According to folklore, from the 1600s to the 1800s, courting candles were used by the man of the home to set boundaries for his daughter. When the daughter’s suitor came to visit, the father lit a candle in this holder. When the candle burnt down to the top of the holder, it was time for… Continue reading
First described in 1845 and named for an Austrian mineralogist, wulfenite is a unique mineral easily distinguished from almost all other minerals thanks to its vivid crystal coloring. Pure wulfenite is colorless, but most specimens display some range of colors from bright orange-red to yellow-orange. This vibrancy makes wulfenite a highly sought-after mineral by collectors;… Continue reading
Did you know that unlike their relative the mammoth, mastodons had molars with distinctive, cone-like cusps? Mammoth molars on the other hand were flat with ridges that looked like washboards, much like the modern elephant. Mastodons lived across North America from Alaska down to central Mexico before going extinct around 11,700 years ago. Connect with… Continue reading
This wicked-looking knife with its steel blade and handle made of horn and bone is known as a jambiya. Although jambiya is the Arabic term for dagger, it also describes a specific type of dagger with a short, curved blade traditionally worn by the men of Yemen. The jambiya is a dangerous weapon, capable of… Continue reading
Did you know that hornets construct their homes from saliva and wood pulp they chew and then shape into a nest? These paper-like structures are built in areas with plenty of shade and protection from the elements. The size of the nest is determined by the size of the colony, and some can grow to… Continue reading
This whimsical teapot is fashioned after the black and white French adventure silent film from 1902, “Le Voyage Dans la Lune,” or “A Trip to the Moon.” Inspired by Jules Verne’s 1865 novel “From the Earth to the Moon,” it follows a group of astronomers who travel to the Moon in a cannon-propelled capsule. The… Continue reading
Calcite is a universal and extensive mineral found in many forms and colors. This pink calcite specimen has dark brown hematite crystals called phantom inclusions, which grow inside the calcite. It was collected from the Tsumeb Mine in Namibia, a mine world famous for its wealth of rare and unusual minerals, and well known to… Continue reading
This iron Tiffany-style electric lamp features a lamp shade with green opalescent glass panes. A Tiffany-style lamp is a reproduction of an authentic Tiffany lamp made in the style of the original. The name “Tiffany” has become synonymous with all lamps of this style, even though not all can claim to be an authentic Tiffany… Continue reading
Peafowl is the common name for this bird species known for its piercing calls and extravagant plumage. Male peafowl are referred to as peacocks, while the female is referred to as peahens, but both are generally called peacocks. Did you know that the tail of the peacock makes up 60% of its total length? Connect… Continue reading
For the past 3,000 years, the Colima dog has been the animal most frequently portrayed in Western Mexican art. A relative of the Mexican hairless dog, it was highly regarded among ancient cultures such as the Colima as a guardian of the dead, healer of the sick, protector of the home and as a food… Continue reading
