Auction finds: modern art, an ancient pottery form, and a bonkers silver cardholder

Plus, a late-night sister gab-fest

My sister is visiting as part of my father's 80th birthday celebrations, and we stayed up late tonight talking in that way that siblings can sometimes fall into - hearing about what's going on with her friends and with mine, a web of intimacy that extends far beyond either of us. She cares for friends of mine that she's never met - and I do the same; keeping up with successes and setbacks; babies grown now into college students, tales of crazy beloved dogs and thrilling escapades. The friendships continue to hold us both, and that is a happy thing.

We spent part of the evening talking about my new job as the Interim Executive Director of my local historical society, where that same sense of enduring connection and unfolding stories has been a constant theme. Since starting in mid-May, I've fielded inquiries from researchers about Civil War veterans, handled a Revolutionary War cannonball made in a local foundry, seen a quilt made by the great-great-great-grandmother of a volunteer who has been transcribing her family's journals, and learned more about the history of the iron industry than I ever dreamed possible. For someone who loves objects and history, it's been a joyful time diving into the deep end of the life of the historic collection and building. There have been carpenter ants (and bees), HVAC dramas, and so many interesting people and stories - a reminder that history is something we constantly create.

It's even later now, and I'm getting sleepy, so I'll leave you with just these Design Notes this week; Leland Little has an auction coming up on July 17th, and there are some gems…

A. The warmth of this painting is what initially appealed to me. However, I was moved by this description: "Hiigli's transfixing geometric paintings synthesize the teachings of Jean Piaget and Richard Buckminster Fuller. He endeavors "to create certain images of totality, images that are optical and energetic—not a 'signal' or transmitter, or point of reception of 'something else'—but objects, states of mind, visions that stand for what they are in and of themselves."

B. Love, love, love when an antique object reads as modern - lime green is my forever favorite.

C. This reminds me of views from my NYC and Brooklyn apartments.

D. The insects! Charming and unexpected.

E. A lot is going on with this calling card holder - the disembodied hand, the scalloped almost seashell, the pheasant (?!) - this is just the bonkers kind of object I love the chance to see - it's not particularly successful or in the best 'taste' but it illuminates the skill and restraint that make other silver objects so appealing to me.

F. I loved this catalog description: "In good playing order, allowing 21st century listeners to hear real honest-to-goodness 19th century sounds." Gah! The history of technology always interests me. This would have been the equivalent in 1880 of getting an iPod in 2001 - portable and placing music under your control (you would buy rolls with pre-printed music).

G. This is an ancient (and to my eye, wonderful) form - it's known as a Rebecca Pitcher.

H. I was surprised to learn this tulip vase form dates to the 1940s.

At work, I'm planning our celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, so this chest, which commemorates the Centennial in 1876, caught my eye. I'd love to know the meaning of the dragons! The feet were added later.

Thanks, as always, for reading, and next week, when the birthday celebrations are over and family has departed, I’ll be back with a longer, more regular newsletter.

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