tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19199209612476449632024-03-18T02:30:18.843-04:00AntiquesQ&AAnswers to common and not-so-common questions about antiques and collectibles.Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.comBlogger591125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-54325604421419399852024-03-13T18:13:00.002-04:002024-03-13T18:13:58.432-04:00The Unlucky Pottery<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38EZarUZKp0NyAFcCAW5jca_vox_hBlh3PrnJlTEcIcMKaPkEtg42MHRhDp_hXKP6kcRYq7SKyNIs7Pcc8WMnTEGlHurlp0O6H-wzC_0a26SBfPhBzzlpvr_CCwFFWt2T1MSxyUKL0pgKfcxdmZj4OAJomzCJ9-lzamV4h_gn3swePo7qnENeofX_1fk/s300/bell%20pottery%20pitcher%20with%20cherries.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="231" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38EZarUZKp0NyAFcCAW5jca_vox_hBlh3PrnJlTEcIcMKaPkEtg42MHRhDp_hXKP6kcRYq7SKyNIs7Pcc8WMnTEGlHurlp0O6H-wzC_0a26SBfPhBzzlpvr_CCwFFWt2T1MSxyUKL0pgKfcxdmZj4OAJomzCJ9-lzamV4h_gn3swePo7qnENeofX_1fk/w308-h400/bell%20pottery%20pitcher%20with%20cherries.jpg" width="308" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION: </b>While out antiquing recently, I came across a beautiful hand-painted porcelain water pitcher decorated with bright red cherries at the back of a shelf. The price was $25, so I figured for that I could afford to buy it. It stands about 11 inches tall and has “BBC/CHINA” stamped on the bottom in black. I’ve never saw a mark like this before and the pitcher like a copy of more expensive Haviland china.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> It seems that you’ve stumbled upon a rare piece of china made by the Bell Pottery Company of Findlay, Ohio. Due to a string of unlucky occurrences, the company only produced fine china rivaling French Haviland and Limoges porcelain for five years, from 1901 to 1906, making pieces scarce. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Located in northwestern Ohio, Findlay was better known for its glass. But at the end of the 19th century, the city basked in the glow of a natural gas boom. City fathers used the seemingly endless supply of natural gas to entice factory owners to build there. In 1888, they advertised for a high quality pottery factory to locate there. They offered free land, free natural gas and a$10,000 bonus as incentives.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyweE-Snof5WGhXzxkLsSr1ft81ae7VCrEr26HaJgZ3haVOkJmFboxOTIe5RcNB_7bazpA5rpA7nz8dnqF41aG49BRERZfvtTjoy8ylQuq0XTOZUWbpIvi6FzoNE7lBMRPeRv4-AkunXXy96qzx5SoSVQqAp5vEaPzZVpYsYhMcOUf8csHfligyUNZeBo/s400/bell%20pottery%20nut%20dish.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="400" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyweE-Snof5WGhXzxkLsSr1ft81ae7VCrEr26HaJgZ3haVOkJmFboxOTIe5RcNB_7bazpA5rpA7nz8dnqF41aG49BRERZfvtTjoy8ylQuq0XTOZUWbpIvi6FzoNE7lBMRPeRv4-AkunXXy96qzx5SoSVQqAp5vEaPzZVpYsYhMcOUf8csHfligyUNZeBo/w400-h301/bell%20pottery%20nut%20dish.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Although he had no experience making pottery, William Bell, a glass jobber from East Liverpool, Ohio, accepted the offer. He teamed up with his brother, Edwin Bell, and Henry Flentke to build a pottery factory which they called Bell Brothers and Company Pottery. They had high hopes for their business, but problems plagued them from the beginning.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Even before they built their factory, the Bells had trouble convincing reluctant railroad officials to build a side track to the new facility. Once the track was approved, workers faced the difficult task of clearing land for the factory and constructing its four brick buildings and six kilns. Finally, in August of 1889, all was ready and production began with 150 employees, including hand-decorators.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Bell Pottery fired its first wares in July 1889, and by the following month 150 workers kept the dinnerware, toilet ware and hotel china rolling out. By March 1890, the pottery was running night and day and unable to keep up with orders. The partners added three new kilns to increase production.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_p5sbd7dfkLVvnc5VAbZmxoV59-cYzauZjuUUGb0CRwlSiJ-No4e4PCN6PFscWLP3gZvW40P-DO-aE-LzixPRGiWlQPjHkVyDvta_zHVyVbIeA99YXQxrrrGFT27XOug2vhwRkrNdrTteKb6kda7J9uHCgVZ4_peEOua2asymoavuxYqz_Ksm1SdT8o/s339/bell%20pottery%20mug.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="254" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_p5sbd7dfkLVvnc5VAbZmxoV59-cYzauZjuUUGb0CRwlSiJ-No4e4PCN6PFscWLP3gZvW40P-DO-aE-LzixPRGiWlQPjHkVyDvta_zHVyVbIeA99YXQxrrrGFT27XOug2vhwRkrNdrTteKb6kda7J9uHCgVZ4_peEOua2asymoavuxYqz_Ksm1SdT8o/w300-h400/bell%20pottery%20mug.jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The first problem occurred in January, 1891, when all the employees went on strike when the owners tried to reduce wages. The city's rapid industrial growth had created a shortage of adult workers. In desperation, the pottery company's owners turned to orphanages, hiring girls as young as 14. By July, the Bells and Flentke settled the labor dispute and most of the old hands went back to work. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">By the following years, troubles of a different sort had begun to brew when the city's gas supply dwindled, forcing the Bells to pay $100 a month for gas. They also sued the city's gas trustees for not paying the promised $10,000 bonus. Because of the unreliable supply of gas, the company had to convert to coal in 1893 to keep the factory operating. Unfortunately, just when things seemed to be looking up, a severe storm ripped the roof off the decorating room and damaged six kilns, causing over $8,000 damage. In August 1893, the plant announced a partial shutdown due to a lack of orders.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXU9h5FWV9mmIgt4CoquLttEVz056aoQMWtFnG917I09cFYF79ylIgMKO1JjoGvkn_Ye52ReCgXKi28PO2KXyOSxV8YXmyPLhWF95mHoA5PMBlXuSScwf-uQ1-dmvG1nq9rQ7pBscYAwZprG5cUhz_NEJWG4l5Hc-nW1bv6-Z6lEqxtXQBzF88H1iDfPk/s314/bell%20pottery%20water%20pitcher.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="236" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXU9h5FWV9mmIgt4CoquLttEVz056aoQMWtFnG917I09cFYF79ylIgMKO1JjoGvkn_Ye52ReCgXKi28PO2KXyOSxV8YXmyPLhWF95mHoA5PMBlXuSScwf-uQ1-dmvG1nq9rQ7pBscYAwZprG5cUhz_NEJWG4l5Hc-nW1bv6-Z6lEqxtXQBzF88H1iDfPk/w301-h400/bell%20pottery%20water%20pitcher.jpg" width="301" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">In April 1894, the partners began to disagree and with the dissolution of the partnership, the court ordered the property to be sold. Flentke, then living in Evansville, Indiana, stopped the sale of the pottery. He resolved the differences between himself and the Bell brothers before the sale date, enabling the pottery to resume operations in August 1894, after a year of standing idle. But the peace lasted only two years, and in January of 1896, the court once again ordered the property sold for no less than $30,000. The Bell brothers purchased the pottery for 36,450 and paid Flentke $7,295 for his share. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1898, the Bell brothers incorporated the firm as the Bell Pottery Company.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In August 1899, Bell Pottery announced that it would begin producing hand-decorated white china, employing about 25 decorators. Common decorative motifs included currants, roses, blackberries, chestnuts and hops. Decorators painted portraits of people and still life pictures of flowers and fruit on pottery vases, tankards and other pieces. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYK_tAJu7ToMkY_XV8F3sLhyphenhyphenjCPqW0kOgluoyeRIPfNuuxSCUv-loHul72IqAMQKiHTsah7D7-crMT2Cr6cIVfom1xaWK5ubGnuUfM6xn8OUh8H0HAp8UTAh5Huhm6jF5E7uYmlgLLLLKiTJaDvHyo_6OsTuFm9A539mIgZH4wAxCWDEfMrSIc5pZfv4/s432/bell%20pottery%20water%20pitcher2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="359" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYK_tAJu7ToMkY_XV8F3sLhyphenhyphenjCPqW0kOgluoyeRIPfNuuxSCUv-loHul72IqAMQKiHTsah7D7-crMT2Cr6cIVfom1xaWK5ubGnuUfM6xn8OUh8H0HAp8UTAh5Huhm6jF5E7uYmlgLLLLKiTJaDvHyo_6OsTuFm9A539mIgZH4wAxCWDEfMrSIc5pZfv4/w333-h400/bell%20pottery%20water%20pitcher2.jpg" width="333" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">By December, they had spent $40,000 on repairs to three kilns and improvements including the installation of an oval dish jigger to enable the production of footed dishes for use as nut bowls or candy dishes. They also installed electricity for the first time. But the good times didn't last long. In April of 1900, fire destroyed the factory's south wing including the packing room, decorating room and offices. Two months later, lightning struck the factory, toppling both smokestacks for the decorating kilns.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Although insurance only partially covered their loss, the Bell brothers didn't give up. The following year, the Bells issued additional stock, intending double the pottery’s capacity, employing 400. Their intention was to produce fine china that rivaled Haviland.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">They rebuilt the factory and revived their business again. In addition to their regular pottery products, they diversified into the manufacture of tubes used to run electrical wiring through brick walls. Things were going so well, they built another factory in Columbus. Tragically, about the same time the new plant opened in 1902, William Bell died unexpectedly following surgery. Edwin continued to run both factories.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Edward had grand plans for the Columbus operation. He planned on 17 buildings with 12 kilns, to be doubled as the need arose. Lack of equipment caused more delays. By November 1904, he announced that he would move the Findlay operation to Columbus. The new pottery produced wares for about a year but by September of 1906, it was in the hands of a receiver and closed for good.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "The Vernacular Style" in the 2024 Winter Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-21358849692978956532024-03-01T19:42:00.001-05:002024-03-11T19:27:30.933-04:00Rock Around the Jukebox<p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b></b></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVs1crYJAQQWg6kYzCGz-KSEnGiQRQorbrVm8m8LQsiK4AwUU8xmi4ZdIrr0Ccvsx77Y0c5KdKvD7OOnk29egOxj2HwBxESVqNbgPOOUAItkiuoZM7CPq000G73K1eHU836rbWSUjifyop9PRdJgTb4FeW8CHZQ_jvc1_jocsnvUeEOsnB-bVgONOmBc/s360/jukebox2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="216" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVs1crYJAQQWg6kYzCGz-KSEnGiQRQorbrVm8m8LQsiK4AwUU8xmi4ZdIrr0Ccvsx77Y0c5KdKvD7OOnk29egOxj2HwBxESVqNbgPOOUAItkiuoZM7CPq000G73K1eHU836rbWSUjifyop9PRdJgTb4FeW8CHZQ_jvc1_jocsnvUeEOsnB-bVgONOmBc/w240-h400/jukebox2.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION:</b> My husband recently purchased an old jukebox for a game room we created in our basement. It’s a Wurlitzer 1015, and considering it’s 68 years old, it still plays pretty well. He paid $3,500 for it. Can you tell me more about this machine and others like it? Did my husband get taken on this deal?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> While the jukebox is more or less a thing of the past, a few still exist in arcades and road houses off the beaten path and in the private collections of people who yearn for a return to those happy days. The one your husband purchased is the most popular of the oldies but goodies and normally sells for twice that amount. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A jukebox, for those of you who may not know, is a partially automated music-playing device, usually a coin-operated machine, that plays selections from self-contained media, at first records, then CDs.. The classic jukebox has buttons with letters and numbers that restaurant, diner, and bar patrons pushed in combination to choose and play a specific selection at first for a 10 cents, then later 25 cents, 50 cents, and upwards.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_D3OyemrwfuvSelvyzNplBMytkMFtraA5unc2Y3kBSrqBQ-Ny7PONyGoJcmIspuUJ3_HEw2TDYCchdKL3SCyBQsTyBWsT1_VLJpc9Ks0AKK2NHNmf9UVb_gtSsUDFeTaJTkZAusSL8mw2lMrmGxA_TpvU0IY3c76Mx-gzYKMsLLalaKGvAbfbUMg3974/s432/jukebox%20nickle%20in%20slot%20machine.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="288" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_D3OyemrwfuvSelvyzNplBMytkMFtraA5unc2Y3kBSrqBQ-Ny7PONyGoJcmIspuUJ3_HEw2TDYCchdKL3SCyBQsTyBWsT1_VLJpc9Ks0AKK2NHNmf9UVb_gtSsUDFeTaJTkZAusSL8mw2lMrmGxA_TpvU0IY3c76Mx-gzYKMsLLalaKGvAbfbUMg3974/w266-h400/jukebox%20nickle%20in%20slot%20machine.jpg" width="266" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The earliest jukebox was called a a "nickel-in-the-slot phonograph," and it came about in the late 1880s. The state-of-the-art invention, engineered by Louis Glass and William S. Arnold of San Francisco, was a coin-operated machine that was a modification of the phonograph, invented by Thomas Edison. Upon receiving a coin, unlocked the mechanism, allowing the listener to turn a crank which simultaneously wound the spring motor and placed the reproducer's stylus in the starting groove. Frequently exhibitors would equip many of these machines with listening tubes, similar to acoustic headphones, and array them in "phonograph parlors" allowing the patron to select between multiple records, each played on its own machine. Some machines even contained carousels and other mechanisms for playing multiple records. Most machines were capable of holding only one musical selection, the automation coming from the ability to play that one selection at will. The first of these music players was put at the Palais Royal Saloon in San Francisco on November 23, 1889. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVbpRUQrybUiH70anv7AodmgUC0QZwxwLkLp55kHIwGEQ5_oz8gXKCGezuLyZh5eQCjzv3OLvTZkS4f1Vi6I3wUpDjcCQoNuuMvZZtARz7ZnIBIJQ3akgV-cQiiXEFOcYOnTq9ARgrT292EzPPMrIVy4Qxvh66cNlpVPqDXwARC44B5ptFpFHs4-6Tbs/s432/jukebox%20AMI%201946.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVbpRUQrybUiH70anv7AodmgUC0QZwxwLkLp55kHIwGEQ5_oz8gXKCGezuLyZh5eQCjzv3OLvTZkS4f1Vi6I3wUpDjcCQoNuuMvZZtARz7ZnIBIJQ3akgV-cQiiXEFOcYOnTq9ARgrT292EzPPMrIVy4Qxvh66cNlpVPqDXwARC44B5ptFpFHs4-6Tbs/w259-h400/jukebox%20AMI%201946.jpg" width="259" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The jukebox continued to evolve. Hobart C. Niblack invented a way for the machine to automatically change records in 1918. This led the Automated Musical Instrument Company (AMI) to produce an innovative type of jukebox. Initially playing music recorded on wax cylinders, the shellac 78 rpm record dominated jukeboxes in the early part of the 20th century. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCQjgiCaqlDLbxggspGx64kaZRQPKliA-NIps39aZP7tvG5AZgjWx32YP0kc33MVzJRu9Tt96p04FkM8cVAOcBKM0Tf6NzY02UtZ7L7__j4I-20bLAfpZMh90M5fZqBrNgC72P7Dh6PrJ3tq_1967Fl3FhNUDIkX61aRDEQMplMvgbToW2kx_JuSs6Rg/s432/jukebox%20Seeburg%20Symphonola%201930s%20to%201940s.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="293" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCQjgiCaqlDLbxggspGx64kaZRQPKliA-NIps39aZP7tvG5AZgjWx32YP0kc33MVzJRu9Tt96p04FkM8cVAOcBKM0Tf6NzY02UtZ7L7__j4I-20bLAfpZMh90M5fZqBrNgC72P7Dh6PrJ3tq_1967Fl3FhNUDIkX61aRDEQMplMvgbToW2kx_JuSs6Rg/w271-h400/jukebox%20Seeburg%20Symphonola%201930s%20to%201940s.jpg" width="271" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1928, Justus P. Seeburg, who manufactured player pianos, combined an electrostatic loudspeaker with a coin-operated record player and gave the listener a choice of eight records. This Audiophone machine was wide and bulky and had eight separate turntables mounted on a rotating Ferris wheel-like device, allowing patrons to select from eight different records. Later versions of the jukebox included Seeburg's Selectophone, with 10 turntables mounted vertically on a spindle. By maneuvering the tone arm up and down, the customer could select from 10 different records.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Song-popularity counters told the owner of the machine the number of times each record had been played, which allowed the owner to replace less-played songs with more popular ones.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRfm3yTLiZ8S_xIv3uyQK7zG5nFwyIwO-ejPByDw0YIbjPNyxTEiNX26RThIgEkRWaPbwgkXgC2KaZxVsuDf8sunEBUBUxVGwnxlfjwnxW1z5rMqdQVZjiIjPezwxE83nCc97rWDXRlL5PH2Zt7U6zMxYMseKoVD-gKcOHtcbWolmxcl7i-YzRF9Bn2Y/s523/jukebox%20Seeburg%20AudioPhone%20closeup.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="523" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRfm3yTLiZ8S_xIv3uyQK7zG5nFwyIwO-ejPByDw0YIbjPNyxTEiNX26RThIgEkRWaPbwgkXgC2KaZxVsuDf8sunEBUBUxVGwnxlfjwnxW1z5rMqdQVZjiIjPezwxE83nCc97rWDXRlL5PH2Zt7U6zMxYMseKoVD-gKcOHtcbWolmxcl7i-YzRF9Bn2Y/w640-h438/jukebox%20Seeburg%20AudioPhone%20closeup.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The term "jukebox" came into use in the United States around 1940, apparently derived from the familiar usage "juke joint", derived from the word "juke" meaning disorderly, rowdy, or wicked.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmV7PEestY86Ty-Kvt7CVLyYH60PLDbVCMpm0uqrxU7DgUtOhLRo_t25o2oaefzPTGirWixb4YP4W45pxWQHFxiJrVSkjJwMpoQZa37IBG248yK0vmxfMDCQj74v777NarGVRyk4b7Fht5M1zf4t0_MXSbttEKQf8OJKc1Dw11wVMjTx3LHKz0Ve8JW5o/s432/jukebox%20Seeburg%20AudioPhone%20wood%20case.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmV7PEestY86Ty-Kvt7CVLyYH60PLDbVCMpm0uqrxU7DgUtOhLRo_t25o2oaefzPTGirWixb4YP4W45pxWQHFxiJrVSkjJwMpoQZa37IBG248yK0vmxfMDCQj74v777NarGVRyk4b7Fht5M1zf4t0_MXSbttEKQf8OJKc1Dw11wVMjTx3LHKz0Ve8JW5o/s320/jukebox%20Seeburg%20AudioPhone%20wood%20case.jpg" width="267" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Jukeboxes had once been enclosed in wooden cabinets, but by 1937 manufacturers had begun to make them of gaudy plastic, frosted glass, jeweled mirrors, and chrome ornaments. Many of those Art Deco creations were self-contained light shows with polarized revolving disks, bubble tubes, and flashing pilasters. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8D2VsGLP3GYIdR3q1FARjb1OCqK5zWCWYb4iUP8k4HxsaphywmXe7xXk6AYGuoVhwT_VoN8-T977xk-_6-U8IsusAzH-rum1EwzLhhMhSG1Zo4izfpF5AFJ2MSxLLh4HHagmjDSHVFQfAktjZ1OHre_kpt7dqI-v3FgTMowd4J0XaNX0UStWP3qI18Yo/s432/jukebox1.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="257" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8D2VsGLP3GYIdR3q1FARjb1OCqK5zWCWYb4iUP8k4HxsaphywmXe7xXk6AYGuoVhwT_VoN8-T977xk-_6-U8IsusAzH-rum1EwzLhhMhSG1Zo4izfpF5AFJ2MSxLLh4HHagmjDSHVFQfAktjZ1OHre_kpt7dqI-v3FgTMowd4J0XaNX0UStWP3qI18Yo/s320/jukebox1.JPG" width="190" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">In the 1940s, the jukebox started evolving into the version we know today with colorful designs. Manufacturing stopped during World War II, however, as the materials were needed for the war effort. After the war, jukebox manufacturing continued, with the Seeburg Corporation introducing the vinyl record jukebox that used 45 rpm records. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">During those golden years, the Leonardo da Vinci of jukebox design was Wurlitzer's Paul Fuller, who was responsible for 13 full-size machines, five table models, and numerous speakers. The Golden Age of jukebox design ended when he suffered a heart attack in 1944 and died the next year. By then a new generation of larger jukeboxes had appeared, and the classic machines from the golden years—1937 to 1949—were, for the most part, relegated to the junk heap and forgotten. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHlvrq8Qd-I2Udv6C4Q7fj5-w-YYylAjudTO-5bQSD_F0He02PN2vVkl2CiHCDNzd3txu612gORbv1sMyWxYmWgVY2fGpMlWI86wT28OGEH3NXDdetdCvdXUUieNgJEMVnSorQRTCxXX69dlZYBPDAeZrApry0ky_5dMbPpnxAgWtvYevwx4RqnxzeWE/s432/jukebox%20wall%20mount%20table%20unit.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHlvrq8Qd-I2Udv6C4Q7fj5-w-YYylAjudTO-5bQSD_F0He02PN2vVkl2CiHCDNzd3txu612gORbv1sMyWxYmWgVY2fGpMlWI86wT28OGEH3NXDdetdCvdXUUieNgJEMVnSorQRTCxXX69dlZYBPDAeZrApry0ky_5dMbPpnxAgWtvYevwx4RqnxzeWE/s320/jukebox%20wall%20mount%20table%20unit.jpg" width="267" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"> became an important, and profitable, part of any jukebox installation. They enabled restaurant patrons to select tunes from their table or booth. One example is the Seeburg 3W1, introduced in 1949 as companion to the 100-selection Model M100A jukebox. Stereo sound became popular in the early 1960s, and wallboxes of the era came with built-in speakers, enabling patrons to sample this latest technology.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The popularity of jukeboxes extended from the 1940s through the mid-1960s, but they were particularly fashionable in the 1950s. By the middle of the 1940s, three-quarters of the records produced in America went into jukeboxes.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl_fnf-8Sdf5Tn98SJB2Ao8ddPLljBeA3xpJEBRVokNR3bZmA4Y6ytJ32AnEIsVLNRSWwuMUCC78hSWA9R-dodLA0i1zWGJtMQORSrM5rY9-kGEeZ-b7Iv2QdBxQiJ6oFPf6p7LWyxJuRKLS80gFI_vaxT2xDUrm06wocsvTPe9lPWxAU_PpIPiKtuyw/s432/jukebox%20Art%20Deco%20Mills%20Express%201939.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl_fnf-8Sdf5Tn98SJB2Ao8ddPLljBeA3xpJEBRVokNR3bZmA4Y6ytJ32AnEIsVLNRSWwuMUCC78hSWA9R-dodLA0i1zWGJtMQORSrM5rY9-kGEeZ-b7Iv2QdBxQiJ6oFPf6p7LWyxJuRKLS80gFI_vaxT2xDUrm06wocsvTPe9lPWxAU_PpIPiKtuyw/s320/jukebox%20Art%20Deco%20Mills%20Express%201939.jpg" width="233" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">And even with all of today’s high-tech music devices, the sound from one of those old machines was fabulous. Nothing beats hearing an old 78 on a machine created just to play it. Those were the days.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "The Vernacular Style" in the 2024 Winter Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div><br /></div>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-67804154941509638052024-02-16T16:38:00.002-05:002024-02-16T16:38:21.986-05:00Who's for a Game of Cards?<p> </p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6uphW29XDvQmgskaWegav2_q0g8KEqzEnbwuopJNh8FbNN7t653mciK9YHt2Tj43h-shd8-t7fXEVEsgk2V5TUQ85q0eTKAaFnkaFFRhI9X0eM9qONiJaGE4_Ev-PGInxOs5DCdz6gFm0oiakXddsHc7RilMrsrN16BLjG0NQOxPyht_C_QCm9wPJOI/s432/card%20table%20rosewood%2019th%20cent.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="432" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6uphW29XDvQmgskaWegav2_q0g8KEqzEnbwuopJNh8FbNN7t653mciK9YHt2Tj43h-shd8-t7fXEVEsgk2V5TUQ85q0eTKAaFnkaFFRhI9X0eM9qONiJaGE4_Ev-PGInxOs5DCdz6gFm0oiakXddsHc7RilMrsrN16BLjG0NQOxPyht_C_QCm9wPJOI/s320/card%20table%20rosewood%2019th%20cent.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION: </b>Recently, while browsing though an antique shop, I came across two tables. Both had fold-over tops. One seemed like it was from the 18th century, the other from the Empire period of the 19th. The dealer unfolded the top of the older table to reveal a green felt cloth inlaid into it. He said that this was a card table. When he unfolded the top of the second table, it had no felt inlay and was plainly finished. He told me the second table was a tea table. I always thought they were both card tables. Can you tell me the difference and when card tables started to be used?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> There’s a difference between the two tables, although subtle. Back in the 18th century, furniture was expensive as each piece was handcrafted to suit the customer. People woud have used their card tables as tea tables by just putting a tablescloth over it. But by the 1840s, furniture had begun to be at least partially machine-made, and manufacturers kept the cost down by making card tables plainer. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVn4_zGYy-dEzSCOtmVPhw6w-KYUeloLJWP9podwA8zFl_jARbhmNGr8bVX8KApoGk8w0f4w_XBAJy5II1uY8yEds66cyYTBDV6Lt_1wCnNH9BC76unSGp_tCQi65y-fTNbFaTHODRemviDvv86qzC0txcLOtqbbulVGMLtE5_lBGKe3TNj17790s5Tw/s523/card%20table%20early%20playing%20cards.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="523" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVn4_zGYy-dEzSCOtmVPhw6w-KYUeloLJWP9podwA8zFl_jARbhmNGr8bVX8KApoGk8w0f4w_XBAJy5II1uY8yEds66cyYTBDV6Lt_1wCnNH9BC76unSGp_tCQi65y-fTNbFaTHODRemviDvv86qzC0txcLOtqbbulVGMLtE5_lBGKe3TNj17790s5Tw/w640-h466/card%20table%20early%20playing%20cards.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguw5CjXqjkjqzb88dLzhnOtGgFG4ju7yt1QhP0MVpE10HWxc9k3Kbxtbn3McBxd_PJlE8sodA28l3ZyldOyJvjzYm1gYRonDmWGvxGoTCUSKxnjIMu3fyexZA1DEe5tZG9OJYlqahyB3EGgR8dhAVRKDkAwedFcbTpDs74jdQhUPo3MD0TqmFVZdPWI5k/s432/card%20table%20Dutch%20marquetry%2018th%20cent.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="432" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguw5CjXqjkjqzb88dLzhnOtGgFG4ju7yt1QhP0MVpE10HWxc9k3Kbxtbn3McBxd_PJlE8sodA28l3ZyldOyJvjzYm1gYRonDmWGvxGoTCUSKxnjIMu3fyexZA1DEe5tZG9OJYlqahyB3EGgR8dhAVRKDkAwedFcbTpDs74jdQhUPo3MD0TqmFVZdPWI5k/w400-h351/card%20table%20Dutch%20marquetry%2018th%20cent.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Playing cards were probably invented during the Chinese Tang Dynasty around the 9th century as a result of the usage of woodblock printing. Playing cards became a diversion both in public houses and private homes. Early playing cards had neither suits nor numbers. Instead, they had instructions or forfeits for whoever drew them. Usually, playing cards revolved around drinking alcohol, especially in the public houses.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The earliest game involving cards occurred on July 17,1294 when the Ming Department of Punishments caught two gamblers, Yan Sengzhu and Zheng Pig-Dog, playing with paper cards. The Department confiscated the wood blocks used for printing the cards together with nine of the actual cards. By the 11th century, playing cards had spread throughout Asia and eventually made their way to Egypt. Playing cards probably came to Europe from the East, arriving first in either Italy or Spain.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GooH57FcHSJqymmhrRhX0HKflxl5wbneA1TPTiCJAHHt9dwVB4vuv9pJVUCZA3FLQumQs8zcyKOjxhzv_N_nQ0ZwdpyjhREPHo0408LTOCVo8uAasiYR5EntVI8AwHj1-KZSOJ72g3db1VO_MIl6ECJfG4WM9E-LGYv1AqnxRrmv0JrVVmQt_kQ2jxI/s523/card%20table%20Regency%20caromandel%20wood.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="523" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GooH57FcHSJqymmhrRhX0HKflxl5wbneA1TPTiCJAHHt9dwVB4vuv9pJVUCZA3FLQumQs8zcyKOjxhzv_N_nQ0ZwdpyjhREPHo0408LTOCVo8uAasiYR5EntVI8AwHj1-KZSOJ72g3db1VO_MIl6ECJfG4WM9E-LGYv1AqnxRrmv0JrVVmQt_kQ2jxI/w640-h526/card%20table%20Regency%20caromandel%20wood.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zjroGPxX493wOIyWrgWscXU2ZYKQE0fPNgCp-nYupzdWWeppNqpRZeriBfAkIrh6yOhLW8YBMQklpN1jojBNKxTHU-SvBNBhgjVN9w9SXkiILp9dYInusj1pP37vsX1Tb73cCQ0VvaXtuLi6MIUqlsHOx3sGe0e8i7UoGoi0c3Ajlhmk30iwE2ESgT0/s432/card%20table%20Chippendale%20inlaid%2018th%20cent.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="432" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zjroGPxX493wOIyWrgWscXU2ZYKQE0fPNgCp-nYupzdWWeppNqpRZeriBfAkIrh6yOhLW8YBMQklpN1jojBNKxTHU-SvBNBhgjVN9w9SXkiILp9dYInusj1pP37vsX1Tb73cCQ0VvaXtuLi6MIUqlsHOx3sGe0e8i7UoGoi0c3Ajlhmk30iwE2ESgT0/w400-h379/card%20table%20Chippendale%20inlaid%2018th%20cent.jpeg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">By the early 18th century, specially made tables for playing cards began to appear all over England. The first card tables first appeared in the American Colonies around 1710. Card tables became symbols of wealth and the consequent expansion of leisure time and soon became a social necessity in every fashionable home. Without modern entertainment devices, about the only forms of evening entertainment was playing music, dancing, and of course, playing cards. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Cabinetmakers constructed most of these imported English card tables of mahogany or walnut. Each had a hinged two-leaf top that, when open and supported on a swing leg, revealed an inner surface lined with leather, felt, or the coarse woolen cloth called baize. Since household lighting was usually inadequate for evening play, most of the tables had four turrets projecting from the corners to accommodate candlesticks. In addition, there were often “guinea pools” or “fishponds”—shallow dishlike depressions to hold money, dice, or counters—and, in Chippendale styles, a single drawer in which to keep the cards. The tables stood on graceful cabriole legs, meant to resemble a woman’s shapely calves, but their backs, unseen against the wall, remained unfinished.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxLnVmX27RcHt5UEZ3I1YA2rUHdloijRSF_Cha_ewPrNZ_TRPW-zLUSDQCZ7Qx2CbaqibKAy1cpsgSqfv_Lz4S20LH-rVVqKxZkqI8dmUDf_KaLQwCb-o49jnQVrF9bdAawAwy6CnO5Ec972kFkJ8eL6d2YfyFpjeCcgs2-s1cAmnN4No6Ifen4AEads/s523/card%20table%20with%20fishponds%2018th%20cent.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="523" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxLnVmX27RcHt5UEZ3I1YA2rUHdloijRSF_Cha_ewPrNZ_TRPW-zLUSDQCZ7Qx2CbaqibKAy1cpsgSqfv_Lz4S20LH-rVVqKxZkqI8dmUDf_KaLQwCb-o49jnQVrF9bdAawAwy6CnO5Ec972kFkJ8eL6d2YfyFpjeCcgs2-s1cAmnN4No6Ifen4AEads/w640-h424/card%20table%20with%20fishponds%2018th%20cent.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaSUpOq2p8K5DSVwQuYfTdzzn8oUgkWf0k7KCRJvJZtIgwRvutKvViyyEECbSkxlE3ni-S17REv953ioOoS2UcV_hUX1PziIbG88ACcjz41pYUCPkUloFmsYHXXPPmkBTh1IVMuaAdbCONaUBySZvG4PKSS08AGuk0ww9wewBhsJYd-OCgyOJfNAaJfs/s432/card%20table%20American%2019th%20cent%20rosewood.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="432" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaSUpOq2p8K5DSVwQuYfTdzzn8oUgkWf0k7KCRJvJZtIgwRvutKvViyyEECbSkxlE3ni-S17REv953ioOoS2UcV_hUX1PziIbG88ACcjz41pYUCPkUloFmsYHXXPPmkBTh1IVMuaAdbCONaUBySZvG4PKSS08AGuk0ww9wewBhsJYd-OCgyOJfNAaJfs/s320/card%20table%20American%2019th%20cent%20rosewood.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Since so many of these tables were highly decorative and also bore their makers’ marks, they provide valuable evidence of the varieties of carving, inlay, veneer, and other detail used by the cabinetmakers, as well as of regional characteristics. Tables with bowed fronts were popular in Boston and Salem, and five- and six-legged examples appeared in New York.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Some people used card tables for purposes other than for playing cards. Unfortunately, tablecloths only covered over the fishponds, often causing accidents and breakage.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In Puritan New England and Quaker Philadelphia, as well as in the South, people bet huge sums on cockfights and horse races, on bull and bearbaiting. Doctors and lawyers would wager their fees at the card table, and the “devil’s prayer book”—a deck of playing cards—could be found everywhere.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl38D6I-G-dSAjE06xIqTLZKpxTkXpAaMPiioPhdGt_mzRpbne6QudTKfQ9j_YnVv3kl4BaO1I0oohpvaaLt-F-dGSxNkfBUbyR6ko5kK_P4XOyIF35rPCjN94M0xEZgNpuV0J5VpMH-QejmxoOpI_Ku__IapGqO5GQaDMpjV6aVXet_XukvwB4YSH5to/s432/card%20table%20Federal%20with%20backsplash.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="307" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl38D6I-G-dSAjE06xIqTLZKpxTkXpAaMPiioPhdGt_mzRpbne6QudTKfQ9j_YnVv3kl4BaO1I0oohpvaaLt-F-dGSxNkfBUbyR6ko5kK_P4XOyIF35rPCjN94M0xEZgNpuV0J5VpMH-QejmxoOpI_Ku__IapGqO5GQaDMpjV6aVXet_XukvwB4YSH5to/s320/card%20table%20Federal%20with%20backsplash.jpg" width="227" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">From the beginning of the United States, gambling overpowered every effort to restrain it. By the late 18th century every fashionable home had a card table. Still, most households reserved the card table for recreational use.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In the upper-class 18th-century American home, ladies played cards at afternoon tea parties where guests might win or lose hundreds of dollars. In the evening, families would summon servants to bring the card table into the center of the drawing room after dinner, as card playing was a primary form of evening entertainment. Players became embroiled in spirited games of whist, a simpler foreunner of bridge, pokerlike brag, quadrille, or any of the several other games while spectators observed the action. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejhn_DN7Yf4QDgE_Itl8-dPRiW8NWB4jPfdPXJVkQRwAo58eMzaISU8w9vJnuqH4yaJjF-61oCGAlft_5aV2y5z6tDvdqHfOaJQofgnJJPhxdgk0JpO-ODicU28T9XB3yEkSr_VXnaCSzqwCKwiNFG7-J0mWOqKwKA0WW8aZxn7cbOT6-OrjCr8Wov9Y/s432/card%20table%20tea%20table%2019th%20cent.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="432" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejhn_DN7Yf4QDgE_Itl8-dPRiW8NWB4jPfdPXJVkQRwAo58eMzaISU8w9vJnuqH4yaJjF-61oCGAlft_5aV2y5z6tDvdqHfOaJQofgnJJPhxdgk0JpO-ODicU28T9XB3yEkSr_VXnaCSzqwCKwiNFG7-J0mWOqKwKA0WW8aZxn7cbOT6-OrjCr8Wov9Y/w400-h359/card%20table%20tea%20table%2019th%20cent.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">When not in use, card tables in most households remained folded away to become consoles or side tables. Servants set card tables against the wall when not in use, sometimes with the upper half raised as a kind of ornamental backsplash.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">After about 1840, card tables began to lose the felt inlaid on their surface. People still played cards but now these tables came into popular use as tea tables. With a smooth top, minus the fishponds and candlestick rests—indoor lighting had been much improved—it was now possible to place a tablecloth over the table without the fear of anything toppling due to the former depressions. In many cases, these table featured graceful rounded corners and were still being made of mahogany or walnut.</span></p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvluNZb1Eh-5RQ_9ezqhQT4JJW97dqcZOU8mTXYBqOhG9SMum1agT48QATfjJyoLH0SLpDZIBbDi5r8Wssc9t5Qe5ELENBZQUWLjPSBKs9kukjBQUG453-G5Yf022c5dNvmPFkDTSYd4QTJfaj1y2ygWgxd1dOvA3RUmrXEbqHqkQdZbP2LVoz0d5W_kY/s432/card%20table%20Regency%20tea%20table%20open%2019th%20cent.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="432" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvluNZb1Eh-5RQ_9ezqhQT4JJW97dqcZOU8mTXYBqOhG9SMum1agT48QATfjJyoLH0SLpDZIBbDi5r8Wssc9t5Qe5ELENBZQUWLjPSBKs9kukjBQUG453-G5Yf022c5dNvmPFkDTSYd4QTJfaj1y2ygWgxd1dOvA3RUmrXEbqHqkQdZbP2LVoz0d5W_kY/w640-h560/card%20table%20Regency%20tea%20table%20open%2019th%20cent.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "The Age of Photography" in the 2023 Holiday Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></div>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-68172099908791504242024-02-10T16:27:00.006-05:002024-02-10T16:28:51.412-05:00Art Deco vs. Art Moderne<p> </p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b></b></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFwUYNg9rcbevkIqwn97eLC0fI2wttL1dfiv-C96gZZVVvzDyASeDG0z6QTPANou2FoDjOZzZol3a1D4F7JeCZ-5cRKfgOzNfsM8b8nXuN-pyKou8rFy-RAE_upokC9jajMwLluKkVHJ08C0giqyNqNPaD_GcGRzvWco_uIM82jAOSlFljJnApjJGeTQ/s432/cat%20lamp%20Art%20Deco%201925%20French.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="344" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFwUYNg9rcbevkIqwn97eLC0fI2wttL1dfiv-C96gZZVVvzDyASeDG0z6QTPANou2FoDjOZzZol3a1D4F7JeCZ-5cRKfgOzNfsM8b8nXuN-pyKou8rFy-RAE_upokC9jajMwLluKkVHJ08C0giqyNqNPaD_GcGRzvWco_uIM82jAOSlFljJnApjJGeTQ/s320/cat%20lamp%20Art%20Deco%201925%20French.jpg" width="255" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION: </b>I’m a great lover of all things Art Deco, although I don’t know much about it. I’ve heard some people refer to this style as Streamlined Modern while other call it Art Moderne. Can you please tell me a little about this style? And what about Streamlined Modern? Is it related to Art Deco?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> Art Deco and Art Moderne overlap, both stylistically and chronologically. Both were in vogue in the first half of the 20th century. But it's more a question of style than dates. While Art Deco emphasized verticality and stylized, geometric ornamentation, Art Moderne was a horizontal design, emphasizing movement and sleekness;.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkIhkHQEjJq3JHUvMUoG4AQ1hhxRTTDSV43cbZlcgtPNw5s-VQnCUiN2UwkYb3yD9vX-YOfUJrtwBsm-ru4TVqNLSee8Ln3BMbkVy9d5dQl_s52GyzDAY6sLq1LS_nr1pGot-jlNXMO0Gf-olc6D0PkFmcpY8JQBP4YTb-13PJy_BqgOpumNzsd_7YIM/s432/french%20art%20deco%20armchair%20curves.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="432" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkIhkHQEjJq3JHUvMUoG4AQ1hhxRTTDSV43cbZlcgtPNw5s-VQnCUiN2UwkYb3yD9vX-YOfUJrtwBsm-ru4TVqNLSee8Ln3BMbkVy9d5dQl_s52GyzDAY6sLq1LS_nr1pGot-jlNXMO0Gf-olc6D0PkFmcpY8JQBP4YTb-13PJy_BqgOpumNzsd_7YIM/w200-h174/french%20art%20deco%20armchair%20curves.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The Art Deco style made its debut at the 1925 World's Fair in Paris—the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes or the International Exhibition of Modern and Industrial Decorative Arts—but the term Art Deco wasn’t used until 1966. A group of French architects and interior designers, who banded together to form the Societe des Artistes Decorateurs, developed the style to incorporate elements of style from diverse modern artworks and current fashion trends. Influence from Cubism and Surrealism, Egyptian and African folk art can be seen in the lines and embellishments, and Asian influences contribute symbolism, grace and detail.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0UBfhGdffiKiFlJkjho-lGcEYSuXzqYTI5DJhW80t_pnn1KvAjayyG6N4J5NSzc1n2njJTA9-BgvDOcWe8XTYEq6V7sScjmJ3ySQZYO90UpnXj_JPxda0oa9NeWgw-Fpmphk8BUy4KJI9tmQDVUr9X6lEvAfBuntdgnLjpF_CV0vW8qcO05je6R8IVs/s523/coffee%20set%20Art%20Deco.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="523" height="628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0UBfhGdffiKiFlJkjho-lGcEYSuXzqYTI5DJhW80t_pnn1KvAjayyG6N4J5NSzc1n2njJTA9-BgvDOcWe8XTYEq6V7sScjmJ3ySQZYO90UpnXj_JPxda0oa9NeWgw-Fpmphk8BUy4KJI9tmQDVUr9X6lEvAfBuntdgnLjpF_CV0vW8qcO05je6R8IVs/w640-h628/coffee%20set%20Art%20Deco.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCL3CUGHPAswkGHXC7yHD-WWR_0i3CslwC1eYFOeN5r9YrrUO-63I9MXvhUI1rCy9k6n0dlvNroZcjbRhltixPnoBKXUefjguhO5ttYy_ts5AXYSladvSPKqSLa9iiBR5uCpGVfsrjCXOiSsnvxIGbf04xw1eGC97Sq11YAWw0Qiaz40KaMVIxAN4rcg/s432/book%20Le%20Libre%20des%20Rois%201930s%20Art%20Deco.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCL3CUGHPAswkGHXC7yHD-WWR_0i3CslwC1eYFOeN5r9YrrUO-63I9MXvhUI1rCy9k6n0dlvNroZcjbRhltixPnoBKXUefjguhO5ttYy_ts5AXYSladvSPKqSLa9iiBR5uCpGVfsrjCXOiSsnvxIGbf04xw1eGC97Sq11YAWw0Qiaz40KaMVIxAN4rcg/s320/book%20Le%20Libre%20des%20Rois%201930s%20Art%20Deco.jpg" width="247" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Art Deco was already an internationally mature style by 1925—one that had flourished in the years following World War I and peaked at the time of the fair. The enormous commercial success of Art Deco ensured that designers and manufacturers throughout Europe continued to promote this style until well into the 1930s. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Sometimes Deco designers applied ornamentation to the surface of an object, like a decorative skin, but at other times the utilitarian designs of bowls, plates, vases, and furniture were themselves purely ornamental. These objects weren’t intended for practical use but rather created for their decorative value alone, exploiting the beauty of form or material. Among the most popular and recurring motifs were the human figure, animals, flowers, and plants. Abstract geometric decoration was also common. