Your mother was right so remember what she said, “Don’t tilt back in your chair.” It may weaken the frame or even break the chair and you may be sitting in it.
Tufted Victorian furniture covered in dark velvet needs to be dusted in each tuft, a time-consuming project. Consider reupholstering without tufts, a style also done in Victorian times.
You cannot fix a cracked snow dome paperweight. But you can polish a scratch off the glass of any glass paperweight.
There is a special polish for Lucite and other plastics. It can be found in lamp shops.
Rotate your dining room and kitchen furniture and your coffee table on your birthday. If you remember to do this each year, the furniture will fade evenly.
If you get gum on your Oriental rug or carpet, freeze it with an ice cube in a plastic bag, and then scrape it off with a plastic credit card.
If you get gum on your oriental rug or carpet, freeze it with an ice cube in a plastic bag, then scrape it off with a plastic credit card.
Keep furniture away from a humidifier, especially the type that vaporizes water. The damp air will eventually cause the wooden parts of the furniture to mildew.
Your cell phone’s camera can be a magnifying glass. Focus on the marking you want to read and go in for a close-up. You can pinch it open on your phone for a closer look. It is great for ceramics or prints, but a little difficult for metal because of glare. No need for a ruler and a magnifier. Now you can go to a show with a dollar bill (a 6-inch ruler) and a phone.
Specialized antiques and collectibles shows are becoming more popular. There are shows devoted to garden antiques, political memorabilia, toys, clocks, advertising, art pottery, petroliana, beer cans, dolls, modern design, textiles, vintage clothing, bottles, glass, posters, paper ephemera and jewelry. Makes sense, the serious collector can see more of interest at a one themed show.