Above: This sewing caddy, treasured by collectors across the United States, was made by David Mills Pease in Ohio during the second half of the 19th century. During the 19th century, girls were expected to learn rudimentary skills needed at a time when many families could not afford store-bought clothing. Needle, thread and cloth were at the heart of any project, but home seamstresses found ways to add a bit of polish to a sewing room through items such as figural pincushions

Above: The Columbus-based artist crafted this piece using found objects. It is signed and dated 2003. Ohio’s tradition of self-taught artists is a long one, but there are more recent names that have gained recognition as well. Levent Isik is among them. Born in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1961, Isik grew up in Montreal, Canada, before moving to Ohio. He lived in Akron and Cleveland, then settled in Columbus in the late 1980s, leaving behind a job and friends. Art helped fill the voi

Above: The maker of these hearth utensils marked “Cy. Crites” and believed to be tied to the Crites family of Allen County is not completely clear. Among the most important skilled tradesmen of the 18th and 19th centuries, blacksmiths made everything from horseshoes to hinges. A smithy was vital, but his often-unmarked utilitarian products can be overlooked in the jumble of antique ironwork. Check out this month's column featuring Fascinating Objects from Our Past. Read the f

Above: The Columbus-based artist known for his landscapes painted this depiction of a wooded stream in 1927. Born near Gallipolis, Ohio, in 1864, Charles William Duvall moved to our state capital in 1889 and become known as the dean of Columbus artists. He studied landscape art for a decade under Edward Parker Hayden, a native Ohioan who moved to Massachusetts. For Duvall though, life was about home, and home was Ohio. Check out this month's column featuring Fascinating Objec

Above: East Liverpool potters made this mocha ware porcelain during the second half of the 19th century. This covered sugar sold for $550 at Garth's. Pottery and porcelain production has always been about science, and, at one time, the most advanced technology a potter possessed was a handwritten ledger of formulas and techniques. During the 19th century, East Liverpool was at the heart of America’s porcelain production. Check out this month's column featuring Fascinating Obj

Above: This piece was produced during the 1920s, as the Kenton-based company began making toys alongside its functional cast iron products In the 19th century, cast iron became a type of wonder material. The raw ingredients were cheap, and molds could be used to readily produce objects in nearly any shape imaginable. It was used to create items as simple as hinges, as complex as bridges and as conventional as skillets. During the late 19th century and into the mid-20th centur

Above: The Cincinnati artist is beloved for his minimalistic, nature-inspired works. The originals are pricey, but limited-edition prints of his work are more accessible. The late Charley Harper was a student of the natural world. An American modernist who distilled his work into a style he called “minimal realism,” Harper once said, “I could never get close enough to count the feathers in the wings, so I just count the wings.” Check out this month's column featuring Fascinat

Huntington, WV – March 6 - June 6, 2021 The long tradition of the artistic still life dates to ancient times in Egypt and the classical worlds of Greece and Rome, as depictions of tabletop arrangements of food and other objects have been found in Egyptian tombs, on Greek vases, and in mosaics and wall paintings unearthed in Pompeii. The genre began to thrive during the Renaissance, especially in northern Europe where Dutch and Flemish painters excelled in producing ultra-real

COLUMBUS, OHIO – Let’s talk about shopping at auctions. Not only is buying secondhand better for the environment, but you can also get some really incredible deals. The idea of shopping at an auction may seem daunting, but it’s actually fun. At Garth’s, and other auction houses, you can shop online. You can put in bids on items before the live auction opens, or you can wait to get it on the action day of. It’s really a choose your own adventure style of shopping. Garth’s Auct

Above: This circa-1830 chest with a distinct, thumbprint-like decoration is similar to ones crafted by Coshocton County makers. Cabinetmakers were plentiful across Ohio during the 19th century. As such, linking an item to a specific maker can be an arduous task. Check out this month's column featuring Fascinating Objects from Our Past. Read the full article online. Originally published in January/February 2021 issue of Ohio Magazine. #miniature #blanketchest #paintedfurniture