Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles by jeff Clark

On Antiques

VOL. 35 NO. 5

and Collectibles

THE NEWSLETTER FOR COLLECTORS, DEALERS AND INVESTORS

Cocktail rings are back. They’re large ornate rings made of expensive metals and stones (unless they’re costume jewelry copies). A recent English magazine pictured cocktail rings ranging in price from $330 to $100,000 (U.S.). Showy cocktail rings were popular in the 1950s, too. Antiques, art and some collectibles turned out to be safer investments than stocks or real estate in 2008. Investment suggestions by some auctioneers include: top-quality antique firearms, jewelry with unusual stones in art nouveau and art deco designs by famous jewelers, top-condition toys and dolls, modern silver and exceptional studio pottery. Before making any investment, of course, you must study the field to learn what is best. If you are a collector, not an investor, buy what you like. It can often turn out to be a good investment. Movie memorabilia is easy to misrepresent, especially online. In the September issue of Antiques Journal, Jennifer Henderson reports that a birdhouse alleged to be a prop from The Lord of the Rings (2001-03) was being sold at Big Lots stores this year. A Harmony Rose pattern cream pitcher offered for sale as an I Love Lucy prop was recently seen for sale at T.J. Maxx. Many of the other “props” being sold online were also made long after the related movies and TV shows were produced. Always check on the background of the seller and the “certification” of a piece of memorabilia. Many of the misrepresented pieces mentioned in the article were sold with certificates of authenticity from the “City of Los Angeles Global Antiques.” The firm doesn’t exist. It is said that the most valuable Steiff stuffed animal is the first Peter Rabbit made in 1905. The rabbit, advertised as “rabbit with blue jacket,” had a felt jacket and slippers. It is worth over $5,000 today.

News Flash

IN THIS ISSUE Sale Reports: Barbie Doll Clothes..................................................51 Edward Wormley’s Dunbar Furniture......................52 Remington “The Broncho Buster” Bronze...............53 Early American Glass...............................................54 Affordable Majolica.................................................56 Mexican Silver Jewelry............................................58 Dictionary of Marks – Majolica....................................57 Buyer’s Price Guide......................................................59 Collector’s Gallery........................................................60

JANUARY 2009

Majolica Plates If this majolica plate looks good enough to eat, that’s because it’s molded and glazed to look like real asparagus and artichokes. The 9-inch plate, made in France, sold for $104 at a Pennsylvania auction. We dish out a lot of reasonably priced Victorian majolica on page 56.

Barbie Dolls’ Fashion Flair Looking for a special outfit to impress your Barbie doll? This “Pajama Pow!” multicolor jumpsuit with metallic dangle earrings should do the trick. It cost $138 at an Ohio auction. We rack up more Barbie doll outfits on page 51.

Mexican Jewelry Bargains

Edward Wormley Furniture

We don’t want to tarnish your grand ideas about Mexican silver jewelry, but some pieces are quite affordable. This sterling silver and enamel necklace by Margo de Taxco auctioned in Cincinnati for $104. Turn to page 58 to take a closer look at Mexican jewelry made for the tourist trade.

You don’t need an oar and a canal to enjoy this Edward Wormley Gondola sofa. All it takes is cash. The sofa sold at a New Jersey auction for $6,600. Wormley designed elegant but comfy pieces for Dunbar Furniture Corp. for more than 30 years. We showcase a selection of his designs on page 52.

Kovels – January 2009

Letter to Lee

Stash Safely

Dear Lee, Sometimes collectors hide small, valuable things in odd places, perhaps behind the backing paper on a painting, inside a decorative pillow, between the pages of a book or in the drapes between the outside fabric and the lining. Be sure you tell an heir where things are hidden. You might even list your hiding places and put the list in a safe deposit box to be opened when necessary. Large collections can lead to large problems. Ralph and I knew Barry Nelson, a prolific actor who was the first James Bond (in a 1954 TV movie). Barry, a passionate collector, devoted his retirement to buying more. We often discussed his latest buys with him and his wife, Nansi. They lived in a Manhattan apartment but stored much of their collection at their homes in Pennsylvania and upstate New York. Now we’ve learned that a mix-up in the Nelsons’ mail in 2005 meant they never received a tax bill on an upstate New York house where they had stored many antiques. Without their knowledge, the house went into foreclosure and was sold in April

