Riddle of the Treasure Hunt

Question: What’s harder to find than…


a finely hand-painted vintage reproduction of an eighteenth century British marching drum,


an intricately hand-embroidered Thai wall tapestry depicting the signs of the zodiac,


or an antique hand-decorated folk art saint portrait still displayed in its original faux grained wood frame?


Answer: A reputable online dealer to ship them safely and speedily to your door!


Shop our newest arrivals here now!

Architectural Americana: The Mount Vernon Deluxe

Lazy days on the porch are a beloved symbol of summer in America, call it a piazza or veranda if you will, but whether it’s on a southern plantation or seaside bungalow no piece of architecture is more quintessential Americana than the slender columns of Mount Vernon.


Architect John Russell Pope clearly had this in mind when he designed Rest Hill the Robert J. Collier residence in Wickatunk, New Jersey in 1911. Robert Collier, editor of Collier’s Weekly magazine, inherited the dramatic hilltop site from his father, publisher Peter F. Collier, who acquired the estate to pursue a passion for foxhunting that remains a Monmouth County tradition to this day.


Enormous size and extreme simplicity seem to have been the architect’s main guidelines in this restraint Colonial Revival design, making the massive yet wholly unpretentious house unique among gilded age mansions. Approached through an old orchard rambling right up to the facade provided a perfectly patriotic country setting while helping to conceal the buildings vast scale. The simple elements of cypress shingles, louvered shutters, and basic moldings echo those seen on local farmhouses throughout the region.


The cavernous recessed entrance porch overlooking the orchard was charmingly furnished with high backed chairs and potted trees while a huge pair of hunting trophies flanked the Chinese Chippendale balcony over the front door. From here one could look out over the orchard toward Collier’s private polo field and the landing strip for the private biplane this aeronautical pioneer purchased from Orville Wright, a friend and guest at Rest Hill.


The Mount Vernon porch sprawls along the rear façade commanding a spectacular view down the hillside to the valley below. From this vantage point Collier would host legendary entertainments, most notably a three-day housewarming extravaganza attended by thousands that combined the old money pastimes of polo and foxhunting with stunning displays of the latest in aviation technology.


Another view of the rear façade showing one of the wings that flank the central block gives some idea of the scale of this massive house, nearly three times the size of Mount Vernon itself. Be sure to check back soon for an interior tour of Rest Hill, domestic domain of Mrs. Collier nee Sarah Van Alen, a granddaughter of the legendary Caroline Astor.

Photos 1, 3, and 5 from here, photo 2 from here, and photo 4 from here.

Click here to read more on Collier's wild housewarming including how he accidentally scared of one of J.D. Rockefeller's horses to death.

Eclectic Elements

Blending art glass, ceramics, oddities, artifacts, and elements of nature.


At the heart of this eclectic display the goddess Athena presides over a collection of minerals with the bold graphics of an antique French plate and a nautical English tile providing a suitably noble backdrop.


Tucked among this eclectic treasure trove before an artfully displayed branch of faux white coral sits a charming miniature globe spinning on its tiny brass stand.


The clean lines of the elegant long necked blue and white Chinese porcelain vase echo in the huge vase of free form art glass; the wild molten glass trails providing a foil to the traditional floral motifs of the ceramics.

Photos and styling by KS&D

A Unique Antique Boutique

Browse the most eclectic mix of unique antique and vintage home accessories from the comfort and convenience of home! Enhance the design of any interior with Knickerbocker’s carefully curated collection of American, European, Asian, and African fine and decorative arts. Our ever-changing inventory features an array of objects and artifacts from Victorian to Mid-Century Modern including lamps, sconces, art pottery, fine china, porcelain, crystal, art glass, prints, oil paintings, sculpture, folk art, primitives, nautical décor, and much more!

Click HERE to shop our newest arrivals now!

Albemarle Revisited

Our piece last year on Sotheby’s auction at Albemarle House remains our most popular post to date. Now with the estate and Patricia Kluge once again making headlines lets revisit this infamous Virginia mansion that continues to fascinate.


Here in the entrance hall a massive piece of Greek art pottery displayed on a pedestal does double duty as a hat stand, the basket of firewood lends a rustic note to the classical formality.


The doorway to the left of the fireplace leads to the Gun Room with masculine wood trim and a view over the forecourt of the rolling Virginia countryside subsequently purchased by the Kluge’s friend Donald Trump.


The fireplace is flanked by custom Asprey gun cabinets and sports an elaborate gilt convex mirror that pops against the deep green walls. Not far from these finely housed firearms sits a Chippendale dresser set up as a chic little bar for serving after-hunt libations.


A marbleized Palladian window framing a distant piece of garden sculpture, dominates one end of the Drawing Room. The fluted Corinthian columns mirror those flanking the staircase on the opposite entry wall seen in our previous post. This scheme of a curved stair framed by columns and mirrored by a Palladian window is repeated again in the Dining Room to dramatic effect.


Yet more marbleized classical moldings are off set with trompe l’oeil swags of fringed fabric in the series of galleries linking the entrance hall with the main rooms and twin staircases. These faux-finishes that characterize the interiors typify the lavish style of the era.


The Library returns to a more masculine atmosphere with rich wood paneling and a billiard table filling one end. The view through the curtained doorway looks into the stately Roman Gallery furnished with a set of swaged neoclassic stools custom designed by the architect David Easton.


These lavish little jewels complete with architectural detailing, faux finishes, and elaborate trimmings seem to sum up the design philosophy of the whole estate, if not the opulent spirit of 80’s excess that created them. Now these furnishings like all the rest have long been auctioned off while the sprawling red brick manse that once showcased them sits emptily awaiting its fate.

All photos via Sotheby’s.

An Eclectic Country Bedroom

A bedroom vignette seemed long overdue, especially as we’ve yet to do one since moving to the country.


A private space like the bedroom is a wonderful opportunity to create a completely personal environment filled with ones favorite things. Here unique keepsakes and other pretty things, including an antique French candlestick, an inlayed wood cigarette box, and one of a pair of lions fill the side table.


Flowers are a welcomed addition to any bedroom. Just a few fresh hydrangea blooms tucked into porcelain bud vases lend a seasonal charm. Useful accessories such as the enameled brass bowl and art pottery trinket box are both handy and aesthetically pleasing.


The exposed hand hewn beams provide yet another display opportunity for favorite items, such as an antique silhouette, a small folk art print, and a carved gilt wood scroll molding propped against a butterfly display. Shimmering above the bed is an intricately hand embroidered Thai wall tapestry lavishly depicting the signs of the zodiac, while a sculptural pair of vintage moose antlers adds a dramatic crowning touch.

Photos and styling by KS&D.

The Other Newport Mansions

It’s been ages since we last posted a favorite book, and with summer now officially underway it seems the perfect time to steal away to one of the country’s most extravagant watering holes.


Blessed with a wealth of architecture, history, natural beauty, and well…wealth, Newport, Rhode Island has always fascinated. While there are countless books dedicated to the palatial summer “cottages” now preserved as historic house museums, “Private Newport at Home and in the Garden” by Bettie Bearden Pardee features many private estates never before seen by the public. The photography of Mick Hales beautifully captures the interiors, gardens, and stunning natural vistas of Newport, bringing to life a world of exquisitely appointed homes among expertly maintained gardens.


While less opulent than Vanderbilt showplaces like The Breakers and Marble House, the homes featured here even include some actual cottages, like this charming shingled cape overlooking the sea, where an elegant Wedgwood inset mantel is surrounded by framed family photos, fine antiques, and stacks of books and albums. With the fresh salty breeze blowing in off the ocean what better place to pass a summer afternoon?