Thanks, Charles

A lot of the stuff with black backgrounds (like the drumsticks...I think!) were laid on my scanner glass, and I leave the lid open to get the black background.

Other things (hangers and charm bracelet) are on my black tablecloth.

Others (combs maybe?) I have a piece of black foam core board that I lay things on for photos. I like that it doesn't have any shine, so no glare or reflections

Beyond that...it's luck!

Stuff like this copper mug don't want to photograph well, no matter how many times I try... (it was on my black marble table, which didn't help any...with the black foam core behind it)