Feature Stories
Doris Day: 10 Things You Didn't Know
IIn movies, Doris Day epitomized the girl next door. Wholesome, cute and eternally perky. She was virtuous yet undeniably sexy. But that was the movies. Who was the real Doris Day, who would have turned 100 this month? To celebrate the person and the star, here are 10 things you didn't know about Doris Day.
The Vanderbilt Ball of 1883
Alva Vanderbilt's extravagant costume party rocked the world of New York's upper crust and socially elite.
Windows to His Soul
Carl Heck grew up knowing far more about cattle and corn in rural Missouri than he did about the fine glass works of Louis Comfort Tiffany. But today, Heck is a renowned Tiffany glass expert. Here's how it happened.
Celebrating Norman Rockwell's 'Four Freedoms'
How in 1943, Rockwell's stirring 'Four Freedoms' amounted to an inspired defense of national values, a pictorial rebuke to fascists the world over.
The Amazing Ruth Handler, The Woman Behind Barbie
The youngest of 10 children of immigrant parents, Ruth Handler was fiercely independent and had the the ability to dream big. Here's how she masterminded the world's most famous doll, Barbie.
Alphonse Mucha: Celebrated Art Nouveau artist
Mucha first found fame with his revolutionary poster designs and was instrumental in popularizing the Art Nouveau aesthetic.
Right On Track
From lanterns to station signs, locomotive nameplates to china, and headlights to whistles, railroadiana collectors steam into 50th year dedicated to all things railroad.
A Note of Thanks
In a year marked by the coronavirus and struggle, it’s easy to focus on how much we've lost, forgetting just how much we have to be thankful for. Here's a reminder.
Great Moments in Swimsuit History
From bloomers to bikinis, few items of clothing have been as revolutionary, or as risqué, as the swimsuit.
A Toast to Butter Art
The original dairy queen, Caroline Shawk Brooks, became the nation's first butter-sculpting sensation in the late 1800s.
Ancient Roman Mosaic Floor Found Under Italian Vineyard
Archaeologists have been searching for this mosaic for decades, and historians are calling it the year's biggest discovery.
Plague Doctors' Costumes Looked Fanciful, But Had Serious Purpose
Plague doctors' costumes consisted of a head-to-toe garment, glasses, and a long snout or bird beak filled with aromatic spices to protect them from the “bad air” believed to carry disease.
Vintage Posters Promote Importance of Handwashing
Vintage posters promoted the importance of handwashing as part of a moral directive for people to serve their nation by practicing good hygiene. Now with COVID-19, that importance can’t be overstated.
Get to Know One of Antique Trader's Appraisers: Susan Mullikin
Susan Mullikin, one of Antique Trader's 'Ask the Experts,' shares her passion for antique clothing
