Spring 2024

This Collectors Edition has been in the making for some time, and has come together in a very interesting way. There are nine –nine! - profiles included, the most we have ever featured in one issue, and as a bonus the theme prompted submissions from two new contributors. While the range of content means we are not able to dig as deep on any particular topic, it gives this issue a rich look and flavour reminiscent of the best antique show. I hope you are as inspired as I am to learn about, and keep an eye out for, more amber, collectable shoes, counterfeit coins, decoys, farm toys, footwarmers, petroliana, pottery and scales. In fact, as the articles have been coming in for this issue, that has been my experience – I have been seeing and appreciating these treasures everywhere!

While the many and varied objects are fascinating, it is the stories behind them that make collecting so appealing. Each collection is as unique as the individual collector, and while I don’t claim to possess any collections, I do have many treasured items that likely have no value beyond the memories they spark. My mother gifted her mother a Hummel each time a new grandchild was born, and as the only female in my generation of the family I have several of those Hummels, including

“Chick Girl” which was purchased to mark my arrival. I love them all, and it matters not one speck that Hummels have limited collectable value today. Full disclosure – my love of vintage textiles, especially quilts, does mean my children may one day have to disperse a sizable number bordering on a collection of pieced fabric treasures. I may have added to the inventory while researching this issue . . .

We welcome a new advertiser, Forgotten in Time Antique Mall which opened last summer in Wetaskiwin, Alberta and is already planning to expand. Showing staying power is Inside Avenue Antique Mall in south Calgary, which has been in business over a decade and rejoins our advertiser roster after a long absence – welcome back!

As usual the spring show listing is full and exciting, and offers great potential for shopping expeditions from Vancouver Island to Grande Prairie to Winnipeg, with countless stops along the way.

Happy spring,

Kathleen Raines, Discovering ANTIQUES

Discovering ANTIQUES

VOLUME 27 | NO. 1 | 2024

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Kathleen Raines

LAYOUT & AD DESIGN

Crystal Ink • crystalink.ca

Front Cover: Hanson dairy scale used to weigh buckets of milk, photographed at Bleu Moon Antiques.

Discovering ANTIQUES is published four times a year. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written consent of Discovering ANTIQUES. Discovering ANTIQUES assumes no responsibility for lost material.

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Table of CONTENTS

3 contributors

4 editorial

6 still getting a kick out of shoes

10 amber facination

14 collecting what you love

18 Discovering shows

20 the collector

24 foot & bed warmers

26 unlimited ducks

28 counterfeit coins

30 a dream come true

32 research rescue

30 Discovering advertisers

DiscoveringContributors

Gordon Gu explores Automobilia and Petroliana on a visit to Rempel Mercantile in Fort Langley. Gordon lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Maria Haubrich has a special interest and expertise in pottery, and she shares an impressive collection of West German Pottery for our spring Research Rescue article. Maria is an AIA-certified appraiser, a collector and an online entrepreneur who lives west of Red Deer, Alberta.

Fred Hauck has countless collections which are united by three common themes. Fred lives, collects and researches antiques from his home in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Do you have a story about antiques that you'd like to submit for the next issue? Reach out to the Editor today!

DISCOVERINGANTIQUES18@GMAIL.COM

Alan Lazarenko’s passion for collecting antiques goes back almost half a century. His advice for fellow collectors is simple, “If you don’t see beauty in the antique, don’t buy it!” Alan is a fi rst-time contributor based in Regina.

Susan Holme Manyluk’s love of amber dates to her childhood in Denmark. Susan and her many collections are on display at HolmeHus Antiques and The Farm with The Good Food near Red Deer, AB.

Rob Sturrock has been collecting since 1989 with a focus on Canadian vintage advertising, especially bottles, stoneware, tins and signs. Rob is treasurer of the Fraser Valley Antiques and Collectibles Club in BC and a fi rst-time contributor to Discovering ANTIQUES.

Catharina VanTooren credits her favourite collection of duck decoys to a shared family interest from childhood. Catharina operates Roseberry Antiques in Calgary.