2006. It wasn’t until a few months later that the Nelsons learned of the sale and hired a lawyer. Then after Barry died in April 2007, the contents of the house started to disappear. Nansi says over a million dollars worth of antiques and her files on the collection are missing. Although some suspects have been identified and Nansi has filed additional lawsuits, she will probably never get everything back. We understand the emotional pain of losing a collection, especially after a spouse’s death. It can make you feel your memories have been stolen, too. But most of Nansi’s pain could have been avoided. The Nelsons should have kept records with them wherever they were living that listed their houses, storage units and antiques—and they should have detailed where everything was stored. Lessons learned from the Nelsons: Be careful about where you store things, don’t store your paperwork with your antiques and pay attention to legal matters. We add that you should always check the lining of drapes and shake all the books.

• Hotline • Hotline • Hotline • Hotline • Hotline • Hotline • Hotline • Hotline • Hotline • Hotline • Correction: A George III mahogany chest of drawers pictured on page 137 of the August 2008 issue of Kovels newsletter was made the last quarter of the 18th century, not the 19th. More information about Curtis Jeré sculptures (see Kovels newsletter, November 2008): When Artisan House was founded in 1964 by Jerry Fels and Curtis Freiler, Fels handled design work while Freiler managed production. As the business grew, the pair hired artists to create additional designs, but all sculptures were approved by Fels and signed “Curtis Jeré.” Sculptures were made of brass, bronze, copper or chromed steel. Fels and Freiler sold Artisan House in 1972. Since 2003 the company’s sculptures have been made in China. (See Modernism magazine, Spring 2007) Seen at an outdoor show: a pile of vintage ties, $2 each.

A world record $15,255 was paid for a Marx playset at a fall Philip Weiss auction in Oceanside, New York. Presale estimate for the playset, a 1959 mint-in-the-box Wagon Train Series 5000 set, was $1,000-$2,000. A 1959 Marx Ben-Hur playset (also Series 5000), estimated at $2,000-$4,000, sold at the same auction for $9,320. Marx made plastic playsets from the late 1940s through the 1970s. Vintage clothing stores and flea market dealers take note. “Old-man chic” is the newest look for men. Celebrities like Johnny Depp are wearing old-fashioned glasses with thick round rims and wrinkled clothes that look like they came from a Salvation Army thrift store. Add a fedora hat, bowtie, button-down shirt and cardigan sweater. Also part of the “grandpa look” are plaids, Harris tweeds, cuffed trousers and elbow patches.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. —from a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a committee of the American Bar Association and a committee of publishers

KOVELS ON ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES Photos are not reproduced to scale; actual size of items pictured is given whenever possible. Outof-print reference books mentioned in articles may be available through interlibrary loan or from book search services. Editor and Publisher: Terry Kovel; Editor in chief: Marcia Goldberg; CFO and Website Director: Kim Kovel; Designer: Jeffrey Clark; Associate Editor: Liz Lillis; Copy Editor: Cherrie Smrekar; Photo Editor: Karen Kneisley; Controller: Lisa Bell; Marketing: Hamsy Mirre; Staff: Mary Ellen Brennan, Grace DeFrancisco, Gay Hunter; Customer Service: Tina McBean

Kovels – January 2009

Customer Service: To inquire about an individual subscription or to order a new subscription ($36 one year, $4 single copy), call toll-free 800-829-9158; or write to Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles, P.O. Box 420345, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0345; or visit our website, Kovels.com, and click on “Contact Us.” Editorial correspondence: Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles, P.O. Box 22200, Beachwood, OH 44122. Website: We invite you to visit our website, Kovels.com, to look up prices, read more news, visit the free Yellow Pages listings, check on your subscription (use the “Contact Us” link), register for our free weekly comments and more.

Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles (ISSN 0741-6091) is published monthly for $36 per year by Antiques Inc., 30799 Pinetree Road, #305, Cleveland, Ohio 44124. Periodicals postage paid at Cleveland, Ohio, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles, P.O. Box 420345, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0345. Copyright 2009 by Terry Kovel. All rights reserved. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Barbie Doll Clothes W

hen the first Barbie doll was introduced in 1959, Mattel’s fashion designer, Charlotte Johnson, made sure the new doll could be dressed for any occasion. With simple, stylish outfits for daytime to glamorous ensembles for evenings out, Barbie soon became a fashion icon. A fall McMasters Harris auction featured dozens of outfits from the vintage Barbie period, 1959 to 1973. Barbie doll clothes and accessories are as important to collectors as the doll itself. The fashion sets were named and numbered until 1973, when Mattel began referring to them only by number. Most desirable are complete outfits “NRFB” (never removed from boxes). Four of these sold at McMasters, although their boxes were in less than mint condition. Their prices ranged from $220 each for “Winter Wedding” (1969, No. 1880) and “Knit Hit” (1965, No. 1621) to $715 for “Modern Art” (1965, No. 1625). Many outfits were complete but without original packaging. Their prices ranged from $55 to $770. The two ensembles that auctioned for $770 each, “Beautiful Blues” (1967, No. 3303) and “Glimmer Glamour” (1968, No. 1547), were Sears exclusives. The tiny accessories that complete partial Barbie outfits are a big part of a collector’s hunt. A number of groups of small accessories sold for $77 to $250.

More prices for complete Barbie outfits: “American Airlines,” 1961, No. 984, $77. “Matinee Fashion,” 1965, No. 1640, NFRB, $469. “Important InVestment,” 1969-70, No. 1481 variation, $193. “Music Center Matinee,” 1966-67, No. 1663, $275. A few odds and ends: Group of four Barbie doll coats, $330. Stand for Barbie No. 1, $1,210. Photos are courtesy of McMasters Harris Auction Co., 5855 John Glenn Highway, Cambridge, OH 43725, www.McMastersHarris.com. The catalog and prices for the Noteworthy Vintage Barbie Auction, Oct. 5, 2008, can be viewed in the archives at LiveAuctioneers.com. For more information on Barbie clothes, see Barbie Doll Fashion, 3 vols., by Sarah Sink Eames (Collector Books, Paducah, KY, 1990-2003).

“Glimmer Glamour” Barbie doll outfit, 1968, No. 1547, Sears Exclusive. Turquoise chiffon dress with glitter squares (some glitter flakes missing) and turquoise silk taffeta lining, gold lamé swing coat lined with yellow nylon, gold clutch, gold nylon hose, clear open-toe shoes with gold glitter, $770.

“Fab Fur” Barbie doll outfit, 1969-70, No. 1493. Black, brown and white plush jacket and skirt, coral satin shell, gold lamé pantyhose boots, $385.

“Beautiful Blues” Barbie doll outfit, 1967, No. 3303, Sears Exclusive. Blue lamé one-shoulder dress, blue satin coat with fur trim, blue clutch, blue closed-toe shoes, $770.

“Shimmering Magic” Barbie doll outfit, 1966-67, No. 1664. Silver lamé sheath, red satin coat, hat with red roses, red spiked heels, $440.

“Flying Colors” Barbie doll outfit, 1972, No. 3492. Multicolor skirt with hot pink vinyl waistband, pink vest with hot pink vinyl trim, yellow blouse, hot pink vinyl neckband (button present but detached), pilgrim shoes, $385.

“Magnificent Midi” Barbie doll outfit, 1971, No. 3418. Red suede coat (one button missing) and hat, matching skirt with black bodice, black vinyl boots, $193. “Floating Gardens” Barbie doll outfit, 1967, No. 1696. Red taffeta dress with multicolor draping jersey overlay, red hooded chiffon cape with rhinestone buttons, red bracelet, fuchsia bracelet, red and pink earrings, red closed-toe shoes, $220.

PICTURED ON COVER “Pajama Pow!” Barbie doll outfit, 1967-68, No. 1806. Multicolor jumpsuit, metallic dangle earrings, yellow flats, $138.

