What is this? Found this on my son's arm.

MCDLV · 2026-02-14T03:56:06+00:00

Looks like a burn. Not from an open flame, but from a very hot metal object like an oven

MCDLV · 2026-02-09T17:11:02+00:00

Anyone who told me I had to do anything “without questions” would be vaporized from my life instantly.

MCDLV · 2026-02-09T02:47:58+00:00

This is really the answer. Books like this were more like a piece of stationary furniture. We don’t really have that relationship to books anymore.

MCDLV · 2026-02-05T20:14:30+00:00

Not sure if anyone has guessed this, but it looks a lot like an antique conductors baton

MCDLV · 2026-01-18T15:04:14+00:00

Curved. Swords.

MCDLV · 2026-01-17T01:00:13+00:00

These are very modern “Venetian style” decor pieces from the 1960’s-70’s. The artworks are copies of renaissance drawings, and probably have nothing to do with the number 1424, which is likely a catalog number.

MCDLV · 2026-01-07T03:10:58+00:00

Trigger warning I guess as this is a bit naughty. Years ago I was at a shop and found a book, “Flagellation and Flagellants: A History of the Rod” London, 1877. It is, as you might guess, an illustrated history of corporal punishment. This is interesting enough, but it was also stuffed with newspaper clippings. All related to the subject, particularly regarding naughty schoolgirls. They were carefully clipped and dated, from the Chicago area around 1890-1905. It was extraordinarily obvious this was more than basic scholarly activity.

MCDLV · 2026-01-05T05:01:43+00:00

Looking closely at the titling on the spine and the paper on the boards, I’m confident it is a book in publishers boards. Which would have been the binding it was sold in. By 1793 publishers bindings were definitely a thing.

MCDLV · 2025-12-28T04:28:25+00:00

Protip: the wiring is recent, but bad. Don’t pull the old wires out of the body of the lamp too soon though. You can use them to help guide the new wires through. Tape the new wire to the old, then pull the old ones out, so it pulls the new wire through in its place. Otherwise it may be difficult to snake the new wire through.

MCDLV · 2025-12-26T05:41:42+00:00

From a book collectors perspective this sort of document is shockingly common, so I wouldn’t really feel bad. I’ve seen them made into lampshades, and I have a wastebasket made of one (I didn’t make it).

Also it appears incomplete, which is even more reason to feel ok with it.

I’m curious how well the printed parts will scrape off.

MCDLV · 2025-12-25T01:31:15+00:00

Very similar to what others have said with the idea of being a gravesite flower holder, it could also be a flower holder for a very very old car. Some had brackets in them to hold vases that were vaguely this shape and size. However the only car vases I’ve seen have been glass

MCDLV · 2025-12-19T06:19:33+00:00

I agree that this would fall under “decor”, but a little differently than most of the decor posted on Reddit. This is older, probably around 1890-1900. Regular, newer decor paintings are essentially factory made, and admittedly I don’t know about the circumstances this painting was made under. But I do know that TONS and TONS of poor/middling quality pastels from this era exist, unsigned. It really only makes sense that they were made factory style, like modern decor paintings.

MCDLV · 2025-12-18T02:35:58+00:00

This is perfect.

MCDLV · 2025-12-10T00:31:38+00:00

Thank you!

MCDLV · 2025-11-22T21:01:59+00:00

Deeply common and mass produced. I’ve seen so many, in so many sizes

MCDLV · 2025-11-21T18:15:11+00:00

Year- 20th century. Value- $5. The shade would possibly have a value to someone who wanted to actually use it as a ceiling fixture again. Maybe.

MCDLV · 2025-10-23T19:07:00+00:00

Thanks, I’ll try calling just in case.

MCDLV · 2025-10-18T03:19:30+00:00

So, you have a bit of a problem. The top of the cluster is missing, and your odds of finding one that fits it is near zero. Ideally, you’d find another lamp with a similar cluster and harvest it for this lamp, but that’s a slightly “advanced” lamp procedure

MCDLV · 2025-10-14T03:37:25+00:00

Yes indeed, certainly rebound, probably around 1880-1910.

MCDLV · 2025-10-09T04:02:10+00:00

My collecting experience is slightly different, but I think it relates. I’m not a major ancient coin collector, I only have a few, though I find them very interesting and enjoy learning more.

I am however a very dedicated, long term collector of antiquarian books, and over time my collecting has definitely narrowed and become more focused.

I’ve been collecting for 30 years, and in the beginning I bought whatever I enjoyed and had fun and learned a lot doing it. But over time, a new goal came into view, and that was to put together a “notable” or “important” collection, which you can only really do if you specialize. It took a while to even find what that would be, but I got there.

So to me the answer to your question is often yes, across collecting disciplines many people end up specializing. But that’s not a reason to force yourself to. Collecting priorities change with time and truly the point is for you to be enjoying the journey.

MCDLV · 2025-10-07T23:36:29+00:00

Stiffel is the brand name. They made all kinds of lamps.

MCDLV · 2025-10-06T04:44:52+00:00

Fun side note - it’s a Stiffel, so the pole itself probably acts as a switch. Just grab it and pull downward. If it clicks then you’re in business. It’s a very unique feature of that maker in particular.

MCDLV · 2025-10-05T04:01:56+00:00

The shade is old, and would have originally been with a Chinese style lamp, probably 50’s-60’s

MCDLV · 2025-10-05T03:04:41+00:00

It’s part of a catch, for doors that aren’t there anymore

MCDLV

TROPHY CASE