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBTPGndbuU8CMKY8vXVw8zkHpzxzKSazFttaZ5zPDnkX9VkTLMQMO-86v0_0N4umAdTESHmOROZVZbD3zOAWtUhQKGBI4cuFHBw_-f-MNfhL-ux6pT16F0wOn37d-grufZw57Kt0euOrh1H9iT-A40smmbVcQC0XbjrnwVHczYsv4xBmBc_xLijGRumw/s432/art%20deco2%20dresser%20with%20mirror.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="388" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBTPGndbuU8CMKY8vXVw8zkHpzxzKSazFttaZ5zPDnkX9VkTLMQMO-86v0_0N4umAdTESHmOROZVZbD3zOAWtUhQKGBI4cuFHBw_-f-MNfhL-ux6pT16F0wOn37d-grufZw57Kt0euOrh1H9iT-A40smmbVcQC0XbjrnwVHczYsv4xBmBc_xLijGRumw/w287-h320/art%20deco2%20dresser%20with%20mirror.jpg" width="287" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Victorians loved to apply ornamentation onto furniture, to embellish basic frames and shapes. With Art Deco, the texture and embellishment came from contrasts in a variety of colored woods and inlays or in the material itself. Designers often used burled or birds-eye or visibly grained woods, tortoise shell, ivory, tooled leathers. Lacquered glosses accentuated color differences. Animal skins and patterned fabrics in bright colors were also popular as upholstery.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Though it spread to other countries, Art Deco was a distinctively French response to the postwar demand for luxurious objects and fine craftsmanship. French designers utilized lavish materials and such rich, traditional decorative techniques as inlay and veneer on streamlined geometric forms.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rJjkpDv1mVYf5jgKaQXFt8Iw5Pxa8G0z8n-YB97rm79A4YksMqay9eabxin_0pTGGFd_bo0w-ZBe9b9GQa7IKtLndXIkgGyXvM19fl8M3OHXP_O3x0XZVCJK-hXZSESO2Wy1WmGBbamPJlE3u067vL8i5INn6GoQZoQ0Pdh-iiJefgUIBj0weU_9hHY/s432/purse%20watch%20Art%20Deco.jpg" style="clear: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="209" data-original-width="432" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rJjkpDv1mVYf5jgKaQXFt8Iw5Pxa8G0z8n-YB97rm79A4YksMqay9eabxin_0pTGGFd_bo0w-ZBe9b9GQa7IKtLndXIkgGyXvM19fl8M3OHXP_O3x0XZVCJK-hXZSESO2Wy1WmGBbamPJlE3u067vL8i5INn6GoQZoQ0Pdh-iiJefgUIBj0weU_9hHY/w640-h310/purse%20watch%20Art%20Deco.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiey8arEnE48ueEP5RptSTh7NlgoV9yjaLm5Zda8AXq6HYUjqsirZoOKVTG6fgQl0zjZJM323fpfysWALpBtNDc2q5CEsmT2oeCB10vSaQf7qD6zcKTlSc9BlA0OYDFNCqmNtHeli3D2YYoGLmp9d6q2qzlQ5lrt7RgcdsG3ygwr_JlxZXeykkaNDYNsHY/s383/art%20deco%20screen.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="370" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiey8arEnE48ueEP5RptSTh7NlgoV9yjaLm5Zda8AXq6HYUjqsirZoOKVTG6fgQl0zjZJM323fpfysWALpBtNDc2q5CEsmT2oeCB10vSaQf7qD6zcKTlSc9BlA0OYDFNCqmNtHeli3D2YYoGLmp9d6q2qzlQ5lrt7RgcdsG3ygwr_JlxZXeykkaNDYNsHY/s320/art%20deco%20screen.jpg" width="309" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Art Deco reflected the general optimism and carefree mood that swept Europe and the United States following World War I. Hope and prosperity are represented in sunburst designs, chevrons and references to the good life in the elegant figures depicted in casual, sensual poses, often dancing or sipping cocktails. The modern influences heralded a bright and shining future outlook that found its way to architecture, jewelry, automobile design and even extended to ordinary things such as refrigerators and trash cans.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Exoticism also played a role in Art Deco. During the 1920s and 1930s, the French government encouraged designers to take advantage of resources—like raw materials and a skilled workforce—that could be imported from the nation's colonies in Asia and Africa. The resulting growth of interest in the arts of colonial countries in Asia and Africa led French designers to explore new materials, such as ivory, sharkskin, and exotic woods, techniques such as lacquering and ceramic glazes, and forms that evoked faraway places and cultures. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MWwlrix6YAU64vLGCB1qBdvYSQehMnbebXgIshZ-HwIIrY2IoEfXh75IL6zBrTPHjYKjphmwKv5S5esMIiTJqUA-6kuzvxv9NDmhyphenhyphen8b9YKhD4DI-mJMfWNYuOIVvNaamJajt6-PRBu6NCIpK_YtLm_ApHFlubf6Iubh2c8xflBDudb4YuIRXfIlHhb8/s432/tray%20Art%20Deco%20chrome%20and%20eglomise%201930.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="432" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MWwlrix6YAU64vLGCB1qBdvYSQehMnbebXgIshZ-HwIIrY2IoEfXh75IL6zBrTPHjYKjphmwKv5S5esMIiTJqUA-6kuzvxv9NDmhyphenhyphen8b9YKhD4DI-mJMfWNYuOIVvNaamJajt6-PRBu6NCIpK_YtLm_ApHFlubf6Iubh2c8xflBDudb4YuIRXfIlHhb8/w640-h296/tray%20Art%20Deco%20chrome%20and%20eglomise%201930.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasvKB6tGvO72DnJbzCf2V-qxBcNk_0bVpWyd2PJHc6Yqzhy4B5Xx4hZY2eEIqbhLFLqFp3z5dp6PFHsQcnxdJ8FoAiNCxsSRDF7clELFCDICzhy3WFc0WF1RZqX3ePZmu4sguqoZ_YKaWW6_O2sWMNh_qTH3vsJpGWFh7r_IsipBt62_VTdxIaa8BST8/s458/Art%20Moderne%20hood%20ornament.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasvKB6tGvO72DnJbzCf2V-qxBcNk_0bVpWyd2PJHc6Yqzhy4B5Xx4hZY2eEIqbhLFLqFp3z5dp6PFHsQcnxdJ8FoAiNCxsSRDF7clELFCDICzhy3WFc0WF1RZqX3ePZmu4sguqoZ_YKaWW6_O2sWMNh_qTH3vsJpGWFh7r_IsipBt62_VTdxIaa8BST8/s320/Art%20Moderne%20hood%20ornament.jpg" width="302" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Art Moderne<br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> Moderne, also called Streamlined Modern, was an American invention that first appeared in the 1930s and lasted into the 1940s. Although taking its design concepts from Art Deco, it was a completely different style It was bigger and bolder. While Art Deco placed an emphasis on shape, Art Moderne was streamlined. Unfortunately, this is the style most Americans confuse with Art Deco.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Think of Art Moderne as Art Deco on steroids. Moderne was positively streamlined—at the time a new scientific theory that shaping objects along curving lines to cut wind resistance would make them move more efficiently. The furniture in this style was much more pared down, making its outline more geometric in sleek curves like a tear drop or torpedo. Moderne designers often conceived pieces as a series of escalating levels- similar to a staircase or the setback effect of skyscrapers that were rising in every city.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90AuYUInwC-QiH0vILfTrSWcbmYDU5f6rq4qg2-LXYuvy7h9aL5cZkixOhVUGB0QUxMLouwonUw6W_GZ7jpACrbtwlRSvbiL07sixGqeUApa3_54EnIqBX2iyJpZnBIHGKjtv1ud33xELcJgMhidapSnXBzNHLxmnQsVgreM3hrRQxUXiWh-ICUFh7Bo/s432/Art%20Moderne%20clock.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="289" data-original-width="432" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90AuYUInwC-QiH0vILfTrSWcbmYDU5f6rq4qg2-LXYuvy7h9aL5cZkixOhVUGB0QUxMLouwonUw6W_GZ7jpACrbtwlRSvbiL07sixGqeUApa3_54EnIqBX2iyJpZnBIHGKjtv1ud33xELcJgMhidapSnXBzNHLxmnQsVgreM3hrRQxUXiWh-ICUFh7Bo/s320/Art%20Moderne%20clock.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">While rich colors, bold geometry, and decadent detail work characterized Art Deco, evoking glamour, luxury, and order with symmetrical designs in exuberant shapes, Art Moderne was essentially a machine-made style focused on mass production, functional efficiency, and a more abstract look coming from the Bauhaus in Germany.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Much of it was designed to be mass-produced, but even if it wasn't, it looked as if it could be: Art Deco's balance and proportion extended to regularity and repetition. Much of the decorative interest in a Moderne piece comes from the precision of line and duplication of functional features. Art Moderne designs often conveyed a sense of motion.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZT_xTdmnmPdOsJI3jRreL6MwBsBcgmiYAA5K7YN9IMmh_X71bH-cr3bpHSGW3cxPAmAhGBE1GHdNgCQsTnxeUqxXLZTkqnl0XA6K_oqyFdFKJfYHwQ4TWyGheyBXj4wIfTH_Eaw4OHHS_PrnzcVYs3PUdZ0wQQ76CQRGCNsS6GM-ndI6d-VIjO5zJlA/s432/Art%20Moderne%20train%20engine.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="432" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZT_xTdmnmPdOsJI3jRreL6MwBsBcgmiYAA5K7YN9IMmh_X71bH-cr3bpHSGW3cxPAmAhGBE1GHdNgCQsTnxeUqxXLZTkqnl0XA6K_oqyFdFKJfYHwQ4TWyGheyBXj4wIfTH_Eaw4OHHS_PrnzcVYs3PUdZ0wQQ76CQRGCNsS6GM-ndI6d-VIjO5zJlA/w640-h548/Art%20Moderne%20train%20engine.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Art Moderne designers favored simpler, aerodynamic lines and forms in the modeling of ships, airplanes, and automobiles. In the modern machine age smooth surfaces, curved corners, and an emphasis on horizontal lines came into fashion. Streamlining appeared on everyday objects and buildings such as roadside diners, motor hotels, movie theaters, early strip malls and shopping centers, seaside marinas, and air and bus terminals. Trains, ocean liners, airplane fuselages, as well as luxury automobiles all sported the Moderne look.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHhfAtiNYM7XV51nkdSt5R5BG6JM_Y41Sz-r8Rthyma8Yu8cLBBmW7s1Gn1ZKL_3CJv2NtLKtlwGFNbGNIFzq0KcR0Mm1w5oQlAo3of0XHgefxPysQKkUyZ02uhGI2Ao5KpyrFkJyhBfZvevRttm6tSfrIZ9zZI_Elpq7tDYKB6gd4km9SsBGne3mnlc/s523/Art%20Moderne%20architecture.jpeg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="523" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHhfAtiNYM7XV51nkdSt5R5BG6JM_Y41Sz-r8Rthyma8Yu8cLBBmW7s1Gn1ZKL_3CJv2NtLKtlwGFNbGNIFzq0KcR0Mm1w5oQlAo3of0XHgefxPysQKkUyZ02uhGI2Ao5KpyrFkJyhBfZvevRttm6tSfrIZ9zZI_Elpq7tDYKB6gd4km9SsBGne3mnlc/w640-h640/Art%20Moderne%20architecture.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">People often refer to furnishings and buildings from the 1920s through the 1940s as Art Deco. Understanding the difference between Art Deco and Art Moderne isn't always easy, especially since Art Deco was originally called Moderne.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLoS0hr_ohnoN8M9N1TtaWU9Ld5FOB4eOxqlGwNSCrwVCn2JnzDHO7eyXLKkpeFThX6vhYagtPmbGkXF2FbwZnO2Hptx9kOAejDugANc96wojnLpiu-X4tIKXu9l7MsNAgn8pnkXdkyZNKEcSkLoHVYJGXH64i-YAwuxlbvhVS9eGra_vpCuoWnmu5SNw/s523/Art%20Moderne%20roadside%20diner.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="523" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLoS0hr_ohnoN8M9N1TtaWU9Ld5FOB4eOxqlGwNSCrwVCn2JnzDHO7eyXLKkpeFThX6vhYagtPmbGkXF2FbwZnO2Hptx9kOAejDugANc96wojnLpiu-X4tIKXu9l7MsNAgn8pnkXdkyZNKEcSkLoHVYJGXH64i-YAwuxlbvhVS9eGra_vpCuoWnmu5SNw/w640-h310/Art%20Moderne%20roadside%20diner.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLi5x2PlDJS_D6XCVoNFMH5kXMT2w9WlBk9z00nxJq6zmYUG4lzVhxOI_y5o4ScNqvDH-M3i2eekacqglVeLOEjThmxIGXw-RAtWgmpDRxdnsVgGd-VAgoowUiuHfDHazfwrKeSYfvN5mB0CaTSKiHxFFE_1UOoA-QzvwoLxsst2pKzSep2mvyTb8WhE/s432/Art%20Moderne%20juicer.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="289" data-original-width="432" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLi5x2PlDJS_D6XCVoNFMH5kXMT2w9WlBk9z00nxJq6zmYUG4lzVhxOI_y5o4ScNqvDH-M3i2eekacqglVeLOEjThmxIGXw-RAtWgmpDRxdnsVgGd-VAgoowUiuHfDHazfwrKeSYfvN5mB0CaTSKiHxFFE_1UOoA-QzvwoLxsst2pKzSep2mvyTb8WhE/s320/Art%20Moderne%20juicer.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "The Age of Photography" in the 2023 Holiday Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><p><br /></p></div>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-50078580057615015772024-02-02T15:32:00.000-05:002024-02-02T15:32:04.788-05:00Inside Out<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU55anZtL2vPG8eO966bZQKwVnAuT0VSy0R52W7nrCmW0bnGnYxkVZanhEdmZkH0eEsXec4IiGYpllxaxTz48Dbpa87-FYtbbc3zTQrqPW5L3IWex6ue-EVMn0NcZkPE6mP5taVHyEc5tmeJ6WPk5zdcPH-Zt2zvanyufXMB1mTCgBmQf9rQ0xdjRxPvU/s432/repousse%20silver%20box.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="409" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU55anZtL2vPG8eO966bZQKwVnAuT0VSy0R52W7nrCmW0bnGnYxkVZanhEdmZkH0eEsXec4IiGYpllxaxTz48Dbpa87-FYtbbc3zTQrqPW5L3IWex6ue-EVMn0NcZkPE6mP5taVHyEc5tmeJ6WPk5zdcPH-Zt2zvanyufXMB1mTCgBmQf9rQ0xdjRxPvU/s320/repousse%20silver%20box.jpg" width="303" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION: </b>While browsing a recent antique show, I discovered a delightful little copper box with what looked like an embossed design. The dealer told me it was probably made around the turn of the 20th century or at least before World War I. She said the design was repoussé on copper. I’d like to know more about this repousse technique. Can you give me a bit of history and an explanation of how it’s done?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> There are two techniques for hammering copper—chasing and repousse. The difference between the two is that chasing pushes the metal in from the front side while repousse pushes the metal out from the </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfW2mhaGU3Nt52Eora9mTmMzlwcdCs702ib6VHvaKzS1hcgLPg4ESenf-9IV75NUCorP8aoLErynznHGS_XLsEzKU_6noFvqXnOg2QwqxIe_aM29OwnosUQRnkeTlS45iGfee0TCivOe4B_5hDOZ1g4ep8Q4aI1gXZoNxdcIVHYixm2OQAEcOndiLdVI/s432/repousse%20Roman%20silver%20pitcher%202nd%20cent.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="264" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfW2mhaGU3Nt52Eora9mTmMzlwcdCs702ib6VHvaKzS1hcgLPg4ESenf-9IV75NUCorP8aoLErynznHGS_XLsEzKU_6noFvqXnOg2QwqxIe_aM29OwnosUQRnkeTlS45iGfee0TCivOe4B_5hDOZ1g4ep8Q4aI1gXZoNxdcIVHYixm2OQAEcOndiLdVI/s320/repousse%20Roman%20silver%20pitcher%202nd%20cent.jpg" width="196" /></a>backside. Both techniques frequently employ a backing to support the work material </span><span style="font-family: arial;">and confine the movement of the metal to the immediate area around the tool.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">While the word repoussé comes from the French word <i>repoussage</i>, meaning "pushed up," the word chasing, which also derives from the French word <i>chasse</i>r, meaning ”to drive out.” Repousse is a metalworking technique in which an artisan shaped a malleable metal by hammering from the reverse side to create a design in low relief. Chasing is a similar technique in which the piece is hammered on the front side, sinking the metal. The two techniques are often used in conjunction. Many metals can be used for chasing and repoussé work, including gold, silver, copper, and alloys such as steel, bronze, and pewter. Tool marks are often intentionally left visible.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FzlmXsZKwWkUWZEd9o_7BbaOCBnhXJ-XJTNbmGtu4iIkABfiWaiUxIh26CRJ0zsxBmKh2CIbRq_Wij0M7r3CdfExyFldTVoVtV7ESXEGxoLBO7CWnV5rooDTY4STV5mzZqI89LFEpEaWuLUQBxfECnFE59OUdNr1dkmNW8bF9xElt0K8Pyqe_z0N1yI/s523/repousse%20on%20pitch.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="523" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FzlmXsZKwWkUWZEd9o_7BbaOCBnhXJ-XJTNbmGtu4iIkABfiWaiUxIh26CRJ0zsxBmKh2CIbRq_Wij0M7r3CdfExyFldTVoVtV7ESXEGxoLBO7CWnV5rooDTY4STV5mzZqI89LFEpEaWuLUQBxfECnFE59OUdNr1dkmNW8bF9xElt0K8Pyqe_z0N1yI/w640-h480/repousse%20on%20pitch.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">With the simplest technique, sheet gold could be pressed into designs carved in intaglio in stone, bone, metal or even materials such as jet. The gold could be worked into the designs with wood tools or, more commonly, by hammering a wax or lead "force" over it.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJg9M8NFHg6j0JV8odUYAkA8gsl3Zv_1xouflzIB_yDEWdE9reMW-nN7XGS94jGwspxqdnt6XXf4oQSaWof4EKZ5AwTYdIdUeha76MTfjRk4LT7W9WIN1FafEN4xksVJTk70_WOmuYhgXDuIyzWoaUEETs2KI94qjZPwJyq4QxgoLwO7LpGHB6JXJ5d8/s432/repousse%20King%20Tut%20death%20mask.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="349" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJg9M8NFHg6j0JV8odUYAkA8gsl3Zv_1xouflzIB_yDEWdE9reMW-nN7XGS94jGwspxqdnt6XXf4oQSaWof4EKZ5AwTYdIdUeha76MTfjRk4LT7W9WIN1FafEN4xksVJTk70_WOmuYhgXDuIyzWoaUEETs2KI94qjZPwJyq4QxgoLwO7LpGHB6JXJ5d8/s320/repousse%20King%20Tut%20death%20mask.jpg" width="259" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Both techniques date from antiquity and have been used widely with gold and silver for fine detailed work, such as the burial mask of King Tutankhamun, and copper, tin, and bronze for larger sculptures, such as the Statue of Liberty. Both methods require only the simplest tools and materials, and yet allow great diversity of expression. They’re also more affordable, since there’s no loss or waste of metal, which mostly retains its original size and thickness.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZAJukG-4W3Yxiwzv5Xt7f1oqQ2OA4u4DKr_ycLGBgNbttRJXHG_f9la5P3OfNiWbVjmkt3rhL-sNiLzcwbe9Kc2CIwetQ0jmw1WYXxxwKKAmRg-s17kSRnXlNeB2aOKe4PFqbgQrqinqASrPYLpiHgXVo-9u5Z_8Rkrmh0JpeXS47iWYqXmQLUveHUI/s432/repousse%20plaque%20ancient%20Egyptian.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="293" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZAJukG-4W3Yxiwzv5Xt7f1oqQ2OA4u4DKr_ycLGBgNbttRJXHG_f9la5P3OfNiWbVjmkt3rhL-sNiLzcwbe9Kc2CIwetQ0jmw1WYXxxwKKAmRg-s17kSRnXlNeB2aOKe4PFqbgQrqinqASrPYLpiHgXVo-9u5Z_8Rkrmh0JpeXS47iWYqXmQLUveHUI/s320/repousse%20plaque%20ancient%20Egyptian.jpeg" width="217" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Before the use of repousse, ancient artisans pressed gold sheet into a die to work it over a design in cameo relief. Here the detail would be greater on the back of the final design, so some final chasing from the front was often carried out to sharpen the detail.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1400 BCE, ancient Egyptians used resin and mud as a softer backing for repoussé. The use of patterned punches dates back to the first half of the 2nd millennium BCE Craftsman made the simplest patterned punches using loops or scrolls of wire.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">By 400 BCE., the ancient Greeks had begun using a combination of punches and dies on a beeswax backing to produce repousse on their bronze armor plates.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3uRzJ4dz7gXxUOGu4OLnxXF7A2oVR0t71zWQntsYH8VQIykxHUUbCalmPMcv89dBASfMqcvPLc99UK8mOez_AnTajijxEeuk3Yu04aRGdcGAnXr1tAoQGDK_X_moube8rv0b-iU2fK9VIC421__dUCIEKOIw_1Tp7mMrabdE_PSrZkLGJVgd97aCPTs/s523/repousse%20tool%20on%20panel%201.JPG" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="523" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3uRzJ4dz7gXxUOGu4OLnxXF7A2oVR0t71zWQntsYH8VQIykxHUUbCalmPMcv89dBASfMqcvPLc99UK8mOez_AnTajijxEeuk3Yu04aRGdcGAnXr1tAoQGDK_X_moube8rv0b-iU2fK9VIC421__dUCIEKOIw_1Tp7mMrabdE_PSrZkLGJVgd97aCPTs/w640-h480/repousse%20tool%20on%20panel%201.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZUjWDoL5CV96tYS0TgluGGMJ2ag2rFFsWwX64-_q28kVkc9UyNK5tOQQlvf2JgEvQDsem4u0THntrgNDM73_JQpWeMRx9kYKe-P3EH6KO5_olAiZq6B354t_bZpyN3UWdiwnqrkdWPWhwD0vfZHX0kysFZe76LzRlQYj8EbNhOe6ep5S0iA2BneNmDc/s432/repousse%20copper%20plaque%20Newlyn.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="432" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZUjWDoL5CV96tYS0TgluGGMJ2ag2rFFsWwX64-_q28kVkc9UyNK5tOQQlvf2JgEvQDsem4u0THntrgNDM73_JQpWeMRx9kYKe-P3EH6KO5_olAiZq6B354t_bZpyN3UWdiwnqrkdWPWhwD0vfZHX0kysFZe76LzRlQYj8EbNhOe6ep5S0iA2BneNmDc/w200-h199/repousse%20copper%20plaque%20Newlyn.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The resurgence of repousse and chasing first occurred in England during the late 19th century as part of the British Arts & Crafts Movement. Most notably was the work produced at the Keswick School of Industrial Arts, founded in 1884 by Canon Hardwicke and his wife, Edith Rawnsley, as an evening class in woodwork and repoussé metalwork at the Crosthwaite Parish Rooms, in Keswick, Cumbria. Hardwicke designed the curriculum to alleviate unemployment. The school prospered, and within 10 years more than 100 men had attended classes. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HYrElbWxv5l-pEyDKlha8axwTaJNWxo2YsIh8nhqC1UvYiaeE3CW65L3cYxbBj6yRclMVNWvLthvKgIfglfDXByltTe6V_NgBSX7HiPjsDK0KAwrvxeBKhPJP8JU6xKg-1KLXClwPVMcJjeUs9wxAGmIwoHeqCKeqxHu3QgWc-Dt1lQyYINlDbBT6ik/s523/repousse%20tray%20Keswick%20School.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="523" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HYrElbWxv5l-pEyDKlha8axwTaJNWxo2YsIh8nhqC1UvYiaeE3CW65L3cYxbBj6yRclMVNWvLthvKgIfglfDXByltTe6V_NgBSX7HiPjsDK0KAwrvxeBKhPJP8JU6xKg-1KLXClwPVMcJjeUs9wxAGmIwoHeqCKeqxHu3QgWc-Dt1lQyYINlDbBT6ik/w640-h270/repousse%20tray%20Keswick%20School.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcraJXljd95Q8fidi9mpc6TYolqeGTdZfKoqkXwOC4b4b_lcm_wUfnutMljwtvkqCsh7TNui2B1t7FqZj8TqOhh-tzKemwflAAH8fnHvFVntr6T3pMh6IyVXnyLFnuWmxGX-O94At-AZfMTU1ZewrxCiooCWnFE6Sc_kB2iN4-nYwCiLRmgyuGLlovBk/s480/repousse%20Keswick_School%20letter%20post%20box.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="480" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcraJXljd95Q8fidi9mpc6TYolqeGTdZfKoqkXwOC4b4b_lcm_wUfnutMljwtvkqCsh7TNui2B1t7FqZj8TqOhh-tzKemwflAAH8fnHvFVntr6T3pMh6IyVXnyLFnuWmxGX-O94At-AZfMTU1ZewrxCiooCWnFE6Sc_kB2iN4-nYwCiLRmgyuGLlovBk/s320/repousse%20Keswick_School%20letter%20post%20box.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The school prospered and swiftly developed a reputation for high quality copper and silver decorative metalwork. By 1888 nearly 70 men were attending the classes. By 1890 the school was exhibiting nationally and winning prizes; Its students numbering over 100, it had outgrown its cramped home in the parish rooms, forcing Rawnsley to raise funds for a purpose-built school nearby.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3LRM65cb_ujEQQR06PRRkvGF38hsHA2pomJptZ3yZN3KLZ-yyIKTQfwV4GyPbW-BXy3JdpnmZV0TnDm3OGbyBVCJtWwEiggEnFB7JjlU5FJojWqpzFSEfAR2FiyCx6iGM9WLB9L6XdzsTSRAnJqCTEOcoYhSMB-dRzd0Wv1yoZuh0-n1zZmNoLPYAJE/s432/repousse%20Newlyn%20inkstand.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="432" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3LRM65cb_ujEQQR06PRRkvGF38hsHA2pomJptZ3yZN3KLZ-yyIKTQfwV4GyPbW-BXy3JdpnmZV0TnDm3OGbyBVCJtWwEiggEnFB7JjlU5FJojWqpzFSEfAR2FiyCx6iGM9WLB9L6XdzsTSRAnJqCTEOcoYhSMB-dRzd0Wv1yoZuh0-n1zZmNoLPYAJE/s320/repousse%20Newlyn%20inkstand.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The Newlyn Industrial Class, later renamed the Newlyn Art Metal Industry, established in 1890 by John D. Mackensie, was similar to Keswick and shared a common purpose with it. Inspired by the teachings of John Ruskin, they aimed to provide a source of employment in small communities where work came and went with the seasons. At the Newlyn classes, held in a net loft above a fish-curing yard, the pupils were mainly fishermen, while at Keswick students were pencil makers, laborers, gardeners, shepherds, and tailors.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Both metal workshops specialized in the production of repoussé copper work, This technique and material was popular with amateur craftsmen and women across the country because it was easy to learn. A student placed a flat piece of copper face down on a bed of pitch, or, as in the Newlyn workshops, lead. These materials were chosen because they would yield to the force of the blows of the punch but would still </span><span style="font-family: arial;">support the metal. Once a student had punched the design out from the reverse, he or she turned the metal over and chased finer details on the front.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglS8hu4v-x3-dubylX0uOwvMikImh5F33ZDMAJbp0X6pWSatuPrNtFbDXWniwVHD3Royxhxl0IUsoBtCJLbqyDzL0hnW4O6ssW1lfqwY9H7878vSFEaw7KPUrlSf2VrmBJ5FDHdb27g00jnaZtZ_1SRhSNw6gNa3hcOSspqsgg7L9vx5ZNVsc4nyLruH0/s432/repousse%20Arts%20and%20Crafts.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="427" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglS8hu4v-x3-dubylX0uOwvMikImh5F33ZDMAJbp0X6pWSatuPrNtFbDXWniwVHD3Royxhxl0IUsoBtCJLbqyDzL0hnW4O6ssW1lfqwY9H7878vSFEaw7KPUrlSf2VrmBJ5FDHdb27g00jnaZtZ_1SRhSNw6gNa3hcOSspqsgg7L9vx5ZNVsc4nyLruH0/w198-h200/repousse%20Arts%20and%20Crafts.jpg" width="198" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "The Age of Photography" in the 2023 Holiday Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-66540433735250552752024-01-26T16:14:00.002-05:002024-01-26T16:14:24.966-05:00The Unique Sound of Antique Music Boxes<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jU8DPFTvqL-RPjBjhlRJuAqs2nh3E4STMA88xx1R5qeBve8CQeSG0LGv1njzTdDFdScVdEz1Qi5na_aZTphtCJO1BOP1hdSxXu7ViL3_0oU0SDHLsnplMxjYgdJi8wjceyehGk46qjHumhV_bpwjKTEQBwX2hcaBKbj74uVx42iusJUX0zhhPRdCAUw/s432/mechmusic%20disk%20music%20box%20Symphonion.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="392" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jU8DPFTvqL-RPjBjhlRJuAqs2nh3E4STMA88xx1R5qeBve8CQeSG0LGv1njzTdDFdScVdEz1Qi5na_aZTphtCJO1BOP1hdSxXu7ViL3_0oU0SDHLsnplMxjYgdJi8wjceyehGk46qjHumhV_bpwjKTEQBwX2hcaBKbj74uVx42iusJUX0zhhPRdCAUw/s320/mechmusic%20disk%20music%20box%20Symphonion.jpg" width="290" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION:</b> I attend several antique shows each year. While I may occasionally see one or two antique music boxes at one of these shows, I recently discovered a dealer at a smaller show that specialized in 19th and early 20th-century music boxes—both selling and restoring them. All the pieces he had at the show worked, and he played music from several of them for me. It was magical, nothing like the sound of today’s music. These weren’t the small music boxes found in jewelry boxes and such, but larger mechanical musical instruments. I was tempted to purchase one of them, but before I do, I’d like to know more about them. What can you tell me about these music boxes? Also, should I consider purchasing one of them?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> When people think of mechanical music, most think of music boxes. The early ones like the one you saw appeared probably after the Civil War. Most of the music boxes that collectors seek are either cylinder or disk music machines that were the home entertainment centers of the second half of the 19th century. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8oy9YbVFj9CXwc_mXj-mpFPYn0pNJsV_IohO0-GoboyV_lKFQCri89tigQZR6nugyHMhrocJQba9YTogGwVGl6jN-2LFPZgnsVDM2Ww6huKPLkfvl1iYqguQJv0V1JgNucfvsB5jqYbmjw3qR6PkdYcr6ibSDQabburxKvaQ3l1SP57NFJfXLuz9IcSU/s432/mechmusic%20antique%20carillon%20German.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="432" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8oy9YbVFj9CXwc_mXj-mpFPYn0pNJsV_IohO0-GoboyV_lKFQCri89tigQZR6nugyHMhrocJQba9YTogGwVGl6jN-2LFPZgnsVDM2Ww6huKPLkfvl1iYqguQJv0V1JgNucfvsB5jqYbmjw3qR6PkdYcr6ibSDQabburxKvaQ3l1SP57NFJfXLuz9IcSU/s320/mechmusic%20antique%20carillon%20German.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Mechanical music is a live performance of music, played by a machine, without any human intervention, except for winding it up or turning it off. The invention of mechanical music devices allowed people to enjoy music before electricity, when the only option was to attend a live performance or to create their own music.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Mechanical music dates back to the 14th century, with the invention of the carillon, which automatically played music on tuned bells actuated by hammers on levers by way of a pinned drum. Primarily used in churches to play hymns, the drum could be programmed to play different song selections by moving the pins from one location to another.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mVxIRZRipfPZutVzDAxCqRIh_SHgS2N4FiLNXKWDYDkGdUe8EBx05HSz5gg48xsEGnKTsJg4DIMTaaz4ahzeKFI-q-yPezpym_1qQ7T3hwW22MfG7_agtgugxtO6ezUet_UZ3LJwH-wvzQP9R-dEoq1hmNP8cHQo32-KvBe_usbK-ALxR_edQVbR5tw/s432/mechmusic%20pipe%20organ%2016th%20century.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="378" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mVxIRZRipfPZutVzDAxCqRIh_SHgS2N4FiLNXKWDYDkGdUe8EBx05HSz5gg48xsEGnKTsJg4DIMTaaz4ahzeKFI-q-yPezpym_1qQ7T3hwW22MfG7_agtgugxtO6ezUet_UZ3LJwH-wvzQP9R-dEoq1hmNP8cHQo32-KvBe_usbK-ALxR_edQVbR5tw/s320/mechmusic%20pipe%20organ%2016th%20century.jpg" width="280" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The mechanical pipe organ appeared in the 15th century. This instrument, through valves actuated by pins on the drum, allowed selected pipes to play organ music mechanically. During the 16th century, the mechanical pipe organ gained widespread popularity in Europe, and soon expanded beyond churches and public buildings. It became a must-have novelty for the wealthy. Eventually, cabinetmakers built desks and cabinets to encase carillons or pipe organs. These mechanical devices became so trendy for the well-to-do that famous musicians of the day, including Beethoven, Handel, and Mozart, wrote pieces specifically for them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The music produced by a cylinder music box comes from the "teeth" of a comb that vibrate when struck by tiny pins sticking out from the cylinder. David LeCoultre invented the cylinder music box around 1790, in Brassus, Switzerland.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZ5GhURILz3kNj7fqoXA-uLmjTNlqhpoNubrYZKOf4ksOHTNKFzJyIn1dFlA-fe6Xrn5it8MLs_6vUp278QwBeMx-LKC51d1hojZytTUJyDxjsZeFsiiyIVu6BV7UIlnfPN5iafIUwvivExY68xB_nelehrNbXqUNWpsRI32vAfmkhSE3Kb3tMNQPhFQ/s523/mechmusic%20LeCoultre%20cylinder%20music%20box.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="523" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZ5GhURILz3kNj7fqoXA-uLmjTNlqhpoNubrYZKOf4ksOHTNKFzJyIn1dFlA-fe6Xrn5it8MLs_6vUp278QwBeMx-LKC51d1hojZytTUJyDxjsZeFsiiyIVu6BV7UIlnfPN5iafIUwvivExY68xB_nelehrNbXqUNWpsRI32vAfmkhSE3Kb3tMNQPhFQ/s320/mechmusic%20LeCoultre%20cylinder%20music%20box.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It wasn’t until the late 18th century that mechanical music experienced any change. In 1796, Antoine Favre, a Geneva clockmaker, patented a device to make carillons play without bells or hammers. His invention paved the way for cylinder boxes, which had a comb of hard steel with a series of teeth or tiny tuning forks, which graduated from long and thick to short and thin. Pins placed on a rotating cylinder, which when moved laterally, plucked these teeth and produced different tunes. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtruxpl1zm3rB-v_He1OmtA63iMjC2nizzgiA2gAqqONjlitOyClgzOfpa2xw2xRtNb_mcsrmNd8Y8ycqjgW0pxmU0CaPPZxJTdoaPUdn43rviInHz9qTBOagRfjP56qrfe_5VJ7S-YjyzaTqkEMR92Uc6zPa-NG6UWO9VS2yOKlmbhkngtPfjSwwlZjM/s432/mechmusic%20cylinder%20music%20box%20French.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="432" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtruxpl1zm3rB-v_He1OmtA63iMjC2nizzgiA2gAqqONjlitOyClgzOfpa2xw2xRtNb_mcsrmNd8Y8ycqjgW0pxmU0CaPPZxJTdoaPUdn43rviInHz9qTBOagRfjP56qrfe_5VJ7S-YjyzaTqkEMR92Uc6zPa-NG6UWO9VS2yOKlmbhkngtPfjSwwlZjM/w640-h494/mechmusic%20cylinder%20music%20box%20French.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Between 1790 and 1820, the cylinder music box industry grew into an independent entity. Until 1875, it had been a cottage industry, with craftsmen working in their homes, assembling various parts and cases, or arranging musical compositions for use on cylinders. These parts were then taken to a main factory, such as one established by Vaucher FiIls Paillard in 1875, for assembling.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">During its infancy, the cylinder music box industry developed in Switzerland. Mermod Freres was the largest company that manufactured these cylinder instruments in St. Croix, Switzerland. In later ears, factories were also established in trance, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and other countries.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWlkvMERqv3R64_Rr7ZXqgg8ZxGulOFoIRmPMffnirp0NW0PN-o4v7l2dFEIyPIfw2O8UNip15E-3dZd4PNSvEkp5GMoHqDmlWwoayrLyr6k1_iQ-iNkq7-HsOSpdwbQsDyJQIdYOhjjsmpHer86N8VHwOgWY559Fj0VAauYcNgg0UhIwIhZjY8R4NJA/s432/mechmusic%20cylinder%20music%20box%20Swiss%201876.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="432" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWlkvMERqv3R64_Rr7ZXqgg8ZxGulOFoIRmPMffnirp0NW0PN-o4v7l2dFEIyPIfw2O8UNip15E-3dZd4PNSvEkp5GMoHqDmlWwoayrLyr6k1_iQ-iNkq7-HsOSpdwbQsDyJQIdYOhjjsmpHer86N8VHwOgWY559Fj0VAauYcNgg0UhIwIhZjY8R4NJA/w640-h510/mechmusic%20cylinder%20music%20box%20Swiss%201876.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Movements related to the cylinder music box were also parts of watches and clocks. Clockmakers began constructing cylinder boxes in the late 18th century and continued making them well into the late 19th century. Over time, the mechanical music industry saw many advances in technology. Eventually, manufacturers developed over 20 different musical effects by changing the size, placement, tuning, and arrangement of the pins on the cylinder. Most cylinder boxes reproduced music of either a mandolin or a piano forte. The first produced a softer more folksy sound while the second produced a louder bolder sound simulating an early piano. Most mandolin cylinder music boxes played only 4 to 6 tunes while the piano forte version played 12. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpHm4c5xQvbaw-PRidFw95lhZBZPCf2Fcmmg0lTDV2EhqRiTnpsfeLe4XZSW77EcsxH_xBhiwBT6xo6P4SGk6iWouXhEoZGtVDOcc-w-p4nCOR9bAO18Q0oNhDySZyrZAlCxOOVMrMH8MlciHwrfUswtElk8dMAI2IKlF7fkNLpuAD0Ofe0ckTINcRVU/s432/mechmusic%20Nicole%20Freres%20cylinder%20box%20detail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="432" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpHm4c5xQvbaw-PRidFw95lhZBZPCf2Fcmmg0lTDV2EhqRiTnpsfeLe4XZSW77EcsxH_xBhiwBT6xo6P4SGk6iWouXhEoZGtVDOcc-w-p4nCOR9bAO18Q0oNhDySZyrZAlCxOOVMrMH8MlciHwrfUswtElk8dMAI2IKlF7fkNLpuAD0Ofe0ckTINcRVU/w640-h460/mechmusic%20Nicole%20Freres%20cylinder%20box%20detail.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7hFxa5hghhwQbAYD7-IygkTv5VKnRcM7q5Fs0tnJjXOxHheYRs1r9Z49IrPXDJVjfnWszqvu6PlMTvLoXrHp7bFu-KgkaLHtLD5_d_BYUvgQTYHTnVt8SjHZyAcj1qwQ1rvqASH3BoSr-iqvbY2cCJ82so1LEwYhAejF-ORM-A4Q0Wvb3uODRfIVMsc/s432/mechmusic%20early%20LeCoultre%20music%20box%20Swiss.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="432" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7hFxa5hghhwQbAYD7-IygkTv5VKnRcM7q5Fs0tnJjXOxHheYRs1r9Z49IrPXDJVjfnWszqvu6PlMTvLoXrHp7bFu-KgkaLHtLD5_d_BYUvgQTYHTnVt8SjHZyAcj1qwQ1rvqASH3BoSr-iqvbY2cCJ82so1LEwYhAejF-ORM-A4Q0Wvb3uODRfIVMsc/w400-h304/mechmusic%20early%20LeCoultre%20music%20box%20Swiss.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">While interchangeable cylinders allowed for the playing of different tunes, it was a cumbersome process to change them. In the late 1880s, all that changed with the introduction in Germany of the disc musical box. This revolutionized the industry because instead of the slow and delicate process of inserting pins in cylinders, the discs could be stamped out by machine. Also, it was easy for people to change the discs on the machines, making it possible for them to hear the latest tunes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">From the last decade of the 18th century to the Civil War, music box cases were fairly plain. During the war, manufacturers began making more elaborate cases, with brass inlay work, tortoise shell, mother-of-pearl, and wood inlays. The instruments produced from 1870 to 1890 were also the most elegant.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5Ab1Jey9GJm536rtFCzxgmTx9tdOa-JZcRQ34-M7xngwj_pgV0C43DCROKNYp8wxFcIHBSyE-piPqHLdaD9PjRbo7tGvE4xfXl__Y3BOS-kSRZeiM_44_S1qfdf4NvMppo-tdt2ZaAaZMG-iFx4PnnlauZT2sEUNNKldfEogpsOSBWHa-lUed40UFtM/s432/mechmusic%20large%20disk%20music%20box%20Polyphon.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="326" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5Ab1Jey9GJm536rtFCzxgmTx9tdOa-JZcRQ34-M7xngwj_pgV0C43DCROKNYp8wxFcIHBSyE-piPqHLdaD9PjRbo7tGvE4xfXl__Y3BOS-kSRZeiM_44_S1qfdf4NvMppo-tdt2ZaAaZMG-iFx4PnnlauZT2sEUNNKldfEogpsOSBWHa-lUed40UFtM/w301-h400/mechmusic%20large%20disk%20music%20box%20Polyphon.jpg" width="301" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The end of the age of large cylinder instruments came between 1890 and 1914. The disk-type box, as made by Polyphon, Symphonion, Regina and others drove cylinder instruments from the marketplace. Mermod Freres produced some fine large cylinder instruments in the 1890s, but by 1920 the industry was dead. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">On disk boxes, spines jutting up from a flat steel disk played musical combs. Some of the disk boxes stood as high as 8 feet and were powered by a hand-cranked 30-foot spring that has enough power to start up a car.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Miguel Bloom, a resident of Haiti, patented in the United States what may have been the world's first disk music box. Other inventors improved upon his creation and produced the first interchangeable disk instrument in 1886. A spring-wound mechanism turned the two combs on the disk. The following year brought the </span><span style="font-family: arial;">creation of metal disks with projections beneath them that plucked music combs. In 1889, Paul Wendlend of the Symphonion Musikwerke, a German company, patented the star wheel, a mechanism used in most disk boxes made in later years.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTZXAhMroNSbHpJInSnHtM7_X1s_MY6Gci6jHUDgKH5xMvo2obA4UR8SBT74jmQtWoTnkkjXqp5wnu62FZMoytWvHHkPy0wSVaFNiig6Y70McWdwWOgU9k65sDzzZE4INjk38o4NHcDaYXfjtMA32Y7L0iBsHqHRUIlHi-uyXtcpdoH9MAN7LBBmhjiY/s432/mechmusic%20disk%20German%201880.jpg" style="clear: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="432" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTZXAhMroNSbHpJInSnHtM7_X1s_MY6Gci6jHUDgKH5xMvo2obA4UR8SBT74jmQtWoTnkkjXqp5wnu62FZMoytWvHHkPy0wSVaFNiig6Y70McWdwWOgU9k65sDzzZE4INjk38o4NHcDaYXfjtMA32Y7L0iBsHqHRUIlHi-uyXtcpdoH9MAN7LBBmhjiY/w640-h492/mechmusic%20disk%20German%201880.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Mermod Freres, a manufacturer active during most of the 19th century, was one of the few companies that made both cylinder and disk instruments. The company made the Stella and Mira disk boxes during the 1890s. The company built the cabinets in oak in furniture styles popular in the United States at that time. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xHPZBoolSQ1xebUlzBUq2Q3W3gJGpxIiJuhFa3ghJ4UtUZRNBj0cC3u8CEabjT07vcgeZnap8GtkNYBQVQpDJJ-1J5xIya1miNjOXWHlMykShNq6uXIrD5DKF4vQAF5lZAy3CR05Be29uKspGn2KBz_T8a5ggM_2GCBg6lzSu1pCX4QSqvukyYHPVGE/s523/mechmusic%20Mermod%20Freres%20Swiss.JPG" style="clear: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="523" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xHPZBoolSQ1xebUlzBUq2Q3W3gJGpxIiJuhFa3ghJ4UtUZRNBj0cC3u8CEabjT07vcgeZnap8GtkNYBQVQpDJJ-1J5xIya1miNjOXWHlMykShNq6uXIrD5DKF4vQAF5lZAy3CR05Be29uKspGn2KBz_T8a5ggM_2GCBg6lzSu1pCX4QSqvukyYHPVGE/w640-h462/mechmusic%20Mermod%20Freres%20Swiss.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-7EoMGXeW7odnLq_X6TG-3KU1RnbKuaceHyvR8U2s-PcJqU5aHR7jY5eVhm-i9x1BNoD5_ex3VZYMFBsiLJJyLn5_I2SyfDMY_o4q2LxJePI6sdLJjbfuXPAkH15GkxRASapsnO4IBB8BBNBU2VkrSNOj40op9vfuqJzLEkDNxMv5U_mQEjAkhmvaPE/s523/mechmusic%20large%20disk%20music%20box%20Regina.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="523" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-7EoMGXeW7odnLq_X6TG-3KU1RnbKuaceHyvR8U2s-PcJqU5aHR7jY5eVhm-i9x1BNoD5_ex3VZYMFBsiLJJyLn5_I2SyfDMY_o4q2LxJePI6sdLJjbfuXPAkH15GkxRASapsnO4IBB8BBNBU2VkrSNOj40op9vfuqJzLEkDNxMv5U_mQEjAkhmvaPE/w400-h268/mechmusic%20large%20disk%20music%20box%20Regina.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The Regina Music Company. incorporated in 1894 in Rahway, New Jersey, soon became an important manufacturer of disk-type boxes in the U.S. Symphonion, Polyphon, and Regina captured about 90 percent of the market. An original stand-up model Regina that originally sold for $300 in the 1890s now sells for around $5,000. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Collecting antique cylinder or disc music boxes can be a costly affair. Plus, they take up as much room as a large piece of furniture in many cases. However, purchasing one or two can add a nostalgic atmosphere to your home.