Still Getting a Kick Out of Shoes

BY KATHLEEN RAINES

In her Amber Fascination feature on page 10, Susan Manyluk gives a great outline of the varying motivations to collect, and in the case of Mark’s outstanding collection of miniature shoes, it’s “purely relative”. This mindblowing collection of an estimated 700-plus pieces actually inspired the Collectors theme for this issue. It originated with Mark’s great aunt, Catherine Gregor, a Winnipeg widow who started collecting in the 1940s.

Catherine defined her collection as a “hobby which has brought new friends and interests”,

according to a Winnipeg Weekend Magazine profile in 1957. Reprinted in other publications including the Ottawa Citizen, profile in 1957. That article was reprinted in other publications including the Ottawa Citizen, which brought brought more attention and more items to the collection; many of the shoes were “much-appreciated gifts of thoughtful friends”, she said.

While Mark has only vague memories of his great aunt, for him the collection is most

Continued on Page 8

Catherine Gregor with the collection in her home, 1950s

strongly connected with his mother June, who inherited it when Catherine passed away in 1986. Like her aunt, she added to the collection by acquiring new pieces as gifts and on her travels. There are a number of Christmas ornaments, many ethnic-themed pieces, a full shelf of finely detailed miniatures and “a tiny pair of moccasins which my father saw made in Norway House by a three-year-old Indian child”, Catherine is quoted as saying in the 1957 Weekend feature.

Catherine’s research revealed that the oldest pair of shoes are likely the leather baby shoes which also happen to be Mark’s favourites; estimated at 135 years old in 1957, that makes them roughly two hundred years old today. The scuff marks on the soles indicate they were actually worn by a child. A note in Mark’s Mom’s handwriting dates a glass slipper to 1892. Many other pieces have June’s handwritten notes tucked inside, listing special details or where items were acquired.

Aside from the sheer volume of items, this collection is impressive in its range; there are genuine antiques, a large assortment of miniatures, some travel mementoes, countless

examples of impressive craftsmanship, and lots of kitsch. It’s fun, entertaining and unique, and now in the possession of the third member of one family to appreciate it. Mark inherited the collection when he moved into his mother’s house after her passing. Each family member has chosen a piece from the collection, including June’s seven grandsons who each wore one of her shoe brooches when they served as her pallbearers.

The family have decided it is time for the shoes to have a new home, and Mark is ready to part with the collection. If you are interested in learning more about the Gregor shoe collection, contact discoveringantiques18@ gmail.com.

Amber Fascination

BY SUSAN HOLME MANYLUK

Each individual who collects is unique in their precise motivation to do so. Collecting is often a relative thing, relative to economic capacity, limits of time, historical interest or perhaps even obsessive-compulsive tendencies. In my case, it’s purely relative.

Interests triggered in children during their most inquisitive early years will, I believe, often last a lifetime. If that interest is encouraged and nurtured by adults who have a similar appreciation for the mysteries of nature, for example, the result is often generational in scope. Collecting is the result.

For me, the appeal of beachcombing probably triggered my fi rst fascination with amber. Denmark has beaches washed by the Baltic Sea, as do Germany, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as a sliver of Russia called Kaliningrad. This is the source of most Baltic amber, whether prehistoric or of more recent discovery.

The Smaland peninsula is central to the amber-rich deep Blue Earth layer. The sap from early forms of coniferous trees growing twenty to thirty million years ago trickled onto the earth in copious amounts to form huge deposits. Both carbon-testing and later

The author purchased her copy of this book by Andrew Ross on an outing to the Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller, Alberta

DNA analysis of the amber that formed, as well as of insects, plant parts and small animals trapped in the sticky resin, has yielded a great deal of information for scientists. The book Amber, the Natural Time Capsule by Andrew Ross is an excellent resource.

