I’ve always been fascinated by antique furniture, objects, buildings–anything that gives us a glimpse into the past. Growing up I loved the “Little House on the Prairie” books (I was named for Carrie Ingalls, one of Laura’s sisters) and other historical stories, and I love studying art and design in both Eastern and Western cultures. I also have a fondness for old “technology”: we have a working Victrola in our living room and the kitchen is peppered with old kitchenware and little gadgets that are quirky and fun to use.
One of the items I inherited from my grandparents is a stereoscope, a hand-held contraption with binocular lenses used for viewing stereoscope cards. It’s basically an early-day Viewmaster, and uses technology that was created in 1850′s Britain. Using specialized cameras with dual lenses, photographers took photos that appeared three-dimensional when placed in special viewers. Even though the two images on each card appear the same, the slight angles are different enough that the eyes automatically combine them to create a life-like image. The cards provided people with a window to the world through pictures of domestic scenes, special events, and faraway places. The entertainment was popular immediately after its invention, and had a resurgence at the turn of the century as companies expanded their inventories of views.
The couple dozen cards that were passed along with our viewer include picturesque scenes from around the world: a Swiss valley with a waterfall and craggy mountains, a ship navigating the Panama Canal, a flower garden at the White House. There are historical events: a volcano erupting in Java, the Great Earthquake in Italy, scenes from the front in WWI. There’s also a very amusing set of cards from the turn of the century that depict a staged drama of one young couple’s engagement and elaborate wedding. I love studying the detail in these scenes, as they are photos brought to life in all of their minutiae, both historical and often poignant. I like to think of the entertainment they provided when they were first printed and purchased, and the hours that must have been spent poring over them.
So now when I visit antique malls, I am on the hunt for interesting and unique stereoscope cards. I’m currently interested in scenes from the Far East, and have found some pretty cards from Japan, as well as some spectacular ones of Indian landmarks and temples. They provide a fascinating you-are-there glimpse of the past, as though you have traveled back 100 years in time to that particular location. Not a bad feat for this antique “technology” that remains as fascinating as when it was first invented.
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, artists of all kinds often depend upon a “day job” as a means of support while they work to develop their careers. I’m no exception, and have always sought out positions that are somehow arts-related. Since graduating from college I’ve worked for a state arts agency, an art gallery, and businesses that specialize in antique restoration, namely furniture and stained glass. I tried antique restoration on a whim (without any previous training) thinking, “Oh, this sounds interesting!” Little did I know that I would continue doing it for fifteen years in three different shops. It IS interesting work, and requires a certain degree of skill, and you literally learn something new every day. Even what appears to be a straightforward project can turn out to be otherwise, and teaches you something you can use down the road. You not only see some really interesting things, but they are often accompanied by equally interesting people.
With Thanksgiving almost upon us, there are several things that I’m especially thankful for that I’d like to mention. They seem basic, but basic things are often the most important and can often go unrecognized in our busy day-to-day lives.
