Living in the Past

A peek into the living room from the dining room

Just days after we talked about some of the perks we come by for this blog (See A Private Viewing), we were once again invited for coffee and shown a friend’s treasured collection of family heirlooms. This time, instead of a few interesting pieces of Italian American cultural and religious ephemera, we were graciously given a grand tour of Michael Vera’s cozy abode on Mulberry Street in New York City’s historic Little Italy.

Stepping through the front door of his fifth-floor walk-up—which could easily serve as an annex to the nearby Italian American and Tenement Museums—was like taking a portal back in time to our grand and great-grandparents’ world. Amazingly, everything (from the radiators to the victrola to the clocks) is original and in perfect working condition.

We cannot thank Michael enough for his wonderful hospitality and the unique opportunity to see his beautiful home.

John, Michael, and I discussed the old neighborhood over espresso and cookies

Open pantry

Antique radio above the fridge

Michael found this image of San Genarro hidden behind the gas meter

Living room chairs and one of five Tiffany lamps

(L) Grandfather clock. (R) Porcelain figurines in dining room

Grandmother clock in the dining room

Antique dresser and radio

A copy of Sir Thomas Lawrence's The Calmady Children by Torquato Mazzoni

(L) A 1948 Pilot Model TV with a 3-inch screen on top of the trunk Michael's ancestors from Avellino arrived in America with. (R) An extra china cabinet in the living room filled with china and silverware

Antique Victrola

Antique wall clock and cuckoo clock

(Above and below) Left-handed floral ceramic mustache cup 

Antique Sicilian marionettes

Stereoscope

Stereograph images for the stereoscope

Michael's father's toy truck

Michael's father's toy horse

Michael's father's rocking horse

The porcelain birthing pot Michael was born in

Padlock to Michael's grandfather's shop on Mulberry Street

Painting of the Blessed Mother in the bedroom

Dresser with mirror

Michael's collection of old saint statues

Reliquary with straw from the Holy Crib

(L) Image of San Francesco di Paola. (R) Statue of
San Gennaro from the original feast in 1926

Image of San Gennaro from the society's original standard

Shrine dedicated to the Madonna di Montevergine

Framed poster for the 1972 Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in East Harlem