Back to the beaches. As land masses fractured and separated, the rifts filled with seawater (now the Baltic). Over time, lighter than salt water, amber was torn free from the ocean bottom during storms and eventually washed onto the surrounding shores. Medieval woodcut images of peasants show them raking clumps of seaweed on the beach, searching for lumps of amber. Net dragging in the shallow waters and dredging of harbours also yielded amber. Finally, in the 1850s, a company was founded to start mining the rich deposits of the Smaland peninsula, both underground and at sea.

Now to my beaches. I think it was the summer I was four that my mother’s very large and extensive family gathered at one of the many Danish seashores. I have no idea exactly where that was, but recall a large assemblage of most of the nine Andersen daughters. My mother, Kirsten, was in the middle, and the party included various

The author collecting seaweed, but sadly no amber in the Baltic Sea.

spouses, grandparents and an assortment of children of different ages. Three of us cousins were born in the same year, myself and two slightly older boys. That day, we played like the naked, happy, adventuresome offspring of Viking heritage that we were. The trip focused on beachcombing for driftwood,

shells, sea glass and amber. Hanne, one of the younger aunts, was already an experienced amber hunter and took it upon herself to encourage our foraging along the shoreline. I remember fi nding lots of slimy seaweed, tiny beautiful shells and a dead fish – but no amber.

I also remember being very unhappy that bare-bottom beachcombing was okay for the boys but was a very gritty experience for the girls. I think my Aunt Bente was the one who explained that boys can plop down on the sand, but girls need to crouch in order to maintain their dignity and comfort.

Beachcombing and amber hunting at four led me to join an extensive relative cadre of amber-loving Andersen women. I thank them for their knowledge, passion and generosity. I love the memories as well as their many gifts of heirloom amber given to me over the years!

This George Jensen-designed silver and amber pendant with typical Art Nouveau styling was purchased by the author's grandfather for her grandmother.

COLLECTING WHAT YOU LOVE A Matter of Balance

BY KATHLEEN RAINES

A Canadian born in Australia, Suzanne Draves had been uprooted many times before she settled back in western Canada with her family as a teenager. Perhaps it was that sense of rootlessness that attracted her, from her earliest memories, to beautiful old things like quilts and dishes. Her impulsive nature led her to collecting, and she always wanted to have her own antique shop.

Life and family meant that dream had to wait for many years, and Suzanne contented herself by incorporating antiques into her home, something she does with great skill. Her favourite items are the many and varied scales scattered throughout her beautiful property and tucked inand outside the displays in her shop, Bleu Moon Antiques, just outside Sherwood Park, Alberta.

Asked what led to her interest in scales, Suzanne replied, “I just love them!” and as a bonus, those she chooses to release from her collection sell well in the shop – obviously, others love them too! Her favourite is the impressive Toledo Lollipop scale, while I was more drawn to the simpler styles, especially the elegant mid-century European brass scale with its curved lines. Of course, scales serve a utilitarian purpose as well – form plus function.

The shop has been a project in the works for many years. Suzanne “dabbled” in the business with booths at antique malls, and still maintains a space at Old Strathcona Antique Mall in south Edmonton. She did her fi rst show in 1993, where she sold a few pieces and “had so much fun!” Gradually, though, the impetus to have her own shop grew stronger. After researching rental spaces, she realized that something closer to home and on a more modest scale would

be a better fit, and she commissioned a prefabricated building, the biggest that could be easily moved to her property. It arrived in the summer of 2022, and Bleu Moon Antiques opened that October.

The shop has established a solid customer base and is jam-packed with thoughtfully curated items at affordable prices. While Suzanne occasionally wishes the space was “just 50% bigger”, she compensates by rotating stock often. “I love my customers”, she says, adding that she feels fortunate to have created something that feels just right for her. She pointed out that there aren’t many antique shops – as opposed to antique malls – and that each has its own unique dynamic, a function of the owner and their inventory.

Suzanne’s love of scales and “beautiful old things with roots” is evident in both her home and her business, and with Bleu Moon Antiques, she seems to have found the perfect balance for her collector soul.

