, an important and essential tool for recording special moments in their lives. Photography drastically changed during the few last decades, especially during the last few years plus, how many of you still remember those days when traditional film cameras had to develop the pictures at a local pharmacy, they would all be amazed how fast digital cameras got into stage. And here\'s the reason why: digital photos are much easier to print in comparison to traditional photography, sometimes of much higher photo quality and resolution and photo quality, plus can store lot more photos compared to the traditional films in the ancestors cameras. However...

Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of Tiffany & Co. in 1837, succeeded in providing the wealthy with classic handcrafted silver jewelry. The familiar blue box and white ribbon continues to be the staple for Tiffany & Co., enticing buyers since the beginning, attracting luminaries such as Queen Victoria of England, and continues to keeps with Tiffany's vision of beautiful, enduring pieces of jewelry. Tiffany's son, Louis Comfort Tiffany didn't live in his father's shadow; in fact, he prospered in the artistic realm, with stained glass artwork and mosaics. He was born on February 18, 1848 in New York City, and it wasn't long before he strayed from the family business. Tiffany began his...

p>If you have a classical or Victorian look to your home, you may often find yourself looking for just the right practical accent pieces to go with your décor. You may need a little tabletop space, or even a little extra storage space. Marble end tables are the pieces you are looking for. Marble end tables automatically are going to fit into a classical or Victorian style, just because of the fact they are made of marble. Nothing gives a more classic look than a nicely cut piece of marble. Marble has long been associated with luxury, but that doesn't mean it has to be stuffy. Hand cut in the quarries, the surface of a cut piece of marble is always unique. Much like snowflakes, no two marble...

Mirrors are the doors that are opened to reveal our other most changeable sides. Perhaps they are best key to unlocking our vanity and our self esteem. There are so many wonderful things that mirrors do in our everyday life besides take part in the creation of a socially acceptable person. They are there to ensure that we do not get into accidents, they help with communication and they are also even used as part of external appearance therapy treatments for low self esteem. What more could we ask from the mirrors that can make us feel amused when they play with our senses in amusement parks. Like all things, mirrors need to be taken care of. They need to be regarded with a precious nature. This is...

For the music box and antique collectors who are creative and love arts and crafts, making a music box of their own can be fairly easy and great fun. Here are simple directions to make an exquisite music box called "Peter Cottontail". These unique directions are from Sharon Ganske's book, "Making Marvelous Music Boxes". Material Needed For the Base, Including Music Box Accessories: Round chipboard box...

One of the great things about military antiques is that there is such a wide range of types of military antiques. You have British Empire, British Military, Czech, French, German, Japanese, Russian, Scottish, Spanish, Swedish and Unites States Military. Then the styles are in a wide arrangement, there is Ammunitition, Edged Weapons, Field gear, Gun Parts, Helmets, Holsters, Machine Guns, Military Books, Flags and Maps. Here are some examples of the best of the best military antiques. For the British Empire there are the antique guns, the martini Henry, Ancient Cannons, British Muskets, Brunswick Rifles, Empire Edged Weapons, Enfield Style Rifle, Sharps' Rifles, Sniper Rifle and Nepalese Cache. In...

There are a lot of differing opinions as to what makes a good antique. Some believe that slight imperfections or something missing due to use are just authenticators and should never be repaired; others believe that the antique has to be complete and perfect for their consideration; still others, who consider themselves true conoisseurs insist that an antique be signed, just as any other work of art would be. These last clearly have the means to support this expensive point of view. The real way to collect antiques is to be constantly alert to the kinds of antiques that are out there. If you were shopping for a race horse, a pedigreed dog, or a certain car, you would always keep your eyes and ears...