Kovels – January 2009

Edward Wormley’s Designs for Dunbar E dward Wormley (1907-1995) was an American furniture designer who helped bring modernism into middle-class American homes. His furniture, most of it manufactured by the Dunbar Furniture Corp. of Indiana, was seen by American consumers as modern but not extreme—and comfortable, too. More than 20 pieces of Wormley furniture made by Dunbar sold at a fall Rago auction in Lambertville, New Jersey. Prices went from $720 for an upholstered easy chair to 10 times that, $7,200, for a Constellation occasional table with an ebonized top decorated with marquetry in the form of a stylized constellation. A Gondola sofa, one of Worm- Edward Wormley Constellation ley’s most famous designs, auctioned occasional table, marquetry on for $6,600, and a long rosewood and ebonized top, walnut base. Dunbar brass tag, 19 in. h. by 13 in. dia., walnut desk went for $6,000. A pair $7,200. of slipper chairs sold for $4,500. Interest in original Dunbar furniture designed by Wormley has been growing among collectors. While Wormley was never at the forefront of modern furniture design, his pieces were elegant and sophisticated in a conservative way that appealed to the mainstream—and therefore sold well. And Dunbar’s construction methods were topnotch.

Edward Wormley desk, rosewood and walnut, two tambour compartments, one locking drawer. Made by Dunbar, 35 in. h. by 75 in. l. by 29 in. d., $6,000.

Edward Wormley chest, walnut, brass pulls. Made by Dunbar, 34 1/2 in. h. by 38 in. w. by 18 in. d., $1,200.

More prices: Walnut server, two drawers, three doors, Dunbar brass tag, 33 in. h. by 55 1/2 in. w. by 18 in. d., $1,800. Three-piece angled sofa, chenille upholstery, stained wooden base, Dunbar label, seating length totals 181 in., $2,400. Hexagonal mahogany desk, locking drawer, Dunbar metal tag, 29 in. h. by 82 in. w. by 31 in. d., $3,600. Sofa, cream moiré fabric, walnut base, dustcover embossed “Dunbar,” 27 1/2 in. h. by 84 in. l. by 30 in. d., $3,120. The 20th Century Modern Weekend catalog, Oct. 25-26, 2008, is available from Sollo-Rago Modern Auctions, 333 North Main St., Lambertville, NJ 08530, www.RagoArts.com. Photos are courtesy of Sollo-Rago. To learn more about Edward Wormley and Dunbar, see Miller’s American Insider’s Guide to TwentiethCentury Furniture by John Sollo (Octopus Publishing, London, 2002).

Edward Wormley was born in rural Illinois and worked as an interior designer at the Marshall Field’s department store in Chicago from 1928 to 1930. In 1931 he was hired by Dunbar Furniture to upgrade its line of traditional furniture. Wormley worked on traditional pieces but also added a line of modern furniture that was an immediate success. In 1944 Dunbar dropped its traditional line in favor of modern furniture. The following year, Wormley opened his own design firm in New York, but he continued to design for Dunbar until he retired in 1968. Dunbar Furniture Corp. of Indiana was founded in Berne, Indiana, in the early 1920s. It made mostly upholstered furniture in colonial designs until its president hired Wormley and the company introduced modern lines. Dunbar closed in 1991. Today Dunbar reproductions are sold by at least two companies, Dunbar Furniture of High Point, North Carolina, and Indiana Modern of Uniondale, Indiana.

Kovels – January 2009

Pair of Edward Wormley slipper chairs, tan fabric upholstery, darkstained wooden frames. Dunbar metal tags, each 31 in. h. by 22 in. w. by 29 in. d., $4,500.

Edward Wormley bookcase unit, walnut. Dunbar brass tags, 25 1/4 in. h. by 27 in. w. by 19 in. d., $2,280.

R eproductions Miniature reproductions of Degenhart glass figurines and other designs are being made by Mosser Glass of Cambridge, Ohio. The repros are sold at the Degenhart Paperweight and Glass Museum in Cambridge. New pieces are marked with an underlined D-in-heart. Original Degenhart pieces made from 1972 to 1978 by the Crystal Art Glass Co. of Cambridge were marked with the D-in-heart without an underline. When Crystal Art Glass closed in 1978 after Elizabeth Degenhart died, its molds were sold to Bernard C. Boyd and his son, Bernard F. Boyd. The Boyds are using the old molds, but are marking pieces with their own marks. Reed & Barton is making a series of Victorian Revival silver-plated napkin rings. Reed & Barton made similar figural napkin rings in the late 1800s. The 11 new figural napkin rings, pictured at www.ReedandBarton.com, feature a dog, butterfly, giraffe, turkey, rooster, horse, peacock, rabbit, monkey, frog and lighthouse. Some are close replicas of antique napkin rings; others are new designs.

