And the dramaturge here - this is television, so let's say that's Laura Fisher, a historian and one of the show's executive producers - has set herself bigger tasks.

"Good luck to them if they can sell it," Laura Fisher, an antique textiles dealer on the Upper East Side, said of the pillows.

Laura Fisher, an antiques dealer on her way home from a reception and dinner, stopped to take a peek through the eyepiece of the three-and-a-half-inch cylinder.

Laura Fisher, in step with the season, offers crepe-paper political-rally hats at $5 each.

At Laura Fisher, Gallery 57, 1050 Second Avenue, at 55th Street.

A quilt made about 1830 is called Wreaths and Serpentine Vines; $4,500 at Laura Fisher (see above).

To celebrate the millennium, Laura Fisher said, she is showing "textbook examples of museum-quality quilts from every single decade of the century - the 19th century."

Laura Fisher, 1050 Second Avenue (55th Street), has homier, less expensive pieces.

F. W. Taussig's first wife died in 1910, and he married Laura Fisher.

Laura Fisher also offers a large selection of antique hooked rugs.