Jack H.T. Chang, M.D.    Godey’s Lady’s Book fashion plates are commonly found in antique stores. Their origin began in July, 1830 when Louis Antoine Godey and Charles Alexander of Philadelphia published the inaugural issue under the title, Lady’s Book containing one fashion plate. It was not the first American magazine with women as its target audience as the Ladies Magazine […]

By Robert Reed    It was a simple idea, combining common salt with intense heat for a special effect in ceramics. The result was remarkable.    Salt thrown in a kiln and then superheated virtually vaporized in the process settling and fusing on the enclosed ware in tiny droplets. The droplets become a thin glaze. To the eye the glaze was gleaming […]

By Maureen Timm    Buckles have been used by both men and women since ancient times. History and archeology books tell of buckles used to fit harnesses on animals and to hold weapons and garments in place. The popularity of buckles as adornments fluctuated according to fashion and politics. Archaeologists have discovered primitive belts with buckles dating back to the Bronze […]