Tag Archives: pirates

What we might take… Part two.

March 13, 2025 Rivergirl 31 Comments

When it comes to wanting a weird and unusual item to bring to the Antique Roadshow, I don’t think you can beat what’s hanging on our wall.

Do you see it?

It’s a bizarre rock crystal piece that’s been gracing my family’s homes since the late 1800’s.

What is it? Good question.

My grandfather traveled the world at the end of the 19th century and brought this back from Egypt in the early 1880’s or ‘90’s.

When I was a child I was sure it was pirate treasure because of the skull and crossed bones.

But the story was it came from an ancient tomb.

For over 100 years no one in my family knew what it was, so back in 1994 I contacted a museum curator.

Turns out they weren’t sure either. Early Christian or ancient Coptic?

Interesting.

And in case you’re wondering, I did send photos to Christie’s and Sotheby’s… both of whom sent back replies stating it fell below their $5,000 value requirement ($10,657 in today’s dollars) for auction. And if they’re not auctioning? They’re not identifying.

So…

Another definite Roadshow possibility.

Uncategorized

Let’s play.

June 30, 2023 Rivergirl 30 Comments

Because I want you to, that’s why.

I know the easy joke would be my husband! but while his years are steadily advancing… he’s not nearly as old as this fascinating carved crystal oddity passed down from my father.

It’s a bit of a weirdo and though we’ve tried repeatedly over the years, we’ve never been able to positively identify it.

Heck, we even took it to Sotheby’s in NYC a decade ago and if their experts were stumped? It may just have to remain a mystery.

My paternal grandfather was a world traveler in the late 1800’s and brought this back from Egypt. It hung in my grandparent’s house, my parent’s house and now it hangs in mine. The family lore said it was ancient Egyptian but Sothebys said no, the skull was not used iconographically back then. They did think it could be early Coptic, and as they are the direct descendants… I suppose that’s close enough.

( Historical context. Copts believe themselves to be the descendants of Egypt’s ancient Pharaonic people. They were first converted to Christianity with the arrival of St Mark in Egypt in 62 CE. Egypt became part of the Byzantine Empire in 395 CE, and the Egyptian Church was separated from the Christian community in 451. )

The famous auction house said the metal work was added later and in its present form could have been used as a talisman for pirates.

How cool is that?

We never even bothered to ask what it was worth… which in hindsight was rather stupid. But no matter, it’s part of my father’s history and would never be for sale.

So how about you….

What’s the oldest thing in your house?

Uncategorized

The post in which River goes to a Lobster Festival but can’t eat lobster.

August 8, 2019 Rivergirl 37 Comments

The following is proof that my husband can inflict cruel and unusual punishment.

It happened at The 72nd Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland, Maine.

We lucked out and found a parking spot close to the festival, and it was across the street from the Trade Winds resort where I spotted the first lobster.

Although it looked more like a demented crawfish…

The stupid thing had teeth!

This did not bode well for the day….

But the weather was perfect…

And we were near the ocean.

It doesn’t get much better than that…

Or does it?

Aaarrgghh!

There be Pirates.

Pirates on the boats…

Pirates on the piers…

Basically, there were pirates everywhere.

And as much as I tried to avoid it?

There was lobster.

Mocking me and my damned allergy.

World’s Largest Lobster cooker?

Yup… that too.

We passed lobster rolls, lobster stew, lobster quesadillas, lobster mac and cheese, lobster chowder, lobster Caesar salad, lobster wontons, even lobster risotto balls….

And then there was this: