Be on the look out for: Asparagus holders!

Asparagus has always been a costly fruit. Many years ago, IF you could afford it, then you certainly could afford something to take care of it with.  Enter instruments like these:

You see, asparagus was not meant to be pierced. So, you'd see all sorts of servers used to pick them up without breaking the skin.

So the next time you see a weird piece of tableware with a flat edge, perhaps a hood, pick it up!  It just might be worth something!



Antique Hand Warmer

Just in time for summer, right?  Ah well...I can wait. Maybe. On the other hand, I'm probably dorky enough to fire this thing in April.

The way these things work is pretty cool. Basically, you just put some lighter fluid inside, and light it.  Replace the top, put it in a velvet wrapper and hold it in your hands.  Fire hazard? Fo sho,' but it is cool.   This one in particular comes from occupied Japan and dates from the late 1940s-mid 1950s.

OK, fine  I have no real need for this. But I liked it (see post below) and that's enough. Right? I love it...see I can use this as a prop in my classes when discussing Post War Japan. See?  That's called 'shopping for fun and education,' and that is a noble thing.