Getting to Know Dr. Victor Ravensmark Part 2

The vague and mysterious Dr. Victor Ravensmark is as vague and mysterious as his pseudonym. Dr. Ravensmark is a fan of the Victorian era, especially post-1870s American Victorian. Since part of Bryony takes place in upper Michigan in the early 1890s, Dr. Ravensmark kindly agreed to occasionally share some of his knowledge of the time period.

Today, continuing the interview begun last week, Dr. Ravensmark shares his beginning interest in Victorian furniture.

4) Did you buy or simply admire?

“I was a graduate student with a young family, so it was out of my price range, but it was still fun to look. But since I was studying economics and working on my PhD, the open-air flea markets fascinated me in another way, too, with the raw bargaining that was going on all around. Tragically, we would also see furniture that was damaged or worn and, worst of all, painted! The horror!”

5) So you never collected the pieces?

“Later, we would buy a simple piece here and there and more after we moved to Ohio, where it seemed like everything was on sale because prices were much lower than Chicago (law of supply and demand in action—again, an economist thing). Our interest waned as our children got older, and we didn’t have the time or money to buy things. But once in while, like on a business trip, I’ll duck into an antique store and just look. I risk falling in love with something, but I may be a thousand miles from home, so that imposes some discipline.”

6) Why do you lean toward American Victorian?

“Nothing against the Queen herself, but it was a fascinating time in American history, particularly the later years of her reign, after the 1870s.”