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "The Age of Photography" in the 2023 Holiday Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div><br /></div>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-17848290933940815782024-01-19T16:08:00.001-05:002024-01-19T16:08:21.117-05:00What Goes Around Comes Around<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8mSKlPDfZO6cSlpGWiyfIYX61d4-zTTdhKtmQWLfKRDw_Pa8PUAxE6s6bsQnDVSje_OhZ5jAxYLRliOpWarLOC4ncU1FJbWIzHeCY71ZD2jBRdcmX_35k05Lx7q9PoAt8qScVUVwtqGZ91oiRSfhdH0U3adzqUDCyEXRoCPkbGQXEoFVmkTYdWtTNHU/s288/kitchengadgets1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="288" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8mSKlPDfZO6cSlpGWiyfIYX61d4-zTTdhKtmQWLfKRDw_Pa8PUAxE6s6bsQnDVSje_OhZ5jAxYLRliOpWarLOC4ncU1FJbWIzHeCY71ZD2jBRdcmX_35k05Lx7q9PoAt8qScVUVwtqGZ91oiRSfhdH0U3adzqUDCyEXRoCPkbGQXEoFVmkTYdWtTNHU/s1600/kitchengadgets1.jpg" width="288" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION:</b> For the last couple of years, I’ve been buying vintage kitchen utensils. At first, I had planned to use them to decorate my Mid-Century Modern kitchen, but I got hooked on them and now purchase them not only at flea markets but online. Some I recognize, others I don’t. What types of gadgets did women use in their kitchen? And are these old utensils worth collecting?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> Kitchen gadgets are a popular collectible. And what’s interesting about them is that most are still usable in today’s kitchen. Even with all the electric and electronic devices available today, there are just some things that need to be done by hand, preferably with some sort of gadget. The proliferation of gadgets advertised on T.V., the Internet, and social media attests to this.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZkR9M4raeHnJ2oeGA71nE1KEabguodkRm9btvLEMoQ47XjAu38omYdf3qIYG4q7pto7-pXvWTUCZ2Hk5gCcrKM8xSm0__AqaCkWNLug7cRmaUgZc75YvxQ3DUzi0_XJ1psulbjwAOOUH8R-5VuadFcWg6ZZdFkPxDL5IuBy0Bln_na1YDaPDdfEtK4I/s432/kitchengadgets%20mincer.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="373" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZkR9M4raeHnJ2oeGA71nE1KEabguodkRm9btvLEMoQ47XjAu38omYdf3qIYG4q7pto7-pXvWTUCZ2Hk5gCcrKM8xSm0__AqaCkWNLug7cRmaUgZc75YvxQ3DUzi0_XJ1psulbjwAOOUH8R-5VuadFcWg6ZZdFkPxDL5IuBy0Bln_na1YDaPDdfEtK4I/w277-h320/kitchengadgets%20mincer.jpg" width="277" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">There are dozens of quirky looking utensils—graters, slicers, ice cream scoops, ice picks, juicers, peelers, sharpeners, mashers, ricers, strainers, sifters, scoops, scales, and ladles. The list is almost endless.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">All these utensils—from food mincers, pitters, and corers to spiral whisks and jar lifters—eased even the most basic of a housewife's culinary chores. Ingenious kitchen gadgets made exacting tasks—such as defining the outer edges of a pie crust with a pie crimper—a pleasure. Colored handles added to their attraction.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">During the late 19th century, the modernization of the American kitchen had begun. The kitchen was a place where families gathered informally to cook and bake, make butter, can and preserve fruits and vegetables, peel potatoes, dry herbs, and wash dishes. And it took a variety of utensils to complete these jobs.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnL0OieKb_fA82PdkrlaNK3cNXfzNTH7DbmZuTrnWWwn5bXvCD4eAFy78_Jgfc-CGca_wHqK16i-k0PzITWIkKaxy_eJNK-qAq45jFfMPykk_zP9ImyXNlhqxKc4gXrmoZRkTn9l9zp3uFwpPwQ_A4eab1skwN9axsIDXjm0WKP8VdMOJPL2fHhCz67s/s523/kitchengadgets%20early%2020th%20cent%20kitchen.jpg" style="clear: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="523" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnL0OieKb_fA82PdkrlaNK3cNXfzNTH7DbmZuTrnWWwn5bXvCD4eAFy78_Jgfc-CGca_wHqK16i-k0PzITWIkKaxy_eJNK-qAq45jFfMPykk_zP9ImyXNlhqxKc4gXrmoZRkTn9l9zp3uFwpPwQ_A4eab1skwN9axsIDXjm0WKP8VdMOJPL2fHhCz67s/w640-h572/kitchengadgets%20early%2020th%20cent%20kitchen.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlMAE_ssr2HdP78tDAtjoEv_NOCtbCdlCQ0Q4kde9H0Pn_mJgxGsbQ7Fsp7X8PdFBB-kcOBYhmQ-PJTZc8Z8-Li7r84qp3QNwhD1A7Cz_hBu3Amk79xZ8z8reJ_b8FwjnlFVYb5bVs-YyDr0A4rzFe42k5gJW-P_MWBFO2FzI764imj4_KEgkyvhN-3A/s523/kitchengadgets%20A%20ad%20K%20utensils.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="523" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlMAE_ssr2HdP78tDAtjoEv_NOCtbCdlCQ0Q4kde9H0Pn_mJgxGsbQ7Fsp7X8PdFBB-kcOBYhmQ-PJTZc8Z8-Li7r84qp3QNwhD1A7Cz_hBu3Amk79xZ8z8reJ_b8FwjnlFVYb5bVs-YyDr0A4rzFe42k5gJW-P_MWBFO2FzI764imj4_KEgkyvhN-3A/w200-h165/kitchengadgets%20A%20ad%20K%20utensils.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">From the 1920's through the 1940's, large and small companies manufactured hundreds of these gadgets, trying to help make kitchen work easier and more colorful. Brightly painted cooking utensils of the 1920s brought the first dab of color into American kitchens. Apple green led the cutlery color wheel, followed by Mandarin red. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnlzlbY4ob5x92NbJz84rqFJGg8LYM_CbMeTiu5ppvgE08_-Yazq69EhJ_lilCQ-8L3TVG6DDGh1BST_BNdrsM1irBi3zRAfzVmzBpbq1k7PuWrKcKAZLrPEvgCg1qXqEqHGHApeMbUDXhVS_pdsxKruFaec4KQDR8xp4K_9q6wTzqDAxaNAniPQvzNw/s288/kitchenutensils3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="255" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnlzlbY4ob5x92NbJz84rqFJGg8LYM_CbMeTiu5ppvgE08_-Yazq69EhJ_lilCQ-8L3TVG6DDGh1BST_BNdrsM1irBi3zRAfzVmzBpbq1k7PuWrKcKAZLrPEvgCg1qXqEqHGHApeMbUDXhVS_pdsxKruFaec4KQDR8xp4K_9q6wTzqDAxaNAniPQvzNw/s1600/kitchenutensils3.jpg" width="255" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">What could be better than homemade pie with homemade crust? Most pie crimpers had wooden handles and resembled small versions of today's pizza cutters Whalers often carved them of whale ivory for their wives and sweethearts back home. By the 20th century, makers introduced metal with the wood. Of course, there were many other baking gadgets like dough blenders, pie lifters, rolling pins, and spatulas. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Before food processors and electric beaters, there were efficient hand and mechanical beaters. Among these were a variety of wooden handled spiral whisks, flat wire whips, and, of course, those very efficient rotary beaters. The forerunner to the food processor was the glass pitcher beater which came in variety of shapes and sizes.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oPUpfDvFTbqv5soWymIfP5vjNI_NDcinmui69G9EF0L4PMINd0CH_jv8QOQbSe8PfP7IZAATF7kx4e7Ca9Q7CodusDv6xuQ0kPegSUw5ZN9Tyd2vGeuxUg11G5bK53Qve8gslOnuFqmEUVzERWiVDNXq3PH7OOCNOOnxbj6hhp7aGE12L1j3InRvEqg/s523/kitchengadget%20spiral%20whisk.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="523" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oPUpfDvFTbqv5soWymIfP5vjNI_NDcinmui69G9EF0L4PMINd0CH_jv8QOQbSe8PfP7IZAATF7kx4e7Ca9Q7CodusDv6xuQ0kPegSUw5ZN9Tyd2vGeuxUg11G5bK53Qve8gslOnuFqmEUVzERWiVDNXq3PH7OOCNOOnxbj6hhp7aGE12L1j3InRvEqg/w640-h246/kitchengadget%20spiral%20whisk.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79tn8kkJEOfiELUfznhZkdM8ctlKz7vLz6OYyccT1WzWfcGAU3PlCpudtol3PzGB9xb7a5MFi8bYfBB5I5HBEy50fEH-K0ziJoUbP5l8tGpSkXpc24VTXyc7cPcfhuESCJMV6gbo6ezY3U5OiSXs6PDJM8zFFNWvtpxMzbUQe31REd6qvdGLEtW5alQ4/s432/kitchengadgets%20glass%20beater.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="244" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79tn8kkJEOfiELUfznhZkdM8ctlKz7vLz6OYyccT1WzWfcGAU3PlCpudtol3PzGB9xb7a5MFi8bYfBB5I5HBEy50fEH-K0ziJoUbP5l8tGpSkXpc24VTXyc7cPcfhuESCJMV6gbo6ezY3U5OiSXs6PDJM8zFFNWvtpxMzbUQe31REd6qvdGLEtW5alQ4/s320/kitchengadgets%20glass%20beater.jpg" width="181" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Old choppers and mincers had wooden handles and stainless steel curved blades. Many of the old ones, made of glass, wood, or steel, were more durable. Some glass jar choppers and mincers had handles to turn, making the work easier and faster. Of course, cooks also used grinders mounted to the corner of the kitchen table. Simply by putting almost anything into the wide opening at the top and turning the handle, they could grind meat, nuts, and berries.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Department stores such as Abraham & Straus, Macy's,, and Wanamaker's led the market selling colorful vintage utensils and other kitchen paraphernalia. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Many small businesses produced these labor-saving utensils. One of the most notable was A & J Manufacturing Company of Binghamton, New York. Colored utensils from A & J can be found at flea markets and antique shops and shows simply because these products proliferated nationally and internationally in the kitchen-cutlery market for nearly 40 years.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SM-j6JFY9JKTkgXMDzOAMVpucs2RpZyd1b7DNr76hu0MZsT2N18G12In6ZmgtXQkk0dcakTK_DLQ8453hACXSKsfXNnFBwSJjw5tWa9m3Y2O_wjGiWKO9r7hjZ2xqHmRWZ9HluUJwMnkSV7xhO0TgGQunVWG8hW-q_H5tPZcZ1ikBFnt6Da0Ua9AKy8/s262/kitchenutensils1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="193" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SM-j6JFY9JKTkgXMDzOAMVpucs2RpZyd1b7DNr76hu0MZsT2N18G12In6ZmgtXQkk0dcakTK_DLQ8453hACXSKsfXNnFBwSJjw5tWa9m3Y2O_wjGiWKO9r7hjZ2xqHmRWZ9HluUJwMnkSV7xhO0TgGQunVWG8hW-q_H5tPZcZ1ikBFnt6Da0Ua9AKy8/s1600/kitchenutensils1.jpg" width="193" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">A & J began humbly in 1909 in the homes of Benjamin T. Ash and Edward H. Johnson, who lived in rural upstate New York. After creating and marketing their first product—a one-handed eggbeater—they added numerous other kitchen gadgets with natural wooden handles to their product line. By 1918, A & J had moved to a commercial building and employed 200 workers who cranked out some four million tools annually.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yAUY_rrHe-4ZIH8z-xJxARPc1wS2vqARoEuIXIaR5EKUPRyU7Z_TFA1ogcDmywy1bZBLS24pih2JQO1QTJrB_O_ymGaOD6j4s10SengkxO9NyC5NfipKw3JvngK6jFZQbrqMyXPRLsGcgbabY4BUJa3SAUboeIJNbyFzqHkNW-YD6P1mCI1OStz1_uk/s432/kitchengadgets%20pitter.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="281" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yAUY_rrHe-4ZIH8z-xJxARPc1wS2vqARoEuIXIaR5EKUPRyU7Z_TFA1ogcDmywy1bZBLS24pih2JQO1QTJrB_O_ymGaOD6j4s10SengkxO9NyC5NfipKw3JvngK6jFZQbrqMyXPRLsGcgbabY4BUJa3SAUboeIJNbyFzqHkNW-YD6P1mCI1OStz1_uk/w260-h400/kitchengadgets%20pitter.jpg" width="260" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The company was the first to offer knives, spatulas, ladles, and other items in one package. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">These early 20th-century kitchen gadgets have a strong relationship to today’s “As-seen-on-TV” gadgets, advertised on many of the retro channels. Take the one-hand blender. Except for its streamlined shape and lack of a colored handle, it’s very similar to Ash’s and West’s one-handed eggbeater. It puts a new spin on the old saying, “What goes around comes around.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "The Age of Photography" in the 2023 Holiday Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><div><br /></div>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-26673777679807714682024-01-11T14:44:00.005-05:002024-01-11T14:44:49.649-05:00What Exactly is a Pier Table?<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8B7jkzXDIuvMW1VFXIWVsVMfTcbF-uPGFo3CVjQB51Qwra6UpLLPoDKipL3Cd77EshEzbzabJvboc6FGTdQgBl-UzoA9BuT63x668DuAbm_M0fCCF5K2vD7X1jXkNDklTQC4qVCSWpGqRLV9c4kf0doKk11FMT_oh0K4tGMM9c6sPWnVoxsi5XdNGi0/s300/pier%20table3,jpg.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="300" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8B7jkzXDIuvMW1VFXIWVsVMfTcbF-uPGFo3CVjQB51Qwra6UpLLPoDKipL3Cd77EshEzbzabJvboc6FGTdQgBl-UzoA9BuT63x668DuAbm_M0fCCF5K2vD7X1jXkNDklTQC4qVCSWpGqRLV9c4kf0doKk11FMT_oh0K4tGMM9c6sPWnVoxsi5XdNGi0/s1600/pier%20table3,jpg.jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION: </b>I like to visit historic houses. Invariably, the first stop is by a narrow table in the main hall. Next to it usually stands a hall tree. The docent usually begins by telling us that the women of the house would stand in front of this narrow table and adjust their petticoats using the mirror placed behind it. This seems like a plausible explanation. When and how did this practice begin? And why is the table called a “pier” table? According to the dictionary, a pier is a structure leading from the shore out to sea, used as a boat landing or for entertainment. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER: </b>The English language can be complicated. There are many words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings. Over time, the word “peer,” meaning to look through a window with difficulty, may have been confused with the word “pier,” a seaside structure used for landing boats or for entertainment. Since most people coming to the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries spoke a different language—even British English was different than American English—it’s only natural that along the way, the two words got confused. It’s also likely that because a pier table juts out from the wall that it resembled a pier jutting out from the shore.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhlo6OOmXmXyoVCv_6_K14PiLyaNRtF4FMQCHfHjEKGQ4wUE9ShudWoQRCZ6nXwwnCBweLdn9LB31Y15KRAvbfY_0iSkkEkwMulcpjz-4BZoQLGAay6ogB4DKYbfDWBd3GmJDyHRJgPVNjoi4_Y8U7cl1jivBodNV-D691_M4s1iBkQgpZUZzrRluT5w/s432/pier%20table%20in%20pier%20with%20pier%20mirror.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="249" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhlo6OOmXmXyoVCv_6_K14PiLyaNRtF4FMQCHfHjEKGQ4wUE9ShudWoQRCZ6nXwwnCBweLdn9LB31Y15KRAvbfY_0iSkkEkwMulcpjz-4BZoQLGAay6ogB4DKYbfDWBd3GmJDyHRJgPVNjoi4_Y8U7cl1jivBodNV-D691_M4s1iBkQgpZUZzrRluT5w/w230-h400/pier%20table%20in%20pier%20with%20pier%20mirror.jpg" width="230" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Docents in historic houses always seem to have interesting stories about the furniture in them. One of these concerns the pier table. Supposedly, Southern women would stop in front of it and check the mirror below it to see if their petticoats were showing before going out. However, there are two things wrong with this story. First, the table did not appear primarily in the South, and second, women of the 19th century did no such thing. A woman of the time wouldn’t have been caught dead adjusting her undergarments in a public area of her house. Besides that, the architecture of the table, with the top projecting forward, well out over the mirror, prevents anyone, male or female from actually seeing beyond the area of their feet.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So what exactly is a pier table? Simply, it’s a low, usually narrow table that stands in the pier, or wall section between two windows, often in the parlor of a wealthier person’s house. Cabinetmakers often made them in pairs of expensive woods, such as mahogany, rosewood, and giltwood. Unfortunately, ill informed curators of historic homes—originally wealthy women who joined groups who raised money to restore and manage historic homes—had heard the story of the pier table and placed it in the main hall where it didn’t belong in the first place. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-zAFD89bvVb8EZrSASrIAepw3wltqRF_1z7kTJDkUK6ZCkqORUI-j0r6K9ITKnzV-kCQXYdnJu1xptbljdwSCKnetcaY-Lbu1qi9fHOk-4p4mD1YC2Plxlq2SJ5D97C5UHPWAiHg7seAwLCV2I9yPhUI-g9qt-IWTQe5JvXMVfLutoEKt8INe21qPaA/s576/pier%20tables%20Federal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="576" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-zAFD89bvVb8EZrSASrIAepw3wltqRF_1z7kTJDkUK6ZCkqORUI-j0r6K9ITKnzV-kCQXYdnJu1xptbljdwSCKnetcaY-Lbu1qi9fHOk-4p4mD1YC2Plxlq2SJ5D97C5UHPWAiHg7seAwLCV2I9yPhUI-g9qt-IWTQe5JvXMVfLutoEKt8INe21qPaA/w640-h388/pier%20tables%20Federal.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The pier table first appeared in continental Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries and became popular in England in the last quarter of the 17th century. The first known use of such a table in America was in 1765 and remained popular until the mid 19th century.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5wo9E1XpuUJ1sAhj_dKQeGZDWOjEBqnx9ve7VTxYYUDSavdyMfBAHMEJ5oaBWkEezik6S2JTJ2K62Wa7kPBmenOQaL85AIgeNY8K2PXDfLpSwkOkzM8bPvtkTcqqJXFmIsTo6x-HcOlYehQ7SzU_VOD-p0UvXH1UAfjBeA2kwVvHML937rK3SUknqFk/s432/pier%20table%20Philadelphia%201825%20showing%20floor.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5wo9E1XpuUJ1sAhj_dKQeGZDWOjEBqnx9ve7VTxYYUDSavdyMfBAHMEJ5oaBWkEezik6S2JTJ2K62Wa7kPBmenOQaL85AIgeNY8K2PXDfLpSwkOkzM8bPvtkTcqqJXFmIsTo6x-HcOlYehQ7SzU_VOD-p0UvXH1UAfjBeA2kwVvHML937rK3SUknqFk/s320/pier%20table%20Philadelphia%201825%20showing%20floor.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">During the Regency Period from 1800 to 1830, a pier table had a mirror mounted between its back legs against the wall, or sometimes above it. The purpose of the mirror was to reflect the light around the room, not to check petticoats. The mirrors were often slightly angled towards the ceiling in order to catch as much light as possible, thus precipitating the fictional account. The extensive use of concave looking glasses in the 18th century and mirrors in the 19th century bounced the dim light from oil lamps around the room, increasing overall brightness. The mirror also reflected the pattern in the tile or carpet and helped make the room feel larger.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Eventually, pier tables became symbols of wealth. Reflecting light around a room on highly-polished surfaces, including mirrors, glass, crystal pendants on chandeliers, or fine wood surfaces, was a way of demonstrating wealth. It dazzled the eye and demonstrated a great deal of labor from servants who maintained that high degree of cleanliness.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1n-yvhIZ7634JlgTEDJx4JsKZFr5qpCPPHwwkcXkHMCvlbW5NBXTws6ErGbPsd7qVxGlh2FwF9-W89cG-WFJw40040Qcnwb6yIyVNifVTklCGlqYMhGeQTMQ51wQwVykBIHXbbU1nW7VEoq0IRTCCrK4NgbvTkc8yhsI2fR26nJs7djyee7Zz2z0KHA/s432/pier%20table%20Regency.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="432" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1n-yvhIZ7634JlgTEDJx4JsKZFr5qpCPPHwwkcXkHMCvlbW5NBXTws6ErGbPsd7qVxGlh2FwF9-W89cG-WFJw40040Qcnwb6yIyVNifVTklCGlqYMhGeQTMQ51wQwVykBIHXbbU1nW7VEoq0IRTCCrK4NgbvTkc8yhsI2fR26nJs7djyee7Zz2z0KHA/w320-h288/pier%20table%20Regency.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">At the beginning of the 19th century, cabinetmakers around Philadelphia usually produced pier tables in the Chippendale style. They used Chippendale’s English design and traditional construction techniques since most had been trained by English cabinetmakers. The table became an American staple in larger homes during the Federal Period in the early 19th century, primarily in the Northern states, not in the South. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj567nmr9YRCgXRJVA9nPjEyDqFxSAcQ1_iJevEGhDE5jTgoSvhPAMMkJKKHmMaqKNWk9Lz_upat9bDXOIRDV3h3XoBrcW97x5Hu9xCYrl1ErYhrG8v5Ku3LldxLNm0dA2-nVl0UA3ZQaGURqqhFCEVD3SIa0BFdBjaEvU0Tlx72azdp2fiVK5DrHrG0A8/s432/pier%20table%20Classical%20Charles%20and%20John%20White%201830.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="432" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj567nmr9YRCgXRJVA9nPjEyDqFxSAcQ1_iJevEGhDE5jTgoSvhPAMMkJKKHmMaqKNWk9Lz_upat9bDXOIRDV3h3XoBrcW97x5Hu9xCYrl1ErYhrG8v5Ku3LldxLNm0dA2-nVl0UA3ZQaGURqqhFCEVD3SIa0BFdBjaEvU0Tlx72azdp2fiVK5DrHrG0A8/s320/pier%20table%20Classical%20Charles%20and%20John%20White%201830.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The most commonly seen example of the table is in the Classical style of the early 1800s, usually with a marble top and columns of some sort—often also marble—at each corner supporting the heavy top. But why a marble top on a hall table? These tables were almost always 30-inches high, the exact height of a dining room table. As such, they could be used in the dining room as an extra serving space without fear of damage from hot plates on the marble top.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The pier table reached it decorative zenith in the Empire period of the 1820s at the hands of such designers as Charles Honoré Lannuier, Thomas Hope and Joseph Meeks. The use of gilded caryatids—winged, female figures from Greek architecture—were frequently used as columns. Meeks used a set of lyres at each end to support the top.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRN0mus2rNYXXD6LQ8fS4_NXIkH2D0MHWYSlmtkHkeLUCWyBqf_Abim9LiCeaTtmUoBv0wGHrtKuxNpY09kyMRtshfKuMcYvqSInMa72EsT3c8Snl_wcUz33PjGHC3X1h0TZ3Mh-VfOGLCvKgmQwALWI_aHlXW9fpzK9bs76_lchIqtScaobngvM9SZ4/s523/pier%20table%20lannier.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="523" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRN0mus2rNYXXD6LQ8fS4_NXIkH2D0MHWYSlmtkHkeLUCWyBqf_Abim9LiCeaTtmUoBv0wGHrtKuxNpY09kyMRtshfKuMcYvqSInMa72EsT3c8Snl_wcUz33PjGHC3X1h0TZ3Mh-VfOGLCvKgmQwALWI_aHlXW9fpzK9bs76_lchIqtScaobngvM9SZ4/w640-h494/pier%20table%20lannier.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIy37wPQlDMlCEE6_TSUAN3l-DGmFULb0wAC6_61l7WG8B5zIHIwBVi6T48LPFrV5g1_P75HDr1kdN654r-_eFTmr-Y4fcFFEJSCmat7rU4OpgNCsHFZxO2h_aX1G39qzVrHvsPYbzP6JiiDY5mcaaIg-z9A_s1NwzIv3iuD332sV6jzJS4Dx4q5nnOiw/s332/pier%20table4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="332" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIy37wPQlDMlCEE6_TSUAN3l-DGmFULb0wAC6_61l7WG8B5zIHIwBVi6T48LPFrV5g1_P75HDr1kdN654r-_eFTmr-Y4fcFFEJSCmat7rU4OpgNCsHFZxO2h_aX1G39qzVrHvsPYbzP6JiiDY5mcaaIg-z9A_s1NwzIv3iuD332sV6jzJS4Dx4q5nnOiw/s320/pier%20table4.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">One of the greatest designers of pier tables was French ébéniste Charles-Honoré Lannuier, who emigrated in 1803 and became one of the leading furniture makers in New York. Trained in Paris, he rose to fame during the American Federal Period. After the Revolutionary War and War of 1812, anti-English sentiment made French goods especially appealing to Americans. Lannuier imported French pattern books to keep abreast of the latest Napoleonic style. His work featured robustly carved and gilded caryatid supports, carved dolphin feet, and elaborate gilt-bronze ormolu mounts. And while not every wealthy person could afford a Lannuier pier table, his tables reached the height of design excellence in the first two decades of the 19th century.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltCCTA4SuHn97cMQRLS-AMyCfk4vwpe4X_t5tGuQ8BHLapNlF5vUPdUg7uXf9VnyPoKsG0vUbrUH0EeJ1AtGkqHctRFEKX2dmp8Wl8AH79362CHaAGT85cy8Sd5eTAN4e78Hlf8cMVZTmoBUDb0K2P6TRE6uy4Kji0ImXZDqwxUQfPNEBWzJjLMjhS-o/s432/pier%20table%20Meeks%20lyre.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="432" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltCCTA4SuHn97cMQRLS-AMyCfk4vwpe4X_t5tGuQ8BHLapNlF5vUPdUg7uXf9VnyPoKsG0vUbrUH0EeJ1AtGkqHctRFEKX2dmp8Wl8AH79362CHaAGT85cy8Sd5eTAN4e78Hlf8cMVZTmoBUDb0K2P6TRE6uy4Kji0ImXZDqwxUQfPNEBWzJjLMjhS-o/s320/pier%20table%20Meeks%20lyre.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">After the Empire period, the Late Classicism style prevailed in the 1840s and 1850s with its large cyma curves, scrolled supports and undecorated expanses of crotch-cut mahogany veneer. This is the table that was frequently associated with the Southern plantation and the petticoat myth.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">After the Civil War, the pier table came to be known as a console table, and that’s when it began appearing in the foyers and front hallways of houses of the wealthy. Generally speaking, console tables stood higher than their pier table counterparts. They also usually didn’t have mirrors behind them as lighting technology had greatly improved since the beginning of the 19th century. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "The Age of Photography" in the 2023 Holiday Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-76873609002161722582024-01-02T14:41:00.003-05:002024-01-02T14:42:08.918-05:00The Charm of Russian Nesting Dolls<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHWmSKWi4cGxyc8ojSNmQLheRj6sTHh9jv4lKRnYN1VLOWHTx6RMjYruF2pGiskdUh6LlYksDUp-hwJR3Y9OyJPRQ1r65jlrqZUNp1UvKWwoW0VVAsObldWdZ10s_W2BElFgU916gpVkZU22YFmRHFajbUyhVaPhyphenhyphencypmuM9TIvI37aoGS7igHdeC_MM/s251/matryoshka%20dolls2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="251" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHWmSKWi4cGxyc8ojSNmQLheRj6sTHh9jv4lKRnYN1VLOWHTx6RMjYruF2pGiskdUh6LlYksDUp-hwJR3Y9OyJPRQ1r65jlrqZUNp1UvKWwoW0VVAsObldWdZ10s_W2BElFgU916gpVkZU22YFmRHFajbUyhVaPhyphenhyphencypmuM9TIvI37aoGS7igHdeC_MM/s1600/matryoshka%20dolls2.jpg" width="251" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION:</b> My introduction to Russian nesting dolls occurred on a trip to Russia. Vendors selling wooden dolls in a variety of sizes and themes seemed to be everywhere. I purchased several sets of dolls and would perhaps like to collect them. When and where did they originate? Are they valuable? And are there different kinds?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> Those are all good questions. First, the correct name for your Russian nesting dolls is Matryoshka dolls. And while they’re commonly associated with Russia, they didn’t originate there. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A professional artist and folk crafts painter named Sergei Malyutin, who worked on the Abramtsevo estate of Savva I. Mamontovas, as a Russian industrialist, made the first sketches of a nesting doll based on a nesting toy featuring the Seven Gods of Fortune his wife brought home from a visit to Honshu, Japan, in the latter part of the 19th century. However, the Japanese say that it was a Russian monk who first brought the idea of making nesting dolls to Japan.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCuKbpixztjg9Hed1utDkpgy8vVDxU4AVBl9tvTywlLjsNMG7kzm1Ui5LZaCCgS6496Wgwg9drAub3G96CfDDg43WJhpiyud5VLSpEoGrP5-levDCYEZKyfR4OEsy41080m23OhTG8r4Ox9t-djIhuN5ZpbETLpGfZK085sz_KJkQkJ7BbAp0WTvt1FZE/s523/matryoshka%20first%20doll%20set.jpg" style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="523" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCuKbpixztjg9Hed1utDkpgy8vVDxU4AVBl9tvTywlLjsNMG7kzm1Ui5LZaCCgS6496Wgwg9drAub3G96CfDDg43WJhpiyud5VLSpEoGrP5-levDCYEZKyfR4OEsy41080m23OhTG8r4Ox9t-djIhuN5ZpbETLpGfZK085sz_KJkQkJ7BbAp0WTvt1FZE/w640-h450/matryoshka%20first%20doll%20set.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFAeDx4vTyE5xLcj3v0wBStFmfhpjI-Yso-CCvk6eV_VoipLmui2jl84yMEf3dQq9gCxQQmnyFoDRnhtOCQNk7JkMPRv7h6Sqmgjhoey_F44MW3aYWrERhINCDnEEpllp8TFAEDJQhlTnr7gAQcFe0pMClcN_m5P4syiBCViPkWNUNV5PUQMC53C6_pI/s415/matryoshka%20dolls%20st.%20nicholas%20antique.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="415" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFAeDx4vTyE5xLcj3v0wBStFmfhpjI-Yso-CCvk6eV_VoipLmui2jl84yMEf3dQq9gCxQQmnyFoDRnhtOCQNk7JkMPRv7h6Sqmgjhoey_F44MW3aYWrERhINCDnEEpllp8TFAEDJQhlTnr7gAQcFe0pMClcN_m5P4syiBCViPkWNUNV5PUQMC53C6_pI/s320/matryoshka%20dolls%20st.%20nicholas%20antique.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"> Zvyozdochkin carved the first Russian nested doll set in 1890 at the Children's Education Workshop, created to make and sell children’s toys. Mamontov's brother, Anatoly Ivanovich created the Children's Education Workshop to make and sell children's toys. Malyutin painted the doll set which consisted of eight dolls—the outermost of which was a mother dressed in a kerchief and work apron holding a red-combed rooster. The inner dolls were her children, girls and a boy, and the innermost a baby. Each carried items of Russian peasant life—a basket, a sickle, a bowl of porridge, a broom, and a younger sibling in tow. Nestled in the center was a baby swaddled in a patchwork quilt. The toy workshop named her Matryoshka, or “little mother.” When the Children's Education Workshop closed in the late 1890s, the tradition of the matryoshka dolls relocated to Sergiyev Posad, the Russian city known as a toy-making center since the 14th century.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOZ5Fe3ximI_s8NYZhajeWh_A2_nzM0uAtq6rqHxSk9QufMwR3jZzTQzo272Yd4mgUIg6V-UqFAzJzRUF2QxFSn6jO1oQfwlvOGkPVEem9FhOnjLUSLhAzAsm5EdyE980Rtn5sOcvhUxyiXN1B1t_J8fmUjnt2KwmKR78jzOawFwe20yX8j4-A-kT26o/s432/matryoshka%20dolls%20wedding.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="432" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOZ5Fe3ximI_s8NYZhajeWh_A2_nzM0uAtq6rqHxSk9QufMwR3jZzTQzo272Yd4mgUIg6V-UqFAzJzRUF2QxFSn6jO1oQfwlvOGkPVEem9FhOnjLUSLhAzAsm5EdyE980Rtn5sOcvhUxyiXN1B1t_J8fmUjnt2KwmKR78jzOawFwe20yX8j4-A-kT26o/s320/matryoshka%20dolls%20wedding.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"> intended his doll to depict a round-faced peasant girl with beaming eyes. He dressed her in a sarafan—a floor-length traditional Russian peasant jumper dress held up by two straps—and gave her carefully styled slicked-down hair largely hidden under a colorful babushka or bandanna. He placed other figures, either male or female, each smaller then the one before, inside the largest doll, dressing them in kosovorotkas, or Russian blouses fastened on one side, shirts, poddyovkas, or men’s long-waisted coats, and aprons. He planned to have the smallest, innermost doll, traditionally a baby, turned from a single piece of wood.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYUZPSFiwvQoVVyDk-Lt6U4mK6w6UBXdUDWdj7BGuRXxi1NwxOv2kf1qFs7jckITt_XTIAucv5omalgRI5U6tVMvX4jIIAiJoKs65RPEmsWQS54EQZ0kbQRgapQWA3My1_24BMkzrhE0gUMb8H4XyPs08jWzcw8r9HwVltRuD9Cd7gmgi0v2il-_-Mms/s570/matryoshka%20peasant%20girl.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="570" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYUZPSFiwvQoVVyDk-Lt6U4mK6w6UBXdUDWdj7BGuRXxi1NwxOv2kf1qFs7jckITt_XTIAucv5omalgRI5U6tVMvX4jIIAiJoKs65RPEmsWQS54EQZ0kbQRgapQWA3My1_24BMkzrhE0gUMb8H4XyPs08jWzcw8r9HwVltRuD9Cd7gmgi0v2il-_-Mms/s320/matryoshka%20peasant%20girl.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Each wooden doll contained symbols of fertility. Doll makers considered the largest doll the matriarch of the family, while they referred to the smallest as the “seed,”’ representing the soul. They’re seen as a representation of a chain of mothers carrying on the family legacy through the child in their womb. Dolls soon became a major export as a Russian souvenir. Non-Russian buyers believed they were authentic handmade folk art.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjex95F-3QnHX-clCp7Sk5eM4yaEtYV52c5DF9jyZDroqT-a-FwQouf7lH7A8yFGQMrqdl2ZW8yMO6c5KQOOug1upgsFILynPGnaTrEZ54OidmluUlT7-vIAZRG8dYH9iFXEd5py9MaA2G6LdD4XWsXbLfdYPlSw6kIFUnYmlnHBPFDHUTQxHeayXEQgPM/s432/matryoshka%20antique.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="218" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjex95F-3QnHX-clCp7Sk5eM4yaEtYV52c5DF9jyZDroqT-a-FwQouf7lH7A8yFGQMrqdl2ZW8yMO6c5KQOOug1upgsFILynPGnaTrEZ54OidmluUlT7-vIAZRG8dYH9iFXEd5py9MaA2G6LdD4XWsXbLfdYPlSw6kIFUnYmlnHBPFDHUTQxHeayXEQgPM/s320/matryoshka%20antique.jpg" width="161" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Mamontov's wife presented the doll set at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900, where they won a bronze medal. Soon after, craftsmen in several other Russian towns </span><span style="font-family: arial;">began making them and shipping them around the world. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So where did the name for these dolls originate? At the end of 19th century, Matrena was one of the popular female names in Russia. Derived from the Latin root matrena, it means, "mother," “respected lady," or "mother of the family." Placing one figure inside another was also a fitting symbol of fertility and perpetuation. People also referred to these dolls as "babushka dolls," "babushka" meaning "grandmother" or "elderly woman" and also the name of the bandana worn by peasant women at the time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But matryoshka dolls required a lot of skill to produce. Those who did know how to fashion these dolls kept the process a secret. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq0wYPvdXIjrCXxA3FK3PB0l7gTtbJIFBhLeqYKo52BNzcsaz2E9QERJNCmiajOiwe1dJOyno0yVx-alDI_zFQhEdP1DGrGplWvALM5s4zjDLEWvZMTVM8ZseQMOtbFyijqeLpR7YRHJLBDUPaYAZcPVNAKO3VYn25bN2V0-sDoadTnNnfVPfHHKAZwU/s523/matryoshka%20king%20and%20family%201900%20to%201930.jpg" style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="523" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq0wYPvdXIjrCXxA3FK3PB0l7gTtbJIFBhLeqYKo52BNzcsaz2E9QERJNCmiajOiwe1dJOyno0yVx-alDI_zFQhEdP1DGrGplWvALM5s4zjDLEWvZMTVM8ZseQMOtbFyijqeLpR7YRHJLBDUPaYAZcPVNAKO3VYn25bN2V0-sDoadTnNnfVPfHHKAZwU/w640-h332/matryoshka%20king%20and%20family%201900%20to%201930.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMReNeqIIaJOm7qL1SLcVCemfFNS4GdtlqARH1U86GxBIoltUW2-Wa4a7Kcf04_84PBzus0ojfoiTlKcPZpxhrl8v7N225L9QUx1Z5y7PufG2RK7PgT4wf5NdyDgWbWnebRRyw7Bg_CeehtMeVyMzYCi2KKJN78UgKuZgCvlozDko5diUec2lFKVzjZgk/s432/matryoshka%20old%20Soviet%20dolla.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="227" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMReNeqIIaJOm7qL1SLcVCemfFNS4GdtlqARH1U86GxBIoltUW2-Wa4a7Kcf04_84PBzus0ojfoiTlKcPZpxhrl8v7N225L9QUx1Z5y7PufG2RK7PgT4wf5NdyDgWbWnebRRyw7Bg_CeehtMeVyMzYCi2KKJN78UgKuZgCvlozDko5diUec2lFKVzjZgk/s320/matryoshka%20old%20Soviet%20dolla.jpg" width="168" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Artisans generally chose linden wood because of its softness, and less often alder or birch. It was important to cut the wood at the right time, when it was neither too dry nor too damp. Each piece went through as many as 15 separate processes. The craftsman created the smallest doll first.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Once he had made the smallest doll, he then moved on to the next figure into which that first doll would fit. He cut a piece of wood to the necessary height, then cut it in half to form a top and bottom section. He worked on the bottom section of the doll first, removing the wood from the inside of both sections of the second doll so that the smaller doll would fit snugly inside. A skilled craftsman didn’t bother to make measurements but relied solely on his experience. Afterwards, he repeated the process, making a slightly larger doll into which the previous ones would fit.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_l_Bmm_lIDZepFP7BzBw1dJv9Lp3AWmIDneqa73WfVRGk0I0vQdmC4tlqup3Avca_lh-i40X2GwkTaWWs7P38FXpj3R3-gNY6oN9-jSIcq6C95mPSTsdfOUSGthI8hLVlR75CL4b_RjkdPuwB_rx749KAgk9Y4XX2rznFKVbiff0OF-P1lAaxMSjOEZ4/s1080/matryoshka%20dolls%20golden.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="1080" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_l_Bmm_lIDZepFP7BzBw1dJv9Lp3AWmIDneqa73WfVRGk0I0vQdmC4tlqup3Avca_lh-i40X2GwkTaWWs7P38FXpj3R3-gNY6oN9-jSIcq6C95mPSTsdfOUSGthI8hLVlR75CL4b_RjkdPuwB_rx749KAgk9Y4XX2rznFKVbiff0OF-P1lAaxMSjOEZ4/s320/matryoshka%20dolls%20golden.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Some people believed that a craftsman carved all the dolls in a set from one piece of wood. Actually, he used a lathe equipped with a balance bar and four heavy two-foot-long distinct types of chisels—a hook, knife, pipe, and spoon—to carve the dolls from multiple pieces of wood, using a set of handmade wooden calipers especially crafted to the size of the doll by a woodcarver. A village blacksmith hand forged these tools from car axles or other salvage. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The number of dolls held one inside the other varied from 2 to 60. There was no limit to the size of these dolls. When the craftsman finished each doll, he covered it with starchy glue that filled in any hollow areas in its surface. Then he polished the dolls to a smooth finish to enable the painter to spread the paint evenly. After fashioning and finishing the wooden dolls, the </span><span style="font-family: arial;">craftsman handed it on to a painter who then decorated them in a folksy style.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihV-Q6YwgexM8MAz_AbCiZQGIjsyuWgHvFcKChEDGsvhFiBWi4en8Xepj-nLDEtyUJ6j5Ombmv_bMCFlHOKSQPAEWDwcMuT47tJn2SdJ4znk-AbKZu6Tl6ginA7eEvpuYI66jJHLKYHhqysxLoZoByoXUUiC8i9pv0Z4NkjbFQZyoZbC6hQ9SgbvxUpY/s523/matryoshka%20Russian%20president.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="523" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihV-Q6YwgexM8MAz_AbCiZQGIjsyuWgHvFcKChEDGsvhFiBWi4en8Xepj-nLDEtyUJ6j5Ombmv_bMCFlHOKSQPAEWDwcMuT47tJn2SdJ4znk-AbKZu6Tl6ginA7eEvpuYI66jJHLKYHhqysxLoZoByoXUUiC8i9pv0Z4NkjbFQZyoZbC6hQ9SgbvxUpY/w400-h306/matryoshka%20Russian%20president.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Much of the artistry was in the painting of each doll. Some were very elaborate. The dolls often followed a theme which could vary from fairy tale characters to Soviet leaders. Originally, doll makers used themes drawn from tradition or fairy tale characters, in keeping with the craft tradition. But since the 20th century, they have embraced a larger range, including flowers, churches, icons, folk tales, family themes, religious subjects, and even Soviet and American political leaders.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Makers of matryoshka dolls often designed them to follow a particular theme. For instance, peasant girls in traditional dress. Originally, they took themes from traditional folk art or fairy tale characters, in keeping with the craft tradition—but since the late 20th century, they have embraced a larger range, including Russian leaders.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUy3-axfNZDTmgofrW_sZiAJfccY4NKPkOkh4-zWImqvN41czhDrNEjZUFm9L8u2cuTZ6G6rKLAngrdRmBGP5tFx3_AwZSZQ_Qf6cyzkCnKZUbeWSuKaZzHFR6PHKWbSKb6hA624HEspvA6jiu_Hd-bK4AvYK9M4_beBnt5n2uMnzso6kbjK2FTZ_7q4/s432/matryoshka%20doll%20santas.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="432" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUy3-axfNZDTmgofrW_sZiAJfccY4NKPkOkh4-zWImqvN41czhDrNEjZUFm9L8u2cuTZ6G6rKLAngrdRmBGP5tFx3_AwZSZQ_Qf6cyzkCnKZUbeWSuKaZzHFR6PHKWbSKb6hA624HEspvA6jiu_Hd-bK4AvYK9M4_beBnt5n2uMnzso6kbjK2FTZ_7q4/s320/matryoshka%20doll%20santas.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Common themes of matryoshkas were floral and related to nature. Christmas, Easter, and others religious subjects were also popular themes. Eventually, the dolls became popular souvenirs for both Russian tourists and visitors from abroad. Artisans created many new styles of nesting dolls to fill this new market. These included animal collections, portraits, and caricatures of famous politicians, musicians, athletes, astronauts, "robots", and popular movie stars.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The craft of making Matryoshka dolls gradually spread from Moscow to other cities and towns, including Semenov, Polkhovskiy Maidan, Vyatka, and Tver. Each locality developed its own style and form of decoration. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOX6r5_TnIeVMtKQ3vwU15aieNnvd-0SME6XWc3SqgBUpJGxdH7d7VaquT2P-7bkhaFgGaXgtvY5g4qLM5l0u_4Xzum5CUCsS-rilMjqNjpBobIhruhNT6wLNyzPFgPaVGFowtlv8PM35ds1ofid2HJwuSkSY7Cy85j3Tp2uK5L9Rq583yF-WDqjnMY-g/s432/matryoshka%20semonokasakaya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="432" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOX6r5_TnIeVMtKQ3vwU15aieNnvd-0SME6XWc3SqgBUpJGxdH7d7VaquT2P-7bkhaFgGaXgtvY5g4qLM5l0u_4Xzum5CUCsS-rilMjqNjpBobIhruhNT6wLNyzPFgPaVGFowtlv8PM35ds1ofid2HJwuSkSY7Cy85j3Tp2uK5L9Rq583yF-WDqjnMY-g/w200-h183/matryoshka%20semonokasakaya.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">As with other crafts, the Russian Government under Communism strictly controlled doll making and selling. But political changes at the end of the 1980s gave artisans new possibilities and freedoms.