Of the two thousand or so things I’ve sold in the last year and a half, there are 4 I wish I hadn’t. Here they are, in order of how much I miss them:

1. 1880s Marble Lady. Perfectly carved in classical taste, without arms, in variegated green and ivory marble. There was just something so elegant about her. When she sold, I was pleased for about 3 minutes, and then regret sunk in. There’s not a week that goes by that I don’t think about having her back.

2. 1895 Scrimshaw Pocket Knife. So strange and rare in any form, but the engraving in this one was incredibly charming. On the backside was a little carving of a fiddle.

3. 1940s French Swan Chandelier. This dainty bronze chandelier had the presence of a fixture 10 times its size. The swans’ wings were so gracefully formed the whole thing looked like it could fly away.

4. 1880s Swinging Candlestick Sconces. These were made for use on a ship… the top piece is weighted and swings from the base for stabilization on rough seas. And because the candle can pivot 90 degrees away from the base, they can also be hung from the wall. I’ve had others that function with this mechanism, but none as uniquely styled. Plus they were beautiful compliments to the Ted Muehling candlesticks, which tend to make most other candlesticks look like fence posts.

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