Discovering shows

SPRING 2024

March 2, 3

Calgary Numismatic Society Spring Coin Show

Double Tree by Hilton, Calgary, AB

March 8, 9

Saskatoon Gun Club Collector’s Show

Prairieland Park, Saskatoon, SK

Border City Collectors Club Show

Lloydminster, SK

March 9

Cloverdale Antique and Collectible Show

Cloverdale Fairgrounds, Surrey, BC

March 9, 10

Edmonton Coin Show

Central Lions Centre, Edmonton, AB

March 31

Easter Vintage, Retro and Collectible Show and Sale

Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney, BC

April 6, 7

Wild Rose Antique Collectors Show

Edmonton Inn, Edmonton, AB

Vancouver Comic and Toy Show

PNE Forum, Vancouver, BC

April 13

Nostalgiarama Vintage, Antique and Collectibles Sale

Assiniboia Downs, Winnipeg, MB

April 19, 20

Queen City Antique and Vintage Market

Caledonia Curling Club, Regina, SK

April 20

Mid Century Modern Show and Sale

Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association, Calgary, AB

April 26, 27

Fraser Valley Antiques and Collectibles Show and Sale

Queens Park Arena, New Westminster, BC

Capital City Vintage Market

Alberta Aviation Museum, Edmonton, AB

May 3, 4

Bee’s Knees Vintage, Antique and Collectibles Market

Holiday Inn and Suites, Grande Prairie, AB

May 4, 5

The Olde Farmhouse Vintage Market

Cloverdale Agriplex, Cloverdale, BC

May 25

Vintage Redefined Market

Acadia Recreation Centre, Calgary, AB

Antique Vintage Country Market

Country Acres, Maclean, SK

May 25, 26

Ultimate Toy Fair

Pearkes Recreation Centre, Victoria, BC

The Collector AND THE COLLECTIONS

BY FRED HAUCK

Antiques and collectables have been my mainstay for the last forty-plus years. Many people have asked how I got started being a collector. Over my lifetime, I have collected almost everything imaginable; my collections number well over 150. It started when I was a young boy when free items were given away by businesses. I have over one thousand business cards, along with stickers, ballpoint pens, ball caps and calendars. Coins and stamps were two other easy things to collect. Once others knew of my obsession, they would save and give me items. When I was about eleven, my interest in antique bottles spawned a collection of canning jars, milk bottles and pop bottles, all donated at the start.

Like many young boys, I discovered comic books, trading cards and old toys. I learned I could fi nd half-price comics at used bookstores, and friends were willing to part with toys as they grew out of them. I’d trade for or buy them; others were gifted by relatives. I had heard stories about toys my Dad received at Christmas, which got destroyed, and I hunted for copies.

My collecting now focuses on three main areas: farming, music, and Stampede and western history. As a boy, I received farm toys for Christmas and have since collected any and all agricultural collectables, books, manuals, watch fobs, toys, wrenches, etc. My Dad, along with many other family members, played country music, especially that

of singer Wilf Carter. I always gravitated toward singing movie cowboys, from my earliest memories. I dressed as a cowboy every year for Halloween. I’ve collected records, pictures, songbooks, windup phonographs and musical instruments.

I remember my Dad talking about his trek to the Calgary Stampede in the 1960s, and as a boy, an annual highlight was always the July Medicine Hat Stampede. My fi rst Calgary Stampede was in 1984; I have been to every one since. This is when my Stampede collecting started in earnest, as I acquired bells, shot glasses, coffee mugs, backpacks, t-shirts, china, comic books, and even a 60th anniversary (1972) sword made in England. Paper items make up a large part of the collection, including programs, brochures, ticket stubs and postcards.

Whatever I collect, I go all out for, including many duplicates. My RCA Victor dog salt and pepper shakers number over forty pairs with some variations and a lot of repeats. When I started to collect pedal cars, I had the idea that to be serious about it, I needed to add one item a week, but after eight weeks and eight pedal cars, I quickly realized that room to house them was a problem. Sadly, I had to stop. Pie birds are a different story, with forty fitting in one shoe box. Cast iron farm toys from the 1920s and 30s piqued my interest about 35 years ago when I received a book on collectables for Christmas. It showed a picture of a McCormick 10-20 tractor and threshing machine which I dreamed for years of owning; now I have a dozen each.