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "The Age of Photography" in the 2023 Holiday Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-35544439415117003962023-12-22T15:49:00.000-05:002023-12-22T15:49:09.314-05:00Dreaming of a Brite Christmas<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjr6u5zK5cFXJ65CdEr7X33tvWLPl5ftrn3GzJ5LdTsOS3Q1PyTxnwmuV-R2fcO5W5M687dbJua8yf_JGUxFF3hTFB9sW0-wmmvu2fivFvvw4otWnYSGVpsgKbMENjKEOIJPuCG0PzDnhv_vMnG4rWw-o9EzQyAHhNnUxdN3HHNcD5_z7fUfzrC9PV18E/s523/shinybrite%20assortment.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="523" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjr6u5zK5cFXJ65CdEr7X33tvWLPl5ftrn3GzJ5LdTsOS3Q1PyTxnwmuV-R2fcO5W5M687dbJua8yf_JGUxFF3hTFB9sW0-wmmvu2fivFvvw4otWnYSGVpsgKbMENjKEOIJPuCG0PzDnhv_vMnG4rWw-o9EzQyAHhNnUxdN3HHNcD5_z7fUfzrC9PV18E/w400-h268/shinybrite%20assortment.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION: </b>For several years I’ve been searching for older ornaments for my Christmas tree. I’ve seen a good number at flea markets and antique cooperatives. Many of these are still in their original boxes marked “Shiny Brite.” I’d like to know more about this company. When did they produce ornaments and what kind did they produce?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER: </b>Today, the trend is to decorate Christmas trees with handcrafted ornaments, from simpler ones sold at church bazar to finely crafted ones of wood, silver, and gold sold at Christmas markets throughout the world. But some people prefer to decorate their trees with nostalgic glass ornaments from their childhood.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-zRsO9OdwPqtTXy-K3U72zEDXgbqjajOYqm9mNXdXrq7v-fzPIS-YmCbhqiiFApi4yWxfrV5ChpUd4w0LWcIdhScYjAkHFYZwK9K2TwEhheMXO1Wz1jgtenTnNnRpcQTliOCpPNbLq7_VPZGnSDyDIq1ubvLxWCv_s0LRnNcFXAL7wZawUYtxbPgBdw/s523/shinybrite%20stiped%20glossy.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="523" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-zRsO9OdwPqtTXy-K3U72zEDXgbqjajOYqm9mNXdXrq7v-fzPIS-YmCbhqiiFApi4yWxfrV5ChpUd4w0LWcIdhScYjAkHFYZwK9K2TwEhheMXO1Wz1jgtenTnNnRpcQTliOCpPNbLq7_VPZGnSDyDIq1ubvLxWCv_s0LRnNcFXAL7wZawUYtxbPgBdw/w640-h352/shinybrite%20stiped%20glossy.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTPvK4ix2ChsIYQUqNS0kdd9R2gd1VEzMIO3PX5y7_tGPOyFCHy23J8DGojEyaUHktdLCjmw3V8SMsCCD_4tmdV9v5L9ApebVv4LWAB5McJbRetqlWm3iC3T5MgDfVeFycYrjvzZsYl1ISb9ExQsQdGatnUVecfrOGbb-suz7LV9t1jgmyfH9WL7G2Yg/s523/shinybrite%20box%20of%20mini%20ornaments.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="523" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTPvK4ix2ChsIYQUqNS0kdd9R2gd1VEzMIO3PX5y7_tGPOyFCHy23J8DGojEyaUHktdLCjmw3V8SMsCCD_4tmdV9v5L9ApebVv4LWAB5McJbRetqlWm3iC3T5MgDfVeFycYrjvzZsYl1ISb9ExQsQdGatnUVecfrOGbb-suz7LV9t1jgmyfH9WL7G2Yg/s320/shinybrite%20box%20of%20mini%20ornaments.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Ornaments that decorated yesterday’s trees continue to create holiday traditions. Shiny glass orbs hang from branches in bright, shiny colors, and sparkly patterns. Shiny Brite was a mid-20th-century brand created by German-American immigrant Max Eckardt.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Blown-glass Christmas ornaments with hand-painted accents got their start in the German village of Lauscha in the 1840s. Glassmakers blew molten glass into molds shaped like fruit and nuts, then silvered the inside with a special compound of silver nitrate and sugar water. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHg-gtBCP-TN1bEo96T7eh1CNtDpeq8BDOoLXhJp0R9zVWxxgavuo2XjVojwDFBjvFcXPugJhOLjLcBCebc9SvFcHq6wkxL0U9LhLuOIDF1gzxVWA8yPMV-MRcUmcWrK1vR9vkeGJ-52aMKkxdYJa2_2HewBC2viMm2JHDzPtVdQ1c8u_rDThy0DBmPK4/s432/shinybrite%20striped%20ornaments.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="432" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHg-gtBCP-TN1bEo96T7eh1CNtDpeq8BDOoLXhJp0R9zVWxxgavuo2XjVojwDFBjvFcXPugJhOLjLcBCebc9SvFcHq6wkxL0U9LhLuOIDF1gzxVWA8yPMV-MRcUmcWrK1vR9vkeGJ-52aMKkxdYJa2_2HewBC2viMm2JHDzPtVdQ1c8u_rDThy0DBmPK4/s320/shinybrite%20striped%20ornaments.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">As a native of a small village near Lauscha, Eckhardt knew the appeal of glass ornaments and also saw their potential in the American market. He had been importing hand-blown glass balls from his homeland since the early 20th century. He had the foresight to anticipate a disruption in his supply of glass from Germany from the upcoming World War II and in 1937, he established the Shiny Brite Company in New York. The silver nitrate coating on the insides of his ornaments inspired him to name his company Shiny Brite.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnANjLGmQ6fWgtDMOfHuwAAhLgdc4synDyl3rnydDCviMdouU9XpDiD9baARQSBA0bcBqOLY10KbhhRhFmIgqHj6HzmqLwVCstGMegV0S3BWuJqPyHxqDZZcasTSg2SFLXNWLzedtSEykl_snWr6zTFOaQ7GCO-L-v9wxxmez-jbgb-c4l3DVxhGrLNI/s2048/shinybrite%20swirls%20and%20Japanese%20lanterns.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1647" data-original-width="2048" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnANjLGmQ6fWgtDMOfHuwAAhLgdc4synDyl3rnydDCviMdouU9XpDiD9baARQSBA0bcBqOLY10KbhhRhFmIgqHj6HzmqLwVCstGMegV0S3BWuJqPyHxqDZZcasTSg2SFLXNWLzedtSEykl_snWr6zTFOaQ7GCO-L-v9wxxmez-jbgb-c4l3DVxhGrLNI/w200-h161/shinybrite%20swirls%20and%20Japanese%20lanterns.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">To keep his company afloat, Eckhardt sought the help of New York’s Corning Glass Company, with the promise that F.W. Woolworth would place a large order if Corning could modify its glass ribbon machine, which made light bulbs, to produce ornaments. This machine, built in 1926, produced 2,000 light bulbs per minute. The transition was a success, and Woolworth’s ordered more than 235,000 ornaments. In December 1939,Eckhardt shipped the first machine-made batch to its 5-and-10-Cent Stores, where they sold for 2 to 10 cents each.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPI-a0NV18imaN1ONRSUBwF27fy79lfYan-W5mvRwLs7SVCPcOpKYXdTkjDAlivjuE3d1WzRalWyAPQmbI14psb3cutDT35bUfJHtsRP4zk4wH4wryTH99mXWqzMMWIG48FMovR913-UxTa3abW6qSOlZg4rvJRvlQI4VyorHa2o-zjrNN_jn7jzTJrFQ/s523/shinybrite%20mica%20decorated.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="523" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPI-a0NV18imaN1ONRSUBwF27fy79lfYan-W5mvRwLs7SVCPcOpKYXdTkjDAlivjuE3d1WzRalWyAPQmbI14psb3cutDT35bUfJHtsRP4zk4wH4wryTH99mXWqzMMWIG48FMovR913-UxTa3abW6qSOlZg4rvJRvlQI4VyorHa2o-zjrNN_jn7jzTJrFQ/s320/shinybrite%20mica%20decorated.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">By 1940, Corning was producing 300,000 unadorned ornaments per day, sending the clear glass balls to outside artists, including those at Eckardt’s factories, to be hand decorated. After being lined with silver nitrate, the ornaments ran through a lacquer bath, received decoration from Eckardt’s employees and packaging in brown cardboard boxes. According to a LIFE magazine article from December 1940, Corning Glass Works expected to produce 40 million ornaments by the end of that year, supplying 100 percent of the domestic ornament market.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXSOXSRGwdrFfPe3q4S89Co-DkKKsIIAmdtsbGRWHMhfR3p8TOtcxOm_-tF5ucSFv4_1uOW46Gh8xso4W11XSBeIJHgV6-DLeAMINlMCOetgf-vkO5zN9f4p9IXi3PL0_C4l1Pz5x16-EiyB27qUVexmrnyRSVR615MZEL9USxkaR8lm_AlQN9UTqJD4/s432/shinybrite%20bells.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="432" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXSOXSRGwdrFfPe3q4S89Co-DkKKsIIAmdtsbGRWHMhfR3p8TOtcxOm_-tF5ucSFv4_1uOW46Gh8xso4W11XSBeIJHgV6-DLeAMINlMCOetgf-vkO5zN9f4p9IXi3PL0_C4l1Pz5x16-EiyB27qUVexmrnyRSVR615MZEL9USxkaR8lm_AlQN9UTqJD4/w320-h291/shinybrite%20bells.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Originally, the ornaments were plain silver, but eventually Eckardt produced them in a large variety of colors: with classic red the most popular color in the 1940s, followed by green, gold, pink and blue, both in solids and stripes. The company also offered Shiny Brite ornaments in a variety of shapes besides balls, including tops, bells, icicles, teardrops, trees, finials, pine cones, and Japanese lanterns, and reflectors. Workers decorated some with mica “snow.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Through the 1940s and 1950s, Shiny Brite ornaments became the most popular tree ornaments in the U.S. Eckhardt stressed that they were American-made as a selling point during World War II by featuring Uncle Sam shaking hands with Santa on the front of the original 1940's boxes.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5tl697WZBzQMDkmIQ6dkhsMHwG51EFzGx7QpPqav3ZMC3-_ibYB8J1Qcct1sVSl7ynZdCVBgwY5E5RNUWHKf16CfY-mRqud9TZIf637f6M8PfOoB23Q9QAmYoUVCRN9YRaLUet-ri1Le-Hk56l-xa8R2Z6Rn2sjCE_HSJpPbfvf3LrfMoZH-_PLV-PU/s640/shinybrite%20boxed%20assortmet.webp" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5tl697WZBzQMDkmIQ6dkhsMHwG51EFzGx7QpPqav3ZMC3-_ibYB8J1Qcct1sVSl7ynZdCVBgwY5E5RNUWHKf16CfY-mRqud9TZIf637f6M8PfOoB23Q9QAmYoUVCRN9YRaLUet-ri1Le-Hk56l-xa8R2Z6Rn2sjCE_HSJpPbfvf3LrfMoZH-_PLV-PU/s320/shinybrite%20boxed%20assortmet.webp" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Corning continued to crank out Shiny Brite ornaments, and by the 1950s, production reached a rate of 1,000 per minute; with machines also painting them at that time. The 1950s was the peak of Shiny Brite production and popularity, with Eckardt operating four New Jersey factories to keep pace with the demand.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Shiny Brite ornaments dangled from trees through the early 1960s, until plastic ornaments became more popular. But over the years, vintage Shiny Brites have remained popular with collectors for their beauty and nostalgia, and acting as a sort of time capsule of American holiday history. They are some of the most sought after vintage ornaments from the mid 20th century and are the perfect decoration for those Space-Age aluminum trees.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "The Age of Photography" in the 2023 Holiday Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-71437362372475712562023-12-14T18:13:00.004-05:002023-12-22T15:48:42.520-05:00Going Nuts for Nutcrackers<p> </p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ncs0XT3LPQwFAGRjKUFudZZ9VplOkY43-MJs6HGZ2YWgXCZZaTCE3eO2LCHKmpLWqi6E4-2yc_nziK_zWzGTN_mvW_PHx-r1agXNvbERgbYj3B8oNbJ4TEkP1p-PRN8g1Ruo6Wnh1grpMNFAuIXhMLoVKVM_qBrFA0jz5ir45ReWqlX2lvsouGacrFo/s340/nutcracker%20spiked%20helmet.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="148" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ncs0XT3LPQwFAGRjKUFudZZ9VplOkY43-MJs6HGZ2YWgXCZZaTCE3eO2LCHKmpLWqi6E4-2yc_nziK_zWzGTN_mvW_PHx-r1agXNvbERgbYj3B8oNbJ4TEkP1p-PRN8g1Ruo6Wnh1grpMNFAuIXhMLoVKVM_qBrFA0jz5ir45ReWqlX2lvsouGacrFo/w174-h400/nutcracker%20spiked%20helmet.jpg" width="174" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION:</b> My family comes from a German background. When my ancestors first arrived in the United States back in the 1880s, they brought with them many of the customs and traditions. This included how we celebrated Christmas. My favorite job as a young boy was setting up the display of nutcrackers. I continued to do this until I left to go to college. But in all that time, no one ever explained to me how the tradition of nutcrackers at Christmas came to be. Could you please give me some history on them? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> Nutcrackers have been a part of Christmas ever since the first one appeared in human form in the 17th century. For Volker Fuchtner, making nutcrackers has been a family business ever since his great-great grandfather, Wilhelm Friedrich Fuchtner, created the classic wooden nutcracker in Germany's Erzgebirge region.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEius53tANu7I4tIPgeBQBcPqDv9qksgwBvkLw_wJsxVx7WmfdcI4kHzSzgrzZlJmFIHu0hrrHJqbL-9urocdryd-UbAKNkcd-KM0CQ27Z4lD_ZVtge1Og2CZsfqzAAIpY6TvW56ORLKIV-qlZ46B1M9duXx_3WnqBlqh6i2_0h6Hw29wGaXoxAZJYexXhU/s432/Erzgeborge%20nutcracker.png" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="184" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEius53tANu7I4tIPgeBQBcPqDv9qksgwBvkLw_wJsxVx7WmfdcI4kHzSzgrzZlJmFIHu0hrrHJqbL-9urocdryd-UbAKNkcd-KM0CQ27Z4lD_ZVtge1Og2CZsfqzAAIpY6TvW56ORLKIV-qlZ46B1M9duXx_3WnqBlqh6i2_0h6Hw29wGaXoxAZJYexXhU/s320/Erzgeborge%20nutcracker.png" width="136" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The Erzgebirge is a range of low, forested hills that form the border between the Czech Republic and the German state of Saxony. The town of Seiffen, which somehow managed to keep the woodworking tradition alive during the days of communist occupation, has more than 100 small family workshops, in which townspeople produce the nutcrackers. There are also huge replicas of the nutcrackers and other wooden figures all over town, and a visit to Seiffen at Christmas is special.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Mining used to be the main industry in the Erzgebirge—the name translates as "Ore Mountains"—but the silver, iron, tin and nickel eventually ran out. Woodworking then became a logical occupation for the people, since the region had abundant wood and rushing mountain streams to power their lathes and saws.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">At first, woodcarvers made simple spindles, plates, staffs and common household articles, but they gradually turned to toys, notably cylindrical dolls produced with a lathe. Around 1870, some of the woodcarvers adapted these toys to become classic nutcrackers.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIoeQ9IEzFdxrgYKc5nDv9lbw_5FTxQ30QYWG2gJfHjaQo6IaSUHkB6aDzouD1ND7xpmKBc0WFtQlOhpxWVI7BLcZncf5Y6ND9lTFZI3Fsaydk85JnkMN4MBYdn5GUu922hPehvG-eGOB-msIqwg-v19jSOMw-jmHWw-R9XljY7BESY0SQqaF_PB7Lh0/s523/nutcrackers%20in%20a%20row.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="523" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIoeQ9IEzFdxrgYKc5nDv9lbw_5FTxQ30QYWG2gJfHjaQo6IaSUHkB6aDzouD1ND7xpmKBc0WFtQlOhpxWVI7BLcZncf5Y6ND9lTFZI3Fsaydk85JnkMN4MBYdn5GUu922hPehvG-eGOB-msIqwg-v19jSOMw-jmHWw-R9XljY7BESY0SQqaF_PB7Lh0/w640-h330/nutcrackers%20in%20a%20row.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dZx9nJIwRKBYVUKvF4_BJ4-YfR2nZAyTin2JlynTDUiaI_qnhyphenhyphenGPmNllzmQ-q-rckx4QLVGvI2UhTyvn3O6ddDqR70E6abuTu1AuutoFCLP_mTBXaAAN-v3oZCH0aCYQJsyRZ-oixulVwhpfvn_8Z9i3WtjdVtMyKA6-adcOeC5YWTmw1l5jOTOcnKU/s432/nutcracker%201.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="217" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dZx9nJIwRKBYVUKvF4_BJ4-YfR2nZAyTin2JlynTDUiaI_qnhyphenhyphenGPmNllzmQ-q-rckx4QLVGvI2UhTyvn3O6ddDqR70E6abuTu1AuutoFCLP_mTBXaAAN-v3oZCH0aCYQJsyRZ-oixulVwhpfvn_8Z9i3WtjdVtMyKA6-adcOeC5YWTmw1l5jOTOcnKU/w201-h400/nutcracker%201.jpg" width="201" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">A classic nutcracker usually stands 14 to 18 inches tall and takes the form of a brightly painted king, soldier or some other stern authority figure with huge painted teeth, an upward curling moustache, and a nut-cracking mouth that reaches to his waist when open.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIFAkokAGbjDzakLeJfIMzr405SfZn3cqSs9FpmtKGHVASkVF1k9Su5ykrL8Nwd1b6TjU6T4M_ROh6fgKq5YszNpbwhc3CoiAWX6APVKl5alHEF5rl3nbLgTwPYQfFTVVUNL8L1z63FEJGynFRDtMy_Lt7PIS1sNvB9Y2GEJ2kYrbH_RizyQ2FqCw7Fo/s397/nutcracker%20santa.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="184" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIFAkokAGbjDzakLeJfIMzr405SfZn3cqSs9FpmtKGHVASkVF1k9Su5ykrL8Nwd1b6TjU6T4M_ROh6fgKq5YszNpbwhc3CoiAWX6APVKl5alHEF5rl3nbLgTwPYQfFTVVUNL8L1z63FEJGynFRDtMy_Lt7PIS1sNvB9Y2GEJ2kYrbH_RizyQ2FqCw7Fo/w185-h400/nutcracker%20santa.jpg" width="185" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The fierce-looking nutcrackers served a purpose. Though Germans looked up to authority figures, they were also a bit resentful of them. The nutcrackers enabled the townspeople to make fun of them. The soldiers weren't limited to the original Ruritanian uniforms. They also sported spiked helmets or dressed as Russian hussars or </span><span style="font-family: arial;">British </span><span style="font-family: arial;">grenadiers. And there could be other fierce characters, including kings and robbers. The figures later appeared as more benevolent types from the German culture, such as night watchmen, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">chimney sweeps, gnomes, foresters, monks, and even Rumpelstilzchen.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The Grimm brothers, who collected the famous fairy tales, said in their dictionary, that a nutcracker was "often in the form of a misshapen little man, in whose mouth the nut, by means of a lever or screw, is cracked open.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There are about 120 steps in the making of a nutcracker, which explains why even new ones sell for $150 to $250. Woodworkers cut pieces of beech, maple, birch, linden and pine are cut into proper sized blocks, then leave them to season for up to two years in the open air under a roof. They do the first step in the manufacturing process on a lathe. Craftsmen turn the body and head as one cylindrical piece, with beveled shoulders and chiseled out areas for the nutcracker and lever. Others turn the arms and legs separately, fastening them to the body along with the stand.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNcl9QloJfO-ybLMrqg2cEk_c-7x8Yn5bqn6av_RpjyQSAwUO4zFiaMWsjn5ufIwocdStmmuiGxjwNfd_f9he7luqaLgZiz6BgnbR_s7pz2_d7yVIaNBVgoQrb-jdYXpbQ9-z-AazMJp560Ef0dSIl7NGaknV4hyI5eKAZsbDVL2UGoIayfrwC6UnVmU/s360/nutcracker%20painter.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="360" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNcl9QloJfO-ybLMrqg2cEk_c-7x8Yn5bqn6av_RpjyQSAwUO4zFiaMWsjn5ufIwocdStmmuiGxjwNfd_f9he7luqaLgZiz6BgnbR_s7pz2_d7yVIaNBVgoQrb-jdYXpbQ9-z-AazMJp560Ef0dSIl7NGaknV4hyI5eKAZsbDVL2UGoIayfrwC6UnVmU/w640-h454/nutcracker%20painter.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKhl6NfFTjL_wVc9AEUcvob_tWLuZtcrNB-6AmjGcvUDbtOjFvkrplQepThQnp3UieHl7QNOo6C7v0_6lfHni5kot1_6NKukP6Um9MgS7AhlGQECLskWvedZz3Rcbtcc0xPu1s6TeOWID9xib7ekmg8n8H8oYfZeQEV4u4vujtiSvgI03N6UMuPhdJYw/s432/nutcracker%20traditional.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="180" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKhl6NfFTjL_wVc9AEUcvob_tWLuZtcrNB-6AmjGcvUDbtOjFvkrplQepThQnp3UieHl7QNOo6C7v0_6lfHni5kot1_6NKukP6Um9MgS7AhlGQECLskWvedZz3Rcbtcc0xPu1s6TeOWID9xib7ekmg8n8H8oYfZeQEV4u4vujtiSvgI03N6UMuPhdJYw/w166-h400/nutcracker%20traditional.jpg" width="166" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">After forming the body, a hand carver gives the figure a nose, a hat and whatever special features the particular character gets. Next come several layers of priming, after each of which the piece must thoroughly dry. Then a painter uses a fine brush to give the figure its eyes, moustache, teeth, decorative tunic, sword and other special features. Again, each coat of paint must dry before the painter applies another. Then comes the final assembly, in which another craftsmen adds the lever and glues on rabbit fur for hair, a beard, and sometimes even a moustache.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">At least that’s how the nutcracker makers of the Erzgebirge do it. Each firm marks their genuine nutcracker with a stamp showing a stylized soldier on a hobbyhorse and the slogan ECHT ERZGEBIRGE HOLZKINST MIT HERZ or “Genuine Erzgebirge wooden art with heart.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "The Age of Photography" in the 2023 Holiday Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-73071426400050609892023-12-07T16:09:00.002-05:002023-12-07T16:09:18.842-05:00The Clock is Ticking on Clock Collecting<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpLHOkfToI0UpzvfWU1fjK7HyJ6fZf90QI9S8orOWRjkXnEpXlW3Nf7-tbkSQ722JWvqwWNUAUg74ArSIEt1n7-REbOZUw6V-6MX4lngBbn62uOBlJUlnM2UiOkLlMX3qdnQHZIBvfQvPSPY1Y4zbPsP-Iky7Ju6Ah1bamzKemfBX8BFCD68Iv87U5Xo/s432/Gothic%20Revival%20mantel%20clock.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="303" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpLHOkfToI0UpzvfWU1fjK7HyJ6fZf90QI9S8orOWRjkXnEpXlW3Nf7-tbkSQ722JWvqwWNUAUg74ArSIEt1n7-REbOZUw6V-6MX4lngBbn62uOBlJUlnM2UiOkLlMX3qdnQHZIBvfQvPSPY1Y4zbPsP-Iky7Ju6Ah1bamzKemfBX8BFCD68Iv87U5Xo/w280-h400/Gothic%20Revival%20mantel%20clock.jpg" width="280" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION:</b> I’ve been interested in clocks for a long time but only recently have I had enough extra cash to start a serious collection. How do I know what clocks to collect? I have a limited budget.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> One of the quirky things about collecting clocks is that, depending on the size, they can not only take up space but also time–the time needed to keep them running. Clocks are precision instruments, even the smallest alarm clock has tiny working parts that need regular maintenance. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">However, not every old clock is worth collecting. In fact, collecting clocks can be a challenge because of the amount of space they take up. So people who do collect them are very particular. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwakd7NMtW_J1mErOtZXT_wYcIh-7wZM_4OvqtxVrUGp7YqBIvUgCBrgnV3Tu3PJ2ZURfarFFgYxGjr5WwvaqIayFsf3MWOLCU_P33IkBZ9VtEZY_RL1RNX2d8V8Fa7JlcL206aC1LzlcXuSclaOJtJLMdXS_wNc3lH7osefWr21VWyeqeu9b_6scANoI/s432/tallcase%20clock%20Sheraton%201820s.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="110" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwakd7NMtW_J1mErOtZXT_wYcIh-7wZM_4OvqtxVrUGp7YqBIvUgCBrgnV3Tu3PJ2ZURfarFFgYxGjr5WwvaqIayFsf3MWOLCU_P33IkBZ9VtEZY_RL1RNX2d8V8Fa7JlcL206aC1LzlcXuSclaOJtJLMdXS_wNc3lH7osefWr21VWyeqeu9b_6scANoI/w101-h400/tallcase%20clock%20Sheraton%201820s.jpg" width="101" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">With antique clocks, condition is prime. To be worth anything, an antique clock needs to be in working order—in other words, it needs to tell time almost as good as it did when first made.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">From 1680 to 1840, tall case clocks was popular in America. Master clockmakers produced fewer than two dozen of these clocks a year. Eventually, these clocks became known as grandfather clocks. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">While these early clocks demonstrated the finest quality of workmanship, the cost of $50 or more excluded anyone but the very rich from owning one. Today, these same clocks can sell for four or five figures. While clockmakers produced the clockworks, coffin makers made the cases. Until about 1770, the brass dials had silver decoration. Painted dials and those coated with white enamel didn’t appear until 1790. Cheaper models had plain paper dials pasted on an iron or wooden background. While clockmakers produced the clockworks, coffin makers made the cases. Until about 1770, the brass dials had silver decoration. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wTCCaZT4pcX1vE0rwVq8niPRKhXsMT-u0SntpiyoNU-iUBEUJ90Ot6InWkD-Qe_I_8dTfbyLYwm1L1BopG2-paxMvgExZvc-MLMQA3RfYUAPsUXOOzQ4V5Fwzkn45Ci3o0qCsukjqKIzzM_z8IT9pGU2TAkeSZa0o_RuHU0APkM6unCy0FGsTk9piuM/s432/banjo%20clock%20Willard.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="163" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wTCCaZT4pcX1vE0rwVq8niPRKhXsMT-u0SntpiyoNU-iUBEUJ90Ot6InWkD-Qe_I_8dTfbyLYwm1L1BopG2-paxMvgExZvc-MLMQA3RfYUAPsUXOOzQ4V5Fwzkn45Ci3o0qCsukjqKIzzM_z8IT9pGU2TAkeSZa0o_RuHU0APkM6unCy0FGsTk9piuM/w151-h400/banjo%20clock%20Willard.jpg" width="151" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Next in the timeline of clockmaking came wall clocks. In 1802, Simon Willard patented his improved Timepiece," a wall clock shaped like a banjo. This style would be copied many times. Years later, the Waterbury Clock Co. manufactured a .umber of banjo clocks and used the name "Willard."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">While the Willards introduced new lock styles, it was Gideon Roberts, a Revolutionary War veteran from Bristol, Connecticut., who began to make the clock more affordable. Roberts replaced he brass movements used to that point with less expensive wooden movements and also used painted paper dials. Imitating the German styling known as wag-on-the-wall, Roberts would also make clocks without a case. The exposed works could be encased for an additional fee. Using these methods, Roberts was able to produce 10 or more clocks at a time.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmK7iDHZlS_FdhjYo-qpIqqgII3qcLlpQ6GcbUtaXbcjgQI5DwtgSvR-kDEiAURoE-E3CuvDTz6-FT_T29Vh27Y55ZL4vOlPZ_1D0EilkPa1KmWhQd2xc3ks9Mj29yjhY7_fgxMM8qzBBEcDn0cn66SGjPDdJzo9K0KduWzGlzvbGWxLbGrcb_TgCnfz8/s563/clock%20Louis%20XIII%201880s.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="384" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmK7iDHZlS_FdhjYo-qpIqqgII3qcLlpQ6GcbUtaXbcjgQI5DwtgSvR-kDEiAURoE-E3CuvDTz6-FT_T29Vh27Y55ZL4vOlPZ_1D0EilkPa1KmWhQd2xc3ks9Mj29yjhY7_fgxMM8qzBBEcDn0cn66SGjPDdJzo9K0KduWzGlzvbGWxLbGrcb_TgCnfz8/w273-h400/clock%20Louis%20XIII%201880s.jpg" width="273" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Clock manufacturers produced an infinite number of styles of mantel clocks from 1810 to 1860. These included papier-maché clocks, as well as pillar-and-scroll clocks with wooden movements.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlex9TZsHHBAFQydCw4-9rgU7wG5ddP_tGAxU0-_deINWk6feoa9LbSy93he1REB7TDLwBFttH7E_waC-4ifJTwmPqrknBqbvxUynXmAfhk1ZGgITN6-QnQgIckUNYIsiAkWEBZk5XtDjweR9FXuT5VpXs2OMpcBjuriKeGq5msZSAPPaf_7eGuH4izQ/s432/cuckoo%20clock.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="266" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlex9TZsHHBAFQydCw4-9rgU7wG5ddP_tGAxU0-_deINWk6feoa9LbSy93he1REB7TDLwBFttH7E_waC-4ifJTwmPqrknBqbvxUynXmAfhk1ZGgITN6-QnQgIckUNYIsiAkWEBZk5XtDjweR9FXuT5VpXs2OMpcBjuriKeGq5msZSAPPaf_7eGuH4izQ/w197-h320/cuckoo%20clock.jpg" width="197" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Eli Terry been has generally credited with bringing mass-production to clockmaking in America. In 1797, Terry was granted the first American clock-related patent. In 1807, he signed a contract to make 4,000 clock movements within three years. Legend has it that Terry spent the first two years designing and constructing the machinery, which would allow </span><span style="font-family: arial;">him to fulfill his obligation. In 1810, with the help of apprentices Seth Thomas and Silas Hoadley, Terry's pillar-</span><span style="font-family: arial;">and-scroll shelf clock became the first inexpensive, factory-produced clock available to the American public. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Thomas </span><span style="font-family: arial;">and Hoadley purchased Terry's factory that same year and worked together until 1813. Thomas eventually became one of America's best-known clockmakers.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPFeSz0bJH6G3ypQFqWRCltRLHtU-wtoqwaSCeW1vdhRE-hceV2deucwFt5w6tomCmQIq49PU1mGg476BXx-ACY_3gD1O8mCq9FOejzzsbQUaw2zD4OBjwO8OFmH_AyRP3mGk1OB-Jb0X88XLr_qFueo38cwvX5yoehDTfVO8fIFFQe7-ccatBCMkx9U/s432/gingerbread%20clock.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="308" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPFeSz0bJH6G3ypQFqWRCltRLHtU-wtoqwaSCeW1vdhRE-hceV2deucwFt5w6tomCmQIq49PU1mGg476BXx-ACY_3gD1O8mCq9FOejzzsbQUaw2zD4OBjwO8OFmH_AyRP3mGk1OB-Jb0X88XLr_qFueo38cwvX5yoehDTfVO8fIFFQe7-ccatBCMkx9U/s320/gingerbread%20clock.jpg" width="228" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The cuckoo clock dates back to 1730 when Swiss and Bavarian clockmakers developed the pendulum striking mechanism and the cuckoo concept. Unfortunately, cuckoo clocks never became popular with American manufacturers, but many American travelers purchased them in Germany and Switzerland, as did soldiers returning from World War I and II..</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">By 1850, technology would change most movements from weight to spring-driven, and brass coiled springs would be replaced by cheaper steel springs. Among the most popular clocks were the schoolhouse clock, the pressed oak "gingerbread" kitchen clock, the steeple clock, and the OG clock, which featured a double continuous S-shaped molding.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lvmtIPTYkfKEipuGxWCl_d_dOKP31P3ZgEqzAWO9I6X2CG_2uC6DO9GmWhJ5FZHcc-Ero1n-H9D7jDfybnmVxtk2A8-jZxNGEjV8yAZC2NjEiMgVL-gA1ROWSo2f1mmM3Aozbd7h_3CIMhFKnJcruBn88ubWOYLC76tKE9J4E0irfC27wtJm2-Cjf5g/s252/animal%20Fogg%20clock.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="247" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lvmtIPTYkfKEipuGxWCl_d_dOKP31P3ZgEqzAWO9I6X2CG_2uC6DO9GmWhJ5FZHcc-Ero1n-H9D7jDfybnmVxtk2A8-jZxNGEjV8yAZC2NjEiMgVL-gA1ROWSo2f1mmM3Aozbd7h_3CIMhFKnJcruBn88ubWOYLC76tKE9J4E0irfC27wtJm2-Cjf5g/s1600/animal%20Fogg%20clock.jpg" width="247" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Novelty clocks have become another popular collectible category. There have been flower clocks, animated animal clocks, advertising clocks, and even dancing girl clocks. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Researching an antique clock’s origins can be challenging. Those made in the 18th and at least the first half of the 19th century bore no labels. Some clockmakers did sign their works, especially those that made tall case clocks. Generally, they signed them somewhere on the dial. Many of those that did have labels in the latter part of the 1800s, lost them over time. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09l7N6nYbbI-Vpos4ub_uRsKu60lgUGZ8vUegwktjL7YQ_zXtRUyg68CAPzNEOvxi6-Q3Yi9HGKBkxoCMXFCw4GFmUSI5oTUj5sTImvfEJ8JHDO7-_SOzMkk1xiilI41DsJN__iDU_XcWMvIyupauLBCpjmXsCOHAq2otp_Em6eY1I5pReIPDeDfQTtE/s432/bracket%20clock%20Philadelphia%20David%20Weatherly%201815.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="284" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09l7N6nYbbI-Vpos4ub_uRsKu60lgUGZ8vUegwktjL7YQ_zXtRUyg68CAPzNEOvxi6-Q3Yi9HGKBkxoCMXFCw4GFmUSI5oTUj5sTImvfEJ8JHDO7-_SOzMkk1xiilI41DsJN__iDU_XcWMvIyupauLBCpjmXsCOHAq2otp_Em6eY1I5pReIPDeDfQTtE/s320/bracket%20clock%20Philadelphia%20David%20Weatherly%201815.jpg" width="210" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The key to acquiring museum quality clocks is learning how to research, properly identify, and evaluate antique clocks. Rarity, provenance, originality, quality of manufacture, and quality of restoration all affect value.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">An antique clock isn’t always as good as it appears. While a clock may look great from the outside, the condition of its works is what counts. Over time, abuse and bad repairs can add up, rendering what could have been a great find nearly worthless. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The sad thing is that many antique clocks cannot be repaired. Even the best horologist can’t work miracles on many old clockworks. The reason is that most cannot obtain the parts needed to do the repairs. And the few younger clockmakers just don’t have the skills necessary to make the parts themselves. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaPr9TNQdFgzbcWGMQZxbl6TpBhRBTCQ2GOGWqTLmmhuEZDEiXa2HynJQVBpzrJtssfyH96FvlxnzDQhNPYngZnzUe8_3er0Zdo6SSekEEgzryoYajMj7Jn71hiYVG7dCzJ4NLkUbUUH79nlv_oqpPlAKeqSgv-t3g4sgYeGxo3hf9kIVYpJoUboLE5M/s432/clock%20French%20mantel%20Washington%201810.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaPr9TNQdFgzbcWGMQZxbl6TpBhRBTCQ2GOGWqTLmmhuEZDEiXa2HynJQVBpzrJtssfyH96FvlxnzDQhNPYngZnzUe8_3er0Zdo6SSekEEgzryoYajMj7Jn71hiYVG7dCzJ4NLkUbUUH79nlv_oqpPlAKeqSgv-t3g4sgYeGxo3hf9kIVYpJoUboLE5M/s320/clock%20French%20mantel%20Washington%201810.jpg" width="243" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Because of the wide range of antique clocks available, many collectors choose to specialize, collecting one type of clock from different makers or a variety of clocks from the same maker, perhaps Seth Thomas. Another possibility is to collect a fine example of each type of clock. Some collectors assemble collections of clocks with different types of movements. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But unlike a piece of antique furniture that has been restored, an antique clock that isn’t running isn’t worth collecting. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "The Age of Photography" in the 2023 Fall Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-36734660348389841402023-11-29T14:06:00.001-05:002023-11-29T14:06:47.696-05:00Snake Eyes<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpz7Tkph8sq7JDfw-IE8ExVOZiZGNOh_H_okpgyd-uAVN_-yqwxYZTexXMwCs_38n8eQ7vWb954F7w9I8IJ89kxiL-CoiBtDE-W1rXXPmZDaOxotsjZ5MoqVM1dUMonmgyR2c8Dn_TXGuGoJ3wKHx4cfixbL9Hw6BbO2PVK399XGW12otI2XuyqLlDQtM/s432/zuni%20silver%20and%20turquoise%20butterfly%20pin%20antique.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="432" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpz7Tkph8sq7JDfw-IE8ExVOZiZGNOh_H_okpgyd-uAVN_-yqwxYZTexXMwCs_38n8eQ7vWb954F7w9I8IJ89kxiL-CoiBtDE-W1rXXPmZDaOxotsjZ5MoqVM1dUMonmgyR2c8Dn_TXGuGoJ3wKHx4cfixbL9Hw6BbO2PVK399XGW12otI2XuyqLlDQtM/s320/zuni%20silver%20and%20turquoise%20butterfly%20pin%20antique.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION:</b> From my first visit to Arizona, I was taken by the beauty of the turquoise jewelry I found there. I’ve been back several times since and each time I discover new artisans. I especially like the style of the pieces created by members of the Zuni Tribe. I’d like to know more about this jewelry. How far back does this type of jewelry go? And how collectible is it today?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> Much of the jewelry made by Southwestern Native Americans features one well-known semi-precious stone—turquoise. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Formed from hydrated copper aluminum phosphate, turquoise has been mined beginning 3,000 years ago in Persia, now Iran. The Persians treasured this sky-blue stone because they believed it to have healing properties and the ability to protect or warn the wearer of evil.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtZoLy4n6rQKm6fvV035YeAdBIqBX6OiBiFSDkaPlw-aimMhuFhYzt4EdhE1CcVquG-fZnRYoshOdw_iwWC9iL08Plh1ZnYEJKdCWiYOqKbwPdc4Z-IO8nVAcupRU1WY_SfRbr_IOYjNPPFzWMaGFsmwJXUDsalo_zlNqA9hdGo05GH9VZ5CwgOdaYLg/s523/zuni%20and%20Navajo%20jewelry%20collection.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="523" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtZoLy4n6rQKm6fvV035YeAdBIqBX6OiBiFSDkaPlw-aimMhuFhYzt4EdhE1CcVquG-fZnRYoshOdw_iwWC9iL08Plh1ZnYEJKdCWiYOqKbwPdc4Z-IO8nVAcupRU1WY_SfRbr_IOYjNPPFzWMaGFsmwJXUDsalo_zlNqA9hdGo05GH9VZ5CwgOdaYLg/w640-h344/zuni%20and%20Navajo%20jewelry%20collection.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_nk0V6llRbcK7jv2zVl5Ve_eMuw-vYzCfjlAOJboFS-5DM63lXTCoSu4RTpnqiWh3l5zQzpYo9q6u2bcbfDFGfiy3GCeOnHLtNt74zhy7V_pTLLKnuXY2cCOVUZi5iRkNE7oj1gqHXyaZdGAYY0J8-jxF23qnwjYkDkqBgrItDzk39Yjat-h06jIy7g/s432/zuni%20turquoise%20inclusions.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="279" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_nk0V6llRbcK7jv2zVl5Ve_eMuw-vYzCfjlAOJboFS-5DM63lXTCoSu4RTpnqiWh3l5zQzpYo9q6u2bcbfDFGfiy3GCeOnHLtNt74zhy7V_pTLLKnuXY2cCOVUZi5iRkNE7oj1gqHXyaZdGAYY0J8-jxF23qnwjYkDkqBgrItDzk39Yjat-h06jIy7g/s320/zuni%20turquoise%20inclusions.jpg" width="207" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Because of its scarcity, today’s Iranians no longer mine turquoise, making antique Persian turquoise jewelry, often carved and inlaid with gold, extremely valuable. Such pieces, like necklaces and amulets, first came to Europe through Turkey, where the stone got its current name, “turquoise.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Turquoise has been found all over the world. The light and fragile material can range from opaque to semi-translucent, with a waxy to dull luster, and its colors, which vary based on their iron and copper content, span from China blue to deep blue, and from blue-green to yellowy green. In Tibet, green is the most valued color of turquoise.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9u4h_Sb210QQQvtNuhLXGQ2-PTLZ184vDUvpXWHNozDodC1Rt_DzhajBCM-9-wbAvsnq1eOrWF3yhdkk04m6dqwPhmuIklQpknNPiOfbu2PjFI2Lfih8GvDPqWaFK65tKY-2MuUn4qUuNZaSuglV9Ofki-75zNI4_KcLFGzPcsVPF_327DQUEPQBdN0/s432/zuni%20bracelet%20includions.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="432" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9u4h_Sb210QQQvtNuhLXGQ2-PTLZ184vDUvpXWHNozDodC1Rt_DzhajBCM-9-wbAvsnq1eOrWF3yhdkk04m6dqwPhmuIklQpknNPiOfbu2PjFI2Lfih8GvDPqWaFK65tKY-2MuUn4qUuNZaSuglV9Ofki-75zNI4_KcLFGzPcsVPF_327DQUEPQBdN0/s320/zuni%20bracelet%20includions.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The stone often contains “inclusions” from the mother stone or “matrix” that held the turquoise as it formed, and this creates a “spiderweb” effect of brown, black, or ochre veins. Turquoise mined in the U.S. and Mexico tends to be greener and often has more inclusions than the vein-free sky-blue version from Persia.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Turquoise may be used for beads, cabochons, or carved pieces like cameos in necklaces, earrings, bracelets, brooches, and belt buckles. The most valuable turquoise available today comes from the Sleeping Beauty mines in Arizona; it’s dark blue and matrix-free.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugYmgSXp28ubveATxS0jdO0NXnRzHD4Ze4-hO3HAKDJoSzgtP45lxlXl4Mf88RopW5VGI4wlsOIOcTVX3jtVCSBCNRyS2zbZ4ak3iQxa6YCasgH_XavIT3DPUgPP9ehV_Odx6EHR9X4549Q2484OZjaGVQa2BUmq-i9nPWD-0XS6zToONWb6Rk1Cc8xI/s432/zuni%20necklace%20vintage.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="383" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugYmgSXp28ubveATxS0jdO0NXnRzHD4Ze4-hO3HAKDJoSzgtP45lxlXl4Mf88RopW5VGI4wlsOIOcTVX3jtVCSBCNRyS2zbZ4ak3iQxa6YCasgH_XavIT3DPUgPP9ehV_Odx6EHR9X4549Q2484OZjaGVQa2BUmq-i9nPWD-0XS6zToONWb6Rk1Cc8xI/w355-h400/zuni%20necklace%20vintage.jpg" width="355" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">In the late 19th century, Navajo artisans began to incorporate turquoise mined locally into their silver jewelry, but it was quickly mined out. A trader named Lorenzo Hubble began to import cut turquoise from Persia for the Native Americans to use. Then, in the early 20th century a new mine for cut turquoise opened in Nevada. Soon other American mines followed. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Various Native American tribes of the Southwestern U.S, including the Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni developed distinct styles of turquoise jewelry. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">For example, the Navajo created what’s known as the “squash blossom” necklace style, which features a crescent-shaped pendant covered with turquoise beads. While this style may have come from the pomegranate motif that Spanish conquistadors brought to Mexico, but there’s little evidence Native Americans intended this design to represent that flower. This style was also adopted by the Zuni.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLrHEfepX6rgws2vt0IUqKnevT7w2rFnNflYlQkosPR7fNJBl8zHpCXP6iZSWeGqMJ7o1U5VFPqDbIwQtyeqZk1QSr3mqfPukS_u0w5JJ_vGS4m3BLEpTXN8pLboyCWsLQUTiIcjnZ6Vbja2WSlLGsllUTQy75yFvK9P_qnv_Y2rKRYTq3-p6GsQBGWk/s432/zuni%20necklace%20turquoise%20and%20coral.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="432" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLrHEfepX6rgws2vt0IUqKnevT7w2rFnNflYlQkosPR7fNJBl8zHpCXP6iZSWeGqMJ7o1U5VFPqDbIwQtyeqZk1QSr3mqfPukS_u0w5JJ_vGS4m3BLEpTXN8pLboyCWsLQUTiIcjnZ6Vbja2WSlLGsllUTQy75yFvK9P_qnv_Y2rKRYTq3-p6GsQBGWk/w400-h358/zuni%20necklace%20turquoise%20and%20coral.jpeg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Zuni jewelry is known for its rows of “snake eyes,” which are small, rounded, high-domed cabochons, often made of turquoise or coral. The Zunis are also known for their “petit point” jewelry, a style made of tiny hand-cut rounded, oval, or square turquoise clustered in unique designs, that originated in the 1920s. The Pueblo tribes, and particularly the San Domingo tribe, used turquoise in mosaic jewelry, as well as in their disk- or tube-shaped heishe beads. The Zuni were the first to introduce turquoise animal-shaped fetish beads.