The variety of objects which people find beautiful, useful, amusing or bizarre is endless; these are some of the reasons people assemble collections. This column provides context, advice, guidance, information about antiques, collectibles, auctions, antique shows, dealers, home furnishings, decorating, memorabilia, books, Victoriana, Chinese Export, glassware, as well as furniture, appraisals, restoration, collecting, porcelain, pottery, coins, clubs, tiles, souvenirs, interior design, flea markets, Belle Epoque, fin-de-siecle, antiquaires, golf, art history, miniature villages, walking sticks, collectible fishing gear, art fraud, selling antiques, price guides and more to help you avoid poor deals and transactions made in bad faith.

Some of the periods we will talk about are 17th and 18th century design, 19th and 20th century furniture and pottery, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Mission and Arts & Crafts, Roycroft, Victorian, Bauhaus, Biedemeier, modernism and mid-century, and all Americana. We will talk about famous designers like Susie Cooper and Adelaide Robineau, Charles Rennie Macintosh and William Morris.