I always tell people I’m a historian fi rst and a collector second. I’ve been writing historical and collectable articles since 1999. Once articles are in print, people seek me out and often entrust me with their family heirlooms, which I sometimes get to showcase in an article. I recently got the opportunity to purchase two 100+ year-old photographs acquired by the seller’s mother in the 1950s. I appreciate when people trust me with their special items, and in turn, they realize that they’ve found the right home and that it’s not always about the money.

Canadian Vintage Advertising Stoneware Pigs

Foot & Bed Warmers

BY ROB STURROCK

Stoneware pigs or foot warmers, also known as bed warmers, are earthenware hot water bottles with a rich history of utilitarian use dating back centuries in North America and Europe. Stoneware, known for its durability and ability to retain heat for extended periods, became popular with our ancestors to combat the chill of cold nights. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the craftsmanship and design of stoneware foot warmers often featured intricate patterns and glazing to enhance their aesthetic appeal. Transfer printing on

stoneware was popular during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The need for stoneware foot warmers diminished as central heating systems became more prevalent in homes during the 20th century.

Early Canadian department stores, druggists and general merchants marketed these wares with their advertising brands. Notable examples include T. Eaton, Woodwards, Stevens Companies, Hudson Bay and David Spence, which were manufactured by various potteries, including Doulton Lambeth, Medalta, Fowler, Lovatt, Bourne and Denby, among others.

Foot warmers came in various shapes and sizes, including child-sized, salesman samplers, and hand warmers, and often featured ornate graphical transfer prints. T. Eaton had the most variants in size and design, around twenty or more; Woodwards had around 10, and Stevens Companies had half a dozen or more. T. Eaton, Woodwards and Kondo Bros. (a very scarce Japanese merchant based in Vancouver) used the beautiful Doulton Lambeth Pottery ornate pattern and design transfer print on their foot warmers, which makes these very desirable to collect.

The pronounced transfer print graphics make these wares highly appealing, desirable and collectable. Foot warmers are great “go-withs” for stoneware jugs, dispensers and crocks, ginger beer bottles, and Medalta advertising wares. Today, stoneware foot warmers are highly sought after and cherished by collectors for their historical significance, aesthetic value and craftsmanship. I have been told that a few collectors still use them in their homes - as “repurposed”.

Unlimited Ducks

BY CATHARINA VANTOOREN

My  father instilled in me a love for animals, but his real fascination was for our feathery friends, those that occupy the sea and sky, the ducks and birds.

On our nature walks, he could recognize the many different birds by their sound, plumage or behaviour. While I did not remember most of their names, that did not stop me from collecting bird ornaments made from wood, porcelain, pewter, soapstone, straw and brass. It is no surprise that now my family room is a treasure trove of duck decoys in all shapes and sizes. I also have collector plates, pictures and paintings, including my favourite, a large old oil on board showing a pond full of waterfowl. While decoys are created to represent many species of birds, this article focuses on my favourite collection of ducks.

Ducks actually influenced my parent’s decision to buy their last home. My parents went to view a nice house for sale in a quiet area surrounded by mature trees, a pond and a stream. A few ducks were waiting on

the front steps of the vacant house, maybe hoping for a handout. My Dad saw this as a favourable omen, and they decided then and there to purchase the home, a decision they never regretted!

Decoys are carved or turned wooden copies of waterfowl that are considered folk art. They were placed in a pond or marsh to lure birds to the pond for hunting purposes. So-called stick-ups were propped on shore with sticks, mostly to attract Canada geese. I am not a hunter, but I enjoy decoys for their aesthetics and craftsmanship. Some decoys are handmade and hand-carved, while others are commercial products. Most of them have glass eyes, and some even have movable parts. Today, some artists create decoys strictly for display at home or in the garden.

