Chats on Household Curios by Fred. W. Burgess is a genial guide for collectors and enthusiasts of antiques and decorative objects found in the home. Part of a popular series of Chats volumes, it discusses a wide variety of curios, from china, glass, and metalware to clocks, prints, furniture, and miscellaneous bric-a-brac.
Burgess explains how such objects were made, how to recognise different types and periods, and what to look for when collecting. Written in an approachable, conversational tone, the book aims to cultivate the reader’s taste and knowledge without assuming prior expertise. Illustrated in its original form, it captures the early twentieth-century enthusiasm for collecting and the domestic appreciation of craftsmanship, remaining a charming introduction to the world of household antiques.