Historic Chicago Family Heirlooms

The Historical Legacy of a Chicago Family

 

Our latest collection has its roots in Chicago’s Gold Coast during the early 20th century and in the history of the Potter Palmer family—encompassing the Palmer House,

Marshall Field & Co., and the Palmer Mansion.

 

The individual who assembled this collection became a member of the Palmer family through marriage, though they possessed a remarkable history of their own. They worked for the Harlem Globetrotters and later served as a sales manager at Handmoor, a Chicago boutique that offered designer apparel—such as pieces by Halston—at reduced prices. To attract clientele, the store’s founder, Philip Handmacher, even arranged private transportation from Michigan Avenue. Those were the days!

 

Later, they managed the five-story flagship Burberry store on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.

 

Then came a life of travel: the United Kingdom, much of Europe—including Ukraine—Egypt, Morocco, Gibraltar, vast regions of Asia, and even the Amazon. From these journeys, combined with a keen eye for the unusual, an extraordinary collection was born.

 

Today, we present a selection of treasures gathered over a lifetime and brought to the family’s retirement home in Ajijic.