Amy and I have all these great Smoking, Cigar or Cigarette antiques, yet we don't smoke 
They just have some great graphics!
This small, leather pouch holds three pieces that when screwed together become...--...a cigarette holder ! I think Cruella DeVille would be jealous 
Most of these items will go in the guest bedroom with the global travel/adventure room.
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These type of cigarette storage holders started to gain popularity in the early 1900's and really took off in the Great Gatsby Art Deco period of the 1920's. This pretty pink elephant is probably from the 1950's...and can hold cigarettes in the top so they would be in easy reach for the Lady of the House.
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I love to mix antiques in with new items when decorating a room. The antiques give the room history and authenticity for the era I'm basing the room in. These antique, hand written letters are from Paris and were mailed in the late 1800's up to 1909. I love the postage stamps and the post office markings. The person who wrote this had such small, delicate handwriting.
I wish I knew what it said! Does anyone read French? I can send you photo copies for translation. 
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So far I've been tracking the ancestory for 3 of my 4 grandparents. Two came from Germany, 1 from Russia. They were all immigrants varying from poor to maybe middle class. There hasn't been many items passed down through my family but I love all the items I do have. One thing we have never had was silverware. You always see people passing down beautiful, wooden boxes filled with silverware. So somehow, somewhere along my life I decided I was going to start collecting silverware. At first I did the Martha Stewart style, mix-n-match. But eventually I settled on one pattern. I love that this has a history attached with Chicago, and I love the design, but most of all, I am amazed that something can last 121 years! So I've slowly been building my collection to eventually have a service for 12. I have several pieces but here is some of the forks that my MIL gave me today. The last picture is probably the easiest to see the Dolphin design.. the scaled tail leads up into the flowing waves of the head with the eye, mouth open and a tongue flickering out.
Columbia 1893
The Columbia silverplate pattern was designed for the Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893. It was a celebration of the 400th anniversay of Columbus' discovery. Like glassware and other pieces of this period, the dolphin, which is wrapped around the handle, has scales and a dragon-like tongue.
Made by Rogers Brother in Silver Plate. Some people also improperly call the dolphin tail a serpent tail or mermaid tail.
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This was one of Amy's but I think I might borrow it for the travel room! 
Shh..don't tell!
Amy has a collection of Bell Hop's. I will have to try to get some pictures of her other items later, including the antique seltzer bottles she got today, but until then, here is a picture of one of her tin cigar boxes.
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This is an antique sepia picture I bought last week. I like that she has a bit of a burlesque look. The ostrich feather fan and the detailing on the shawl fringe is really pretty. Old pictures make me happy but sad. I like the look of old photography and some of the unique pictures that have survived. Yet is also makes me sad that someone's family pictures ended up in a garage sale or antique store.
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What a fabulous silver pattern! You're fortunate to be able to find pieces to add to your collection. 
When I was young, my first collection was matchbooks......they were small and colorful and made a great display......not sure what happened to them.
Those forks are amazing!
I love all of this! You could probably take the letters to a local university and a language professor would probably translate for free! 
Beautiful! I love antiques and could spend DAYS in stores!!! I have a ton of depression glass which unfortunately is packed away cause there is no where to put it all in our house. But I do have tons of furniture from my grandparents and great grandma. If you are ever in Florida and get the chance to spend time in Tampa, there are TONS of amazing antique stores there... (my theory??? maybe a little morbid but the retirees move down, pass away and the kids haul everything to the stores to sell...) If mine never get unpacked, my kid is going to have it easy 
"I do not like the cone of shame."
"I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell."
"It seems to me that we have a lot of story yet to tell."
Thanks for sharing MM - those are pretty cool.
I love to mix antiques in with new items when decorating a room. The antiques give the room history and authenticity for the era I'm basing the room in. These antique, hand written letters are from Paris and were mailed in the late 1800's up to 1909. I love the postage stamps and the post office markings. The person who wrote this had such small, delicate handwriting.I wish I knew what it said! Does anyone read French? I can send you photo copies for translation.
This stuff is really cool. As far as translating the letter if you go to google translation you can choose French to English and type in the text and it will translate it. not sure if there is a character limit on the translation so this could take a while but if you really want to know it may be worth it
"You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway."
--Walt Disney--
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Thanks for sharing. I love that picture!
Thanks for the translation ideas.... I will try both and see what I come up with, who knows..maybe it's a great love story!
