I’ve never been the kind of collector who searches for just one thing. My collection is a little bit of everything—antique, vintage, old, unusual, and sometimes just plain odd.
Most of what I collect has been found at estate sales, thrift stores, flea markets, and other secondhand places throughout Connecticut. I’m drawn to things that make me stop and wonder. Sometimes it’s the age of an object, its craftsmanship, or its connection to a particular time or place. Other times, it’s something I’ve never seen before and simply need to know more about.
For me, finding the object is only the beginning.
I want to know who made it, when and where it was made, how it was used, who might have owned it, and what was happening in the world when it existed. Sometimes the research leads to a simple story about an everyday object. Other times, something that seemed ordinary opens the door to a much larger history.
My collection reflects that curiosity. It includes household objects, advertising, photographs, toys, ephemera, folk art, souvenirs, and plenty of things that don’t fit neatly into any category. Some pieces might have monetary value, and others might not, but that’s never been the most important part to me.
What matters to me is the story.
These objects are little pieces of the past that somehow survived long enough to end up in my hands. Through picking, collecting, and independent research, I try to uncover what I can about where they came from, what they meant, and what they can still teach us today.
Because every object has a story… and every story has a lesson.