For the average family, a digital camera has become an essential item to record special moments throughout their lives together. Photography has drastically changed over the last few decades, and many of us who still remember the days of traditional film cameras that had to have pictures developed at the local pharmacy might be amazed by how quickly digital cameras took the stage. And there's a reason why: compared to traditional photography, digital photographs are easier to print out, sometimes off much higher resolution and photo quality, and can store more pictures than their traditional film camera ancestors could. Still, there are many photographers, both amateur and professional, who haven't...

In order to locate your target audience, you need to know the type of people that will be looking for information offered on your website. I believe that this sounds obvious to you; say for instance you've got a business that deals in antiques, then your target audience are definitely antique collectors. I've come across thousands of websites out there that seem to subscribe to the misinformed notion that search engines are capable of mind reading. Funny that they should know what you actually want. Unfortunately, search engines are not capable of mind reading; they're nothing more than pieces of codes, better to say computer programs. This means that search engines require your help to find your...

-- End Ad Box ---> Many love music boxes. For the music box and antique collectors who are creative and like trying new things, making their own music box creation would be a great way to test their creative ability. In addition, if one knows a friend or relative who is soon to be married, the gift of a hand-made wedding music box would be unique and special. This special gift would be sure to bring very special memories for years to come. Here are step-by-step instructions for making a "Hawaiian Wedding Song" music box taken from Sharon Ganske's book, "Making Marvelous Music Boxes". Materials Needed For the base, Including Music Box Accessories: Teddy Electronic miniature movement Decorative...

The sewing machine is an invention that totally transformed the industry from it's early beginnings. Singer came out with a new up and down machine that would greatly increase the efficiency to those who like to sew for a living. People soon realized they could save quite a bit of time and effort with one of these modern machines instead of doing things by hand. Unbelievably, this was over 100 years ago. From very early on, the sewing machine was designed to be used commercially on factory lines by the workers. These machines were seen as a way to speed up production and increase profits. Many of these models were purpose built for making a specific type of stitch or pattern. When this is factored...

The clawfoot tub was created in the late 1800's as a tub of elegance for the upper class. The original tubs were created out of cast iron and were extremely heavy. As time progressed, so did the materials used to create these tubs. Cast iron tubs are extremely heavy and cannot be moved by a single person or even two for that matter. When it comes to modern tubs, fiberglass seems to be the material of choice as it is cost effective and practical. Of course, there are the few who still insist of the strength of an enamel covered cast iron tub. These tubs are beautiful and make a bathroom look as if it were created for royalty. However, another problem with these tubs is that their surface temperatures...

For many people, being an antique collector or expert is synonymous to hobby. But for some, this could be one of those 50k plus jobs that they have been looking for. Today, something-an item or a piece-that is 10-decade old or more is definitely valuable. This is because not everything can be maintained and kept well for such long duration of time. Due to the increasing number of people that collect antiques, being an antique collector or expert has become one of the most sought after jobs out there If you want to earn money through your expertise in antique collecting, the first thing that you need to do is familiarize yourself with everything about the trade. This can be done by doing an extensive...

For the music box and antique collector, there is an almost endless array of music boxes to collect. From carousel music boxes to ballerina music boxes, and antique music boxes to children's jewelry boxes, there is a large variety to choose from. There also is a specialty area for the music box and antique collector to consider. The area is novelty musical mechanisms. Four top novelty items to consider are furniture musical mechanisms, household items, clocks and wallets, and the automata. Furniture Musical Mechanisms In the 19th and early 20th century, many leading manufacturers placed musical mechanisms in furniture. Some of the most popular items their mechanisms were placed in were full sized...

Collecting items that came from the past is one of the most gratifying yet tiresome hobbies that an individual could ever have. This is probably because it needs so many funds most especially if you are looking for the most exquisite ones. Antique collecting needs so much time so you can find the bona fide pieces. Many experts of antique collecting would concur that the most fundamental thing that a fine antique collector should study and master is the knowledge of how to take care of the pieces properly. This is because it is the only mean to appraise and maintain the value and worth of the antique. Taking care of antique pieces does not only involve proper storage but as well as regular and proper...