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In the 1970s, Native American jewelry became popular, so that United States mines became overwhelmed by the demand. Once again, Native American traders had to start importing Persian turquoise. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_mIczuq6HjNXQMsOOVN0qagYQrsCmM15w5BzlkCvjbez0GUub8AHIiz08PjJM3-XEdYWPM3lbqf8U8fCnl1tOjDKXUaJH3g5nSgHnpmeWpqDGdKxIEGYhwUXcvj4_d7nOww9k0QO5P-GWUNsOlHUQPIjwutwPlQaOQhUz7BD4ZV9GNE1sXSXzWGEZHQ/s523/zuni%20jewelry%20collection%20in%20basket.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="523" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_mIczuq6HjNXQMsOOVN0qagYQrsCmM15w5BzlkCvjbez0GUub8AHIiz08PjJM3-XEdYWPM3lbqf8U8fCnl1tOjDKXUaJH3g5nSgHnpmeWpqDGdKxIEGYhwUXcvj4_d7nOww9k0QO5P-GWUNsOlHUQPIjwutwPlQaOQhUz7BD4ZV9GNE1sXSXzWGEZHQ/w640-h452/zuni%20jewelry%20collection%20in%20basket.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIWo5Jhs1ETi2nK-NhW9skzj37vShUnMGyaXAF_T-r4jtdOAA87DlPwByyDLHQHnlV6QG5WMa3cGFuwoSEzmTQhQpe7o0cz_Qin1ZxDteORiyZHP3vd8Acd50JsjoWLpEEPLuBAdIflCJEygGDXbWBefc1eF3KMg-bRf9XaQgzHSdhHIyFaVJa70ExxM/s432/zuni%20needlepoint%20pin.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="432" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIWo5Jhs1ETi2nK-NhW9skzj37vShUnMGyaXAF_T-r4jtdOAA87DlPwByyDLHQHnlV6QG5WMa3cGFuwoSEzmTQhQpe7o0cz_Qin1ZxDteORiyZHP3vd8Acd50JsjoWLpEEPLuBAdIflCJEygGDXbWBefc1eF3KMg-bRf9XaQgzHSdhHIyFaVJa70ExxM/s320/zuni%20needlepoint%20pin.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Most turquoise jewelry on the market today, particularly if it’s affordable, is made of imitation turquoise, or low-grade turquoise treated to have a more attractive appearance. In fact, imitation turquoise goes back to the Victorians, who were the first to use glass to mimic the stone.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Most real American turquoise may turn green in response to light, oil, heat, and water, so it should be treated with care. Because it’s more porous than Persian turquoise, American turquoise, jewelry makers stabilize it by soaking it in resin or impregnating it with wax. This keeps it from crumbling and doesn’t affect the value. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "The Age of Photography" in the 2023 Fall Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-34679248064232431942023-11-22T14:23:00.003-05:002023-11-22T14:23:50.610-05:00Brightening the World with Loetz Glass<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvuljui9KjR8fQKep3G3rm0AqPn-8DaDHUCIp-CanoUMN8kr44CmHkxhTXm1OmHRvwDOsw4bRRnt3H6nVA4PxAirdQMug1vnjrczaoloKqvOYRJzihmJ1JA2BAzgyi6xHhJ9HCqwF6m9eon2MbXoy0D8mjCpH5fSN5gueGL7K8IR71wOuEIU_wOGxQdA/s432/loetz%20red%20dot%20vase.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="342" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvuljui9KjR8fQKep3G3rm0AqPn-8DaDHUCIp-CanoUMN8kr44CmHkxhTXm1OmHRvwDOsw4bRRnt3H6nVA4PxAirdQMug1vnjrczaoloKqvOYRJzihmJ1JA2BAzgyi6xHhJ9HCqwF6m9eon2MbXoy0D8mjCpH5fSN5gueGL7K8IR71wOuEIU_wOGxQdA/s320/loetz%20red%20dot%20vase.jpg" width="253" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION:</b> I like to collect art glass. Over the years, I added many pieces to my collection. Recently, I discovered a beautiful vase at an antique show. The dealer said it was made by Loetz of Czechoslovakia. From its design and form—it’s a classic green vase with large orange dots—it looks to be Art Nouveau, but I’m really not sure when the company produced it. What can you tell me about Loetz Glass? I’d like to add more pieces to my collection. Did they only make one type of art glass or did they diversify?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> Loetz produced your vase around 1911, so it definitely falls within the time of Art Nouveau. Loetz was the premier Bohemian art glass manufacturer during the Art Nouveau period from about 1890 to 1920. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4Wwe_omAmtuJutmaTNYbzClI1JrhZCQyNr4cBWUljzxTGec6LfL2nxhsM5tcWnwsbnk6etxl41k0YL4ihf9K7iyWbmtNOBCdVOalj-aqCqqip3WLNu9W8-jRHV6EiAoXWtk9R9GmG78sNR9Rtt1GOX7faHZZauG3PoV02nVwy0KuXE98IYt89R-SepM/s432/Loetz%20Titaia.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="275" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4Wwe_omAmtuJutmaTNYbzClI1JrhZCQyNr4cBWUljzxTGec6LfL2nxhsM5tcWnwsbnk6etxl41k0YL4ihf9K7iyWbmtNOBCdVOalj-aqCqqip3WLNu9W8-jRHV6EiAoXWtk9R9GmG78sNR9Rtt1GOX7faHZZauG3PoV02nVwy0KuXE98IYt89R-SepM/s320/Loetz%20Titaia.jpg" width="204" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">It’s commonly believed that Johann Loetz founded his glassworks in 1840. In fact, Johann Eisner, another glassmaker, opened a glassworks four years earlier in Klostermühle, a town in southern Bohemia, in what’s now the Czech Republic. His heirs sold the glassworks to Martin Schmid in 1849, and two years later Schmid sold it to Frank Gerstner, attorney-at-law, and his wife Susanne, who was the widow (Witwe in German) of glassmaker Johann Loetz. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Gerstner transferred sole ownership to his wife shortly before his death in 1855, after which she successfully expanded the company for 20 years, manufacturing mainly crystal, overlay and painted glass.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECoYw0JyzcQ_8AWipcz8MoGpwGvy_mNwwR8otenU8A2GTKzR7JjavqX92KnisMqVsLXN2ggzfIHoKZct7ltbhhLKYLRMlNXjC3E_jvhqSABvpRdiEy0GG5W_lUBVfL9xpId5j-A8qpV9Z3XHAejxsKvSpkplnqj4Pca9g442bDVZXfnErSRbGMLaLOBY/s432/Loetz%20Marmonietes.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="311" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECoYw0JyzcQ_8AWipcz8MoGpwGvy_mNwwR8otenU8A2GTKzR7JjavqX92KnisMqVsLXN2ggzfIHoKZct7ltbhhLKYLRMlNXjC3E_jvhqSABvpRdiEy0GG5W_lUBVfL9xpId5j-A8qpV9Z3XHAejxsKvSpkplnqj4Pca9g442bDVZXfnErSRbGMLaLOBY/w288-h400/Loetz%20Marmonietes.jpg" width="288" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1879, Susanne transferred the company, now called Johann Loetz Witwe, to Maximilian von Spaun, the son of her daughter Karoline. One year later, von Spaun hired Eduard Prochaska and the two of them modernized the factory and introduced new, patented techniques and processes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Before Loetz became known for its Phänomen and "oil spot" pieces, it had pioneered a surface technique called Marmoriertes, which produced a marbled red, pink, or green surface on objects such as vases and bowls which imitated semi-precious stones, such as malachite, onyx, and red chalcedony. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Phänomen featured rippled or featherlike designs on the object’s surface. Loetz artisans achieved this unique effect by wrapping hot glass threads around an equally hot molten base. They then pulled threads on the piece’s surface to make waves and other designs while the materials were still malleable. They combined this with techniques pioneered by Louis Comfort Tiffany in the United States.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Another late-1880s forerunner of its most prized pieces was its Octopus line, whose white curlicue lines on a darker, mottled surface resembled the tentacles of octopi.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysJbPp3dWjvKZwAHulJaoO2bZQiDIXo9yAOzFWiOOBLX8TooX4_yCv_yKNshDWXwtV-_IhEUJXYYuvMLS2hxSUI10PZjMiRt1umPNKLWaKnK49ZvoeWO7ne-8pYI-NQmWOPwU7PEWERd5mmdgtUfPK6EUxL_3RiH023r-KPyLmdmO7BjwX-NrbA-VFiQ/s523/Loetz%20Octopus.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="523" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysJbPp3dWjvKZwAHulJaoO2bZQiDIXo9yAOzFWiOOBLX8TooX4_yCv_yKNshDWXwtV-_IhEUJXYYuvMLS2hxSUI10PZjMiRt1umPNKLWaKnK49ZvoeWO7ne-8pYI-NQmWOPwU7PEWERd5mmdgtUfPK6EUxL_3RiH023r-KPyLmdmO7BjwX-NrbA-VFiQ/w640-h412/Loetz%20Octopus.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jC7UQplTSbOz7HDtchHJY2Jqzv9Lfg4PIUcBt9MgX8p-BqbFEK9-cYLQQL2J5ysRJnvlfwWsUrKN6Zw3N6ltdhulnJVp7aI4qhyLe2YbE70j-FiTCWk0hd8QKpqROZrez79V31dZomibEDHQAN8eg256NTBKg0W3XEAOAarneZM_7tOOSnDpYFko8so/s432/Loetz%20Phanomen%20blue%20vase%201900.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="237" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jC7UQplTSbOz7HDtchHJY2Jqzv9Lfg4PIUcBt9MgX8p-BqbFEK9-cYLQQL2J5ysRJnvlfwWsUrKN6Zw3N6ltdhulnJVp7aI4qhyLe2YbE70j-FiTCWk0hd8QKpqROZrez79V31dZomibEDHQAN8eg256NTBKg0W3XEAOAarneZM_7tOOSnDpYFko8so/s320/Loetz%20Phanomen%20blue%20vase%201900.jpg" width="176" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1889, the company took first prize at the Paris Exhibition for its classic vase forms, some of which were hand-worked and deformed into swirling, organic-looking shapes like seashells, flowers, and tree trunks. Decorative vases, cups, and pitchers were other popular forms in the Loetz lineup, and many of the pieces glowed thanks to their iridescent sheen from the firing and reduction techniques.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">By 1904 sales began to fall off as the interest in Phänomen glass had begun to decline. So the company intensified its collaboration with Viennese designers to compensate for a lack of its own innovation. In 1909, Loetz appointed Adolf Beckert, a specialist in etched decoration, as its new artistic director. In the same year, von Spaun transferred management of the glassworks to his son, Maximilian Robert. But financial problems forced the company into bankruptcy in 1911.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oFhJJtVzOQLxRTaxCuSqDcEFqhh3K80U1B23HERazdDVMe_QyWsPDezr-2sR_1KCKtC3som1OAr7oEakFAY1FgsUXhAZ3jkaTiXuJ4aCugmQlQnetnbjnK8w0axqV54ggY7ECCFKy1VuvpQJUeK_vntwc_jKqxxBaEwC4CJ3bOy0WMtpNOlZRs0ph6w/s432/Loetz_Spiraloptisch.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="267" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oFhJJtVzOQLxRTaxCuSqDcEFqhh3K80U1B23HERazdDVMe_QyWsPDezr-2sR_1KCKtC3som1OAr7oEakFAY1FgsUXhAZ3jkaTiXuJ4aCugmQlQnetnbjnK8w0axqV54ggY7ECCFKy1VuvpQJUeK_vntwc_jKqxxBaEwC4CJ3bOy0WMtpNOlZRs0ph6w/s320/Loetz_Spiraloptisch.jpg" width="198" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Another series from the turn-of-the-century was known as Streifen und Flecken, or stripes and spots, whose cheerful shapes and colors were as friendly as a polka-dot skirt from the 1950s. Asträa pieces also had oil spots, although the base color tended toward the metallic. Works in the Diaspora series were almost all dots, whether it was a simple vase or a one shaped like a chambered nautilus.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2AZEv-6RkBE6YHy1e0NlQj2JTCO-tSiQ6egx1OjxV6G6gzYd2ccfKmfY14r8a71i11oonu4t77HpOaC8NGtVN8qTz2inMXvagj6t6kNj_FGG8p9NCBnnXlyBMYnRYTJRwG14kxdPZodzMWBj0cWnIm-Wjyw1htlrm0_944q4m_-XOOJISp_LMPdaXAQ/s432/Loetz%20Perlglas.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="180" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2AZEv-6RkBE6YHy1e0NlQj2JTCO-tSiQ6egx1OjxV6G6gzYd2ccfKmfY14r8a71i11oonu4t77HpOaC8NGtVN8qTz2inMXvagj6t6kNj_FGG8p9NCBnnXlyBMYnRYTJRwG14kxdPZodzMWBj0cWnIm-Wjyw1htlrm0_944q4m_-XOOJISp_LMPdaXAQ/w166-h400/Loetz%20Perlglas.jpg" width="166" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The use of patterns was also a hallmark of Loetz art glass. The Spiraloptisch were a blizzard of spirals, while the more formal looking pieces in the Décor series were painted and etched with leaf and flower shapes to create works with an almost Asian sensibility.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">After 1905, when interest in the florals waned, Loetz artisans pushed their glass surface treatments further than ever while relying on shapes that the company had used for decades. For example, the roiling surfaces of the Titania pieces pre-date Abstract Expressionism by 30 years. Loetz’s Perlglas pieces were translucent, giving more weight to the forms as sculpture rather than distracting the viewer with dazzling surfaces.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But without a doubt, the most memorable Loetz art glass from the end of the Art Nouveau era was its Tango line. Unlike the work that had preceded it, which was all about dense color combinations and tricky surface treatments, these two-toned pieces typically featured single colors on mostly unadorned surfaces, with contrasting lip wraps or handles.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2xR3KcyFb2WPrtugM7A_UZB4rEX4Lhwe5heE63qwLOi8OykgFXjXOnEzoeYGvnBU-qWFt7PsdSI8I-Xi7EMWhTMu3FXQdJXOoQdXf7X_o_AXVykP477YCFiKp5MtWWDYgcGrHGLH3veGllJs2_Kb1ixZ6-iR3Rt8_WhKZK_v8-TheOoW8fYYa6rLsgQ/s523/Loetz%20Tango%20groupig.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="523" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2xR3KcyFb2WPrtugM7A_UZB4rEX4Lhwe5heE63qwLOi8OykgFXjXOnEzoeYGvnBU-qWFt7PsdSI8I-Xi7EMWhTMu3FXQdJXOoQdXf7X_o_AXVykP477YCFiKp5MtWWDYgcGrHGLH3veGllJs2_Kb1ixZ6-iR3Rt8_WhKZK_v8-TheOoW8fYYa6rLsgQ/w640-h316/Loetz%20Tango%20groupig.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zDxjN_cemGuGX01pZqnfrgRV3ADZXxcTeuPtsjfe5Z4aUfzKL6jLsXGv-1-i_ciL8RPeVF-7sptVhOV2PLlL0x7w_pzkKdedRnQM1fVuXZOXxtw3mqrtc5B5HKn55d5h8k1tEBKCWxr4oYXMpQpFE14bQaQBPg6O-Ixt9zPxZPUZdr-fz3bTWlSeZW8/s432/Loetz%20Streifen%20and%20Flecken.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="432" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zDxjN_cemGuGX01pZqnfrgRV3ADZXxcTeuPtsjfe5Z4aUfzKL6jLsXGv-1-i_ciL8RPeVF-7sptVhOV2PLlL0x7w_pzkKdedRnQM1fVuXZOXxtw3mqrtc5B5HKn55d5h8k1tEBKCWxr4oYXMpQpFE14bQaQBPg6O-Ixt9zPxZPUZdr-fz3bTWlSeZW8/s320/Loetz%20Streifen%20and%20Flecken.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">The last significant period for Loetz occurred between the wars. In the beginning of the 1920s, Loetz revived late 19th-century cameo glass, which had been pioneered by Émile Gallé and others. Compared to the work that had come before it, these Loetz vases, bowls and jugs, with their etched, almost sentimental depictions of flowers and scenics, were traditional and safe.</span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But by 1939, the company had begun to run out of money, and in 1940 a disastrous fire destroyed the factory. After the war, the East German Government nationalized Loetz Witwe, but in 1947 the lights went out for good.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "The Age of Photography" in the 2023 Fall Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><div><br /></div>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-76418608160870801142023-11-10T12:40:00.001-05:002023-11-10T12:40:06.058-05:00The Descendant of the Laptop<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsf44MK2vvYYMy1ZKXfean6xpIO_I2r-HNTHQmsY5Hl1xe3FPqt8z_PcBYTI06GsP4A2rS40Ep7J4BzYpBVQnr7O6jtyE3RmcCbawMiMP7M7dnlA4Nr9ZqQsQo5LHF6WcsMAVA2XFB9-aNwNdM4u8Myet8uM6TPASsBFd29OfH19sEWu4x2fxJcO-2Lg/s432/writingbox%20leather%20covered.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="432" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsf44MK2vvYYMy1ZKXfean6xpIO_I2r-HNTHQmsY5Hl1xe3FPqt8z_PcBYTI06GsP4A2rS40Ep7J4BzYpBVQnr7O6jtyE3RmcCbawMiMP7M7dnlA4Nr9ZqQsQo5LHF6WcsMAVA2XFB9-aNwNdM4u8Myet8uM6TPASsBFd29OfH19sEWu4x2fxJcO-2Lg/s320/writingbox%20leather%20covered.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION:</b> On one of my first trips to England, I enjoyed antiquing as I traveled the countryside. In a shop in the Cotswolds, I discovered an unusual box. It had a lid that opened a out into what looked like a sloping writing service. The dealer said it was a 19th-century writing box. This seemed odd to me as many people now do whatever correspondence they need to do on their laptop through Emails or by texting on their smartphone. When and where did these boxes originate and how long were they in use?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER: </b>While most writing boxes date to the 19th century, they go back even further than that. Victorians carried these boxes with them on trips so they could write letters and postcards back home. When not traveling, many also used them in place of a desk. Essentially, they were the laptops of their day.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFwIyujPtWXl_OypByvodAM2CONcis4hWVT76s9xAT2wMXw7-emij2nndWJvkOQzNmvSZyWafvmdFPhTesuLtHqupA2gQK_YBUDtUNLwWDqhumzbUF5-dTzIGGpis3IVlYOSHLoMUx2KzgE_hZxSjvUXNt4Lcm28dsmXe1VFrdsu_OYuQetz5G52Gf4k/s403/writingbox%20bible%20box%20original.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="403" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFwIyujPtWXl_OypByvodAM2CONcis4hWVT76s9xAT2wMXw7-emij2nndWJvkOQzNmvSZyWafvmdFPhTesuLtHqupA2gQK_YBUDtUNLwWDqhumzbUF5-dTzIGGpis3IVlYOSHLoMUx2KzgE_hZxSjvUXNt4Lcm28dsmXe1VFrdsu_OYuQetz5G52Gf4k/s320/writingbox%20bible%20box%20original.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Writing boxes date back to the beginning of writing. During the Middle Ages, monks kept their writing materials in special boxes called scriptoriums. Eventually, they mounted these boxes on stands and later added legs, creating the first desks for doing illuminated manuscripts. But the writing box, itself, survived into the early 20th century.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">People used traveling desks or writing boxes throughout the 19th century. When opened, they offered a leathered or velvet slope and rested on a table or over compartments for holding stationery. More luxurious versions included a removable pen tray under which spare nibs and holders could be kept, and screw-top inkwells, usually of glass, on each side. Others offered secret drawers or compartments. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir57PhM9ufRtOCJu7RgzJYEo-V2zKaI_5BBZ7XuK_y17PAgvR10fX9DwUoESt4eutnP04H34v8OPWteKekCY0zdse90ac0DKMc1jUTqJGhvKAOaiR1HuJK22TjLPAtg5r07sHvYoIOa7GoMnJAEBj-U1BJe9JHXYXOtYAq6MERP25ti7lLmi_7fTbD_90/s523/writingbox%20with%20drawer%20English.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="523" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir57PhM9ufRtOCJu7RgzJYEo-V2zKaI_5BBZ7XuK_y17PAgvR10fX9DwUoESt4eutnP04H34v8OPWteKekCY0zdse90ac0DKMc1jUTqJGhvKAOaiR1HuJK22TjLPAtg5r07sHvYoIOa7GoMnJAEBj-U1BJe9JHXYXOtYAq6MERP25ti7lLmi_7fTbD_90/w640-h428/writingbox%20with%20drawer%20English.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Before usernames and passwords, professional men kept their valuable documents—deeds, ills, and private letters—in their writing boxes. They didn’t keep these at their desks and always kept them locked. The first writing-boxes like these were descendant from “bible-boxes” and came into being in the 1600s. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2fZRwJocRHAZEfWA9xLW98szA8UCx2vfhDf5ncmuTQRmXQr1IJr337bLHLOjgd3vLh8cRnssjxtI8CUshyphenhyphenIT9-91tv77QFFv7ClJU0C3v-sIg6NW6q-cpZn-dkb0k5i4GS3NIeS8kq6GcDs3fYvdMRRAvjFZDhQegduWG2dwLVrHOqSxTreWBfeAgsc/s432/writingbox%20bible%20box.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="432" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2fZRwJocRHAZEfWA9xLW98szA8UCx2vfhDf5ncmuTQRmXQr1IJr337bLHLOjgd3vLh8cRnssjxtI8CUshyphenhyphenIT9-91tv77QFFv7ClJU0C3v-sIg6NW6q-cpZn-dkb0k5i4GS3NIeS8kq6GcDs3fYvdMRRAvjFZDhQegduWG2dwLVrHOqSxTreWBfeAgsc/s320/writingbox%20bible%20box.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">During the second half of the 17th century, craftsmen began to make improvements to these the Bible box, creating a rectangular box with a sloping lid. Such boxes provided a ‘desk on the move’ for such people as merchants, members of the clergy and professional men of the turn of the 18th century. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In the 18th century, drivers stacked squarish trunks and boxes on the backs of stagecoaches and carriages. A box with a slopping lid didn’t fit this arrangement, forcing passengers to carry it on their lap. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Eventually, a creative cabinetmaker discovered that if he sliced a rectangle in half, diagonally, and moved the cutting-line so that it was slightly off, when he applied this to a box, he found when the lid was opened and laid down flat, a complete, compact writing-slope could be created for anyone who wanted to use it. When business was done, the slope was simply folded up into a neat little box. This became the basic form of the writing box for the next 200 years.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZSnYWK3j92kbzwCiMT9I5N9vxWmzZT7whECDG4fPZz6bdzj8KnbwulxkYvlNXvwK-9U1K6g13vPUhMGXq0fAUqMFF7DIk7NCiHclrQHv0A3HaEv1P7m_w_i8juzLIeWIaSJ57vOaELfnHqwCxjOJKNEKVX39q0drnaIo_YfMCI83m1TZVsreOtopkbk/s523/writingbox%20popular%20style%2019th%20cent.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="523" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZSnYWK3j92kbzwCiMT9I5N9vxWmzZT7whECDG4fPZz6bdzj8KnbwulxkYvlNXvwK-9U1K6g13vPUhMGXq0fAUqMFF7DIk7NCiHclrQHv0A3HaEv1P7m_w_i8juzLIeWIaSJ57vOaELfnHqwCxjOJKNEKVX39q0drnaIo_YfMCI83m1TZVsreOtopkbk/w400-h284/writingbox%20popular%20style%2019th%20cent.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Once the form of the writing box became standardized, it became quite common. Their practicality and portability allowed them to be carried on journeys, on long sea-voyages, on military campaigns, scientific and geographic expeditions and even for a trip out of town to visit the Duke for the weekend shooting-party. It was during this time that writing boxes became fine pieces of craftsmanship, handmade by cabinetmakers, carpenters and skilled artisans. They ranged from sturdy, utilitarian pieces with brass-edgings to protect the wooden corners from damage to fine top-of-the line models with inlaid decoration, brass handles, leather writing slopes and plenty of secret compartments.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICqdSv3vIX1ADs17Eq6eIA6e8D5xAmBpHfgYrtcUgRlaMuIcvi2JozKGpCFEfGYmo-ob3-KILbQrlHUF6Avj46N5eO7FRIJ6obk6qvJmxn2WGxahPwfytHLm0TIj89UB6X2vIMabHz5G10lq9BwYHfRI9IYcqDrdGkMxNIS4VvE2U3qzAkcb1mq50aFc/s523/writingbox%20large%20deluxe.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="523" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICqdSv3vIX1ADs17Eq6eIA6e8D5xAmBpHfgYrtcUgRlaMuIcvi2JozKGpCFEfGYmo-ob3-KILbQrlHUF6Avj46N5eO7FRIJ6obk6qvJmxn2WGxahPwfytHLm0TIj89UB6X2vIMabHz5G10lq9BwYHfRI9IYcqDrdGkMxNIS4VvE2U3qzAkcb1mq50aFc/w640-h504/writingbox%20large%20deluxe.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Writing boxes carried everything a person needed to do business. Most people, however, used them for correspondence. Most included seals and sealing-wax, stamps, a couple of envelopes, notepaper, nibs or quills and a pen-shaft. All writing-boxes also had a dedicated slot or alcove where a sealed inkwell would sit. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BUjl85Dm2tGU1byU4-bdrb1cQbJK5ywjleLdxqdRA8BFYhlEW77WGX-zWkNYg-woXZrNmXa13R-0ZWJJBnupWBeCPabcBlpw2DrA8sQddZsN93nTsMefDWFZ843IRXD1XaAAnqgE9yDDlq6AyPFAwzf8hxRNW0mHL77t9uDC9LYogbN0PPaDN1j12G8/s432/writingbox%20Scottish%20inkwells.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BUjl85Dm2tGU1byU4-bdrb1cQbJK5ywjleLdxqdRA8BFYhlEW77WGX-zWkNYg-woXZrNmXa13R-0ZWJJBnupWBeCPabcBlpw2DrA8sQddZsN93nTsMefDWFZ843IRXD1XaAAnqgE9yDDlq6AyPFAwzf8hxRNW0mHL77t9uDC9LYogbN0PPaDN1j12G8/s320/writingbox%20Scottish%20inkwells.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">An essential part of any writing box was the glass ink bottles. Before fountain pens appeared around 1895, a dip-pen and inkwell was the only way to go. Before you could get ink that was bottled in safe, screw-top, leakproof bottles, a travelling inkwell, which had a lid that locked securely and a rubber or leather seal to prevent leakage, was the only ink supply you were likely to get. And with the dip-pen shaft came the little box of nibs or ‘pens’ as they were called then, that went with it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Their practicality and portability allowed them to be carried on journeys, on long sea voyages, on military campaigns, as well as scientific and geographic expeditions. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Towards the middle of the 19th century, manufacturers produced wooden writing boxes in enormous quantities to meet a growing demand. They came in all sizes and varieties of wood, including mahogany, burr walnut, rosewood and the more expensive ones in Coromandel wood. Less expensive ones, usually made of thin pine or fruitwood, were a step above an elaborate school pencil box and often decorated with cheaper decals instead of inlay.. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoktoiox4JMqtngfCYK2ZFCpmG8t-cuupvGLrq3Xlb_N_a0-W7Sc9iIxYXnE4JA-2hjWyapWNAUbdpgJNePsb3wY1i0i4R4hzJlgrhF0HHEkPlsEzu7_G6j0mOQZy9Itjz9OBOzF0zmufxOFfNU0oavZ3HLiZBYyXqMRdkVaQVkyJwaZvTo1ZGW_-Dak/s500/writingbox%20tunbridgeware.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="500" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoktoiox4JMqtngfCYK2ZFCpmG8t-cuupvGLrq3Xlb_N_a0-W7Sc9iIxYXnE4JA-2hjWyapWNAUbdpgJNePsb3wY1i0i4R4hzJlgrhF0HHEkPlsEzu7_G6j0mOQZy9Itjz9OBOzF0zmufxOFfNU0oavZ3HLiZBYyXqMRdkVaQVkyJwaZvTo1ZGW_-Dak/s320/writingbox%20tunbridgeware.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Makers produced each to various specifications, depending on the intended type and amount of use. An army officer posted to the northwest frontier, for example, would want one robustly built, heavily brass bound, with brass mounted corners and edges to withstand rough treatment. A Victorian lady, on the other hand, might have one made in Tunbridge ware (a type of English marquetry decoration from the spa town of Tunbridge Wells, England) or even papier mache. The more expensive ones had serpentine lids, sometimes inlaid with intricate designs in brass or a mother of pearl or a shield for the owner's initials.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Simpler tourist writing cases in Moroccan leather and lined with satin came equipped with different sizes of stationery, pens, pencils, and a paperknife, but not an inkwell.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0N7Wn5dlqxtHl-7o3UomoAqfybGNVT4QYmMT9slTbWx17keLc_RN_rRAbK-OcNEb7JaIeFzUoUmxiT-C1lKq5M_Kha8SYYuDmyNqU6t8FTMDCrkgl1b7AEftIuXNJ4p5ateH793KWJ9CpGOXufHIefROxczbfXf56b-O3_QbypTjspg5-n500J5sED4/s523/writingbox%20campaign%20style.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="523" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0N7Wn5dlqxtHl-7o3UomoAqfybGNVT4QYmMT9slTbWx17keLc_RN_rRAbK-OcNEb7JaIeFzUoUmxiT-C1lKq5M_Kha8SYYuDmyNqU6t8FTMDCrkgl1b7AEftIuXNJ4p5ateH793KWJ9CpGOXufHIefROxczbfXf56b-O3_QbypTjspg5-n500J5sED4/s320/writingbox%20campaign%20style.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The utility of an easily portable box to provide storage for writing materials and a surface on which to write eventually led to the continuing usage of a smaller and more compact box that became very popular in the late 18th century. Known as lap desks or writing slopes, these writing boxes were quite portable, so they could be held on a lap or used at a table. They came with lids, hinged at the front, that slanted upwards towards the back, opening to form a writing surface with only one compartment underneath for storage. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_C9zVvLBX_R79oTIGy3xMfjfvW47HxR1J0qyoGzRQQnpVNsIynDWxuPzF9Fh1LwiG1Ph97B-KWxiiEn7LZK4WE9UZtv43ERr3-QhyPqJe_LSnFyAd2AZ3tLdF0el040YFSb3YBo8ypHF71Cy5wuxeMQmqIHRdSdimc7xhKkBK2C6qGi1_cOc30pZrLsg/s432/writingbox%20fancy%20with%20velvet.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_C9zVvLBX_R79oTIGy3xMfjfvW47HxR1J0qyoGzRQQnpVNsIynDWxuPzF9Fh1LwiG1Ph97B-KWxiiEn7LZK4WE9UZtv43ERr3-QhyPqJe_LSnFyAd2AZ3tLdF0el040YFSb3YBo8ypHF71Cy5wuxeMQmqIHRdSdimc7xhKkBK2C6qGi1_cOc30pZrLsg/s320/writingbox%20fancy%20with%20velvet.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Before the days of central heating, members of the family could gather by the fire and each work at his own small desk. A lap desk provided each individual with a private place in </span><span style="font-family: arial;">which to keep letters, paper and writing materials. In those days, ink, quills, paper, sand, wax wafers, and seals were all necessary equipment to use in writing a letter. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The writing box enjoyed its greatest popularity in days when ladies and gentlemen kept detailed diaries and wrote many letters. Imagine a romantic novelist or poet using just such a box while working in the warmth of a cozy fire. Today, cell phones, laptops, and tablets have made writing boxes and even stationery obsolete. However, as decorative boxes, they're more sought after than ever.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "The Age of Photography" in the 2023 Fall Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><div><br /></div>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-56067248144183536702023-11-02T15:36:00.004-04:002023-11-02T15:36:45.958-04:00Fragments of Beauty<p> </p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b></b></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcFqrB00z6lqfXpU2HML0kFgkO9oTQ2M_BuDM0HMItOVmcMOeQbh0t_NslJ45tKPk6Xmu8knWdB2As_OBn5aFRs9CtZeeZHE6qz6XuvayDGqNzUXvPXgu1idTG1pW0u0vojuycxCW8d1msoKyF_G0Ii1SbqjyEuq_glCty5A3emnrC2nNePRidR0LJrU/s432/tunbridgeware%20tumbling%20block%20jewelry%20box.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="432" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcFqrB00z6lqfXpU2HML0kFgkO9oTQ2M_BuDM0HMItOVmcMOeQbh0t_NslJ45tKPk6Xmu8knWdB2As_OBn5aFRs9CtZeeZHE6qz6XuvayDGqNzUXvPXgu1idTG1pW0u0vojuycxCW8d1msoKyF_G0Ii1SbqjyEuq_glCty5A3emnrC2nNePRidR0LJrU/s320/tunbridgeware%20tumbling%20block%20jewelry%20box.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION: </b>Some time ago, I was browsing at a local flea market where I came upon a small decorated wooden box on one of the tables. The top had a serious of interlocking blocks that formed a sort of optical illusion. And on closer inspection, I realized little pieces of wood veneer covered the entire surface of the box. I’ve never seen anything like it since. Needless to say, I paid for the box immediately. Can you tell me what sort of decoration is on this box? How old might it be?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> What you have is an example of Tunbridge ware, a form of decoratively inlaid woodwork, typically in the form of boxes, that originated in Tonbridge, England, and the spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent in 1830. The decoration consisted of a mosaic of many tiny pieces of different colored wood assembled to form a design or scene.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSs31FxHDzuQT-u86dBGNXmY-9eCBgRzYR7BiHV7Yl1cF8IwhrKMAanFhym2YQwfSJhyphenhyphenVCPcDSkYgChSIT3WKMkhtNPUjUiekrCXsUZ5vx_u0DDXRI9ISokNqNUe0HtTfE-WLbdr7CjGr3B4_vE_v5Wcpsl89FZCYWZLibo6ZZj_Tx5iUgKijDVHlHtg/s432/tunbridgeware%20early%20tape%20measure.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="346" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSs31FxHDzuQT-u86dBGNXmY-9eCBgRzYR7BiHV7Yl1cF8IwhrKMAanFhym2YQwfSJhyphenhyphenVCPcDSkYgChSIT3WKMkhtNPUjUiekrCXsUZ5vx_u0DDXRI9ISokNqNUe0HtTfE-WLbdr7CjGr3B4_vE_v5Wcpsl89FZCYWZLibo6ZZj_Tx5iUgKijDVHlHtg/w160-h200/tunbridgeware%20early%20tape%20measure.jpg" width="160" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Located about 40 miles southeast of London, the spa town of Tunbridge Wells sits in a wooded area. In the 17th century, there was so much timber that woodwork became the town’s main industry. For over 200 years, local makers specialized in this distinctive wooden ware. Originally, woodworkers decorated their creations with simple designs, painted on to light-colored objects. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Around 1830, James Burrows invented a technique of creating mosaics from wooden pieces. He tightly glued together a bunch of wooden sticks of different colors, each having triangular or diamond-shaped cross section. For half-square mosaic, Burrows took thin slices from the composite block and applied them to the surface of an object, usually a box.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqWXWgAAZ_8mU624HPQ7Dk0RARS5QNyNTLH-DvmH26WTp_kypVH0Zer7YMqr6WfANgp9O2GY4aguSa1Aj9fwWOY8JpaQ1Kp8IXcJCBG18pGb3P0GOmwQdkbh9LLa9skJnfUg9anUBPjZ2hSdVx4xqgWnGqJRm0vhv3MAZVHWOVnWbrF04UYXsMpS85ko/s432/tunbridgeware%20early%20snuff%20box.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="432" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqWXWgAAZ_8mU624HPQ7Dk0RARS5QNyNTLH-DvmH26WTp_kypVH0Zer7YMqr6WfANgp9O2GY4aguSa1Aj9fwWOY8JpaQ1Kp8IXcJCBG18pGb3P0GOmwQdkbh9LLa9skJnfUg9anUBPjZ2hSdVx4xqgWnGqJRm0vhv3MAZVHWOVnWbrF04UYXsMpS85ko/w200-h196/tunbridgeware%20early%20snuff%20box.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Makers of early Tunbridge ware didn’t decorate it but by the second half of the 18th century, more decoration </span><span style="font-family: arial;">appeared. Some were painted in colors on a whitewood background or painted in black to imitate Asian styles. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">At first the designs were simple and often geometrical, such as a clever arrangement of piled cubes, but as the artisans became more expert, they used an effective pattern representing wool-work. Pictures in mosaic of places of interest were another addition.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HIFjQ5j7AuTa7Y678CivOI1grHt_Jjv6HInPb5YvcjsXDNuLa9tk_O-NSbn5Xtb84c_pq2L5Ahp_AqOUixguXvCAfl_S3OsZwbL7AOtBZQb73gGgRJj1UTzS_P1j2mbpxVXTwl5q3GbRb_lbbC2DGoHGepridoT6oYzUtMY2Et2-_b0fruUBb6EQxS8/s432/tunbridgeware%20early%20box.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="432" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HIFjQ5j7AuTa7Y678CivOI1grHt_Jjv6HInPb5YvcjsXDNuLa9tk_O-NSbn5Xtb84c_pq2L5Ahp_AqOUixguXvCAfl_S3OsZwbL7AOtBZQb73gGgRJj1UTzS_P1j2mbpxVXTwl5q3GbRb_lbbC2DGoHGepridoT6oYzUtMY2Et2-_b0fruUBb6EQxS8/s320/tunbridgeware%20early%20box.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Making Tunbridge ware was tedious. Each separate fragment had to be laboriously fitted into its place until the picture was completed. Even then only one mosaic resulted from days of toil. To get over this difficulty, Burrows hit on the scheme of assembling a number of thin strips of appropriately colored woods into a block,. about 12 to 18 inches deep, so that their ends made up the desired scene or pattern. Bound, and glued under pressure, the strips were finally formed into one compact whole. A circular saw was next employed to shave off wafer-thin slices from across the block, and each of these layers now became a veneer which could easily be glued to the article it was to decorate. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7s3Wtke6swclyeCswFrPL4056rWi3-fveJQFsh4Mq7erYWf7GBG4C8T56T460DUBBrJG6OQEla6-vs13P9m3wYAD8imqC6qCYr_fjoW9bkwPgN63j9cxVAtLz5cq11mVIoRwPi-jzyBARpihzeFPZSr2v_bbwoPFVZdk_hyZEA5_TDE1LKIQ2D9lqANY/s523/tunbridgeware%20inkstand.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="523" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7s3Wtke6swclyeCswFrPL4056rWi3-fveJQFsh4Mq7erYWf7GBG4C8T56T460DUBBrJG6OQEla6-vs13P9m3wYAD8imqC6qCYr_fjoW9bkwPgN63j9cxVAtLz5cq11mVIoRwPi-jzyBARpihzeFPZSr2v_bbwoPFVZdk_hyZEA5_TDE1LKIQ2D9lqANY/w640-h376/tunbridgeware%20inkstand.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9azkunqh15uRSJUXyzGHrYmzXMoQO00AkYKUU6oAfKKcqsFH2wCbKymjFd-nr9mitsk14XjOgFDRBB8Qi386P6gR8Nhdq6YHwuNLjRGJmr1JxvqoB0psOJ-orKsxrtfJWZJa4mAyU3ttJE91zw7qEPUief5ZNzY2qI0vf_IRnrN9PrNIPGOZrjcBNbQ/s432/tunbridgeware%20box%20Emund%20Nye.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="432" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9azkunqh15uRSJUXyzGHrYmzXMoQO00AkYKUU6oAfKKcqsFH2wCbKymjFd-nr9mitsk14XjOgFDRBB8Qi386P6gR8Nhdq6YHwuNLjRGJmr1JxvqoB0psOJ-orKsxrtfJWZJa4mAyU3ttJE91zw7qEPUief5ZNzY2qI0vf_IRnrN9PrNIPGOZrjcBNbQ/w400-h276/tunbridgeware%20box%20Emund%20Nye.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The makers of Tunbridge ware employed about 40 different kinds of wood in a variety of colors. They used only natural colors. They often took designs, such as the block over block motif, for their articles from Berlin wool work. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Besides the Burrows family, the other company making Tunbridge ware in the 1830s was Fenner and Company. When William Fenner retired in 1840, Edmund Nye and his father took over the business, after 30 years in partnership with him. The company made articles such as workboxes and tea caddies with prints of popular views. Later items had pictures created from mosaics.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmivRoJqAwudybFeX6ek7-h07MwpCOzSA6BcjSlpUvkzOzHvRInoiNmEkUR5_X9gKTMs5eLx1Drx7sgVDCl3x9FATH0ParqoanRW8uFQVUF_7y_JIcNuCeHUctan9uwYt8rIrjRV_4Sxtg2RmUuuuta0bvZxyfrnda9sT8dutr9GaWjg4W0w44fzX1mk/s523/tunbridgeware%20picture.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="523" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmivRoJqAwudybFeX6ek7-h07MwpCOzSA6BcjSlpUvkzOzHvRInoiNmEkUR5_X9gKTMs5eLx1Drx7sgVDCl3x9FATH0ParqoanRW8uFQVUF_7y_JIcNuCeHUctan9uwYt8rIrjRV_4Sxtg2RmUuuuta0bvZxyfrnda9sT8dutr9GaWjg4W0w44fzX1mk/w640-h500/tunbridgeware%20picture.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHP1J7rCPfKkPFxXg4Jog5SP8vPjimF5oTz7QsjusXiO3v99RAreW1pmSi9Csuc4pYoRsjz3nVF4Wo1P8Xraf3RzEUcavVcWHqawFkF_oCQY18QKk6k3nAqZyBLQgxk81VSBgvoX_0I4jn0X5MFcfhvw2CQdZoSE1Wdu8InMNH1tCPW98j68E_mWVZuoQ/s432/tunbridgeware%20tea%20caddy%202.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="432" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHP1J7rCPfKkPFxXg4Jog5SP8vPjimF5oTz7QsjusXiO3v99RAreW1pmSi9Csuc4pYoRsjz3nVF4Wo1P8Xraf3RzEUcavVcWHqawFkF_oCQY18QKk6k3nAqZyBLQgxk81VSBgvoX_0I4jn0X5MFcfhvw2CQdZoSE1Wdu8InMNH1tCPW98j68E_mWVZuoQ/w400-h299/tunbridgeware%20tea%20caddy%202.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Edmund Nye, Robert Russell, and Henry Hollamby showed their Tunbridge ware at the Great Exhibition of 1851. Edmund Nye received a commendation from the judges for a a table depicting a mosaic of a ship at sea which used 110,800 wooden tesserae. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The makers of Tunbridge ware operated cottage industries There were no more than nine in Tunbridge Wells and one in Tonbridge. The number declined in the 1880s since finding skilled craftsmen was difficult, plus public tastes changed. After the death of Thomas Barton in 1903, the only surviving firm was Boyce, Brown and Kemp, which closed in 1927.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoKQIdUSYHM9PUZ3HMnpbvTUXWTDoyTg4l7kveyyNSFFFiI1MJiDs0YN-6c6Blz4ZB0M9YB462ms2M9Gyv7-XqB0y7es4QUrWMY08aKghyueCaNo24sBm6GcOMCqcrB1YeRm-vKjqKxTp7BA6C0kfIWYm_2D3bUxUDLR15hy7mxP9ga4iDSNRdWO5Lqg/s523/tunbridgeware%20cribbage%20board%20and%20box.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="523" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoKQIdUSYHM9PUZ3HMnpbvTUXWTDoyTg4l7kveyyNSFFFiI1MJiDs0YN-6c6Blz4ZB0M9YB462ms2M9Gyv7-XqB0y7es4QUrWMY08aKghyueCaNo24sBm6GcOMCqcrB1YeRm-vKjqKxTp7BA6C0kfIWYm_2D3bUxUDLR15hy7mxP9ga4iDSNRdWO5Lqg/w640-h290/tunbridgeware%20cribbage%20board%20and%20box.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Princess Victoria favored Tunbridge ware in the early 19th century. Local makers drew lots to present Princess Victoria with a single example piece of their artistry. A work table described as ‘veneered with party-colored woods from every part of the globe’ and ‘lined with gold tufted satin’ was given to the royal visitor.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IATjuP5Yv1WQdAnDmyoUVZjDWQJc-D4IoLcEEY1xswBdOVdN-SCcjBD1e288DuiXj4jkk3oD4Jqg3aSSxflvJg0ufdc67R4sfbfDX56zTV7rjse8Hj3Wa-xSdSw6WphmVL_Maur0adf9crejA_Jp3oAAZ349zwS0B3b9pwUUT4cXRad_mXW12WM2VBQ/s523/tunbridgeware%20stationary%20box.