Learn about your antiques and collectibles with Georgia Caraway

piece in one hand and support the base with the other

A good friend of mine shared an article with me that was written by Joniece Frank, daughter of the late John Frank of Frankoma Pottery fame The article, “Handle with Good Sense,” appeared in Pot & Puma, a newsletter for collectors of Frankoma

Joniece details the DOs, DON’Ts, ALWAYs, and NEVERs of handling Frankoma; however, these same precautions pertain to all pottery and glassware items.

NEVER handle items with your thumb inside the rim or opening of a vase, pitcher, or creamer When you handle a piece by putting your thumb inside, this creates a stress point, putting all the weight of the piece on that one location

NEVER depend on a handle especially on older pieces to hold the full weight of any piece Handles and spouts and other prominent parts will be the first area to be knocked and jarred over time, and those areas will more likely be the parts of the piece to have hairline cracks or be broken off and invisibly repaired. Any repaired areas cannot be expected to be as strong as the body of the piece

ALWAYS handle pieces with both hands

DON’T ever pick up a large piece by the side, by the rim, the edge, or the handle. Cup the

The next time you pour tea or coffee, be sure to support the pot by its handle and by placing your other hand (with hot pad) beneath it for support. Remember the extra weight of the liquid could cause unseen hairline fractures to crack What a disaster to not only have your pot break but to potentially scald yourself or a friend with hot liquid

Some teapots, coffee pots, casseroles, and pitchers have hollow handles Most folks don’t think about the construction of their pieces until something bad happens.

DO handle items that have reached the age of 40 or 50 years old with more caution than your everyday items Some items become more fragile with age

Before removing a piece from an upper shelf, check that it does not consist of more than one piece. Be sure to take care that the lid is securely attached or that you remove the lid before lifting it down off the shelf

NEVER try to pick up more than one piece at a time, or to lift lids by the knob All too often the knob has been repaired and the adhesive might fail

NEVER lift an item over another one in case a falling part might do double damage

NEVER reach behind one object to get to another Remove the item in the front before reaching for the item in the back

I have supplemented Joniece’s helpful hints for handling precious antique items with some of my own from my book, TIPS, TOOLS, & TECHNIQUES. TT&T will be available at Howe Mercantile when we open April 25 May each day be an odyssey into the wonderful world of antiques.

Dr. Georgia Caraway, former director of the Denton County Museums for 14 years, will be opening the Howe Mercantile on Howe’s Founders Day, April 25. She has also written Tips, Tools, & Techniques: Caring for Your Antiques and Collectibles and four Denton history books.

Duree to become HCFDC President

With former president of the Howe Community Facilities Development Corporation, Rebecca Stanley moving out of the city limits of Howe, Vice President Laura Duree will be taking over that position starting in tonight's meeting at the Community Center Duree is also the executive director of Keep Howe Beautiful