This North American folk art had its heyday in the late 1800s when hunting was necessary to supply food for the table. The use of decoys dates further back to the 1700s

among native Americans. Early, simple and primitive models were crafted from various woods that were easy to carve, such as white pine, white cedar or balsa. In order to attract the birds that inhabited a specific area, decoys had to closely resemble the native species. Especially in eastern Canada and the eastern United States, wooden decoys were abundant because of the many migration routes along eastern waterways and the Great Lakes. Decoy production became a large-scale commercial enterprise until about 1910, when hunting was restricted and, in some areas, even outlawed.

Carvers switched their focus to more artistic efforts. Handmade, hand-carved or -turned decoys usually bear the artist’s name, signature or initials. Earlier versions found in good condition with intact body and paint fetch very high prices. Anthony Elmer Crowell (1862 –1952) from Massachusetts is considered the

finest carver and decoy maker of all time. Other recognized decoy artists include:

» Charlie and Edna Perdew

» Joseph Lincoln

» Charles (Shang) Wheeler

» the Ward brothers

» Ken Harris

» Tom Wilson

» Charles Hart

» Thomas Chambers

» Charles Thomas, and the list goes on!

Although I have stopped adding to my collection, it has been a rewarding and enjoyable hobby that started in my childhood so long ago.

A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

BY ALAN LAZARENKO

I once owned an antique parking meter that used pennies. I placed that parking meter in front of my 1929 Ford Sport Coupe Deluxe at a car show with a sign that said, “For one penny, you get 13 minutes of time”. Time can be considered the most precious of all possessions, making a penny that can purchase thirteen minutes of time very valuable indeed.

I collect coins to complement my antique collection. Studying coins is a fascinating way to explore history as the following examples.

The ancient silver drachma dating from 336 – 323 BCE, during the conquests of Alexander, profiles General Eudemus.

This British coin shows the Roman Emperor Tiberius, Divus Augustus, from the years 22 – 30 CE

My newest collection is somewhat unique, featuring counterfeit coins from around the world, dating from 1270 to the present day. I call the collection “Swindled” to reflect the potential for forgery. Any time you consider buying an ancient coin, there is the risk of getting swindled, as quality forgeries have been produced for thousands of years. Several systems have been established to authenticate coins, and reputable distributors can provide documentation and serial numbers.

The oldest coin in my Swindled collection is a London mint penny from the period 1279 to 1377, which is too light for a penny because the wrong metal was used in its manufacture.

This British shilling has clipped edges and dates from 1625 to 1649.

The clippings were melted down to create counterfeits. Counterfeiting and forgery were considered treason during this period, punishable by death.

These Roman coins date to 54 – 68 CE and show Nero on one face with Tiberius on the reverse.

1813 Great Britain 3 shilling coin, made of the wrong metal and dipped.

These South African coins from 1892 –1900 are stamped with the word Imitation; since most workers could not read, they were easily deceived.

More recent examples, closer to home, include the 1920 Canadian penny, which was dipped in silver to appear as a 50-cent piece, and the 2006 Canadian toonie with the bear’s right paw in the wrong position. Today, we hear every day about scammers, hackers and cybercrime. These examples prove that, from clipping to dipping to outright fakery, attempts to deceive by manipulating money are nothing new.

BY GORDON GU

I well remember when I first met Jon Rempel. It was late autumn in Fort Langley; he was working on the roof in the rain; I was down in the muddy yard below. As Jon climbed down and approached me, I noticed he was about my age and sported a beard. “Do you play computer games?” he asked with a wink. It was then that I realized we could become good friends.

Jon and I share many preferences in games, particularly those that focus on history and boast coherent storylines. I cannot count how often he expressed his passion for the retro lifestyle and vintage items. “You know, I may one day start my own antique store, just like my mom did, but with gas pumps and signs!” he often said. I nodded, concealing my doubt: building a passion-based business is motivating, but a store with gas pumps and signs?

