pw| what’s new

Fresh off vacation (*whew*) and with the weather in Washington finally thinking about breaking, it’s time to clear the way for new stuff. The goal is to clear out the office, the garage and an overcrowded storage unit to the greatest extent possible. Some of these things haven’t seen the light of day in years […]

Keeping track has never been so beautiful with these handmade ’sandglasses’ from Japan.
The glass itself is mouthblown by a craftsman in downtown Tokyo. The wooden casings come in your choice of castor aralia, walnut, or black walnut (1, 2 and 3), and are constructed in Hokkaido prefecture. Tariho Nishimura (who, along with his wife […]

It’s sometimes easy to forget humanity’s first mode of transportation - the lowly foot. When it comes to shodding these humble appendages, it’s hard to do much better than with hand-crafted shoes. Unfortunately, the skilled cobbler is a rare and dying breed. This is true even in Florence, of Italy’s most renowned centers for shoemaking. […]

Room Thermometer - ‘TEL-TRU’
steel, plastic
mid-20th Century
Germanow-Simon - Rochester, New York
$24 SOLD
Nice mid-century room thermometer manufactured by the Germanow-Simon optics company. This is a fully functioning unit, with a gauge measuring to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Measures 3 1/2″ circumference. Red enamel with some surface rust and pitting in the chrome trim ring. Sold as-is in unrestored, […]

Wooden Screwdriver - ‘Perfect Handle’ Type
wood, steel
early- to mid-20th Century
United States
~$7-25.
There’s probably no better way to begin the Small Things series than with the lowly screwdriver. As one of the most commonly used hand-tools, few people pay much attention to these household workhorses. We love ‘em though, especially when they’re made of wood and steel, […]

Next week, we’re gonna try something a little different. People have been asking “So what else are you hiding?” Being packrats to the highest degree, the answer is “A lot.” Our inspiration comes from a variety of places, namely museum visits, trips to the country, and conversations with interesting people. The spectrum of durable, well-designed […]

M.B.W Chemical Bottles & Tops (Set of 10)
cork-lining, aluminum, glass
approx. 1903-1926
Millville Bottle Works - Milville, NJ
We use a few to store a collection of miniscule insects, sand from the beach, and other small treasures from the natural world.
Inquire for more photos or to purchase.