Our friends, Dixie and Larry Kilborn,  provided last month’s What Is It. Devoted collectors, Dixie and Larry have several wonderful collections. One is a toy collection which includes these cute little fellows. They are Ramp Walkers. These fun little characters waddle down a ramp. They can be raced or just walk alone. There have been many manufacturers of this traditional toy […]

May’s What Is It is a stocking purse. Glass beads and a length of 7 inches date this compartmentalized stocking purse to the 1840s. Two small rings slide to close the opening in the center that provides access to each of the end compartments. A larger purse was used in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Beaded handbags are durable […]

We had several correct guesses to our April’s What Is It. The medal pictured is the Victoria Cross. It is a British decoration awarded for conspicuous bravery and begun by Queen Victoria in 1856. (Photo courtesy of the British Royal Mint.) What makes this “military medal” so valuable? To answer that question, we must look at the story behind the […]

We had several correct guesses for our March What Is It. Jack Chang, M.D. of Englewood, Colorado; Patty Echelmeyer of Denver, Colorado; Dottie Unruh of Lakewood, Colorado; Ronald Moreschini, D.D.S. of Pueblo, Colorado and Fred Clark of Colorado Springs, Colorado all correctly identified the object as a Japanese netsuke. Here is the story of this netsuke. It is carved by […]

We had quite a few correct guesses for our February’s What Is It! We think everyone is already dreaming of getting on the links. Yes, they are old golf balls! These golf balls tell the history of golf. A pre-1850 leather-covered featherie is at left, a guttie, used between 1845 and 1900 is at right. And a rubber ball (bottom) […]