News and Events for Nantucket Island
Commonly asked questions and misunderstandings about antiques… and the odd or end fascinating bit! A piggin: you’ve probably never heard of one, and possibly never even seen one. You don’t know what you’ve been missing… literally. A piggin is a small wooden pail with one stave extended upward as a […]
Commonly asked questions and misunderstandings about antiques… and the odd or end fascinating bit! In the dark ages, homes were lit by horribly smoky and evil smelling fat lamps and grease candles. The superior and extremely expensive beeswax candle was reserved for churches and nobility. The success of the whale […]
Commonly asked questions and misunderstandings about antiques… and the odd or end fascinating bit! The wee cousin to a marlin spike or fid, these little ivory or bone carved “needles” are the most common form of scrimshaw. Sailors crafted bodkins in an endless variety of forms and sizes, presents for […]
Commonly asked questions and misunderstandings about antiques… and the odd or end fascinating bit! On board ships (and now in antiques shops) one often finds whale oil lamps, candleholders, compasses and barometers held by hinged circular frames that pivot so that the instrument remains ever upright and even, no matter […]
Commonly asked questions and misunderstandings about antiques… and the odd or end fascinating bit! If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck… except when it comes to pool tables. As various outdoor ball games were brought inside from the 15th Century onwards, […]
Commonly asked questions and misunderstandings about antiques… and the odd or end fascinating bit! Christmas is the most nostalgic time of year, so it is no wonder that antique Christmas decorations are very popular. Collectors especially prize an old German heirloom, which makes perfect sense since the holiday itself, and […]
Commonly asked questions and misunderstandings about antiques… and the odd or end fascinating bit! One of the most common questions we are asked, almost on a daily basis, is what are these intricate lattice-work devices? When I press them to guess, people most often say a device to hang laundry […]
According to Marty Shapiro, President of the Antique s Council, ” We couldn’t let a much loved antique show that has been a tradition on the island for 36 years simply just disappear! The Nantucket Antiques Show was something that people looked forward to every year and came from both […]
Commonly asked questions and misunderstandings about antiques… and the odd or end fascinating bit! Carved wooden cat’s heads are a rather obscure bit of nautical lore. The “cats head” is a wooden beam angling out from either side of a ship’s bow, used to weigh and let go the anchors […]