Edward Wormley console table, walnut, one drawer, cross-leg base. Dunbar brass tag, 29 in. h. by 72 in. l. by 19 in. w., $1,560.

Here’s a REAL Remington

Pair of Edward Wormley low chairs, cream leather cushions, black enameled wooden frames. Dunbar metal tags, each 22 in. h. by 24 1/2 in. w. by 14 in. d., $1,800.

Edward Wormley easy chair, cream fabric upholstery, walnut legs. Made by Dunbar, 27 in. h. by 33 in. w. by 34 in. d., $720.

Long Edward Wormley sofa, celadon crushed velvet upholstery, brass feet. Made by Dunbar, 28 in. h. by 108 in. l. by 31 in. d., $2,760.

his 32-inch bronze sculpture titled “The Broncho Buster,” by Frederic Remington, sold at a fall Cottone auction for $660,000. Remington (1861-1909) cast the plaster for this enlarged version of his first sculpture—the 24-inch Broncho Buster he made in 1895—but died before any bronzes were cast. The auctioned sculpture was one of the original bronze castings authorized by Remington’s wife, Eva. It was originally purchased from Eva by Edwin McClellan, a college friend of Frederic’s, and the McClellans kept it in their possession all these years. Other versions of the large cast are in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago. Remington created 22 sculptures that were cast in bronze at New York foundries. When Eva Remington died in 1918, the molds were destroyed in accordance with her will. The copyrights on Remington’s bronzes expired in the 1960s. Since then (and even before), copies of the sculptures have been made in various sizes. Any Remington bronze offered for less than $75,000 is a copy based on someone else’s rendering of the sculpture, a copy made from an original bronze or, more likely, a copy made from a copy. The Frederic Remington Museum in Ogdensburg, New York, sells “supervised copies” of original sculptures in its collection. Prices range from $425 to $2,000. The museum’s website, www.FredericRemington.org, provides details about how to spot Remington forgeries and copies. The Fine Art and Antiques Auction catalog, Sept. 27, 2008, is available from Cottone Auction Gallery, 120 Court St., Geneseo, NY 14454, www.CottoneAuctions.com. The photo is courtesy of Cottone.

Kovels – January 2009

The Best of Early American Glass W

hat’s one of the best ways to build a glass collection? Pay high prices and buy pieces the experts once owned. That’s just what Duff and Molly Allen did for more than 20 years. Their collection Why Provenance Matters of American glass sold at a fall Green Valley Antique glass is usually unmarked and auction. Prices ranged is easily copied. A well-documented from the low hundreds provenance (past ownership) is the safto $17,808 for a Sand- est bet for authenticating it. Many times wich glass openwork good provenance means the glass has fruit basket in a rare been researched by experts, compared size. The basket and a to other known examples and exhibvariety of other pieces ited in museums. The Allens collected many pieces that were owned by these are pictured. To learn more glass historians and authors: about American glass- Raymond E. Barlow and Joan E. Kaimakers, the Allens ser wrote The Glass Industry in Sandjoined clubs, attend- wich, Volumes I-V. ed glass shows and William E. Covill wrote Ink Bottles rubbed elbows with and Inkwells in 1971. His system for experts. During the numbering inks is still used by bottle 1980s and ’90s, they collectors. bought glass owned William J. Elsholz began his collecby established collection of early American glass in 1930. tors and authors, in- Lowell Inness wrote Pittsburgh Glass, cluding George Mc- 1797-1891 in 1976. Kearin, Lowell Innes, George McKearin and his daughter, William Elsholz, Ray- Helen, wrote American Glass in 1941 mond Barlow and Joan and 200 Years of American Blown Glass in 1950. The McKearin numbering sysKaiser. Much of the glass tem groups early American bottles and in the auctioned col- other mold-blown glass by design. The lection was made by system is still used by collectors. important early 19thcentury makers, including the Boston and Sandwich Glass Works in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Green Valley sold 511 pieces, including more than 100 candlesticks, many in pairs, and more than 100 pieces in the early Thumbprint pattern.

