Two weeks ago, I went to an auction of a successful prop house in NYC that was closing their business. This was an experience that is hard to explain in words. The space was overflowing with objects, literally filled with a personally curated collection of everything.

The inventory was vast and the individual lot sales went very quickly, yet the auction dragged on for two 12-hour days. We were transfixed and the small group of us who weathered that storm became a small and intimate family very quickly.

Some lots were planned for bidding and others were bid on at the last minute; this grouping came in one of those last minute purchases. The lot of new and vintage enamel contained this mezzaluna collection.

The mezzaluna (half moon) is a kitchen chopping tool that was invented in 1706 in Italy. Single and double bladed versions are available and are extremely useful for chopping herbs, slicing pizzas, and on a current trend, creating chopped salads.

They are not only useful but graphic and beautiful.