Owl & Twig

The Field Guide

How to identify, date, and value the things you find. Written from what passes through our hands, one estate sale at a time.

Vintage solid brass unicorn figurine with aged patina Design & MaterialsBrass: The Magnet Test Is Not Enough A magnet catches brass-plated steel. It sails straight past brass-plated zinc. Here is the full test sequence a... Jul 24, 2026 Pottery & PorcelainLenox Spice Village: Read This Before You Pay Four Figures Lenox brought the 1989 spice houses back at roughly the original price. That changes the maths on every... Jul 24, 2026 GlassViking Glass Never Signed Its Work. Here Is How to Date It Anyway No moulded mark, ever. Just a paper label that fell off decades ago. Colour, form and one very... Jul 24, 2026 LightingTV Lamps: The Strangest Thing the 1950s Sold You America briefly believed watching television in the dark would ruin your eyes. An entire industry appeared to fix... Jul 24, 2026 Pottery & PorcelainRoyal Haeger: Reading the Base, and the Panther Everyone Copied Three small stilt marks, an R-number and a glazed underside. Here is how to identify Haeger, why the... Jul 24, 2026 L.E. Smith diamond point crystal swung glass vase, 21 inches tall GlassSwung Vases: The Seam Test That Settles It in Five Seconds Every mid-century swung vase carries a mould seam that fades as it climbs. If the seam runs all... Jul 24, 2026 GlassThe Tiara Honey Bee Box, and Why Collectors Chase It A Victorian pattern, revived in the 1970s and sold at kitchen-table parties. Here is how to date one,... Jul 24, 2026 Jadeite green milk glass hen on nest covered dish, 5 inch GlassHen on Nest: How to Tell a Real One From a Reissue The covered hen is the most reproduced object in American glass. The question is never whether it is... Jul 24, 2026 Vintage living room with an antique console table, distressed mirror, warm lighting, and neutral decor accents Home & SeasonalVintage Home Decor: Style Tips for Any Room Updated on: July 17, 2026 Vintage home decor adds character, warmth, and a sense of history to modern... Jul 16, 2026 Brass retro table lamp casting warm amber light in a cozy vintage living room LightingRetro Lighting: The Bulb Is Half the Fixture Every vintage lamp was designed around a 2700K bulb. Get that number right, layer three sources at three... Jul 16, 2026 Assorted vintage terracotta and ceramic planters with small leafy plants on a wooden table in soft daylight Home & SeasonalVintage Planters: Styling Tips for Effortless Charm Updated on: 2026-07-17 Vintage planters bring character to indoor and outdoor spaces through distinct shapes, materials, and patina.... Jul 16, 2026 Vintage Finder - an Application that auto searches your favorites Seller's DeskVintage Finder - an Application that auto searches your favorites Prowl — Search 17 vintage marketplaces from one screen. Free. No account needed. Built for resellers who want to... Jul 11, 2026