More prices: Blown glass vase with a 7-in. witch’s ball cover, both clear with white looping, 9 7/8 in., $1,921. Princess Feather Medallion and Basket of Flowers pattern clear dish, 8 3/4 by 10 1/2 in., $396. Early Thumbprint pattern clear spherical compote, 18 1/2 in. high with cover, $1,921. A pair of canary yellow Caryatid candlesticks, New England Glass Co., 9 3/4 in., $3,277. Overshot pitcher and four tumblers, blue with amber rims, Boston and Sandwich Glass Co., $622. The catalog, The Duff and Molly Allen Collection: A Survey of American Glass, Oct. 18, 2008, is available from Green Valley Auctions, 2259 Green Valley Lane, Mt. Crawford, VA 22841, www. GreenValleyAuctions.com. Photos are courtesy of Green Valley Auctions. Publications for collectors: Glass Shards, the newsletter of the National American Glass Club, P.O. Box 489, Millburn, NJ 07041; and All About Glass, the magazine of the West Virginia Museum of American Glass, P.O. Box 574, Weston, WV 26452.

Note: All items were owned by the Allens; notable previous owners are shown in parentheses at the end of the captions.

Kovels – January 2009

Pair of free-blown glass trumpet vases, swirling smoky amethyst, polished pontil marks. Boston and Sandwich Glass Co., 1840-60, 12 3/4 and 13 in. h., $2,260. (Previous collection: Joan E. Kaiser)

Pressed glass Loop pattern vase, emerald green. Boston and Sandwich Glass Co., 184060, 9 1/4 in. h., $3,390. (Previous collection: Raymond E. Barlow)

South Jersey free-blown and threaded glass footed jug, soft cobalt blue, threaded cylindrical neck, tooled rim, applied handle, crimped foot, rough pontil mark. Attributed to Whitney Glass Works, Glassboro, N.J., 1835-60, 6 7/8 in. h. by 4 3/4 in. dia., $11,300. (Previous collection: William J. Elsholz)

Pressed glass dolphin candlestick, yellow-green. Boston and Sandwich Glass Co., 1845-70, 9 7/8 in. h., $362. Free-blown glass pedestal inkwell Pressed glass with cover, aquacovered-bas- marine, rough pontil ket toothmark. Probably made pick holder, in New York State, translucent possibly by Redwood jade green. or Redford, 1840Boston and 70, 5 5/8 in. h. by 3 Sandwich 1/2 in. dia., $1,808. Glass Co., (Previous collection: 1850-70, William E. Covill) 3 7/8 in. h. by 2 1/4 in. dia., $1,469.

Reference Book of Note Pressed glass openwork fruit basket on standard, fiery opalescent. Boston and Sandwich Glass Co., 1840-55, 7 3/4 in h. by 8 3/8 in. dia., $17,808.

We were at the preview of the newest exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art, Artistic Luxury: Fabergé, Tiffany, Lalique. The exhibit is breathtaking. It includes a solid silver dressing table, huge centerpieces, imaginative jewelry with rare stones or enamel in delicate settings, unique glass vases and an ivory, gold and enameled domino set. The exhibit is open until January 18, 2009, then moves to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco from February 7 to May 31, 2009. If you can’t get to Cleveland or San Francisco, buy the book with the same title (Cleveland Museum of Art and Yale University Press, 2008, 370 pages, paperback $39.95, hardcover $60, 800-469-4449). The color photographs and detailed histories show how the three great artists, Peter Carl Fabergé, Louis Comfort Tiffany and René Lalique (who all exhibited at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris), were inspired by many of the same things. They created some of the greatest art nouveau luxury items ever made. The book and exhibition also include works by other great jewelers, silversmiths and artists working at the same time. The gemencrusted solid gold tea set and tray by Tiffany & Co., the Faberge eggs and the Lalique hair comb shaped like a viburnum branch made of horn and thousands of diamond chips all speak of an era of opulence, wealth and luxury that’s hard to imagine today.