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="523" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IATjuP5Yv1WQdAnDmyoUVZjDWQJc-D4IoLcEEY1xswBdOVdN-SCcjBD1e288DuiXj4jkk3oD4Jqg3aSSxflvJg0ufdc67R4sfbfDX56zTV7rjse8Hj3Wa-xSdSw6WphmVL_Maur0adf9crejA_Jp3oAAZ349zwS0B3b9pwUUT4cXRad_mXW12WM2VBQ/w640-h544/tunbridgeware%20stationary%20box.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93vYTZw122zJkjfcEh5l4KsRk3tg218UIucJbGLO5IGiVg3oRPxyr-qj3T2JasTWzBWIIiwiOSEP3zZtInDAxNNg_dt2wHhyphenhyphenyRmlk35ioA0TbCqt6ZG5xBVy3T9tisPhbLhwwqShF-0ZDVbAWwrsOk6yo-cRf41PvRNcAndGQi6c7H42OmrQSdTwFZFQ/s432/tunbridgeware%20stamp%20box.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="395" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93vYTZw122zJkjfcEh5l4KsRk3tg218UIucJbGLO5IGiVg3oRPxyr-qj3T2JasTWzBWIIiwiOSEP3zZtInDAxNNg_dt2wHhyphenhyphenyRmlk35ioA0TbCqt6ZG5xBVy3T9tisPhbLhwwqShF-0ZDVbAWwrsOk6yo-cRf41PvRNcAndGQi6c7H42OmrQSdTwFZFQ/s320/tunbridgeware%20stamp%20box.jpg" width="293" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Visitors flocked to the spa town of Tunbridge Wells and bought the items as souvenirs and gifts. Articles included cribbage boards, paperweights, writing slopes, snuff boxes and glove boxes. Well-healed travelers had a variety of objects to choose from. Tables, tea caddies, rulers, workboxes, holders , fruit or bread baskets, candlesticks, chess tables, pencil boxes, stationery cabinets, and pin trays were but a few of the many items decorated using the wood mosaic technique.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "The Age of Photography" in the 2023 Fall Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-69466572114428757442023-10-19T14:20:00.001-04:002023-10-19T14:20:11.915-04:00Silent Greeters to the World of Tobacco<p> </p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b></b></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">QUESTION: </b>When I was a little boy, my mother used to take me shopping with her in our little midwestern town. On the way to the emporium, we used to pass by a strange looking shop. I didn’t like to go by it because there was a large fearsome figure standing out front. The figure was a large Indian—yes, back then we called them Indians— carved in wood. He had a gruesome look on his face which scared me, so I covered my eyes as we walked passed. I always wondered why this shop had such a frightening figure out front. Today, most tobacco shops are low key and look like any other shop on the street. What is the origin of the cigar-store Indian? And why did tobacco shop owners choose an Indian to stand out front?<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </div></span><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5QW8cPTBVvM-hFt4iU7gxHDX3eZ4qWL2VUdaf6C2UkcnrmKps1vYkHzrIz7h_3lqMCZbV58ryOuPz7ELX5vFuh-sMeNpJHc_VugDBUjyssI5_FWsHTOw9hCPvubr5lbGwysqeIcaX2GfjAfMwXQNY8U0DOIvUgu8Pnl4POC15dDA6L3fqcdhKiqhG6I/s360/cigar%20indian%20in%20front%20of%20store.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="360" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5QW8cPTBVvM-hFt4iU7gxHDX3eZ4qWL2VUdaf6C2UkcnrmKps1vYkHzrIz7h_3lqMCZbV58ryOuPz7ELX5vFuh-sMeNpJHc_VugDBUjyssI5_FWsHTOw9hCPvubr5lbGwysqeIcaX2GfjAfMwXQNY8U0DOIvUgu8Pnl4POC15dDA6L3fqcdhKiqhG6I/w640-h480/cigar%20indian%20in%20front%20of%20store.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_Xam4WkIX3NJLWT0RMbtDcvrEzoxmkV8drb7OXaoTJLZgME6b3ZlKbZPxEadmfTxfz6WmmaOgp1p2pQPYiGUQOnaooBcy7-IspOWwvU6fkRVS4yU4YYjZRHNxO8fMk6Hy_D1l-LdZ86c-1O8BLEHxOtyPUoK3mzUfjGEKdpFwlJmCYMeV8WjARnkBns/s432/cigar%20indian%20carved%20wood.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="324" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_Xam4WkIX3NJLWT0RMbtDcvrEzoxmkV8drb7OXaoTJLZgME6b3ZlKbZPxEadmfTxfz6WmmaOgp1p2pQPYiGUQOnaooBcy7-IspOWwvU6fkRVS4yU4YYjZRHNxO8fMk6Hy_D1l-LdZ86c-1O8BLEHxOtyPUoK3mzUfjGEKdpFwlJmCYMeV8WjARnkBns/w300-h400/cigar%20indian%20carved%20wood.jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> Many people today haven’t ever seen an authentic cigar-store Indian. And with the sensitive climate about Native Americans, they probably never will. But back in the 19th century they were a common site along the main streets of small towns across the country. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Cigar-store Indians, with their serious chiseled faces, conveyed a sense of grandeur as they greeted customers to tobacco shops. Designed to capture the attention of passersby, most of whom in the 19th century lacked a shared common language, the sidewalk wooden Indian became a symbol of the tobacco retail business. Because American Indians introduced tobacco to the Europeans as early as the 17th century, European tobacconists began using figures of American Indians to advertise their shops. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioI9TMokX74WRenqInHPaPGTaeg7bpHoBsajSwzBvFiu0iVaCjlHWrXgB50WLkmXhRoDXI6MmAieQtqdpO81NiUPASzftO7WhzOzh3pcqyac2GOYAyViyVI3CrYwGgrQmxcZgkk3PAHJzisH2_wJ9suu4xsxwtPKZ9OQ3Ze2TFVaCN_HYFf0Uz8E4BrOQ/s432/cigar%20indian%20on%20wheels.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="148" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioI9TMokX74WRenqInHPaPGTaeg7bpHoBsajSwzBvFiu0iVaCjlHWrXgB50WLkmXhRoDXI6MmAieQtqdpO81NiUPASzftO7WhzOzh3pcqyac2GOYAyViyVI3CrYwGgrQmxcZgkk3PAHJzisH2_wJ9suu4xsxwtPKZ9OQ3Ze2TFVaCN_HYFf0Uz8E4BrOQ/w138-h400/cigar%20indian%20on%20wheels.jpg" width="138" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Most of these silent greeters stood just outside the door, often mounted on wheels so that they could be rolled in and out. The origin of the wooden Indian dates back to England in 1617, when tobacco shop owners placed small wooden figures called "Virginie Men," depicted as black men wearing headdresses and kilts made of tobacco leaves, on countertops to represent tobacco companies.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Eventually, the European cigar-store figure began to take on a more authentic yet highly stylized appearance, and by the time these figures arrived in America in the late 18th century, they had become authentic Indians, fairly accurate and beautifully carved.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Carvers of these shop figures came from among the makers of ship figureheads. During the late 19th century, the demise of the clipper ship era forced figurehead carvers out of business. These craftsmen gradually turned to producing wooden Indians. Production flourished from about 1840 to the end of the century. In the 1890s, city ordinances required that figures be confined to the interiors of shops, and gradually the statues went out of use. Instead of attracting customers on the outside, they served as mere decoration inside.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOgnccoBNtKR9Q-M9GN5VtYofgYG3-jXyAEtYPCBL6ux18NzVZz9nxqKr7KlP-jB6Uy5vAIauQkxnZcwqXg3qaSNWcD00GTVZB7QOSxie_rJDCQRlyeaN1GodaKNtNTiF-XFauFCRpkkrd1Fnp4suJfRKyD0YeTqh4AJIBibQoSWXrBWLJoRDZO1sWwM/s432/cigar%20indian%20carved%20wooden.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="288" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOgnccoBNtKR9Q-M9GN5VtYofgYG3-jXyAEtYPCBL6ux18NzVZz9nxqKr7KlP-jB6Uy5vAIauQkxnZcwqXg3qaSNWcD00GTVZB7QOSxie_rJDCQRlyeaN1GodaKNtNTiF-XFauFCRpkkrd1Fnp4suJfRKyD0YeTqh4AJIBibQoSWXrBWLJoRDZO1sWwM/s320/cigar%20indian%20carved%20wooden.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">While a few makers produced cigar-store Indians of cast iron, most used wood. Carvers used axes, chisels, and mallets on white pine or even quartered ships’ masts, then painted the completed figures in a variety of colors and designs.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">While some of these wooden Indians appeared inviting, happily greeting customers, others appeared defensive, as if guarding the store from shoplifters, thieves, and "no smoking" ordinances.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kmidJBes_Aa4i8TWfC0UgRSQqtDkRQMh8LUoxPyU3TliOMzOElY_irTGaAY4eCVlusmgKdJjXsa-DUxVpe6AT7qfB-iCqJEktihxlF92rpfj4mLuY9pvsZQurt4_RyGKD8K1UEd47pW3uMEtop-fDap5tYYzGQoTK1ndqZpqiKEiwPkmliUhctdt8oo/s432/cigar%20indian%20female%20with%20tobacco%20leaves.png" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="186" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kmidJBes_Aa4i8TWfC0UgRSQqtDkRQMh8LUoxPyU3TliOMzOElY_irTGaAY4eCVlusmgKdJjXsa-DUxVpe6AT7qfB-iCqJEktihxlF92rpfj4mLuY9pvsZQurt4_RyGKD8K1UEd47pW3uMEtop-fDap5tYYzGQoTK1ndqZpqiKEiwPkmliUhctdt8oo/s320/cigar%20indian%20female%20with%20tobacco%20leaves.png" width="138" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">American carvers sculpted Indian chiefs, braves, princesses and Indian maidens, sometimes with boarded papooses. Most of these displayed some form of tobacco in their hands or on their clothing. They generally depicted stereotypical </span><span style="font-family: arial;">chiefs and squaws, clothed in fringed buckskins, draped with blankets, decorated with feathered headdresses, and sometimes shown holding tomahawks or bows, arrows and spears. Their facial features rarely resembled members of any particular American Indian tribe.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN551JhIkzoSavNRcSJgAPIzyT5HAsQa_3fia55iblU5hnD76HZTrZI6cZi4puGubcXai99Lkr5YTSHjo6Lm-Y8zTuvkoxQIMnf9UpwxgpU3oPHmTijnfBPdcCZ8Iu1Hn5kmtZj4Ynw7W5Q-kGZq3ffKwdBOup0WLOc3jYHsifIAxnW4N6P0yyspQbeS8/s432/cigar%20inidan%20Plains%20Indian.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="215" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN551JhIkzoSavNRcSJgAPIzyT5HAsQa_3fia55iblU5hnD76HZTrZI6cZi4puGubcXai99Lkr5YTSHjo6Lm-Y8zTuvkoxQIMnf9UpwxgpU3oPHmTijnfBPdcCZ8Iu1Hn5kmtZj4Ynw7W5Q-kGZq3ffKwdBOup0WLOc3jYHsifIAxnW4N6P0yyspQbeS8/w199-h400/cigar%20inidan%20Plains%20Indian.jpg" width="199" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Female wooden Indians, also known as “Pocahontas,” appeared four times more than their male counterparts in classical or Egyptian-inspired poses. Carvers occasionally donned them with headdresses of tobacco leaves instead of feathers and dressed their male figures in the traditional war bonnets of the Plains Indians.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Carvers produced about 300 cigar-store Indians annually—yet there are relatively few original ones left today. Those that do exist reside in museums and in private collections. Historians believe carvers created over 100,000 cigar-store Indians. Since the carvers all competed with each other for the tobacconists' business, each tried to out do the other in individuality, versatility and depth. A few artists even used Native Americans as models.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "Coffee--The Brew of Life" in the 2023 Summer Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><p><br /></p><p></p>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-33254672005114619242023-10-12T14:15:00.002-04:002023-10-12T14:15:44.882-04:00Shaping the Modern American Lifestyle<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2TeI2VKesvIgtRcI3LSE9uAklySq2EcgGrsqZCMuASDvw-KzRC3nM8beVrPLdJYcpUSOxGNzKjOnnA6BcRRHdGqk-5_Akzix6Izo5mvr4YAoK1l7WJuENcVMTP5n_Shb9c8tP1w2OD1ldo22OOAI2_XsJYLB-1bsAkhprfTlfazlkz-dtymRGiwj2SM/s360/wright%20chest%20American%20Modern.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="360" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2TeI2VKesvIgtRcI3LSE9uAklySq2EcgGrsqZCMuASDvw-KzRC3nM8beVrPLdJYcpUSOxGNzKjOnnA6BcRRHdGqk-5_Akzix6Izo5mvr4YAoK1l7WJuENcVMTP5n_Shb9c8tP1w2OD1ldo22OOAI2_XsJYLB-1bsAkhprfTlfazlkz-dtymRGiwj2SM/s320/wright%20chest%20American%20Modern.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION:</b> For the last several years I’ve begun to purchase various pieces of Mid-Century Modern furniture and accessories. While doing so, the name Russel Wright has come up frequently. I understand he was one of the more influential industrial designers of the 20th century. I’d like to learn more about him and his designs, so that I can be on the lookout for them as I browse thrift shops and used furniture stores. What can you tell me about Wright and his designs?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> Russel Wright was indeed a master of modern design. He created dinnerware, glasses, spun aluminum, wooden tableware, stainless steel flatware, textiles, and furniture, giving a sense of style to the modern American home. Wright was one of the premier industrial designers of the modern era.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3CNTRTDPpN4pS9TJFiEgX2qKKKAfU-Mnl_4RjgcvmhgLQ1U5r163J-Z24ShRvSx1yXepilxrG36xRtl6VT_8_5t3i5Kujw7anjpoizAi5h_egyfPcTDqDhbZbgaoNne4tHkUMd1-5SZHEpOydl0HYl5IKpBkS8sYPJ6N9VsUN2WtzDRerbBReNq2j0qM/s432/wright%20flatware.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="407" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3CNTRTDPpN4pS9TJFiEgX2qKKKAfU-Mnl_4RjgcvmhgLQ1U5r163J-Z24ShRvSx1yXepilxrG36xRtl6VT_8_5t3i5Kujw7anjpoizAi5h_egyfPcTDqDhbZbgaoNne4tHkUMd1-5SZHEpOydl0HYl5IKpBkS8sYPJ6N9VsUN2WtzDRerbBReNq2j0qM/s320/wright%20flatware.jpg" width="301" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">He first began to work in silver and chrome, creating small decorative circus animals for gift shops. His later work in chrome came after he signed a contract to design for Chase Brass & Copper, which he did from 1935 to 1946. Wright's designs for Chase are hot marked with his name.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Wright’s early gift items were expensive, and being in the midst of the Great Depression, he found it necessary to develop items that were more affordable. So he instead turned to spun aluminum, actually manufacturing items in the basement of he and his wife’s home. He created around a 100 items, including stove-to-table items, a concept which doesn’t work well in aluminum but which was later expressed in other materials. Wright combined aluminum with wood, rattan, or cork, enabling the resulting pieces to be combined in a variety of ways.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKdAjx2oJsm3cjDFfYdyh0dNP0CNNHLjAGTZ0FeQQBx00LO8WntUKFQynDfBnu4XZobwOsb6XkIfRwtQ-L5mqO-z0B5UFRUTy181IdZ3mjcXO2SmB6XNDbIBSOjFCmpj0s5OsKNEpapizCzNYWvMaSaQohBDYE9IHmIom6ir5ChVOD1c6LS7kZ462Hds/s1280/wright%20sofa%20Conant%20Ball.jpeg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKdAjx2oJsm3cjDFfYdyh0dNP0CNNHLjAGTZ0FeQQBx00LO8WntUKFQynDfBnu4XZobwOsb6XkIfRwtQ-L5mqO-z0B5UFRUTy181IdZ3mjcXO2SmB6XNDbIBSOjFCmpj0s5OsKNEpapizCzNYWvMaSaQohBDYE9IHmIom6ir5ChVOD1c6LS7kZ462Hds/w640-h426/wright%20sofa%20Conant%20Ball.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">From aluminum Wright moved on in 1935 to create the Oceanic line of woodenware for Elise Wood Working Company. For these designs, he used naturalistic the forms of leaves, snail spirals, starfish, and water ripples. Even though they were all machine made, these products had a handmade look and feel.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDmhdabWMDtQth5QoXMcB82XKa5m8wuMNQ0C-PmKrDh-mKTqujiV-Bq-UpeD7tkhFbDN1J2WbW-b9GS0lLR350bgzACXyy9rLl8lYLibcYq5LCzLdrro2izZzRPWOPeRRyLTIqg2mEDPDDhYLrXNyqGdEWcZwRtOITX3BegVs4ye5QWiHpuYokQynF3U/s523/wright%20side%20table.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="523" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDmhdabWMDtQth5QoXMcB82XKa5m8wuMNQ0C-PmKrDh-mKTqujiV-Bq-UpeD7tkhFbDN1J2WbW-b9GS0lLR350bgzACXyy9rLl8lYLibcYq5LCzLdrro2izZzRPWOPeRRyLTIqg2mEDPDDhYLrXNyqGdEWcZwRtOITX3BegVs4ye5QWiHpuYokQynF3U/s320/wright%20side%20table.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Wright's first furniture designs, for Heywood-Wakefield in 1934, made use of curved veneers and looked more Art Deco than his later furniture. Unfortunately, these pieces didn’t sell well and weren’t durable enough to use constantly. But they showed Wright's early interest in open stock pieces that could be used in a variety of ways.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKS3Cc0-Z8nRGmu_dfVTGMzqAy-g7BFY_YVg4e1ox3bNGg5a04tv1CKX51ZUjcQ4aYfdJmtYegMBTHSOebO3penFQitZdp8PE52KnddZ3Nq_L8jMjJqwmMxgALVkU8wt_0kImLdqGd9KlklOZ-1skykvnSpR_dyUyPxMRxy54CteK665fj01pUjnsCeI/s432/wright%20desk%20chair%20and%20table%20Amer%20Modern.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="422" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKS3Cc0-Z8nRGmu_dfVTGMzqAy-g7BFY_YVg4e1ox3bNGg5a04tv1CKX51ZUjcQ4aYfdJmtYegMBTHSOebO3penFQitZdp8PE52KnddZ3Nq_L8jMjJqwmMxgALVkU8wt_0kImLdqGd9KlklOZ-1skykvnSpR_dyUyPxMRxy54CteK665fj01pUjnsCeI/s320/wright%20desk%20chair%20and%20table%20Amer%20Modern.jpg" width="313" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The breakthrough in furniture design for Wright came with his introduction of American Modern, a line manufactured in American rock maple by Conant Ball, which sold the pieces in both dark and "blonde" finishes. Wright’s wife, Mary, coined the name "American Modern," which was later used for other products for the </span><span style="font-family: arial;">home. Macy's was so enthusiastic about the furniture line that they constructed a nine-room house in their New York store to display the furniture in room settings.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QfbhOetY4JaFPGiGKwgTBR-VKnb5UPzVG7XIO1t74fLFLvyV9roeXEJB2VVIz5FB1lIMd8Ghyphenhypheni0VVw9o5UVD-PiKFLy6f2zZ4KGFy1_xu7p2RYoemez-WWCCtJ0TzG_1hLfb1fO95H-W6MtA3uGZqTFC3UMvdaCsrV-KsT5E0_W3SpGeIw9QqE6iV-A/s432/wright%20china%20pitchers.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QfbhOetY4JaFPGiGKwgTBR-VKnb5UPzVG7XIO1t74fLFLvyV9roeXEJB2VVIz5FB1lIMd8Ghyphenhypheni0VVw9o5UVD-PiKFLy6f2zZ4KGFy1_xu7p2RYoemez-WWCCtJ0TzG_1hLfb1fO95H-W6MtA3uGZqTFC3UMvdaCsrV-KsT5E0_W3SpGeIw9QqE6iV-A/s320/wright%20china%20pitchers.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Wright also worked with the Old Hickory Furniture Company in Martinsville, Indiana on unique rustic furniture featuring his modern stylings. The Old Hickory line first appeared in 1942 and some of the designs stayed popular through the 1950s.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1939, Wright introduced a colorful line of American Modern china, the most widely sold American ceramic dinnerware in the country’s history, made by Steubenville Pottery, of Steubenville, Ohio. But American Modem china was low-tired, thus subject to chipping and crazing. After World War II, Wright introduced Iroquois Casual China, made with a high-fired glaze, suitable for dishwasher use, that came with a three-year guarantee. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOfElFdmU6wvseqUGKe9npmwgRiwLvBMF-X7eqFzw0weiLoP9kWi_30L1cblKSzg_5_Fe-hWxvIGKZSsh3L5t187-531rJbYCdfeF0vNt4ZFPSchcSW34RiU-vID9OG7tQhubTCqsyhP70BcdDAlEo3X7VBDELnWVmiN1rtJLOxZJsu_jvGlBhBwwHXU/s523/wright%20china%20At%20Home%20with%20Nature%20blue.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="523" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOfElFdmU6wvseqUGKe9npmwgRiwLvBMF-X7eqFzw0weiLoP9kWi_30L1cblKSzg_5_Fe-hWxvIGKZSsh3L5t187-531rJbYCdfeF0vNt4ZFPSchcSW34RiU-vID9OG7tQhubTCqsyhP70BcdDAlEo3X7VBDELnWVmiN1rtJLOxZJsu_jvGlBhBwwHXU/w640-h330/wright%20china%20At%20Home%20with%20Nature%20blue.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBk2ANHPq66iiGWmb4h4vgFzhv3FXMFaJ7LLSKx2BV_3o15mPQSNjzAaEIRci5b_fYhX-rBwJ92cI1Y7Q81ZvBzmJYPEBTKKX78F88X97pDso18VhS_DTtexFHCE88Ne6fmhizLUWuxrBDwf3c_Cix3FGImhGxBAqgQRl5bKmvg1i2DgX5VGcAhOi9jyo/s432/wright%20glasses%20Eclipse.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="432" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBk2ANHPq66iiGWmb4h4vgFzhv3FXMFaJ7LLSKx2BV_3o15mPQSNjzAaEIRci5b_fYhX-rBwJ92cI1Y7Q81ZvBzmJYPEBTKKX78F88X97pDso18VhS_DTtexFHCE88Ne6fmhizLUWuxrBDwf3c_Cix3FGImhGxBAqgQRl5bKmvg1i2DgX5VGcAhOi9jyo/s320/wright%20glasses%20Eclipse.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">He followed his successful china line with glasses, flatware and textiles. This was the beginning of Wright’s American lifestyle, as he offered consumers a way to create a comfortable home with a unified look as they put it together, piece by piece. American Modern china, in production from 1939 until 1959, was the country’s all-time biggest selling line of dishes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In addition to ceramic dinnerware, Wright also designed several popular lines of Melmac melamine resin plastic dinnerware for the home and did early research on plastic Melmac dinnerware for restaurant use. Beginning in 1953, Northern Plastic Company of Boston began production of his first Melmac line of plastic dinnerware for the home, called "Residential." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As with his ceramic dinnerware, Wright began designing his Melmac only in solid colors, but by the end of the 1950s created several patterns ornamented with decoration, usually depicting plant forms.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIk5x4v1h0E7dGO8tZj1M3Qr5OXUX25EXWX4y6vwWoNFSlow39NVYbk1egLzYcWPvBV7a0VkayTTcJf3CxB9w3uKRfFTzVOyYvA9FK6BU9MJmsSMkqfPoK09uq6HGW67pf5CT-2eUTAFHok9gy4_-PhtmI7pPPJuugqL0TBXtHX58D7UkZlQuIqlkkeE/s523/wright%20Melmac%20dinnerware.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="523" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIk5x4v1h0E7dGO8tZj1M3Qr5OXUX25EXWX4y6vwWoNFSlow39NVYbk1egLzYcWPvBV7a0VkayTTcJf3CxB9w3uKRfFTzVOyYvA9FK6BU9MJmsSMkqfPoK09uq6HGW67pf5CT-2eUTAFHok9gy4_-PhtmI7pPPJuugqL0TBXtHX58D7UkZlQuIqlkkeE/w640-h374/wright%20Melmac%20dinnerware.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Wright's approach to design came from the belief that the dining table was the center of the home. Working outward from there, he designed tableware to larger furniture, architecture to landscaping, all fostering an easy, informal lifestyle. It was through his popular and widely distributed housewares and furnishings that he influenced the way many Americans lived and organized their homes in the mid-20th century.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAoxmuojbveBIXVqI18G1iYMU94PeFxDuy5AM1px6wLxz238uTrcVRrd5wIYbkOYhWXCx61cq1bl9ftiipVsEnC4uHjxqNRj-Qd39Q3-6in24o_jAOarWAMmKZJ64YNnaOXKvpwhMlNbuAs0UORpGhA-6GiKpI4o-Iv5qA_xf-oJyYoTAL-Od3M0O7qE/s523/wright%20Imperial%20pinch%20juice%20glasses.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="523" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAoxmuojbveBIXVqI18G1iYMU94PeFxDuy5AM1px6wLxz238uTrcVRrd5wIYbkOYhWXCx61cq1bl9ftiipVsEnC4uHjxqNRj-Qd39Q3-6in24o_jAOarWAMmKZJ64YNnaOXKvpwhMlNbuAs0UORpGhA-6GiKpI4o-Iv5qA_xf-oJyYoTAL-Od3M0O7qE/w640-h318/wright%20Imperial%20pinch%20juice%20glasses.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "Coffee--The Brew of Life" in the 2023 Summer Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-23706238336216576962023-10-06T14:09:00.003-04:002023-10-08T14:32:11.970-04:00A Musical Chair for Musical Chairs<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpccCy7gpxmbi1g40dsXD2a3OQbIYz77960oBDYT1x-a_7KqY6ow5WhP8VXVWpn4D-c8pHuulB49A-gpkg5FE9GGuFmY_F3MGcoX0aj8HmDMNjuQwZES2CbqWqD6TT3a_6U_GumvI_2Tcq7AvidXwNlOmttD67DzN5ixym28i1pIQoZojBnmoRfHiFcw/s432/musical%20chair%20childrens%20Swiss%201900.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="282" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpccCy7gpxmbi1g40dsXD2a3OQbIYz77960oBDYT1x-a_7KqY6ow5WhP8VXVWpn4D-c8pHuulB49A-gpkg5FE9GGuFmY_F3MGcoX0aj8HmDMNjuQwZES2CbqWqD6TT3a_6U_GumvI_2Tcq7AvidXwNlOmttD67DzN5ixym28i1pIQoZojBnmoRfHiFcw/s320/musical%20chair%20childrens%20Swiss%201900.jpg" width="209" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION: </b>This summer while vacationing on Cape Cod, I spent some time antiquing. In one of the shops I discovered an unusual chair. It looked like a fancy side chair but the seat had hinges. When I lifted it up, I found a music box. The dealer told me that it was a Swiss Musical Chair, used in the game of musical chairs. What can you tell me about this chair? Where did it originate and who made it? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> While these chairs were popular with the wealthier set in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries, they don’t often appear in antique shops. Something like this is most often found in auctions or antique shows.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">No one knows for sure who invented the game of musical chairs and when. But historians note that people have been playing it for centuries. Previously called “Trip to Jerusalem.” But when people began calling it Musical Chairs is also unknown. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijlr1Nb-RdkW8ZvOb-KI45eoOjzMcXuSYpLbwDfTFbSzSHrj13kGSeHssC7nRIao_HuSAsZgI1l4QR_zDucNBm9aYoSt95c02YU8PdaNYUADRqdJWj0WCb6MYiV7c-ftmoZZ1eDhuxSPd6XhXHDVNtFG70S1lgr6UN7aZMRqmBy_OpJmENTWnMlggPU9Y/s432/musical%20chair%20Black%20Forest%20with%20lyre%20back.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="301" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijlr1Nb-RdkW8ZvOb-KI45eoOjzMcXuSYpLbwDfTFbSzSHrj13kGSeHssC7nRIao_HuSAsZgI1l4QR_zDucNBm9aYoSt95c02YU8PdaNYUADRqdJWj0WCb6MYiV7c-ftmoZZ1eDhuxSPd6XhXHDVNtFG70S1lgr6UN7aZMRqmBy_OpJmENTWnMlggPU9Y/w279-h400/musical%20chair%20Black%20Forest%20with%20lyre%20back.jpg" width="279" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Trip to Jerusalem —known in German as “Reise Nach Jerusalem”—was a game played predominately in Germany. So why did people call the game “Trip to Jerusalem?” Some historians theorize that the Crusades inspired the name in the Middle Ages. They believe that the elimination of players who cannot find an empty seat at the end of each round compares to the losses suffered by the Crusaders as they battled the Muslims for control of Jerusalem. This would have made the game more relevant to players at the time. But as the centuries rolled on, that relevancy disappeared, so players started calling the game exactly what it was—a game of musical chairs.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Another less plausible theory, is that the immigration of Jews from the diaspora to the Land of Israel, called the Aliyah, inspired the game. During these trips, there was supposedly very limited spaces for Jews on the ships to the Land of Israel. This is supposedly depicted in the game by the number of chairs used. However, neither of these theories has ever been confirmed.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaiYhVtLb2KMWM4Q9ClGGYkbhP-pRNHLR2Nq4y3qDl-psm-d-Rzm4Z6hIDTe0Xd3GYDL8UIqti8oYmE6DTj1EeFVTVJ_mxs7ILXKwQTt5yfesyCzyh2dY__vS2_bDv9EwC-svFJI4-cXSiTcdadZq4XzjzH2t1tw6c0l8OL812VgeAAF6Funk-l-1yUg/s432/musical%20armchair%20Swiss%201900.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="303" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaiYhVtLb2KMWM4Q9ClGGYkbhP-pRNHLR2Nq4y3qDl-psm-d-Rzm4Z6hIDTe0Xd3GYDL8UIqti8oYmE6DTj1EeFVTVJ_mxs7ILXKwQTt5yfesyCzyh2dY__vS2_bDv9EwC-svFJI4-cXSiTcdadZq4XzjzH2t1tw6c0l8OL812VgeAAF6Funk-l-1yUg/w280-h400/musical%20armchair%20Swiss%201900.jpg" width="280" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Musical chairs has always been a fun party game. The fact that it began with a "musical chair" seems lost in obscurity. The Swiss and Germans, known for their music boxes, found a novel way to insert one in the seat of an elaborately decorated chair. A hostess placed the chair among others in a circle. The game’s players walked around the circle while the music from the chair’s music box played. Whoever sat on the chair and stopped the music by engaging the switch that turned off the music box, had to leave the game. The last person to remain won.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Swiss and German craftsmen produced these chairs from the 1880s to the 1920s. They used several kinds of wood, usually walnut plus some exotic varieties for inlays. They usually didn’t sign their chairs. Often, these chairs came in a set with an armchair and side chairs. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsQK8H1QAvNfParpjXOh3V796FEF1uQm04BI7GYTBiXsbq2dF3S0Qb3F9ooHChg59kwCda7jkOo4fWwMqoQFRSUFkqgi1CDemIM3mtHijk2YnUN1maF76obYFr9RrbMCoiTRNm3jf9UNDp9V8r9lTshtkXLyjjuO5UWYUgtNhLcq4XuVYJqBSVr3kW2c/s432/musical%20chair%20back%20cartouche.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="432" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsQK8H1QAvNfParpjXOh3V796FEF1uQm04BI7GYTBiXsbq2dF3S0Qb3F9ooHChg59kwCda7jkOo4fWwMqoQFRSUFkqgi1CDemIM3mtHijk2YnUN1maF76obYFr9RrbMCoiTRNm3jf9UNDp9V8r9lTshtkXLyjjuO5UWYUgtNhLcq4XuVYJqBSVr3kW2c/w200-h178/musical%20chair%20back%20cartouche.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The seat and seatback of these chairs featured intricately inlaid cartouches each depicting various images, including carved leaves and edelweiss, alpine chamois and deer. They placed the music box mechanism, made by another party, under the seat.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Woodcarving brought riches to the villages of Switzerland and the Black Forest region of Germany. It became all the fashion and no English traveler left these areas without having purchased some sort of woodcarving to take back home. As the tourist industry flourished and thrived, so did the carvers, selling their wares to the wealthy tourists.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMsFAvJTtj30YLEQNG1y3J_2TvdQ0CX6C7poCzoB0Nogt6c2l4G7vn_wDi_6Q-nwYB8GULMlFqSYYm9NF1hk87jrBC2SWOTwKZrCEH71X2DY6plOFke6EyKeo7dLD_VO00f0Ps_nzRhRipEwqH7KSBPqDTbADb5GuegqbZJgyMfPuSzezyuKmC4e4feU/s431/musical%20chair%20Swiss%20music%20box%2019th%20cent.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="431" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMsFAvJTtj30YLEQNG1y3J_2TvdQ0CX6C7poCzoB0Nogt6c2l4G7vn_wDi_6Q-nwYB8GULMlFqSYYm9NF1hk87jrBC2SWOTwKZrCEH71X2DY6plOFke6EyKeo7dLD_VO00f0Ps_nzRhRipEwqH7KSBPqDTbADb5GuegqbZJgyMfPuSzezyuKmC4e4feU/w640-h400/musical%20chair%20Swiss%20music%20box%2019th%20cent.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij39Pgvnad0T09a_cpUa6-GJZfOkCnTSYZV0aE48vAoHvhodNkmV93gi0V0DVICIiPBjxA1W7QzuTHp3a5BOE4qf4P28icmpaj2OFutIPBTXft65HuPA75gi72eVMZhqlNv1dM4tGn_jOYiQmZIAGivn4hOiTrXzM0mKgyFP0PG9XmSGNp0gwh6q69yqM/s432/musical%20chair%20Black%20Forest%20dark%20walnut.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="235" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij39Pgvnad0T09a_cpUa6-GJZfOkCnTSYZV0aE48vAoHvhodNkmV93gi0V0DVICIiPBjxA1W7QzuTHp3a5BOE4qf4P28icmpaj2OFutIPBTXft65HuPA75gi72eVMZhqlNv1dM4tGn_jOYiQmZIAGivn4hOiTrXzM0mKgyFP0PG9XmSGNp0gwh6q69yqM/w217-h400/musical%20chair%20Black%20Forest%20dark%20walnut.jpg" width="217" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Though the idea of a Grand Tour began in the 17th century, it wasn’t until the mid 19th century that it reached its peak. The wealthy believed the primary value of the Grand Tour lay in the exposure both to classical antiquity and the Renaissance, and to the aristocratic and fashionably polite society of the European continent.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The Grand Tour not only provided travelers with a cultural education but allowed those who could afford it the opportunity to buy things otherwise unavailable at home, such as the woodcarvings of Black Forest craftsmen. Grand Tourists would return with crates of art, books, pictures, sculpture, and items of culture, which would be displayed in libraries, cabinets, gardens, and drawing rooms.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This fashion had been set in motion by Queen Victoria's visit to the area in April 1868, and by her subsequent inspiration to build a Swiss chalet at Osborne House and fill it with Black Forest and Swiss carvings.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "Coffee--The Brew of Life" in the 2023 Summer Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-58100861387844544742023-09-28T14:39:00.003-04:002023-10-06T14:07:54.732-04:00A Stitch in Time Saves Nine<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlL29UrVI2RNPFPzUG_I7D9u98eDlmape81hRAUc0xQxp0jb_euwgwHglmvuXaqyKC5j-IopqFNGnIjL3R37nJPC8WPzfz0rjZwzYulfvzJC1YUwcUU1DAaq8ryRgeTed1LgeqevUI-XheOqNf8ejfycAaTib0Z9xUDoAW-KuvENNFVr3XllgZTC39EUc/s432/sewing%20kit%20late%2019th%20century.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="276" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlL29UrVI2RNPFPzUG_I7D9u98eDlmape81hRAUc0xQxp0jb_euwgwHglmvuXaqyKC5j-IopqFNGnIjL3R37nJPC8WPzfz0rjZwzYulfvzJC1YUwcUU1DAaq8ryRgeTed1LgeqevUI-XheOqNf8ejfycAaTib0Z9xUDoAW-KuvENNFVr3XllgZTC39EUc/w255-h400/sewing%20kit%20late%2019th%20century.jpg" width="255" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION:</b> My grandmother loved to sew. She made her own clothes and some of those of her family. Over the years, she assembled quite a collection of sewing items. Some of the most interesting were the old sewing kits and baskets from the 19th and early 20th century. One thing I inherited from my grandmother was her love of sewing. I, too, love to sew. After she died, I got her collection of sewing items. I have no idea about the sewing kits and would like to learn more about them so that I can date them. Can you help me?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> Before the introduction of mass-produced clothing, sewing was a way of life for every household. Usually, it was the women who took care of the making and mending of clothing. Your girls, required to master complicated sewing skills, used a variety of containers to hold their sewing tools.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNocPPUC7S5q_wQ4099MOYyPHqmvCZJ3DLPH5Km8OJyrj8CjeJTy7iuFLgl4eHDg_7iX7I4pRtEfO6V7vxsNJ9SQiTbCr_8RSBwNH4IVJcOZv2F2NOKGlPhD4psGbJcSLr3o74Vw3L2kiA-QsYb-loY7M3dFWc9EBOW1P6ArqooUWnjPCnTaEHdtWdtQ/s432/sewing%20kit%20housewife.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNocPPUC7S5q_wQ4099MOYyPHqmvCZJ3DLPH5Km8OJyrj8CjeJTy7iuFLgl4eHDg_7iX7I4pRtEfO6V7vxsNJ9SQiTbCr_8RSBwNH4IVJcOZv2F2NOKGlPhD4psGbJcSLr3o74Vw3L2kiA-QsYb-loY7M3dFWc9EBOW1P6ArqooUWnjPCnTaEHdtWdtQ/s320/sewing%20kit%20housewife.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The earliest sewing containers consisted of simple bags made of fabric or leather. But by the 18th century in Europe, metalworkers, jewelers, and other craftspeople had begun making fine sewing tools for ladies of the court who also required handsome boxes to hold them. Artisans used rare woods, leather, ivory, or precious metals inlaid with gems and mother of pearl on the outsides of their boxes and lined the interiors with silk or velvet. They fitted larger boxes with two or even three levels or sections.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">By the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, the rise of the middle class created a market for less expensive and more practical sewing boxes that were both attractive and durable. Inside, they tightly wrapped tools and notions made of steel, such as needles, pins, scissors, bodkins, buttons, hooks, and eyes to prevent them from rusting. They also used brown paper to protect delicate, colored threads from light and air, while shielding sewing silks from the elements by soft, washed leather.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCKRj78ziSMz8nN5-c-C-PBvS5aYbK0zQIzZebmQkgV3eIiO-CY23J8jdGbsBWD5tMz7wOu4f4OxWUQIVx3HWF_rweENfefVRBtAGGRzyzQcH2JglnMo3DT1Ed3DNP-05J_Y3cot5VVq4Hv_wumrZMxYOb6tXW5l8yfPaTzWlsRHDkpBXxTgHDMUCUPQ/s432/sewing%20box%20Victorian%201869.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="409" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCKRj78ziSMz8nN5-c-C-PBvS5aYbK0zQIzZebmQkgV3eIiO-CY23J8jdGbsBWD5tMz7wOu4f4OxWUQIVx3HWF_rweENfefVRBtAGGRzyzQcH2JglnMo3DT1Ed3DNP-05J_Y3cot5VVq4Hv_wumrZMxYOb6tXW5l8yfPaTzWlsRHDkpBXxTgHDMUCUPQ/s320/sewing%20box%20Victorian%201869.jpg" width="303" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">A typical Victorian sewing box would be just big enough to keep all of a woman’s sewing tools, as well as a little bit of her handiwork. Inside, you’d find a needle book with a large range of sizes, along with an assortment of thread made of cotton, linen, and silk, plus buttons formed from shells, acorns, wood, and metal. Sewing implements included different types of shears and scissors, a pin cushion and needle emery, a jar of beeswax, and a folding measure or measuring tape. Some boxes even housed tools to make lace or square cords.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Victorian women considered their sewing boxes to be private—for their eyes only. Many of these boxes had locks, and ladies often kept love tokens, such as a romantic letter, a book of poetry, or an image of her beloved inside it.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNH-9A31wEM6BWgn63bNsl_FS8LweQpsuM79SgEw8v0bmtN2e1MqXxTA_kfVJjzfQKBpLWiG-YslsV6-F3RrUv2jGly53jaWdb0gkvEC-zwkb67K61q_3Xbz5c_sDQ-BO0kx4MEo-UJEUbKnphs-WWYU5tW3xTi1Ph_MsmeACdVcUBSxNBWaWrnePUK3s/s432/sewing%20kit%20in%20shape%20of%20piano.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="432" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNH-9A31wEM6BWgn63bNsl_FS8LweQpsuM79SgEw8v0bmtN2e1MqXxTA_kfVJjzfQKBpLWiG-YslsV6-F3RrUv2jGly53jaWdb0gkvEC-zwkb67K61q_3Xbz5c_sDQ-BO0kx4MEo-UJEUbKnphs-WWYU5tW3xTi1Ph_MsmeACdVcUBSxNBWaWrnePUK3s/w200-h200/sewing%20kit%20in%20shape%20of%20piano.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Small sewing boxes known as étui in France and "lady’s companions" in England and Germany became very popular. These portable containers usually held basic tools---scissors, needles bodkin, and a thimble—required for sewing on a day trip or for a sewing circle:. Larger lady’s companions often held a small mirror, a tiny perfume bottle, a little New Testament, a lady’s knife, tweezers, or a button hook. Some containers took the shape of books with “Lady’s Companion” printed on the spine, while others resembled fold-up leather pocketbooks. Other whimsical sewing boxes had shapes like hearts, eggs, and flasks.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryyih9ed1INQ5yxTibYfT7iEEjHV2PmCaIlUla6L8HGG26kumdl4dRoOwq4EkVzOuxBgFuq_SrZEmms7fbtx0spW14TzQKt3uFcnjUheILgF9yU5Qfbrn4RnShvvLYF9zZ56x-N4qqF-E2BiUXewdrmW9X_CcA-VtXlxhN9Zwwv7TL_zCPMxcnd9XcHQ/s523/sewing%20kit%20French%20etui.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="289" data-original-width="523" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryyih9ed1INQ5yxTibYfT7iEEjHV2PmCaIlUla6L8HGG26kumdl4dRoOwq4EkVzOuxBgFuq_SrZEmms7fbtx0spW14TzQKt3uFcnjUheILgF9yU5Qfbrn4RnShvvLYF9zZ56x-N4qqF-E2BiUXewdrmW9X_CcA-VtXlxhN9Zwwv7TL_zCPMxcnd9XcHQ/w640-h354/sewing%20kit%20French%20etui.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">With the introduction of the first sewing machines in 1860, ladies discovered that their thread was too stiff to run through the new invention. As a result, George Clark introduced a six-cord, soft cotton thread for these machines in 1864, and branded it as Clark’s O.N.T. (for “Our New Thread’). In the late 19th century, the Clark Thread Company issued many sewing kits and boxes advertising this brand.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOH6lSKrVj__tt6dzSXv33tGOn8RmY2eOStP980TQYL0K05Xz2ufx2B8-2pWvS0U9pzH1Y27Gl2LOnFvoSLw-B7Sns0GeYqGDxg0BV2YMeHZCCtd_46VUDZFMaYfFViHMFNQP4AHd18CVaLS2rQ-UWILcGJFx6dpQVjVD71s5k01n43VZWNTVzMrP0ubk/s432/sewing%20kit%20elegant%20gold%20basket.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="425" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOH6lSKrVj__tt6dzSXv33tGOn8RmY2eOStP980TQYL0K05Xz2ufx2B8-2pWvS0U9pzH1Y27Gl2LOnFvoSLw-B7Sns0GeYqGDxg0BV2YMeHZCCtd_46VUDZFMaYfFViHMFNQP4AHd18CVaLS2rQ-UWILcGJFx6dpQVjVD71s5k01n43VZWNTVzMrP0ubk/w394-h400/sewing%20kit%20elegant%20gold%20basket.jpg" width="394" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Small, lidded baskets—woven from cane, grass, rushes, willow, honeysuckle, or bamboo—also made suitable sewing containers. In 19th-century China, a bride would be presented small gifts in ornate baskets during her wedding. These baskets were exported by the thousands to the United States starting around 1880, and were popular as sewing baskets until around 1930.