Collectors often categorize types of East Asian porcelain by region or place name. For example, within the broad category of Chinese export porcelains, you have Canton and Nanking, both of which are blue and white with scenic patterns. Swatow porcelain, also named after a port city that exports ...

I love reading, I am sure that comes as no surprise. You’d be hard pressed to find a librarian who dislikes reading. I love curling up with a book on a chilly morning. I love falling asleep with a book at night. I love stolen moments of the day reading, when I should really be doing something ...

Furniture styles before the 20th century are often named after the rulers or governments of the time. Here in the United States, we have furniture periods like William and Mary, Federal, and Victorian. It follows that furniture styles, like their namesakes, are usually particular to the country ...

A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Minnesota State Fair for the first time in over a decade. It’s as crowded as I remember. There are plenty of distractions of food and fun, but there are also a lot of great exhibits about science, agriculture, conservation, and more. The ...

Arthur J. Nash worked for the Thomas Webb & Sons art glass factory in his native England, but didn’t do his best, most innovative work until he came to America. His glassmaking expertise made him a perfect fit for the Tiffany Glass & Decorating Company, founded in 1892. Although Louis ...

“But when are we going to use this in real life?” That question comes up in math classes, much to the chagrin of many teachers. It’s not just a classroom cliche to say that math is everywhere, from planning a budget to decorating a room. Even careers that aren’t directly connected to ...