Jon’s dream came true in 2017, as he and his wife Katie proudly mounted the large “Rempel Mercantile” sign on their storefront. Distinguishing itself from many traditional antique stores, Jon’s showroom is surprisingly spacious yet far from empty, thanks to their

meticulous arrangement of signs, gas pumps and antique furniture. “We call them Automobilia and Petroliana,” Katie explained as she guided me. Early gas pump designs varied greatly in shape, size, colour and mechanics. These unique industrial relics were crafted from steel or iron and adorned with vibrant coloured porcelain body glazes. The signature glowing globe atop each machine was added to their allure, bearing brand names such as Texaco, White Rose, Red Indian and the longgone Canadian Supertest.

A great example would be the 1920s Wayne model 515 Visible Gas Pump, designed as a lighthouse with a metered glass cylinder mounted on the steel base. Gasoline was

manually pumped from the tank into the cylinder on top; the nozzle was then placed in the tank, and the valve was opened, allowing the fuel to flow from the cylinder to the tank by gravity. Such a mechanism allowed the car owner to inspect the fuel quantity and quality before filling. An even rarer version in Jon’s collection is the fi nely restored 1920s S.S.E Clearvision “Double Visible” gas pump (shown top left). Its unconventional double cylindrical design allowed two vehicles to be gravity-fuelled simultaneously.

Advertising signs are another major area of Jon and Katie’s inventory. As I approached the Wall of Signs, I immediately noticed that the older signs exhibited visible differences from today’s. Crafted from heavy-duty steel or iron and coated with enamel gloss in rich colours, they were built to withstand the test of time. While modern signs are often computer-designed and sometimes bear only minimal information, the old signs were mostly hand-painted with unique personalities. The frequent use of bold words and plain phrases makes them quite refreshing. Katie’s current favourite is a Players Navy Cut Cigarette sign (top right) featuring a woman in a navy suit holding a cigarette while handing out a packet over the slogan reading ‘Player’s Please.’Created in the World War II era, this sign featured a deviation from the company’s traditional masculine “Hero” logo during a time when women’s war contributions were being recognized and treated with respect.

Jon’s expertise in antique rejuvenation has been extensively honed through years of working for his parents’ antique business. Starting with assisting his father, Don, in restoring antique furniture, Jon soon developed his passion while delving into the history behind every piece. “The best restoration is the kind that you can’t tell whether it has been restored” is Jon’s iconic catchphrase, often followed by a lecture on history and restoration. Worn paint, deformed surfaces or missing parts require a unique skill set. Working together, Jon and Katie carefully curate every piece, with Jon meticulously conducting restoration according to customers’ needs. “People love gas pumps and signs, not only because they are unique decorations, but also for the nostalgia around those special pieces”, Katie says.

Before I departed Fort Langley, I decided to visit Country Lane Antiques, owned by Jon’s parents, Don and Shirley Rempel and located next door to Rempel Mercantile. As experienced home decorators and antique dealers, they played pivotal roles in guiding Jon along his business journey. At the same time, Don and Shirley continue to extend their collections of Canadian pioneer artifacts, furniture, and Eastern Asian ceramics. Questions raised: Why did they choose to become antique dealers and home decorators, and what motivated them to venture into the realm of Asian arts? Look for answers in future issues of Discovering ANTIQUES.

research RESCUE RESCUE

with Maria Haubrich

COLOUR AND TEXTURE IN A

West German Pottery Collection

RESCUE research RESCUE RESCUE

Peter and Marilyn Caden of Central Alberta began their West German Pottery (WGP) collection in 2005. They travelled from Edmonton to Calgary and all points between, shopping in thrift stores, charity shops and garage sales, with some of their best fi nds located at garage sales and thrift shops. These trips allowed them to spend time together, doing something they both enjoyed; building the collection was a labour of love on many levels. For over a decade, the Cadens amassed an impressive collection of over 250 pieces of West German Pottery, from small ceramic pieces to large floor vases. They are no longer actively looking for new pieces unless it’s something of particular interest and have since downsized the collection to approximately 100 favourites.

