The 1950’s house was a scientific
triumph, designed in a laboratory and tested on inhabitants of all
ages before being built for the masses. Never had homes been so
thoroughly contemporary, with antiques and period styles entirely
banished. This video explores the interior decor of that decade.
Explore the
Characteristics of Mid-Century Modern Architecture, one of the most
influential styles of the 20th century. Known for its clean lines,
flat planes, large glass walls, natural materials, and strong
indoor–outdoor connection, Mid-Century Modern design shaped the way
people think about modern living. Click on the
title to view.
And look for other videos in selected articles.
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2026 Holiday
Edition
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THE ANTIQUES ALMANAC
"Christmas in America"
COMING IN
December
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The morning of December 17, 1903 dawned bright with a
strong chill in the air. The wind hit 25 miles per hour
over the dunes at Kill Devil Hills, dangerous conditions
for flying a prototype aircraft. The Wright Brothers of
Dayton, Ohio, dressed in coats and ties to add a touch
of private ceremony for an event that would alter the
world. To learn more read "The
Dream of Flight."
AN-TIQUE (an-teek)An object having
special value because of its age, especially a domestic item, piece of
furniture or decorative arts object esteemed for its artistry, beauty,
mechanical ingenuity, or period of origin.
The
Antiques Almanac, a five-edition-per-year online magazine for beginning and
intermediate antiques collectors and those just interested in finding out about
old things, is your first stop on the Web in your search for information
about antiques and collectibles. Here, you’ll find articles on a variety
of American and international antiques, including furniture, china,
glass, silver, and other decorative arts from the Colonial, Empire,
Victorian, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco Periods, plus vintage and modern
collectibles, interesting historical facts, antique tips, and
recommendations for caring for your collections. Come back often to see
what's new. And be sure to tell your friends about us.
This
edition's
theme:
"20th-Century America"
Volume 19 No. 4
This edition features articles about
antiques and history from Federal America spanning objects and ideas
from 1790 to 1820.
Throughout 2026, The
Antiques Almanac will feature articles and photos depicting
American antiques and history to celebrate the 250th Anniversary
of the United States. Editions will each feature a major period
in U.S. history---Colonial America, Federal America, Victorian
America, 20th Century America, and An American Christmas.
Chic vs
Sleek
Art Deco—those two words bring to mind
sleek forms and chic design. Many believe the style began in America.
But actually its origins go much further back to France on the other
side of the Atlantic. Arte Moderne, on the other hand, was decidedly an
American invention. Although taking its design concepts from Art Deco,
it was a completely different style. Unfortunately, this is the style
most Americans confuse with Art Deco.
On the Road Again
Remember the days when your dad pulled
the family car into a gas station and a friendly young man would come
out and ask you how much gas you wanted? And while the gas gurgled into
the tank, he would clean the car’s windshield and lift the hood to check
the oil, wiping the dipstick with a rag hs pulled from the back pocket
of his overalls. Those were the days.
WPA
Art Passes the Test of Time
The
year is 1935 and the Great Depression is in full swing. In an effort to
help provide economic relief to the citizens of the United States,
Congress created the Works Progress Administration (WPA) as part of
President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. Today, collectors admire the
wonderful art produced as a result of this program during that depressed
time.
The Beginning of Everyday
Photography
In
1888, George Eastman invented a dry, transparent, flexible photographic
film that came in a roll. He created it for use in his newly designed,
user-friendly Kodak camera. This innovative camera and film combination
enabled the average person to take pictures easily with amazing results.
Collecting Vintage Movie Posters
Anyone
who has gone to the movies remembers the posters of the current feature
mounted in glass cases out in front of the theater and inside the
entrance. These posters drew viewers in and each presented an image of
the film that was meant to entice and engage.
Caring for Vintage
Chrome
The
secret to successful chrome restoration lies in removing rust and dirt
without scratching the shiny metal surface. The problem is, while chrome
is a very durable metal and can last for years, it doesn’t take long for
it to get dirty and dull looking. And because you will need to clean
chrome frequently, it is important to know how to clean chrome properly.
More
Caring for Collections
SPECIAL
RELATED ARTICLES
Check out these related
articles from past editions of The Antiques Almanac
that may also be of interest:
Most people today believe that the concept of fast food
began in the mid 20th century. In fact, it goes back well
over 2,000 years to ancient Rome. Beginning with hamburger
stands in the 1950s, the concept of today’s fast food has
exploded into a variety of outlets, including franchises
selling everything from hamburgers to an assortment of
chicken dishes to food trucks to food delivery services,
selling almost any kind of food imaginable—all prepared and
cooked for others to eat without the bother of cooking and
cleaning up. Read more.
Tucked away in a plain
brick building on a side street in a quiet neighborhood of Dover,
Delaware, is the Johnson Victrola Museum. It’s unassuming exterior
belies the excitement inside, for its two floors are packed with all
sorts of entertainment machines, from early Victrolas to more complex
and luxurious Electrola Fadiola. In the days before T.V. and Netflix,
families gathered around their Victrola to listen to music or dance
after dinner. It was a revolutionary method of home entertainment for
which Eldridge Reeves Johnson was responsible. Read more.
Let’s face it, the 1950s were boring, especially for
kids. They didn’t have video games or computers. They couldn’t watch
shows on Netflix. They didn’t have the million and one distractions
that they have today to occupy their idol hours. But they did have
T.V., a new medium that just a few years before exploded onto
post-war America. And one of the types of shows they watched the
most was the early T.V. western.
Read more
Transistor radios were the first
common electronic device to be downsized. Today, we take miniaturization
for granted and have radio broadcasts and music at our fingertips on
multiple devices. But when transistor radios first came on the scene,
the modern age for many had begun. Read more
How to Recognize and
Refinish Antiques for Pleasure and Profit
Have
you ever bought an antique or collectible that was less than perfect and
needed some TLC? Bob's book offers tips and step-by- step
instructions for simple maintenance and restoration of common antiques.
Read an
Excerpt
BREAKING
NEWS
19th-Century Crock Sells for 8 Times Its Estimate
This one-gallon stoneware
crock, with impressed decoration, stamped “LIBERTY.FOR.EV,”
by Thomas Warne and Joshua Letts of SouthAmboy, NewJersey,
recently sold for $22,800, eight times its estimate. Learn
more about #antique stoneware jars by reading "That's
a Crock!"
BIZARRE
ANTIQUITIES
Roman razors were
known as novacilae. The small iron blade
had a hole for the shaver to put their finger in
so they could drag it across their face to
remove stubble, or attach it to their belt for
easy access when a client was on the barber’s
chair. For wealthy Romans, being clean shaven
was considered part of a collection of civilized
urban manners called urbanitas. While
some Romans are depicted in marble with beards,
many more are clean shaven—a testament to the
popularity of this trend.
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