</span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">By the beginning of the 20th century, baskets had become the most common sewing containers in America. Often manufacturers lined them and created spaces for a pin cushion, scissors sheath, and thimble holder sewn into the lining. Starting around 1930, wicker bucket totes became sewing containers for many women. These usually had cord handles and decal images of flowers, poodles, and sewing tools on their wooden lids.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Besides the more elaborate sewing boxes and baskets, many women created their own mending kits to hold all the necessary implements to sew or repair anything, anywhere. These mending kits also functioned as travel kits that people could easily pack and take with them.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0lCtoRuYNXHz8hg-sWoE3SrjsugM7RInGm7r1vBMbTevEZYhseDMZ8f_ge98ajxSrwhtghG_tTRbGOG_JzwpzgDFtp-2Mk_qc_C6ArE5s3urgUMeUqmdhx_n4o2PrmceXaZ3mbEl-7Ey3EtYm4Wk67iyII05WgLBoaxkMs-Adp8WVxb3ztVl2AFG8-Ak/s1500/sewing%20mending%20kit%20from%20scrap%20cloth.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0lCtoRuYNXHz8hg-sWoE3SrjsugM7RInGm7r1vBMbTevEZYhseDMZ8f_ge98ajxSrwhtghG_tTRbGOG_JzwpzgDFtp-2Mk_qc_C6ArE5s3urgUMeUqmdhx_n4o2PrmceXaZ3mbEl-7Ey3EtYm4Wk67iyII05WgLBoaxkMs-Adp8WVxb3ztVl2AFG8-Ak/w400-h300/sewing%20mending%20kit%20from%20scrap%20cloth.webp" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">During the 18th century, women made mending kits called “housewifes” or “hussifs” from scraps of velvet, burlap, or leather by rolling them into a pouch with compartments for tools. They also came in other forms like purses or satchels. Wealthier women purchased kits made of ivory, wood, or silver at finer stores. Mending kits included a small pair of scissors, one or more thimbles, a needle case, spools of thread, bodkins, stilettos, clamps, buttons, and pleat makers. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfdkX-kVmEtXL0Rl2rdmw4vY6K1poC4fXnUYyfeH3Slf9yfsrEAiGYQOKCvijl_EwW4sFInBzRao8Jsu2j89jaeT_eB6LW2h6-MaNAEp1MeOkIY5UjMe336wFkhE3Bib_ZxN5OqcK8GnAKj-JrBVU6enTEv-FUrYqg96Fi3Jb5N1SNb7BF4uwiWku8so/s432/sewing%20kit%20in%20shape%20of%20a%20walnut.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="377" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfdkX-kVmEtXL0Rl2rdmw4vY6K1poC4fXnUYyfeH3Slf9yfsrEAiGYQOKCvijl_EwW4sFInBzRao8Jsu2j89jaeT_eB6LW2h6-MaNAEp1MeOkIY5UjMe336wFkhE3Bib_ZxN5OqcK8GnAKj-JrBVU6enTEv-FUrYqg96Fi3Jb5N1SNb7BF4uwiWku8so/w174-h200/sewing%20kit%20in%20shape%20of%20a%20walnut.jpg" width="174" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">During the first half of the 20th century, women often upcycled </span><span style="font-family: arial;">their old clothes into the season’s latest fashions by shortening skirts or changing hat trim. They completed this intricate work by hand, using tools found in their mending kits. Because these kits were small, ladies could take them everywhere. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "Coffee--The Brew of Life" in the 2023 Summer Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><p><br /></p>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-24335178014699540452023-09-22T14:27:00.002-04:002023-09-22T14:27:22.128-04:00Mysterious Mauchline Ware<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDe2qDgxXICma1RBbZVA9nEjV1TkadD68HnLGgPMU8a8Suxm_U8TAyd17b9vrsUZeQD5kFrGuU88_96xjhv1Dx4BQwbUEyM38Ejj0EyKXbkzDLwUH9vPuTS2PUcpTKFfVpre5aqbV7gQb9hcN1EMIqh2usCcSGdu2hcHbyQyb_sRtk2LhsrCDgnifQm4/s432/mauchline%20trinket%20box19th%20cent.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="432" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDe2qDgxXICma1RBbZVA9nEjV1TkadD68HnLGgPMU8a8Suxm_U8TAyd17b9vrsUZeQD5kFrGuU88_96xjhv1Dx4BQwbUEyM38Ejj0EyKXbkzDLwUH9vPuTS2PUcpTKFfVpre5aqbV7gQb9hcN1EMIqh2usCcSGdu2hcHbyQyb_sRtk2LhsrCDgnifQm4/s320/mauchline%20trinket%20box19th%20cent.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION: </b>As I browse the booths of antique shows in my area, I’ve come upon small ochre-colored wooden boxes in various shapes with a black printed image of a historical landmark, most of which seem to be from America. The prices of these little boxes are through the roof. What are these items, and why are they so pricey?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> What you’ve been seeing is known as Mauchline (pronounced Moch’lin) Ware, a form of souvenir ware made by the Smith family of Mauchline, Ayrshire, now Strathclyde, Scotland, and favored by affluent Victorians traveling abroad.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mStoqOMflw8-cTtvHhmkdpx9hqQmycr1iIj1AQqLRuwsdzugOidluv3bskNr8yOVfwy4TURrDsE2lExU-bj3OxdkGppelrcFFPS146h447WGARERy0-inH9divE15J9OEt9tGRCD2Ks2CJVRTFmxv7RniHMmDNsxBRym0kvFqSHb43y_R10u0QrF2AA/s523/mauchline%20assortment.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="523" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mStoqOMflw8-cTtvHhmkdpx9hqQmycr1iIj1AQqLRuwsdzugOidluv3bskNr8yOVfwy4TURrDsE2lExU-bj3OxdkGppelrcFFPS146h447WGARERy0-inH9divE15J9OEt9tGRCD2Ks2CJVRTFmxv7RniHMmDNsxBRym0kvFqSHb43y_R10u0QrF2AA/w640-h360/mauchline%20assortment.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05fkPzSik8P3MxKjDzuoyDNGbIBB2L6ed-cqT5JH7r-NOv8Xbd05c83YF0lv1WdMh_GUCvQk40LLR4Uzjlwa9mjCA_CK9O4fDIu8Ilro9MN8VZDJ4ZkWpgwHyYlI7JM86MOEeykovM2wxLulw6klzNUIZ0ZpW4gCdFqyEgTCEQq4VKWyjjd7C5N3G2YU/s432/mauchline%20whistles.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="362" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05fkPzSik8P3MxKjDzuoyDNGbIBB2L6ed-cqT5JH7r-NOv8Xbd05c83YF0lv1WdMh_GUCvQk40LLR4Uzjlwa9mjCA_CK9O4fDIu8Ilro9MN8VZDJ4ZkWpgwHyYlI7JM86MOEeykovM2wxLulw6klzNUIZ0ZpW4gCdFqyEgTCEQq4VKWyjjd7C5N3G2YU/s320/mauchline%20whistles.jpg" width="268" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Adorned with transfer ware scenes of landmarks, this Scottish wooden ware dates from about 1880 to 1900. Though the Smiths sold it throughout the United Kingdom, they also exported to North America, Europe, South Africa, Australia, and elsewhere.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Mauchline, located 11 miles inland from the Scottish coastal resort of Ayr, was the center of the Mauchline Ware industry, which at its peak in the 1860s, employed over 400 people in the manufacture of small, but beautifully made and invariably useful wooden souvenirs and gift ware. Because of the contribution its originators, W. & A. Smith of Mauchline, the majority of souvenirs produced in southwest Scotland from the early 19th-century to the 1930s has come to be commonly known as "Mauchline Ware."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Mauchline Ware developed partly by accident and partly through necessity. Towards the end of the 18th century in the town of Alyth, Perthshire (now Tayside), a man named John Sandy invented the "hidden hinge" snuff box. His invention eventually spread to at least 50 other Scottish snuff box manufacturers in the early 1820s, most of them in Ayrshire, including William and Andrew Smith of Mauchline. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVkbU5iYgbCLjJ3s-E2pZpXLvClvnIE-ODFiTdg6OcfD9aby9PPnGZE6m2jjOs8yKKe9yx9QvalbvaKqmEXECeuRAth8owkhxSCe2yFgypmP7M9CBMHavy8eo7yNt6iqA48O9PbI97yYgrf38ylXCmh3aBFlvCPAl_SzH6mBvYuQ-vIchib_w0VRJUJE/s523/mauchline%20snuff%20boxes.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="523" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVkbU5iYgbCLjJ3s-E2pZpXLvClvnIE-ODFiTdg6OcfD9aby9PPnGZE6m2jjOs8yKKe9yx9QvalbvaKqmEXECeuRAth8owkhxSCe2yFgypmP7M9CBMHavy8eo7yNt6iqA48O9PbI97yYgrf38ylXCmh3aBFlvCPAl_SzH6mBvYuQ-vIchib_w0VRJUJE/w640-h210/mauchline%20snuff%20boxes.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">With so many manufacturers, snuff box production continued at an all-time high, but the habit of taking snuff was on its way out. Although they made mostly snuff boxes, manufacturers like W.& A. Smith also produced other items, from postage stamp boxes to tea trays, all out of wood. The first of the new products were tea caddies utilizing the hidden hinge. In fact, they were so highly prized that when a female employee got married, the Smith’s Box Works gave her one of their tea caddies as a present.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcTJXH5wnZ2np-lGiX2m2oiaCC_VsDUxf4dc9VvneuMwY-xu4yzHxydzO4c_BCEcBmq8CdQT5D25ClT_piZQ5EvWNLVhCa-TzNhnZporWrkY84qO5vFTBp5WV6Ftde4fEBylvUUyEMG4XrnTPKMQdEJ-W94cAEeAc7AXDL4mOWnh-I-hfOkvrsgWRPUg/s523/mauchline%20cigarette%20cases.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="523" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcTJXH5wnZ2np-lGiX2m2oiaCC_VsDUxf4dc9VvneuMwY-xu4yzHxydzO4c_BCEcBmq8CdQT5D25ClT_piZQ5EvWNLVhCa-TzNhnZporWrkY84qO5vFTBp5WV6Ftde4fEBylvUUyEMG4XrnTPKMQdEJ-W94cAEeAc7AXDL4mOWnh-I-hfOkvrsgWRPUg/w640-h506/mauchline%20cigarette%20cases.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtr0Ofp92qjiSxeprkr_O6iET0iZLOoSS3noDGogA3-7chH_8d0IqVTgPy_2Tg3RxewW18pDg-x7ImxFktEaY1ci61HtHNOm-kcJesMniKyDp50wkIcUzpariX4_urQK2IeFWyHHYzRNpJDsp6GfzIdQ8EJ68VzcbBAARv_QPRXzmlt4MmCdZ8hVrLGmk/s523/mauchline%20Burns%20ice%20bucket.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="523" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtr0Ofp92qjiSxeprkr_O6iET0iZLOoSS3noDGogA3-7chH_8d0IqVTgPy_2Tg3RxewW18pDg-x7ImxFktEaY1ci61HtHNOm-kcJesMniKyDp50wkIcUzpariX4_urQK2IeFWyHHYzRNpJDsp6GfzIdQ8EJ68VzcbBAARv_QPRXzmlt4MmCdZ8hVrLGmk/w400-h264/mauchline%20Burns%20ice%20bucket.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Over the next century, the Smiths of Mauchline and their competitors produced tens of thousands of articles in hundreds of styles and in several different finishes. They generally used sycamore wood, which has a very close grain and a pleasing color. The precise date of the first transfer wares isn’t known, but companies manufactured them from the early 1850s until 1933.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Woodworkers created more items with transfer decoration than any other finish. These were true souvenir wares, since they decorated each piece with a view associated with the place of purchase.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Skilled craftsman applied transfers to the finished articles prior to coating them with several layers of slow drying copal varnish. This process took from 6 to 12 weeks to complete, although it seems that they must of developed an accelerated means of varnishing to cope with the sheer scale of production. However, this lengthy and careful process of manufacture accounted for the extreme durability of these products, many of which have survived in near mint condition.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4PjnTYbu4fBxaGLHhoVb1IINHY-pYNek-qcij5bEXrTc75KI6mvmygtwDlU1jZozvTkD1JawXrROTFckul1JNFJCUU4j5Q9imujyRMsrmryuB4AdcXEzefYmeUFIvvXJG_b_0cucOIC6bsTMGW8b3uwfxpb8o4J32z54MS7LvV6HT700HcdGfZG_Z8o/s432/mauchline%20snuff%20box%20with%20foxes.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="432" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4PjnTYbu4fBxaGLHhoVb1IINHY-pYNek-qcij5bEXrTc75KI6mvmygtwDlU1jZozvTkD1JawXrROTFckul1JNFJCUU4j5Q9imujyRMsrmryuB4AdcXEzefYmeUFIvvXJG_b_0cucOIC6bsTMGW8b3uwfxpb8o4J32z54MS7LvV6HT700HcdGfZG_Z8o/w640-h332/mauchline%20snuff%20box%20with%20foxes.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcsgdJmczJ9dNaIxOIJRRwQ1YNJ6xi1spyJr-nPHFY_F8mpQ_Qsu0KqvH-_mSpAgYGR9LwyAFaa8gNghzW68ZenCBoHkIPkb6Xj-57cGWaK1yF_68fi2DY2073MopOFhbHPXVbk-LoXaHPthp-9RWl22QYPoSgRpRL8EslNRJ_S1LZhHxCzN4lh2ipQA/s432/mauchline%20cup.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="432" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcsgdJmczJ9dNaIxOIJRRwQ1YNJ6xi1spyJr-nPHFY_F8mpQ_Qsu0KqvH-_mSpAgYGR9LwyAFaa8gNghzW68ZenCBoHkIPkb6Xj-57cGWaK1yF_68fi2DY2073MopOFhbHPXVbk-LoXaHPthp-9RWl22QYPoSgRpRL8EslNRJ_S1LZhHxCzN4lh2ipQA/w200-h200/mauchline%20cup.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">As with earlier hand-decorated snuff boxes, manufacturers used sycamore wood, known as "plane" in Scotland, its pale color making an excellent background for the black transfers. While the majority of Mauchline Ware items were small, thus warranting only a single transfer, it was by no means unusual for craftsmen to apply six or more transfers to some of the larger pieces. Where they applied more than one transfer, the Smiths related views to one another, either by subject or geography.</span></p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxSz3gOfyEgwKKKeA_FcYPJw_X-QHS06DG0XQyOp85ZSHT6bsN2pIHbs7R11A1-tpDtT59gPH6_zpxmZOfWV-3o_ZIkYS7D7F6vsmtWc6TXUZhdVRJ-hxGWrRj2VpMO4vNzg51NiGG88kymc7YHdELTm51ikWH9gCwc3NF63Mcr5CO_fP7NfchpOp1Ew/s432/mauchline%20book%20covers.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="432" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxSz3gOfyEgwKKKeA_FcYPJw_X-QHS06DG0XQyOp85ZSHT6bsN2pIHbs7R11A1-tpDtT59gPH6_zpxmZOfWV-3o_ZIkYS7D7F6vsmtWc6TXUZhdVRJ-hxGWrRj2VpMO4vNzg51NiGG88kymc7YHdELTm51ikWH9gCwc3NF63Mcr5CO_fP7NfchpOp1Ew/s320/mauchline%20book%20covers.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Views of Scotland dominated the transfer ware. "Burnsian" views, by far, formed the largest single grouping and views associated with Sir Walter Scott probably the second. In addition to virtually every town and village, producers immortalized a great number of beauty spots, country houses, churches, schools, ruins and even cottage hospitals in transfer ware. Other views included seaside resorts and the inland spa towns of Malvern, Cheltenham, Chester, Bath and Harrogate, which became increasingly accessible to a growing number of people as </span><span style="font-family: arial;">a </span><span style="font-family: arial;">result of the rapidly expanding rail network. The Isle of Wight was particularly popular, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">probably due to Victoria's love of the place. And the popular south and east coast resorts--Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings, Margate and Scarborough--saw their share.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVwBiDs7oXj_N1czX0y0_0pKHSJy-XUih-ksv3mvJAaY-s4iZOVztGtPilICmvLx51k-OjH6HJK4CLEwDLyLxctzK37fq_vsjqGHw3ykLnkkRrG7VDGew9Xkj1UDlmZT5LEF_fdXgD62e7Ug8DlqnWIL0_GgbcJQ-PN2jAwnLvjTTBOFE4YeqLuO2QBo/s523/mauchline%20napkin%20rings.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="523" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVwBiDs7oXj_N1czX0y0_0pKHSJy-XUih-ksv3mvJAaY-s4iZOVztGtPilICmvLx51k-OjH6HJK4CLEwDLyLxctzK37fq_vsjqGHw3ykLnkkRrG7VDGew9Xkj1UDlmZT5LEF_fdXgD62e7Ug8DlqnWIL0_GgbcJQ-PN2jAwnLvjTTBOFE4YeqLuO2QBo/s320/mauchline%20napkin%20rings.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">From the 1830s on, makers produced a steadily decreasing number of snuff boxes while producing an increasing array of needlework, stationery, domestic and cosmetic items as well as articles for personal decoration and amusement. In addition, companies created an incredible range of boxes in every conceivable size and shape and for limitless purposes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A great many cotton, thread and ribbon manufacturers—J & P Coates, Chadwicks, Clarks Glenfield, Kerr and Medlock—purchased Mauchline Ware containers for their products, their names clearly yet discreetly displayed either inside the lid or on the base. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Thus, manufacturers transformed rather mundane accessories into attractive gifts.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIFcwuqLc-vGKMfrH2Yma8osFD_v1yo_FgAbOJTZPMNcKAscQ6LJZWDWkhVAraTCidLxv1kCjI0fTwYoRm0PU9SJLQgGI0z9Yi3e7PmFxFgJV97l5rbdGKvJE7Q-NbCZnmBx-0hpxulULesfV2KfJ9hYy-Q3PCv3ggChiZdf8aFemZJpuy6U0eoKa14c/s432/mauchline%20knitting%20ball%20holder.png" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="408" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIFcwuqLc-vGKMfrH2Yma8osFD_v1yo_FgAbOJTZPMNcKAscQ6LJZWDWkhVAraTCidLxv1kCjI0fTwYoRm0PU9SJLQgGI0z9Yi3e7PmFxFgJV97l5rbdGKvJE7Q-NbCZnmBx-0hpxulULesfV2KfJ9hYy-Q3PCv3ggChiZdf8aFemZJpuy6U0eoKa14c/w189-h200/mauchline%20knitting%20ball%20holder.png" width="189" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Producers also turned out novelty inkwells, pens, pencils, pencil boxes and letter openers, as well as many designs of bookmarks including a patented combined bookmark and paper cutter.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">And it’s because of Mauchline Ware’s uniqueness that prices for it have risen to such high levels.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "Coffee--The Brew of Life" in the 2023 Summer Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><div><br /></div>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-43364374069561473522023-09-14T14:29:00.003-04:002023-09-14T14:29:44.850-04:00Keeping the Railroads on Time<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGECDpFKvCM8jkwDmJZSRHFzxDYm-F0qE4vSgc0V4SjesncMEIFw7ue3LwQQQSzFJHbuM4qKkx6eFMEPmU70zKo94xtPXIiwoYnqtxPGrnX-n6W9Qu_DOt5D8GfHgEOzklqbT-GDBoeN-ilZ3ah0hWcgpNCTtRY1w2vUhd8Nq2p8hCm9quZq09YgoT6t8/s432/Gotham%20classic%20RR%20watch.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="355" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGECDpFKvCM8jkwDmJZSRHFzxDYm-F0qE4vSgc0V4SjesncMEIFw7ue3LwQQQSzFJHbuM4qKkx6eFMEPmU70zKo94xtPXIiwoYnqtxPGrnX-n6W9Qu_DOt5D8GfHgEOzklqbT-GDBoeN-ilZ3ah0hWcgpNCTtRY1w2vUhd8Nq2p8hCm9quZq09YgoT6t8/s320/Gotham%20classic%20RR%20watch.jpg" width="263" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION:</b> My grandfather worked as a conductor on the Pennsylvania Railroad. When he died some years ago, I inherited his pocket watch. For a long time, I thought it was just another old pocket watch. Then a friend, who’s father was a watch repairman, told me it was a special kind of pocket watch—a railroad pocket watch. Other than that, he didn’t know why it was so special. Can you give me some insight into antique and vintage railroad watches?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER: </b>The answer to your question goes back to the last decade of the 19th century. On April 19, 1891, a train engineer's watch stopped for four minutes and then started again. This temporary mechanical failure resulted in a train wreck that killed nine people in Kipton, Ohio. The railroads set up a commission to create new standards for the railroad pocket watch, to be used by all railroads.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePmP2JfzuG7-yQ9hIJYp9ek1bhri7pbFn1J4bNbLZOyW_-u2zR0Qo9kmcGjYRcmwCyGq9OcvWFuqjDBVD7YRlidvMwR3n5hzxeStbaf95tCQE9L22pPrP21mIam1G8zLA1Mm-EvnUPpr4RzD0dHEjb21_Y7_Kvwnoqx0DfuBgiHPS7wQB063TIORUK2o/s480/Elgin%20RR%20grade%20pocket%20watch.png" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="394" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePmP2JfzuG7-yQ9hIJYp9ek1bhri7pbFn1J4bNbLZOyW_-u2zR0Qo9kmcGjYRcmwCyGq9OcvWFuqjDBVD7YRlidvMwR3n5hzxeStbaf95tCQE9L22pPrP21mIam1G8zLA1Mm-EvnUPpr4RzD0dHEjb21_Y7_Kvwnoqx0DfuBgiHPS7wQB063TIORUK2o/w164-h200/Elgin%20RR%20grade%20pocket%20watch.png" width="164" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">A railroad grade pocket watch was a watch that a particular railroad approved for use by its engineers and conductors. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The Railroad Commission required every engineer to have his pocket watch inspected regularly and to submit a certificate stating its reliability to his supervisors. When there was only one track for trains barreling in both directions, being on time was a matter of life and death. As the Kipton wreck proved, an engineer's railroad watch being off by as little as four minutes could mean disaster.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtdMX1JaJ0QuY60-iqUsh393Mz7iVmL4AxBEx0ACRnSfGoHufDmlhPHURRBQZDVHW2vzbkIEDjRHh6vlTUh1NV4vCMgwKzlX4pCMzOlcrBPFXuyHK63LDLm1zV9-9SkZBE9M25CQhtbqY_sJmA-dOWcau4D6vhmQE_B0hB3G0wQLcxvCCu_YMM65Bukg/s360/railroad%20watch%20movement.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="360" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtdMX1JaJ0QuY60-iqUsh393Mz7iVmL4AxBEx0ACRnSfGoHufDmlhPHURRBQZDVHW2vzbkIEDjRHh6vlTUh1NV4vCMgwKzlX4pCMzOlcrBPFXuyHK63LDLm1zV9-9SkZBE9M25CQhtbqY_sJmA-dOWcau4D6vhmQE_B0hB3G0wQLcxvCCu_YMM65Bukg/s320/railroad%20watch%20movement.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The new standards dictated that a railroad pocket watch had to have at least 15 jewels. After 1886, the number of jewels increased. They also had to be accurate to within 30 seconds per week, as well as have a white dial—although the railroads allowed silvered dials until around 1910—with black Arabic numbers for each minute delineated; adjust to five positions, and be temperature compensated.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Although a pocket watch’s size, ranging from 0 to 23, didn’t refer to its width or length or casing but rather to the size of its movement, to meet railroad requirements, a watch's movement had to be either a size 16 (1 7/10 inches) or a size 18 (1 23/30inches).</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2Om4I2AOGYDv0YtZFvKdjBGfvoGyXK6CJnzWA_uJEsO-7osbhM8fZPPPTEDpGcP3tRhMsYXgKbMwJzUJnEsWxtHmGUd_KBRBA2BND585sSIndKVqeplgYVqLjuGtQngFHQcAzQU5H2_tZX36sG4e3bnrIPNAYbYnu8m9j4vnF_rFavXZ4bY8y4LK6MU/s432/Webb%20C%20Ball.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="296" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2Om4I2AOGYDv0YtZFvKdjBGfvoGyXK6CJnzWA_uJEsO-7osbhM8fZPPPTEDpGcP3tRhMsYXgKbMwJzUJnEsWxtHmGUd_KBRBA2BND585sSIndKVqeplgYVqLjuGtQngFHQcAzQU5H2_tZX36sG4e3bnrIPNAYbYnu8m9j4vnF_rFavXZ4bY8y4LK6MU/w274-h400/Webb%20C%20Ball.jpg" width="274" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Manufacturers sometimes broke the rules and made railroad watches with Roman numerals. The last two requirements were critical. As the early watchmakers discovered, not only could cold and heat cause a watch’s movement to slow or speed up, but so did the watch's position. Imagine a conductor trying to carry a watch in one position all the time, especially while working on a train. Railroad watches had to stand up to constant abuse from the jarring and swaying of early trains.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Contrary to common belief, there were many regulations in place before railroad officials commissioned Webb C. Ball to create a standard set of railroad watch qualifiers in the 1890’s. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Before then, and until the entire railroad industry accepted Ball’s standards, different railroads had different standards for the watches their crews used. One line might have had a list of accepted makes and models while another might have only listed necessary features or timekeeping performance thresholds. This made evaluating older watches as railroad grade a difficult task, because a watch may have met the standards of one company but not another. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUDwQtuUpBFYuFpbfLv4Oi4-BsdTSAVwVkLC6EQz2AUJ1S1rjzNXiTAKsensk5emRRuYzL8_r4kBI0eCoV4NrAz5EzaFMtib4ajIU74E9ln8I8pd_JJFOiOyCdWBF6SDaD1GTPWlTdOqQTkvPDljC52Tl1uxi4AiKVppiAlCOntqTBD1bw3BWQ6LgPWI/s432/Waltham%2021%20jewel.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="396" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUDwQtuUpBFYuFpbfLv4Oi4-BsdTSAVwVkLC6EQz2AUJ1S1rjzNXiTAKsensk5emRRuYzL8_r4kBI0eCoV4NrAz5EzaFMtib4ajIU74E9ln8I8pd_JJFOiOyCdWBF6SDaD1GTPWlTdOqQTkvPDljC52Tl1uxi4AiKVppiAlCOntqTBD1bw3BWQ6LgPWI/s320/Waltham%2021%20jewel.jpg" width="293" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">As the rail industry grew in the United States, the number of active trains grew with it. In order to use a particular track efficiently, railroads had to create time schedules identifying when each section of that track was safe to use. The timekeeping accuracy of the engineer’s and conductor’s watches was crucial if two trains were moving in opposite directions. If one of the two engineers’ or conductors’ watches were keeping bad time, a collision could occur. Railroad watches became known as “standard” watches because they met a railroad’s standard of timekeeping.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Companies like Waltham, Elgin, and Hamilton made the “best” railroad watches after 1900. An important part of standard watch regulations included service intervals and testing, but there was also a list of features that almost all railroad watches shared. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The most prominent feature of 1900’s railroad watches was their lever actuated setting mechanisms–commonly referred to as "lever-set.". Most watches were put in time-setting mode by pulling the crown, or winding knob, away from the watch, then pushing the crown back towards the watch to return to winding mode—referred to as "pendant-set."</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftndB0iB7Zc_3SmEj0oVRh6DY6UGxH3eaIENsPeKLv6tIvIHRl3QUMgXCS1c2ruR42pkiSNLEw1JiL1d-e6nuu-oJEF7W9o8_RHhUBqlPnN0HoNPyZErSdMfcLDR8CJ22c3yxVzq0ChAvSMJRyE6RnJmLRuMrWAg-dlvaenTCz1qQYtJgVs80qUzkjww/s432/Hamilton%20lever%20set.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="432" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftndB0iB7Zc_3SmEj0oVRh6DY6UGxH3eaIENsPeKLv6tIvIHRl3QUMgXCS1c2ruR42pkiSNLEw1JiL1d-e6nuu-oJEF7W9o8_RHhUBqlPnN0HoNPyZErSdMfcLDR8CJ22c3yxVzq0ChAvSMJRyE6RnJmLRuMrWAg-dlvaenTCz1qQYtJgVs80qUzkjww/w640-h486/Hamilton%20lever%20set.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A lever-set mechanism required the user to remove the bezel of the watch—the convex glass protecting the dial---and engage a lever to place the watch in setting mode. This tedious process of removing the bezel had a very important purpose. It ensured that the time on the watch was never accidentally changed by catching the winding knob on a pocket or any number of other unintentional situations.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RuOmvFjo6w__tjouTUChWmM9_pf3giSt1V1VuWXNCiXYrxN3K-w-Pvb4hU6J9NVspdulIxuQ8ttvfp8JTMBrUcPXQ5N9WimadsBBhsT5tO53NGWE7kIxxbIcchs3NSvD7CkGCGxH32APTDSpuT1DrIhs2qQvfnGejijueG_5GGKGHiqlrSYGfqCDWUw/s216/Hamilton%20RR%20watch%20dial.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="216" data-original-width="216" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RuOmvFjo6w__tjouTUChWmM9_pf3giSt1V1VuWXNCiXYrxN3K-w-Pvb4hU6J9NVspdulIxuQ8ttvfp8JTMBrUcPXQ5N9WimadsBBhsT5tO53NGWE7kIxxbIcchs3NSvD7CkGCGxH32APTDSpuT1DrIhs2qQvfnGejijueG_5GGKGHiqlrSYGfqCDWUw/w400-h400/Hamilton%20RR%20watch%20dial.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Another important feature of railroad watches was their big, bold, black, Arabic numerals on highly contrasting white enamel dials with large bold hands. This feature made telling the time as clear and easy as possible while creating a distinctive and functional railroad watch design.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzXarWF2Ljsw11x7BvWPQWbQnLtBJ259dtZftb7Eh2TM6ITJ9Qx06iASpjorhnbIze0Xi_Vbitv8jz9aUrssraGs8bWBZ_x7N_AAW-W3h7uEQ6YA3mqI-vIrGlRPywg_4CtYA3xDOTACd18HuOGA_yt-CHiupr4K69LBnl4EK05jL6Af0aip3rUOO5rU/s432/elgin%20rr%20watch.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="398" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzXarWF2Ljsw11x7BvWPQWbQnLtBJ259dtZftb7Eh2TM6ITJ9Qx06iASpjorhnbIze0Xi_Vbitv8jz9aUrssraGs8bWBZ_x7N_AAW-W3h7uEQ6YA3mqI-vIrGlRPywg_4CtYA3xDOTACd18HuOGA_yt-CHiupr4K69LBnl4EK05jL6Af0aip3rUOO5rU/s320/elgin%20rr%20watch.jpg" width="295" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Mechanically speaking, almost all 1900’s railroad watches shared a number of performance and reliability enhancing features. Most had a fixed regulator to avoid timekeeping variation from impact, a double roller balance wheel to avoid going out of action, 19 or more jewels to reduce friction and increase consistency of the gear train, timekeeping adjustment in five or more positions to make sure the watch kept accurate time regardless of its orientation, and </span><span style="font-family: arial;">adjustment for temperature to ensure accuracy in a variety of climates. Many railroad watches had solid gold or gold plated gear trains and jewel settings to reduce the effects of magnetism as well as reduce tarnishing, and later watches had features such as magnetically resistant balance wheels.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Although there were many other fine pocket watches made in America, the quality of the workmanship made them second only to chronometers for being precise—they had to be.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "Coffee--The Brew of Life" in the 2023 Summer Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-23827888731847814272023-09-07T12:46:00.001-04:002023-09-07T12:46:39.158-04:00Seeing the World in Almost 3-D<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSe5B4VspEG_GgBW72djMEWCj6JEq6jjqHvQCp7F87VaMU9a_fQub4GXLhr4oMD00ZP-L-zwEmRrRrE5hdRvf_wGt8bXXbd_Z053F4-rH7k1IY86txXGT8EQ68Y02g7BxWndM4wbkNNXg2ppJ3VmWEmF-XSWxWwcuFbA3j2zWmjMI8aQElwxarHM9OaMY/s523/stereoscope%20View%20Master%20with%20reels.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="523" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSe5B4VspEG_GgBW72djMEWCj6JEq6jjqHvQCp7F87VaMU9a_fQub4GXLhr4oMD00ZP-L-zwEmRrRrE5hdRvf_wGt8bXXbd_Z053F4-rH7k1IY86txXGT8EQ68Y02g7BxWndM4wbkNNXg2ppJ3VmWEmF-XSWxWwcuFbA3j2zWmjMI8aQElwxarHM9OaMY/s320/stereoscope%20View%20Master%20with%20reels.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION:</b> When I was a kid in the 1950s, I received a View-Master stereoscope for Christmas. It came with several reels of photos, plus I could buy additional ones. I loved viewing photos of my favorite TV show characters, especially the westerns, as well as scenes of faraway places. As an adult, I continued my fascination with the stereoscope when I discovered an antique one at a fleamarket. It came with a box of paired photos mounted on cardboard. I’ve always wondered how the stereoscope came about? Can you give me some insight into its history?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> A stereoscope was an instrument in which two photographs of the same object, taken from slightly different angles, could simultaneously be presented, one to each eye. This recreated the way which in natural vision, each eye views an object from a slightly different angle, separated by several inches. This is what gives humans natural depth perception. A separate lens focused each picture, and by showing each eye a photograph taken several inches apart from each other and focused on the same point, the stereoscope recreated the natural effect of seeing things in three dimensions.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCKQZcpadP_Ugok-ZxhMHNDUWWJOZZzqWSH9y_E1mmy2GwD16tyU2MXfoqneofTF9Zhf5o0y7SjQc5h3FUVHFDML2NiVIaRbd_ejv7IscZliAFNP6dtIJnmFf0snadMHa1qTinJPXk90FsmiUkHV6VbAxV6dHO_06-OPJDlU2xHz7SE7OJ2C6pXW2r2o/s523/stereoscope%20Wheatstone.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="523" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCKQZcpadP_Ugok-ZxhMHNDUWWJOZZzqWSH9y_E1mmy2GwD16tyU2MXfoqneofTF9Zhf5o0y7SjQc5h3FUVHFDML2NiVIaRbd_ejv7IscZliAFNP6dtIJnmFf0snadMHa1qTinJPXk90FsmiUkHV6VbAxV6dHO_06-OPJDlU2xHz7SE7OJ2C6pXW2r2o/w640-h342/stereoscope%20Wheatstone.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJVU9ZP042kLMxeg4Y_3xewaXsD8i2rMKroc47MtLXPHcHqXKU2ontIBNOgAultuYi7l5rJhQAVNFmzHtq2n8f7Jxs2ker_NbmcpNKjoHPKThauWd0PhXkDN8WBotC6HPcZmidwjSn-cKPCjcvGAze0s-qKXNcbUkDadmIebfQ9q2iOowU1vTlpHYTpk/s432/stereoscope%20French.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJVU9ZP042kLMxeg4Y_3xewaXsD8i2rMKroc47MtLXPHcHqXKU2ontIBNOgAultuYi7l5rJhQAVNFmzHtq2n8f7Jxs2ker_NbmcpNKjoHPKThauWd0PhXkDN8WBotC6HPcZmidwjSn-cKPCjcvGAze0s-qKXNcbUkDadmIebfQ9q2iOowU1vTlpHYTpk/w220-h320/stereoscope%20French.jpg" width="220" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Sir Charles Wheatstone invented the earliest stereoscopes, which optician R. Murray made for him in 1832. On June 21, 1838, Wheatstone gave a presentation of his invention at the Royal College of London in which he used a pair of mirrors at 45 degree angles to the user's eyes, each reflecting a picture located off to the side. It demonstrated the importance of binocular depth perception by showing that when two pictures simulating left-eye and right-eye views of the same object are presented so that each eye sees only the image designed for it, but apparently in the same location, the brain will fuse the two and accept them as a view of one solid three-dimensional object. Unfortunately, Wheatstone introduced his stereoscope the year before the first practical photographic processes became available, so he had to use drawings at first. This mirror stereoscope allowed two pictures to be used if desired.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYDB_qr8ExX1-L26c2yZuD0xLpLFFRwRazZ0ObDLB8aIlVxXXAoi8Q4eLRbdFX546IWbgiGCq5qzCHnHxMf67py85tQ2vtVDgzq62oZXFAILdNlaMyYSGQ72VeE8XAn66KWempqs3ovCTsMqA9lUQUyKCAE1XH7E3bx9m7I-SgJEaUWlWI8b8fIZA8so/s432/stereoscope%20Brewster.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="432" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYDB_qr8ExX1-L26c2yZuD0xLpLFFRwRazZ0ObDLB8aIlVxXXAoi8Q4eLRbdFX546IWbgiGCq5qzCHnHxMf67py85tQ2vtVDgzq62oZXFAILdNlaMyYSGQ72VeE8XAn66KWempqs3ovCTsMqA9lUQUyKCAE1XH7E3bx9m7I-SgJEaUWlWI8b8fIZA8so/s320/stereoscope%20Brewster.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Though David Brewster didn’t invent the stereoscope, he built a simple stereoscope without lenses or mirrors, consisting of a wooden box 18 inches long, 7 inches wide, and 4 inches high, which he used to view drawn landscape transparencies. In 1849, he suggested using lenses to unite the dissimilar pictures. This allowed a reduction in picture size, creating hand-held devices, which became known as Brewster Stereoscopes, which Queen Victoria admired when he demonstrated them at the Great Exhibition of 1851.</span></p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_qLoZPNR2Rq1mf_WDClY4D-_CXcz-DNT636qXGghBMKqUWJOoDntduV9VZRZqCCkhaut2n8bceJjUDwBxDV1RUEggQ2w15c1PCrTlme1l64fsCFishUN7kL6Bxgj-D15ocpaaWJyt-NCfoPPMYlEUQhUQ5aBRpDj_r0FRhOxyDugdf1y3v_Rh9C4iuo/s432/stereoscope%20Duboscq.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="432" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_qLoZPNR2Rq1mf_WDClY4D-_CXcz-DNT636qXGghBMKqUWJOoDntduV9VZRZqCCkhaut2n8bceJjUDwBxDV1RUEggQ2w15c1PCrTlme1l64fsCFishUN7kL6Bxgj-D15ocpaaWJyt-NCfoPPMYlEUQhUQ5aBRpDj_r0FRhOxyDugdf1y3v_Rh9C4iuo/s320/stereoscope%20Duboscq.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">But Brewster couldn’t find a British instrument maker capable of constructing his design, so he took it to France, where Jules Duboscq , who made stereoscopes and stereoscopic daguerreotypes, improved the design, allowing the display of Queen Victoria’s likeness to be displayed at The Great Exhibition. Thanks to her, stereoscopes became a huge success, with 250,000 of them produced, along with a great number of stereoviews, stereo cards, stereo pairs or stereographs. Stereoscope makers sent stereographers throughout the world to capture views for the new medium </span><span style="font-family: arial;">and feed the demand for 3D images. They then had cards printed with these views often with explanatory text. When a user looked at them through the double-lensed viewer, also called a stereopticon, they could see both. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AMWG1xaHKSnq6p6N00C2vL6IM_RRh-kmIS_pVxM5bJcY2gG17Kwe_UiEUnhwG1Tu_Uy9-kNKiLR-hu5a1FLQ56JHygkbd84RoRqmjiaf605H_IYYowsRIqYkHeBuYb93HL1z9gzCP_Q0EgofUGQGSfnNQpRAjqqI06z5VKbsO0UDlG-l408vBBnassE/s523/stereoscope%20stereograph.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="523" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AMWG1xaHKSnq6p6N00C2vL6IM_RRh-kmIS_pVxM5bJcY2gG17Kwe_UiEUnhwG1Tu_Uy9-kNKiLR-hu5a1FLQ56JHygkbd84RoRqmjiaf605H_IYYowsRIqYkHeBuYb93HL1z9gzCP_Q0EgofUGQGSfnNQpRAjqqI06z5VKbsO0UDlG-l408vBBnassE/w640-h320/stereoscope%20stereograph.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDEZYgU17ObnFQN5ibMQBxxiVmJeXFfrS8UZCkOQbdThH9h4U5PiZgUYcKPqoKae0QNT8uj5apAD7sDps54Y1zu0A-Semj__4V56o8gXTgdoZdSSaR6P2HlsjT5fxbfNPptpqs0AN3-Taj9UJzQ8W_m62_rwZ9WtWF603qAB3_5G7Jb9O4RkUIQrK-vk/s458/stereoscope%20Holmes%20handheld.webp" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="458" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDEZYgU17ObnFQN5ibMQBxxiVmJeXFfrS8UZCkOQbdThH9h4U5PiZgUYcKPqoKae0QNT8uj5apAD7sDps54Y1zu0A-Semj__4V56o8gXTgdoZdSSaR6P2HlsjT5fxbfNPptpqs0AN3-Taj9UJzQ8W_m62_rwZ9WtWF603qAB3_5G7Jb9O4RkUIQrK-vk/w400-h266/stereoscope%20Holmes%20handheld.webp" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1861 Oliver Wendell Holmes created but deliberately didn’t patent a handheld, streamlined, much more economical viewer than had been available before. This stereoscope from the 1850s, consisted of two prismatic lenses and a wooden stand to hold the stereo card. This type of stereoscope remained in production for a century and is the type most associated with the name.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Another type of viewer was the multiple view stereoscope which allowed viewing multiple stereoscopic images in sequence by turning a knob or crank, or pushing down a lever. Antoine Claudet patented the first one in 1855, but the design of Alexander Beckers from 1857 formed the basis for many revolving stereoscopes manufactured from the 1860s onward. The user placed the images in holders attached to a rotating belt. The belt could usually hold 50 paper card or glass stereoviews, but there were also large floor standing models capable of holding 100 or 200 views.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrL_wSk_jNPpnV1WTVXlQzYcAAb7pqp0h2CbtRmMtw19T8FLHEIXPQRBQsOEfVcKdqcg8905KGPcrml3S-D2ZcB5Q7MJVYZrjogTeLallIRx6vrPHSUNtq2NiMS5rFRL2NSAUGqCO09d3avG7GI2q0lfRBLqOYI0YrZcJQrfgpuzZRYeZXc8i7UF49aXc/s523/stereoscope%20multislide%20glass%20slides.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="523" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrL_wSk_jNPpnV1WTVXlQzYcAAb7pqp0h2CbtRmMtw19T8FLHEIXPQRBQsOEfVcKdqcg8905KGPcrml3S-D2ZcB5Q7MJVYZrjogTeLallIRx6vrPHSUNtq2NiMS5rFRL2NSAUGqCO09d3avG7GI2q0lfRBLqOYI0YrZcJQrfgpuzZRYeZXc8i7UF49aXc/w640-h424/stereoscope%20multislide%20glass%20slides.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A more advanced multiple view stereoscope was only intended for glass slides and was especially popular in France, as the printing of stereo images on glass was a French specialty popular until the 1930s. The French made most of these devices, but ICA and Ernemann also made them in Germany. Users placed the glass slides in a bakelite or wooden tray. Turning a crank or pushing down a lever to lift a slide from the tray, bringing it into the viewing position. Turning further placed the slide back in the tray and moved the tray over a rail to select the next slide. The most sophisticated and well known design was the Taxiphote by Jules Richard, patented in 1899.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGKcZsbBH9lUFDHPOvHFVAD8N8ZCRehQJ3A0w_VfIn56LckmGrNnzjL6B8uskNaP377qL-pRpnNXDkz9_Vl1_qTYp4v5z64IrzmNPFAG3AlPkdP5VwuEFunqKkfWDBxXYj1bshKlvlKrN4Ak8sslRpUgCUlj0OeVqhJTBAgpdRJOMPamQPoibPXTd4Ig/s523/stereoscope%20View%20Master%20original.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="249" data-original-width="523" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGKcZsbBH9lUFDHPOvHFVAD8N8ZCRehQJ3A0w_VfIn56LckmGrNnzjL6B8uskNaP377qL-pRpnNXDkz9_Vl1_qTYp4v5z64IrzmNPFAG3AlPkdP5VwuEFunqKkfWDBxXYj1bshKlvlKrN4Ak8sslRpUgCUlj0OeVqhJTBAgpdRJOMPamQPoibPXTd4Ig/w640-h304/stereoscope%20View%20Master%20original.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In the mid-20th century, the View-Master stereoscope, first patented in 1939, featured a rotating cardboard disk which contained image pairs. It was originally popular as a way for people to virtually travel to faraway places, but by the 1950s had become a popular toy. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "Coffee--The Brew of Life" in the 2023 Summer Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-54895163977324380412023-08-31T18:34:00.002-04:002023-08-31T18:34:30.496-04:00The Teapot King<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9d_sKsUoQlb5ZkFo1ZJ1Un-pMuTHSTomYIxuYbfqd6MufM58waGHGqsGX2FreuPSyA-1ykA6Qg3ZmOtQNoFB9zAmnzINNeP4JjzXfLj8_29rfqjR0WH80-qqDM6wxsDon5hDNtVnlKb1Jdinu2H2cnabHUQNsdwaMn4jqhmWT4BKHugdpxoNZzYYtLk8/s432/teapot%20Hall%20Alladin%20gold%20decorated.jpg" style="clear: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="432" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9d_sKsUoQlb5ZkFo1ZJ1Un-pMuTHSTomYIxuYbfqd6MufM58waGHGqsGX2FreuPSyA-1ykA6Qg3ZmOtQNoFB9zAmnzINNeP4JjzXfLj8_29rfqjR0WH80-qqDM6wxsDon5hDNtVnlKb1Jdinu2H2cnabHUQNsdwaMn4jqhmWT4BKHugdpxoNZzYYtLk8/w400-h274/teapot%20Hall%20Alladin%20gold%20decorated.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Aladdin Teapot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION:</b> My mother was an avid tea drinker. When she was a young woman, she began buying old teapots at flea markets and yard sales. When I grew up and left to go on my own, I started giving her a teapot for her birthday. Over time, she amassed a collection of some 50 teapots. She passed away recently, and her collection has passed on to me. I chose the teapots I bought for her because of their unusual shapes, but I noticed that a good many of them seem to be marked for the Hall China Company. I’d like to continue adding to this collection. Why would so many have been made by Hall China? And as collectibles, are these teapots of any value?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> Indeed, the Hall China Company is the king of teapots. Lots of people probably have one and don’t know it.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrl52rML466w-tj1mGa50W9XOrZ9pmx4e8cLoWs1tyeT9KdLN_6bfZL4eq-9d7DsdJpI2UbRLTDH4hzy856U5mVpnOYa7fLfYDzdzdyizyIcx15Bf-mkANKcz_0S7utZTBCEGItolcbCUTZ6P9lYH7xFIpOjWZxdQzS_S_h3OWqYlsaiMF7JmMTDlI1k/s432/teapot%20Hall%20gold%20decorated%20Los%20Angeles.png" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="432" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrl52rML466w-tj1mGa50W9XOrZ9pmx4e8cLoWs1tyeT9KdLN_6bfZL4eq-9d7DsdJpI2UbRLTDH4hzy856U5mVpnOYa7fLfYDzdzdyizyIcx15Bf-mkANKcz_0S7utZTBCEGItolcbCUTZ6P9lYH7xFIpOjWZxdQzS_S_h3OWqYlsaiMF7JmMTDlI1k/w640-h512/teapot%20Hall%20gold%20decorated%20Los%20Angeles.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Gold Decorated Los Angeles Teapot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaAWoFR3L57c_Esw7H2DWvX13zoAjImNEPDOrRtJ6szkHyUahh5z7uPgOJY2tLuAb0eegD-D9R5U5lfaHg8_W0YvW5GQ5WiC9pjKkaT80LESz7Xzp4rUf91It4_XzNu_8C-5Oroyk_s8Cuca5jP2Ky6MNVpuP_XWbMwdeL3OVTDJOJ4OptXrh49Y70Ak/s432/teapot%20Hall%20Albany%20white.jpg" style="clear: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="432" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaAWoFR3L57c_Esw7H2DWvX13zoAjImNEPDOrRtJ6szkHyUahh5z7uPgOJY2tLuAb0eegD-D9R5U5lfaHg8_W0YvW5GQ5WiC9pjKkaT80LESz7Xzp4rUf91It4_XzNu_8C-5Oroyk_s8Cuca5jP2Ky6MNVpuP_XWbMwdeL3OVTDJOJ4OptXrh49Y70Ak/s320/teapot%20Hall%20Albany%20white.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Albany Teapot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Robert Hall founded the Hall China Company after the dissolution of East Liverpool Potteries of East Liverpool, Ohio, in 1903. Taggert Hall, Robert’s son, became president following his father’s unexpected death in 1904. The company initially made jugs, toilet sets, and utilitarian whiteware. Robert T. Hall’s major contribution to the firm’s growth was the development of an economical, single-fire process for lead-free glazed wares introduced in 1911.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Robert Hall died just a year after founding his company. One of his eight children, Robert Taggart Hall, took it over and immediately began developments to introduce the single-</span><span style="font-family: arial;">fire process, which had first been used centuries earlier by Chinese potters during the Ming Dynasty from 1368 to 1644. His aim was to change from the two-firing manufacturing method, using first a biscuit firing and then the glaze firing. With the help of staff chemists and ceramic engineers, Hall experimented from 1904 until 1911, when the process was successful. The new process fused together the white body, color and glaze when it was fired at a temperature of 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit.</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iFHFv7z4Zci2SXBLfaEgfR7g0dilNLCvoO0Y35s8rOQ1hufqpt37acwYz-7keyoWS-YqbIx7DEO6Vmge-drGxo-yt2-7r94UN_KddlpmzvyNB1kMjJd3BgVn4cHPrXgg8k4sg-gSGYsXabIhEeeSinZKHAYtkRrmHDC3tIoApKSXn083NZTNu7JhEm4/s432/teapot%20Hall%20Pear.jpg" style="clear: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="407" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iFHFv7z4Zci2SXBLfaEgfR7g0dilNLCvoO0Y35s8rOQ1hufqpt37acwYz-7keyoWS-YqbIx7DEO6Vmge-drGxo-yt2-7r94UN_KddlpmzvyNB1kMjJd3BgVn4cHPrXgg8k4sg-gSGYsXabIhEeeSinZKHAYtkRrmHDC3tIoApKSXn083NZTNu7JhEm4/s320/teapot%20Hall%20Pear.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Pear Teapot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The new glazes allowed the creation of brilliant colors never before seen on American china: 47 colors developed for the new process, which allowed for rapid expansion of the company and its product selections at the onset of World War I. After tepid sales of its new housewares lines in the 1910s, the company tried designing and selling decorated teapots. The teapot business was so successful that the company decided to expand it from the original three designs to a plethora of new shapes and colors. In the 1940s the teapot business began to dwindle. By the 1960s, probably due to the increased preference for coffee by the public, teapot sales had fallen to insignificance.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In the mid-1920s, Hall China began producing a range of ware exclusively for the Jewel Tea Company. Jewel started using Hall teapots as premiums, and then expanded the promotion to include its own line of distinctive dinnerware and kitchenware.</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlO9no-Pepx5yoz7k7Wfmzn6aUquU77xZbm-Nm71c47WUnGhZ2LfcYvBm0QSjAanusTHDN_GVsx_B9k-J5BXM3F-EIemN-lyP7hTW35v6gu1vwqjNPUekhEpOaRTHDVSFZ0WH6n3cwQ8HzXDrarD5PfUmGY4gHs89pkXT97oyAI_3PLoklfyr2CgV_4-c/s432/teapot%20Hall%20Globe.jpg" style="clear: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="432" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlO9no-Pepx5yoz7k7Wfmzn6aUquU77xZbm-Nm71c47WUnGhZ2LfcYvBm0QSjAanusTHDN_GVsx_B9k-J5BXM3F-EIemN-lyP7hTW35v6gu1vwqjNPUekhEpOaRTHDVSFZ0WH6n3cwQ8HzXDrarD5PfUmGY4gHs89pkXT97oyAI_3PLoklfyr2CgV_4-c/s320/teapot%20Hall%20Globe.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Globe Teapot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Hall’s teapots were durable, non-porous, and unlike other types of china, didn’t craze. The Hall palette of colors included no fewer than 47 different variations over the years. The non-crazing process used to manufacture its pieces were made to emulate beautiful wares made in China during the Ming Dynasty, although the shapes and decor didn’t generally show any Asian influence. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Hall also produced novelty teapots shaped like cars, footballs, and doughnuts that remain popular with collectors although they're often difficult to find today. These include the popular Nautilus and Aladdin teapots.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52p0OZTzSW1P56TzaUgwTydfNerG-ngTFZeHnYwaBbajIWiA1yp39qBfVIBA_c1FT0HeHkk3DL1otZT5mb98caHbpX13BFE56ym8wum9LQLIRMGsL72WL-HjoixOjLxLWVsjqramUKkQT6oWn9AuGd73bMLZqxZqxH3JO2-BKN_WMBNQFstEYaVd0OOk/s523/teapot%20Hall%20Nautilus%20white%20and%20gold.jpg" style="clear: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="523" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52p0OZTzSW1P56TzaUgwTydfNerG-ngTFZeHnYwaBbajIWiA1yp39qBfVIBA_c1FT0HeHkk3DL1otZT5mb98caHbpX13BFE56ym8wum9LQLIRMGsL72WL-HjoixOjLxLWVsjqramUKkQT6oWn9AuGd73bMLZqxZqxH3JO2-BKN_WMBNQFstEYaVd0OOk/w640-h480/teapot%20Hall%20Nautilus%20white%20and%20gold.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Nautilus Teapot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>A Selection of Hall Teapots<br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Hall produced over 160 different shapes and color combinations of teapots. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The first, the Gold Decorated Teapot line, also known as the Los Angeles teapot, was extremely popular.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nVe0ule-GGVjiaCs6Jrz_h8Sugl5j7HcyqXHyTVmGGxPt4AqJU7pDHK_sRKjDPhfZjzoQj9EvMcxU8cx40Z1HNYygBN5os4EGgh2c-knP6LR_Rt2xeHJb5_ReJhH6DzFm0KJVOU93lYvt0GlSg0NzkpBB0WNHB8DMFKoSEcryMxy9Bv_5bfIojexJ8Q/s523/teapot%20Hall%20Los%20Angeles.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="523" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nVe0ule-GGVjiaCs6Jrz_h8Sugl5j7HcyqXHyTVmGGxPt4AqJU7pDHK_sRKjDPhfZjzoQj9EvMcxU8cx40Z1HNYygBN5os4EGgh2c-knP6LR_Rt2xeHJb5_ReJhH6DzFm0KJVOU93lYvt0GlSg0NzkpBB0WNHB8DMFKoSEcryMxy9Bv_5bfIojexJ8Q/w640-h384/teapot%20Hall%20Los%20Angeles.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Loc Angeles Teapot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The second, the Boston teapot, which also began production in 1916, came in two styles, the Boston Knob, included here, and the Boston Sunken Lid. Both came in seven sizes from one cup to seven or eight cup. The Boston is one of Hall China Company’s earliest and most enduring styles. In 1916, the McCormack Tea Company purchased the Boston in the seven cup green. The seven cup green and brown Boston teapots were the first ones carried by the Jewel Tea Company in 1924.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHeRo9cwDcuvBw_U_DleSBm4J3We_Pg0GTUXchI5ho4CmlT9iQ_2VMBow50EtvQKCcxI06MDo4MKeZpfTKXMGCIvDybK0qdayOg-Mf8p0v-lybMiuNiwCNmqi01-FUVsAnCVo9I1cOX2bmzR1bVZbjBNQgz5tfMrnNMCuH9DGTh9PSn0zuurKII7AWsM/s523/teapot%20Hall%20Boston%20dome%20and%20sunken%20lids.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="523" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHeRo9cwDcuvBw_U_DleSBm4J3We_Pg0GTUXchI5ho4CmlT9iQ_2VMBow50EtvQKCcxI06MDo4MKeZpfTKXMGCIvDybK0qdayOg-Mf8p0v-lybMiuNiwCNmqi01-FUVsAnCVo9I1cOX2bmzR1bVZbjBNQgz5tfMrnNMCuH9DGTh9PSn0zuurKII7AWsM/w640-h352/teapot%20Hall%20Boston%20dome%20and%20sunken%20lids.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Boston Teapots</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKtWk5N-sOOWMMpqtfk_X_Tpo20QNW7QsMZWGLgyWygpsZMSK-XHnbJxe3WoItzhyPnZ_oHHTFUW1bgd5P7YI6BU7lCHmFcD-8-uUVq5kMBG_L6h4oMMVDzXnjS3V9aheiVxRcln9OA0CSfWBOvBV3D4MhfWfdGy3afkhOd4c-YjKTgo4e-vgnWmDWew/s432/teapot%20Hall%20Philadelphia%202.jpg" style="clear: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="432" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKtWk5N-sOOWMMpqtfk_X_Tpo20QNW7QsMZWGLgyWygpsZMSK-XHnbJxe3WoItzhyPnZ_oHHTFUW1bgd5P7YI6BU7lCHmFcD-8-uUVq5kMBG_L6h4oMMVDzXnjS3V9aheiVxRcln9OA0CSfWBOvBV3D4MhfWfdGy3afkhOd4c-YjKTgo4e-vgnWmDWew/s320/teapot%20Hall%20Philadelphia%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Philadelphia Teapot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Another teapot Hall introduced in 1916 was the New York teapot and was one of Hall’s longest running styles, available from 1916 through 1989. It was originally and continually produced in nine different sizes for the Hall hotel ware line but was also added to the Gold Decorated line in 1920. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The Philadelphia teapot, produced during the 1920s, came in seven different sizes, ten, seven, six, five, four, three and one and a half cups. Later in that same decade, Hall introduced t</span><span style="font-family: arial;">he Hollywood teapot which came in four, five, six and eight cup sizes.</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrGjKIWAH889aJKLR5Iy7_VmXV8REQ32M56JBTlvJiP0V5E23l98GmhyVHBCEoVmsFugg7nT08A6WegCrl0TB7WHunQJmFG080fMVcvuZlOuwKzwToUOeGdpU7MzFX7lANa0GJutqscIGwz4SH0nFUXLwFOkR7qCJKB1lCH_axVBLyY2e5db15jFGw14/s432/teapot%20Hall%20Tea%20for%20Two%202.jpg" style="clear: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="432" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrGjKIWAH889aJKLR5Iy7_VmXV8REQ32M56JBTlvJiP0V5E23l98GmhyVHBCEoVmsFugg7nT08A6WegCrl0TB7WHunQJmFG080fMVcvuZlOuwKzwToUOeGdpU7MzFX7lANa0GJutqscIGwz4SH0nFUXLwFOkR7qCJKB1lCH_axVBLyY2e5db15jFGw14/s320/teapot%20Hall%20Tea%20for%20Two%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Tea-for-Two Teapots</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: arial;">From 1930 to 1996, Hall produced the Tea-for-Two, a combination teapot and a hot water pot, It’s distinguished from the Twin-Tea set by the sloped shape of the body, It can also be found as a Tea for Four set. </span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRCW79zpwhK6Pk9onPkXP6Q1CwS7nJ322z9OlmHzlbog_v54TdPECPT9kOU4Kuh2e7I-ZCa6Yl1qGPAVMrYOIK-WC1J-oMds0FqQqkFz0Zs5D7fZPrm3mWflqaJJTKrFQnP-b5_qI7YXVk9jWSAciMXgThtjcldbP-uUxO7ZhR9E3_JyWC8LaCEMVYU4/s432/teapot%20Hall%20Musical.jpg" style="clear: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="432" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRCW79zpwhK6Pk9onPkXP6Q1CwS7nJ322z9OlmHzlbog_v54TdPECPT9kOU4Kuh2e7I-ZCa6Yl1qGPAVMrYOIK-WC1J-oMds0FqQqkFz0Zs5D7fZPrm3mWflqaJJTKrFQnP-b5_qI7YXVk9jWSAciMXgThtjcldbP-uUxO7ZhR9E3_JyWC8LaCEMVYU4/w200-h179/teapot%20Hall%20Musical.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Musical Teapot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: arial;">From the late 1930s to the 1940s, Hall produced one of two Globe shaped teapots. The No-Drip is a Globe shape teapot with a different spout and decoration. The Globe teapot, introduced in the late 1930s, was usually found with the gold decoration pictured. By 1942 it was available in black, blue, brown, cadet, canary, delphinium, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Dresden, emerald, green, green luster, ivory, marine, maroon, orchid, rose, turquoise and yellow. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Hall’s Musical teapot, made in the 1930s, wasn’t a success. The music box, which played “Tea for Two,” sat under the teapot in a “well,” held in place with a spring clip. Often, users would wash the teapot without removing the musical box, causing damage to the mechanism. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1937, Hall added the Streamline to the Gold Decorated teapot line. It featured the standard gold decoration around the top, edge, and spout found on other teapots in the line.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZTMMehrSNWMswYpsebSdKrmE_nC6xuALbJtbRg2pelyXyZndf3d6v6s0N0Tttawiy3UXPLiy5zTa_X-h9djPMBt_ldpnjP--M_u_HG65ID2Ba1kXyaTW9QjaU1Dn24p4T2lHUUxfQRjezgL8RY6RfoPjTkkupBeVPINEWFfFYQn1xfpcYIJkosZ5Xk8/s523/teapot%20Hall%20Streamline.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="523" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZTMMehrSNWMswYpsebSdKrmE_nC6xuALbJtbRg2pelyXyZndf3d6v6s0N0Tttawiy3UXPLiy5zTa_X-h9djPMBt_ldpnjP--M_u_HG65ID2Ba1kXyaTW9QjaU1Dn24p4T2lHUUxfQRjezgL8RY6RfoPjTkkupBeVPINEWFfFYQn1xfpcYIJkosZ5Xk8/w640-h434/teapot%20Hall%20Streamline.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Streamline Teapot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOccaDOTOdIDZq0FwxASQ_nX6eKW_qpuDlUNjyzRJdhxmvUNrSBGdm-cMQWrjN9vOWYL4K7noO4JmxjrJaV6acpaJs9kcYGBmxddDXsdS4q0-LPrMlhDXcuZkWye_NmaJAxhWwExwt7uL9dA4-mpVxi7MnsokzvdoCqj36jILp-av9GLXMpzPYhLBKIs/s432/teapot%20Hall%20Doughnut%20Blue.jpg" style="clear: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="432" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOccaDOTOdIDZq0FwxASQ_nX6eKW_qpuDlUNjyzRJdhxmvUNrSBGdm-cMQWrjN9vOWYL4K7noO4JmxjrJaV6acpaJs9kcYGBmxddDXsdS4q0-LPrMlhDXcuZkWye_NmaJAxhWwExwt7uL9dA4-mpVxi7MnsokzvdoCqj36jILp-av9GLXMpzPYhLBKIs/s320/teapot%20Hall%20Doughnut%20Blue.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Doughnut Teapot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The Automobile was one of the Hall China Company’s Novelty teapots introduced in 1938. Although it has a very unusual shape it was very popular. Introduced in 1938, the Basket was another Novelty teapot that included the Doughnut, the Birdcage, the Football, and the Basketball. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1982, Hall was commissioned to make a caricature teapot of newly elected President Ronald Reagan. After a partial delivery the customer defaulted on the remaining order and subsequently the teapots were sold at the local Hall Closet store. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GAUi9EyJ56DPOLLvo8XPJryqX5mCLyPvQSEizXCkFTg8_q2PVFVKFh_Il0ikAAm90dyOvDT5Gk8VlKXaDfZEPDHz4BPBTSTEEOX9vwZb5RIhH_HqSzhTxTIWR9DYwC7ySZp5oHEi2IpCJonhPiNsgmcL19Yo_IXE7NKBip5YZ-CYZ5gGDIJEZc7oHjM/s432/teapot%20Hall%20Automobile.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="432" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GAUi9EyJ56DPOLLvo8XPJryqX5mCLyPvQSEizXCkFTg8_q2PVFVKFh_Il0ikAAm90dyOvDT5Gk8VlKXaDfZEPDHz4BPBTSTEEOX9vwZb5RIhH_HqSzhTxTIWR9DYwC7ySZp5oHEi2IpCJonhPiNsgmcL19Yo_IXE7NKBip5YZ-CYZ5gGDIJEZc7oHjM/w640-h356/teapot%20Hall%20Automobile.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Automobile Teapot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg440RlSBs8YkMu1_KW5aRi0uHSquTn3yLih1A68dUvfDPkz25Kx41hitH8pi2P20UMzl4oX9kHSb53RraYjitdateq5G40skhZ-oKJUYOZ3HOU4nRsEp2VfNV7e1xqOyqge53gCbU2VtG762jrY24X1DrboYzbZT5aUPpFpAobVNiNwQMaEByvbiZcW3Q/s432/teapot%20Hall%20Rhythm.jpg" style="clear: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="432" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg440RlSBs8YkMu1_KW5aRi0uHSquTn3yLih1A68dUvfDPkz25Kx41hitH8pi2P20UMzl4oX9kHSb53RraYjitdateq5G40skhZ-oKJUYOZ3HOU4nRsEp2VfNV7e1xqOyqge53gCbU2VtG762jrY24X1DrboYzbZT5aUPpFpAobVNiNwQMaEByvbiZcW3Q/s320/teapot%20Hall%20Rhythm.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Rhythm Teapot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Hall China produced some of its most beautifully designed teapots in the 1930s, many of which featured Art Deco styling. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Introduced in 1938 in the 8-cup size with the 6-cup introduced the following year, the Airflow was colored marine in its standard design. It was perfectly balanced and was as simple to lift as a purse, easy to pour, plus the lid wouldn’t fall off.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Hall introduced the Rhythm teapot in 1939. Originally introduced as a gold decorated teapot with gold dots on the upper two drapes, it was later a part of the Hall American line and came in over 100 different colors. That same year, Hall produced a special souvenir teapot for the 1939 New York World's Fair.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJUS--khvwsz9iRrcSWWtMQsF76fySw3dKCtIIMSSSa2sVOJjOo8tjEbGbhRkG4C4ynA8zdFEmCCheGnb6iAQl0zBMgzDtuF5sXX4QrFxiBS9oKt3EJ_Updi_mvNd0BdRZTlDzaPNo4o7t2vCAxmuiIiQXQn8tAD0iU4IW601T3S19J-4_3NE8rENO0M/s432/teapot%20Hall%20Worlds%20Fair%201939.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="289" data-original-width="432" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJUS--khvwsz9iRrcSWWtMQsF76fySw3dKCtIIMSSSa2sVOJjOo8tjEbGbhRkG4C4ynA8zdFEmCCheGnb6iAQl0zBMgzDtuF5sXX4QrFxiBS9oKt3EJ_Updi_mvNd0BdRZTlDzaPNo4o7t2vCAxmuiIiQXQn8tAD0iU4IW601T3S19J-4_3NE8rENO0M/w640-h428/teapot%20Hall%20Worlds%20Fair%201939.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1939 New York World's Fair Teapot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sUtXEiIwopBw2ZONNr6Fl0O8d-M8PFyDE4na5AKyBh_B10kvt1CYnXfoSnk5s6ljQJHbi7ulgL5FH-5fGDtqqnx1EMZ9WX2jkklC1fHik97xXtjuubY_-Z_m-TF3Jxg6hv0P92ZFzckgmjxdplrIqY18VCSuL0DXkefTOuhVQ3es5lf1RumFXUdUjf8/s432/teapot%20hall%20Twinspout.jpg" style="clear: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="432" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sUtXEiIwopBw2ZONNr6Fl0O8d-M8PFyDE4na5AKyBh_B10kvt1CYnXfoSnk5s6ljQJHbi7ulgL5FH-5fGDtqqnx1EMZ9WX2jkklC1fHik97xXtjuubY_-Z_m-TF3Jxg6hv0P92ZFzckgmjxdplrIqY18VCSuL0DXkefTOuhVQ3es5lf1RumFXUdUjf8/s320/teapot%20hall%20Twinspout.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Twinspout Teapot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Designer Oscar Ottoson invented the Twinspout teapot for which he received a patent in 1938. Hall China produced it for the Twinspout Pottery Company of New York. When a user removed the lid, there were two openings, the larger for the tea and the smaller for the hot water. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Produced from 1939 to 1963, the Aladdin teapot was one of Hall’s most popular shapes. It came with either a round or an oval opening, both with and without infusers, and in narrow and wide bodies.</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjNBuKlK2Td_qvXD8QAgHU4TZSMGM8mv3wfB2J40c4Mt_EGdHEO2FV2lpzCwmcwdKLFRTp5jqBLUjuEuM0ZEkIRBvcuLLIES0cr5hSlYIaw349a4x7RaH3RgBe3qzJrZuZugrQFxs7WhJnhB78HbB6GJoDfN2vGd7wKO1L6GQVR0I29mZp6iQIZ_FqhM/s432/teapot%20Hall%20Sani%20Grid.jpg" style="clear: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="432" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjNBuKlK2Td_qvXD8QAgHU4TZSMGM8mv3wfB2J40c4Mt_EGdHEO2FV2lpzCwmcwdKLFRTp5jqBLUjuEuM0ZEkIRBvcuLLIES0cr5hSlYIaw349a4x7RaH3RgBe3qzJrZuZugrQFxs7WhJnhB78HbB6GJoDfN2vGd7wKO1L6GQVR0I29mZp6iQIZ_FqhM/w200-h177/teapot%20Hall%20Sani%20Grid.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Sani-Gold Teapot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: arial;">During the 1940s, Hall came out with the Sani-Gold teapot. It first appeared in the 1941 Hall China Special Catalog #4. The firm made it in three and six cup sizes, with grid in the spout to catch the tea leaves which was also shortened for easy cleaning.. The style, often referred to as “pert” was also easier to store. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Introduced in 1940, the Hook Cover teapot, produced only in the six cup size, had a lid that wouldn’t fall off when pouring. The body has a hook over which the lid fits, thus the name.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI81LkOcbpJuGGugyS2QLzpiOaJyl8U_R9tlJd1JQy2DCeYhTA9iTOr7sYgKyVbJojKOc4245yNaLwbDODEv3LotdV7Pbln9o4-LE6x5LHHlxSp8ZK79tPbdM6MWsjw32fjQbGJYFbHt5-dxfDbzIEz81y6fKnfbyisuGtNHO0vI-ghckPhBgNS-54kzg/s523/teapot%20Hall%20Hook%20Cover%20blue.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="523" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI81LkOcbpJuGGugyS2QLzpiOaJyl8U_R9tlJd1JQy2DCeYhTA9iTOr7sYgKyVbJojKOc4245yNaLwbDODEv3LotdV7Pbln9o4-LE6x5LHHlxSp8ZK79tPbdM6MWsjw32fjQbGJYFbHt5-dxfDbzIEz81y6fKnfbyisuGtNHO0vI-ghckPhBgNS-54kzg/w640-h480/teapot%20Hall%20Hook%20Cover%20blue.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Hook Cover Teapot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuf-OWG22ccUDjehgxkt4F3TexW1NbbNkrsCy0PWeXtYoSAVw0yyplHSBmgUt_sONsgWBsC25mUGzHPbW1lc75isg8UrMPglDNtbCzFM8xhsuDkLdjaceJQgkIhU_y9J0G4OQGLaYs4AHXiw7LHzCrX9n_ZjBYLavQAmMXqj13ChYuzbj_nbM2ICf4Gs/s432/teapot%20Hall%20Windshield2.jpg" style="clear: right; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="432" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuf-OWG22ccUDjehgxkt4F3TexW1NbbNkrsCy0PWeXtYoSAVw0yyplHSBmgUt_sONsgWBsC25mUGzHPbW1lc75isg8UrMPglDNtbCzFM8xhsuDkLdjaceJQgkIhU_y9J0G4OQGLaYs4AHXiw7LHzCrX9n_ZjBYLavQAmMXqj13ChYuzbj_nbM2ICf4Gs/s320/teapot%20Hall%20Windshield2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Windshield Teapot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The Windshield teapot, introduced in 1941, had a collar similar to the one worn by Queen Elizabeth I of England.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">From the mid 1950s through the 1960s, Hall produced the Parade teapot as one of its Gold Decorated teapots.. It had a hook cover lid and a non-slip handle.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Hall produced the E-Style Cameo Rose teapot, designed by J. Palin Thorley, another of Hall’s top designers, exclusively for the Jewel Tea Company from the 1950s to the 1970s. Another of its noted designers was Donald Schreckengost who designed the Pear teapot, first introduced in 1970.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjuOezr8a7sLwi0EtD2kn9d7ZDd9mMf_WdNRvMSCVnj48PRiBMLkfeg1C_Glw95oXG4ScC9nDY_PTZnTbmx9a_yMnij1ziYqra34j91R77L2hV7ly53UnbtQvrvNo736VJF_gc84P9c2-LqrRmrb6yb5PzYaDh6tZRKmUWMkbBjxRL7jRKpznjSs4PGE/s432/teapot%20Hall%20E%20Style.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="432" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjuOezr8a7sLwi0EtD2kn9d7ZDd9mMf_WdNRvMSCVnj48PRiBMLkfeg1C_Glw95oXG4ScC9nDY_PTZnTbmx9a_yMnij1ziYqra34j91R77L2hV7ly53UnbtQvrvNo736VJF_gc84P9c2-LqrRmrb6yb5PzYaDh6tZRKmUWMkbBjxRL7jRKpznjSs4PGE/w640-h408/teapot%20Hall%20E%20Style.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">E-Style Cameo Rose Teapot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXy8Ht-_4ZVUpVLLg3oxx8b07Sex4eq52rRyd1QulHdMFQInyCbebQmrKRa4AFTBFIkNMzKNgjEbsr_LneNctymJmH15iKiCTF-RlMVbVG-F3_E6XVw3OW_pTNbFLQ-Kn7gb-mkjYxJe_NG_Uii_qASORf1VUQzUF3kc3ccmZB8KlMSvWCLeTq0Ifmn8/s432/teapot%20Hall%20Airflow%20Art%20Deco.jpg" style="clear: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="432" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXy8Ht-_4ZVUpVLLg3oxx8b07Sex4eq52rRyd1QulHdMFQInyCbebQmrKRa4AFTBFIkNMzKNgjEbsr_LneNctymJmH15iKiCTF-RlMVbVG-F3_E6XVw3OW_pTNbFLQ-Kn7gb-mkjYxJe_NG_Uii_qASORf1VUQzUF3kc3ccmZB8KlMSvWCLeTq0Ifmn8/s320/teapot%20Hall%20Airflow%20Art%20Deco.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Airflow Teapot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Hall China produced so many teapots during its existence that it’s nearly impossible for a collector to collect them all. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "Coffee--The Brew of Life" in the 2023 Summer Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1919920961247644963.post-83530289753779360622023-08-23T14:40:00.002-04:002023-08-23T14:40:35.854-04:00Buckets of Fun at the Seashore<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvBMoe_P485QJ_UljCi4gToOBAgPkFvBN-5fOxYAMdYjdjo5EXSR1LhK_hJlq02z7az74x-YZ4ujQm9HR7Ahr4zhf7V4ZpbvO4IOoRrBcnqX96osuPeqGStxYQSeEtL1XcW6Y0igLqQKYBUE1CQdwKZmKlwvFNN3gUgtO6xCdhUudCs4JuqUKpitJBfM/s1024/sandpail%20and%20shovel%20early.webp" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvBMoe_P485QJ_UljCi4gToOBAgPkFvBN-5fOxYAMdYjdjo5EXSR1LhK_hJlq02z7az74x-YZ4ujQm9HR7Ahr4zhf7V4ZpbvO4IOoRrBcnqX96osuPeqGStxYQSeEtL1XcW6Y0igLqQKYBUE1CQdwKZmKlwvFNN3gUgtO6xCdhUudCs4JuqUKpitJBfM/s320/sandpail%20and%20shovel%20early.webp" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>QUESTION: </b>As I was browsing a local antique mall, I noticed an old tin sand pail sitting on a shelf along with a variety of other old toys. Seeing it brought back a flood of memories of vacations at the seashore with my family. Every summer, my father would pack up the car for our week at the New Jersey shore. Two items I made my father pack were my tin sand pail and shovel—indispensable for building sand castles. I never thought of sand pails as collectibles and seeing one on a shelf with other old toys was a surprise. What can you tell me about how these little pails got their start?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ANSWER:</b> Sand pails appeal to both boys and girls around the world. Even those living from the seashore played with their pail and shovel in a sandbox at school or at home in the backyard or by a lakeside. Sand pails weren’t expensive; costing just a few cents, a small price to pay to set a child's imagination off on an adventure. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXe_YadUfGbVf5tJfMLbYF6ITeoeowuLj1m8sSil7kwFtoXSYu5Ux0fOKyIAtOv8SIRPLETtSDXFQeS-3KWPKduIDRvX63g6i6j_bf0FfW2z7jN-dyna5HwoqRT1PUvbj-u8LMEiqHDFmXfJu9qUxkuOkYSkl5bMoOHA5n_JvExASXM1JQRTTKx5WFgiA/s270/sandpail%20wooden.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="244" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXe_YadUfGbVf5tJfMLbYF6ITeoeowuLj1m8sSil7kwFtoXSYu5Ux0fOKyIAtOv8SIRPLETtSDXFQeS-3KWPKduIDRvX63g6i6j_bf0FfW2z7jN-dyna5HwoqRT1PUvbj-u8LMEiqHDFmXfJu9qUxkuOkYSkl5bMoOHA5n_JvExASXM1JQRTTKx5WFgiA/s1600/sandpail%20wooden.jpg" width="244" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Originally, craftsmen made sand pails of wood, decorated with either a simple designs or lettering hand-painted or stenciled around them to appeal to children. After about 1840 tinsmiths started to use tin to make toys. Initially, they made pails from 12 by 14-inch sheets of tin plate imported from Wales. The small size of the sheets restricted the size of these early pails to about 4 ½ inches in diameter. As tin plate technology developed, larger, thinner sheets became available and tin plate started to be produced in the U.S. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zcht80GHVe4C1mALu2hSwq_B3SH1Qr4O_MXH1XnB3bWn1_lVCIP4TJScxcaUih03563aSBLpPfCrDw0StJjrTz1aYucd9wTGEBqUCZN1R8CuPcrzvriCfYHzupAoGilXenABnbuQsbr5kDRETBMyGNP7LOfTlCsFyLwj8xtvi7uSyALJJjRm3_1V0KI/s399/sandpail%20early%20simple%20design.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="289" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zcht80GHVe4C1mALu2hSwq_B3SH1Qr4O_MXH1XnB3bWn1_lVCIP4TJScxcaUih03563aSBLpPfCrDw0StJjrTz1aYucd9wTGEBqUCZN1R8CuPcrzvriCfYHzupAoGilXenABnbuQsbr5kDRETBMyGNP7LOfTlCsFyLwj8xtvi7uSyALJJjRm3_1V0KI/s320/sandpail%20early%20simple%20design.jpg" width="232" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The designs on the earliest tin sand pails were simple, following the pattern of the earlier wooden pails with few bands of color or some letters applied free hand or stenciled over a japanned finish. Japanning consisted of several layers of paint followed by a coat of lacquer. As the market grew the decoration became more complex, a process imported from France in which tinsmiths employed a mixture of varnish and paint burned on in alcohol, then baked to produce a thin translucence to the finish.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LReS9Zqn6wiQBlLvBLbP2Vt2L48XlpRGUVvQpC8vv6bXHI_5GD5l4AztqX-yTN3m4SJt2xJ4MZpB_kj0m2jm6TeNebw4NrNihwzi49hJ_I32pQAK3O534iXMTozTgnuqvSbimCbZmljDQY9NYFKshjlY5QK-JKoq6rFahIW_kB5N7g1i5HLi8vvu_t0/s400/sandpail%20embossed.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="327" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LReS9Zqn6wiQBlLvBLbP2Vt2L48XlpRGUVvQpC8vv6bXHI_5GD5l4AztqX-yTN3m4SJt2xJ4MZpB_kj0m2jm6TeNebw4NrNihwzi49hJ_I32pQAK3O534iXMTozTgnuqvSbimCbZmljDQY9NYFKshjlY5QK-JKoq6rFahIW_kB5N7g1i5HLi8vvu_t0/s320/sandpail%20embossed.jpg" width="262" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">They also used embossing on other pails to accentuate the design or lettering. It usually involved a stamping or rolling process so that parts of the surface were raised up while the pail was still in sheet form. It was then very easy to enhance the raised portions with a second color, using a paint pad or roller. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A major technological advance came in the late 1880s with developments in lithography allowing this printing process to be applied to thin tin sheets. This innovative process printed with a detail that had previously only been possible on paper. This transformed the making of toys, as well as tin food cans and tin advertising signs. It was then possible to use multiple colors and produce fine detailing and a smooth, relatively hard wearing, durable finish. A lithographic press printed the designs and colors on flat sheets of metal from which toys could be formed using tools and dies.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwrNOh3Uo86aO7PIO3oNvjfbG8ReQCr_IHymhY9cbT7dWH4neB0Tl7qRaJSBdllFTvjYSrYHuYxmRpGjT6GsKHdNY7aAloFuSTPamncc2o4GMpIlz-rc-EpbJGhJhNt_Hnir4OXpO642xY4SMlpnCoVsRE9m4D_dc_-g4l8fFP5SWH5AhUSeuV-xcZWM/s523/sandpail%20early%20simple%20lettering.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="523" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwrNOh3Uo86aO7PIO3oNvjfbG8ReQCr_IHymhY9cbT7dWH4neB0Tl7qRaJSBdllFTvjYSrYHuYxmRpGjT6GsKHdNY7aAloFuSTPamncc2o4GMpIlz-rc-EpbJGhJhNt_Hnir4OXpO642xY4SMlpnCoVsRE9m4D_dc_-g4l8fFP5SWH5AhUSeuV-xcZWM/w640-h370/sandpail%20early%20simple%20lettering.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98xnS2HTTOUvmDcyd0_Wkrq7OMFy8wXFCgUzkWtLNFMw-GcG6XLlkDItkfAAai5MNHhpV2cQz8qLY-cHy0lnMKxRPwJUnECPZuP4_6sL0JG2x1MlmtHOafb-8dmKrjDZ9x-2AQ3H4noSxWTTYV_Ur_CpzWCZx-r_Jn5khl8xMco99kx2t1Y_e0MYy9c8/s432/sandpail%20family%20at%20the%20beach.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="432" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98xnS2HTTOUvmDcyd0_Wkrq7OMFy8wXFCgUzkWtLNFMw-GcG6XLlkDItkfAAai5MNHhpV2cQz8qLY-cHy0lnMKxRPwJUnECPZuP4_6sL0JG2x1MlmtHOafb-8dmKrjDZ9x-2AQ3H4noSxWTTYV_Ur_CpzWCZx-r_Jn5khl8xMco99kx2t1Y_e0MYy9c8/s320/sandpail%20family%20at%20the%20beach.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">By the turn of the 20th century a family visit to the seashore had become very popular. America was on the move on weekends and took annual vacations in places like Coney Island, Atlantic City, Asbury Park, or Cape Cod.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Additionally, developments in the technology of printing processes in the 1930s enhanced the colors and details possible on tin pails, and several of the toy manufacturers employed famous illustrators to design the graphics.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1sYU9KP38_9pbzUf6qfXUbO8fNgQDm7WWRAiHRFX7UcCJ1x4pUDm8kXbIRJZTOoDl31lA9zJuOBzTR58n0RTAfrwayv_GXX84HluwpQAnt_87Nl5qvuWSA2ezqu7k4FucZNShv8QJrv95Iiv-kZvOkzKVQetggErDlhjQQXwFXrrX1kPi9_vR2mYcDg/s419/sandpail%20Mickey%20and%20Minnie%20Mouse.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="286" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1sYU9KP38_9pbzUf6qfXUbO8fNgQDm7WWRAiHRFX7UcCJ1x4pUDm8kXbIRJZTOoDl31lA9zJuOBzTR58n0RTAfrwayv_GXX84HluwpQAnt_87Nl5qvuWSA2ezqu7k4FucZNShv8QJrv95Iiv-kZvOkzKVQetggErDlhjQQXwFXrrX1kPi9_vR2mYcDg/s320/sandpail%20Mickey%20and%20Minnie%20Mouse.jpg" width="218" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">The 1930s and 1940s with the popularity of radio and the movies created new heroes, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Snow White along with the Seven Dwarfs all appeared on pails, spades, sprinkling cans and water pumps. The traveling circus was extremely popular. Exotic animals performing amazing acts along with daring performers and clowns with their crazy antics all have their place on beach pails.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdUVNQiFvaCpzoLzpyzCIXLE1EK3vat8zQsxqtYP_5hJnLnGl5xJaikBCZT8q5gX7IHcAheZOySCsHy2eIcXDvsV4--CWoQJYzFFtg4v9aY4xbtFvSiiAoKKSMLYwHcsvnBDn5S8uXOJk__sExvL6Tn20HBG59GpRZqHzA_01Tiw0ETHFwhcOm_VxlOI/s428/sandpail%20Lone%20Ranger.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="338" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdUVNQiFvaCpzoLzpyzCIXLE1EK3vat8zQsxqtYP_5hJnLnGl5xJaikBCZT8q5gX7IHcAheZOySCsHy2eIcXDvsV4--CWoQJYzFFtg4v9aY4xbtFvSiiAoKKSMLYwHcsvnBDn5S8uXOJk__sExvL6Tn20HBG59GpRZqHzA_01Tiw0ETHFwhcOm_VxlOI/s320/sandpail%20Lone%20Ranger.jpg" width="253" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">As the years passed, cowboys chasing Indians across the range and other Western themes became popular from the influence of television programming. Then the atomic age with space travel captured the imagination and took its place on sand pails.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Tin sand pails and shovels offered a designer a large surface on which to tell a story. Children could identify with the events depicted on pails by The Ohio Art Company of Bryan, Ohio, Kirchoff Patent Company of Newark, New Jersey, T. Cohn Co. of Brooklyn, New York, or U.S. Metal Toy Manufacturing Company of New York. Toddlers could recite favorite nursery rhymes as they looked at the four sides of a beautifully illustrated square sand pail by Julius Chein and Company of New Jersey, or delight in the exploits of Disney characters.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECptDv-OBDdY02c53uKVnLyCr6-EmFYYE-bIdT1Az-548qLIapsefD7eB2-OWQY4z1oKI_rgXZhTemH1Tg7rAbpvUDcN2hjcG1R0sBba-IM2q6tFTjKTl4SfTBVp2Hgf9m9LE-BhQX9dhQtxi0nsG60-v2nsSNgp7QERo9fUlIuQAYUQrUVur6ZMS1Ho/s600/sandpail%20early%20pirates.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="487" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECptDv-OBDdY02c53uKVnLyCr6-EmFYYE-bIdT1Az-548qLIapsefD7eB2-OWQY4z1oKI_rgXZhTemH1Tg7rAbpvUDcN2hjcG1R0sBba-IM2q6tFTjKTl4SfTBVp2Hgf9m9LE-BhQX9dhQtxi0nsG60-v2nsSNgp7QERo9fUlIuQAYUQrUVur6ZMS1Ho/s320/sandpail%20early%20pirates.jpg" width="260" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Children delighted in swashbuckling heroes and pirates and acted out their own stories, their pails becoming little treasure chests to transport shells from the water's edge to their ever growing sand piles. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">People are often surprised at the higher prices collectors pay for Victorian and early 20th-century sand pails. This is particularly true of examples showing early airplanes, dirigibles, steamships, Old Glory, the American Eagle, early teddy bears, early Disney characters. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Condition is everything when collecting tin sand pails, as with other tin-lithographed toys. The design may be worth $500 or $5 the only variable with be condition. Rust, dents, missing parts and major scratches have a serious impact on value.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpYgt6ZtZxPVwmP9Cosvg0cvapg-ji6_g34ILHjccYjSh8wg2COD8x_b-CGQr6gD48dQeCxxoKYG8TvR5t6N-7CTRmBv8wxlcKHHaI7DvCOB9fQr3-MYFgky8sC5qKMXPh2u-sEdc3eU7hBz8K49hDFXf_vcE5EV0RxUx-RATzjyRUEPaAwTXDm01yRg/s432/sandpail%20patriotic.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="421" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpYgt6ZtZxPVwmP9Cosvg0cvapg-ji6_g34ILHjccYjSh8wg2COD8x_b-CGQr6gD48dQeCxxoKYG8TvR5t6N-7CTRmBv8wxlcKHHaI7DvCOB9fQr3-MYFgky8sC5qKMXPh2u-sEdc3eU7hBz8K49hDFXf_vcE5EV0RxUx-RATzjyRUEPaAwTXDm01yRg/s320/sandpail%20patriotic.jpg" width="312" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">In establishing an antique or vintage sand pail’s value, subject matter of the illustration on it is also extremely important. Size has no real effect on value. Some collectors like large pails to display on shelves or hang from ceilings, while others prefer the mid-size ones to exhibit in small cases. Many more collect all sizes and include the minipails that were first candy containers, grouping them eclectically.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As with any toys, the best examples of tin sand pails, in mint or excellent condition l always sell for the highest prices. Considering what children did with their sand pails, it’s a wonder any survived at all.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To read </span><span style="font-family: arial;">more articles on antiques, please visit the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">Antiques Article</a>s</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> section of my Web site. And to stay up to the minute on antiques and collectibles, please join the over 30,000 readers by following my free online magazine, #</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank"><b>TheAntiquesAlmanac</b></a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Learn more about "Coffee--The Brew of Life" in the 2023 Summer Edition, online now. And to read daily posts about unique objects from the past and their histories, like the </span><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1919920961247644963/5338920389611292312#" target="_blank">#Antiques and More Collection</a> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">on Facebook.</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div>Bob Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666732428030175368noreply@blogger.com0