BACKGROUND RESEARCH:

RESOURCES: “Fat Lava: West German Ceramics of the 1960s and 70s” by Mark Hill; Thornton, Zita. “West German Ceramics from the Mid-20 th Century”; Conrad Biernacki. “West German Pottery Back in the Spotlight”; 20th Century Forum website.

INTERVIEW WITH PETER CADEN FEBRUARY 2024

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO COLLECT WGP?

My interest started when I was very young. Right after high school, I went to Germany for two months. It was 1973 when I fi rst encountered German ceramics’ colourful, tactile designs. It was new and exciting, filled with geometric patterns, unusual glazes and interesting design elements not seen in the ceramics produced back home in Canada. I was fascinated by mid-century modern (MCM) décor in Germany with its roots in the Bauhaus movement. Then, in 2005, I showed Marilyn some WGP pieces, and she liked them, so we focused on collecting them together. Back then, WGP was not readily available in Alberta and not considered a collectable, so prices were low.

HOW HAS COLLECTING WGP CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

Overseas in Europe, WGP was very affordable, considered a common item easy to fi nd, and not necessarily collectable. Both small ceramic houses and prominent companies experimented with a cross-over of styles and trends in both studio and production facilities for an explosion of creativity in West German ceramics from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s. Designers were fi nally free to experiment with form, pattern, and glazes - bright colours, unusual patterns, and textured glazes. At fi rst, it was hard for collectors to look beyond the ‘garish, clashing colours, deep,

pock-marked lava glazes and downright bizarre decorative motifs that characterize West German ceramics.’ In Canada in 2005, there was very little understanding of what WGP was – Germany and the US had some collections, but nothing here in Canada. Now, collectors look for pieces that fit a particular criterion – popular designs, colour, select or rare pieces that will appreciate in value, elementary work or more refi ned pieces. Or they collect what’s familiar – what they appreciate- whether for personal appreciation or resale. MCM décor and the atomic age – it’s what I grew up with, what led to an interest in collecting West German Pottery as an adult.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST FIND?

Value-wise? Excitement-wise? My favourite piece of WGP is not the most valuable pricewise, but it is a piece Marilyn purchased as a birthday gift for me a few years back. It cost $100, the most we have spent for a single piece in the collection. It is a Scheurich 48cm ‘Wein’ floor vase. Marilyn likes small vases (6-15cm) with handles (krug vases) where the handles are not functional but decorative so that we will keep her favourites as well.

YOU HAVE DOWNSIZED YOUR COLLECTION RECENTLY. IF YOU COULD PICK ONE ITEM TO KEEP, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

For me, it’s the Scheurich ‘Wein’ floor vase from Marilyn. The greatest value we place on our collection is the time we spend together searching for new pieces. We are downsizing the collection now because we need the space. I’m more interested in abstract painting – I incorporate the colours and textures I fi nd so fascinating in West German Pottery into my art – and canvases require space!

VALUES:

It is difficult to value a sizable collection, and I won’t presume to place a value on Peter and Marilyn’s collection – they are so much more knowledgeable about West German Pottery. We’ll look at one of their favourite pieces, a Ceremano vase with handle, shape 245, ‘Rubin’ décor (see photo), introduced in 1962, designed by Hans Welling.

WHAT'S IT WORTH? THEN & NOW

» Historical book price (2009) $450–650

» Historical sale price (2017) $220–285

» Current value (2024) $300–350

LEFT: CARSTENS large floor vase with handle, ‘Ankara’ décor. Matte blue/grey glaze, design by A. Seide. Circa 1964.

RIGHT: SCHEURICH large floor vase. Matte orange and brown glaze, subtle textures. Circa 1950s

CEREMANO vase with handle, shape 245, ‘Rubin’ décor. Smooth red glaze with black dripped ‘lava’ texture, 35cm tall. Circa 1962

LEFT: CEREMANO squat ball vase, ‘Saturno’ décor. High-gloss blue-green glaze, Space Age design attributed to Hans Welling. Circa 1970s. RIGHT: Wilhelm Kagel Jr. Sienna studio vase (Mecklenburg, Germany) Circa 1950s.

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