T ips Free-blown glass ball-covered sugar, aquamarine, rough pontil. Attributed to Mountain Glass Works, Saratoga, N.Y., 1845-65, 7 3/4 in. h. by 8 1/2 in. w., $15,820. (Provenance: George McKearin) Pressed glass crucifix candlestick, translucent jade green, hexagonal socket, stepped hexagonal base. Probably by Boston and Sandwich Glass Co., 1840-80, 11 3/8 in. h., $6,215. (Previous collection: William J. Elsholz)

A piece of ribbon can be “pressed” by pulling it across the edge of a table. Bone china is a special type of porcelain that has bone ash added to the clay. This makes a stronger, whiter porcelain. To remove a price tag without damaging the collectible, be careful. Liquid solvents are usually safe to use to remove tags on nonporous items like glass or ceramics as long as they’re not painted. Porous materials like leather, paper and wood must be tested. Vegetable oil will sometimes remove paper or grease-pen prices. Never pull a label off a piece of paper or cardboard. It will probably tear the paper. If your piece of old brass is covered with a protective coat of lacquer, it should not be cleaned. Test a darkened area with a dab of brass polish. If it stays dark, it has been laquered and cannot be cleaned until the lacquer is removed from the entire piece.

• Hotline • Hotline • Hotline • Hotline • Hotline • Pair of free-blown glass marbrie loop vases, opal with rose red and blue loops, rough pontil marks. Boston and Sandwich Glass Co., possibly by Nicholas Lutz for the 1876 U.S. Centennial, 8 1/2 in. h. by 4 1/2 in. dia., $9,605. (Originally acquired by the Sandwich Glass Museum from the Donovan family, whose ancestors worked at the Sandwich factory) Cut glass double-overlay punty and loop cologne bottle, opaque white over forest green over clear, star-cut base, hollow stopper. Possibly by Boston and Sandwich Glass Co., 1850-70, 9 3/4 in. h. by 3 1/2 in. dia., $2,147.

Women’s vintage evening watches are starting to sell in England. They look like jeweled bracelets. Large men’s watches have become popular with the younger set, but small watches are wanted to wear with fancy evening gowns. Look for art deco and retro styles that usually have jeweled or gold mesh bands and jewels around the small round watch face. You can find expensive diamond-set watches by name makers like Rolex or Patek Philippe— or, at reasonable prices, costume jewelry copies. Fruit jar prices have changed in the last few years because of online auctions, according to Doug Leybourne, author of Red Book #10, the fruit jar price book. More people are collecting the jars, also called canning jars, but a lot of common jars are being offered for sale. So common jars are lower-priced, mid-range jars are about the same and rare jars have gone up in value. Online buyers need to figure in the added shipping charges.

Kovels – January 2009

Affordable Majolica Plates

he very best Victorian majolica can cost thousands of dollars. But if you watch auctions and sales closely and know what to look for, you can find a good majolica plate for under $500. We found plenty at a fall Michael Strawser Majolica Auction in eastern Pennsylvania. A lot of 19th-century majolica is not marked, but we’re showing you reasonably priced plates—most from the 19th century—marked by their English, French or American makers (see the Dictionary of Marks on the next page). The $460 plate, the most expensive pictured, is a 20thcentury five-well “turkey” oyster plate by Stangl Pottery of central New Jersey. Turkey oyster plates have a design of oyster wells that resembles a turkey’s tail. The least expensive plate

pictured is a single-color French oyster plate that sold for just $23. Another pictured French plate decorated with pink and green pansies auctioned for $58. Minton & Co., a pottery in Staffordshire, England, introduced majolica to the British market at London’s Crystal Palace Exhibition in 1851. Minton’s majolica was relief-molded earthenware glazed allover with brightly colored opaque tin enamels. Some pieces were imitations of antique Italian pottery called maiolica. Minton’s majolica was such a hit with the British middle class (and, later, with Americans) that other potteries in Europe and the United States started making the same type of wares. Collectors today prefer Victorian majolica

because most of it was made before massproduction reached levels that led to loss of quality—and loss of popularity—in the early 1900s. Be sure you wash majolica by hand; pieces chip easily.

The catalog for The Collection of Margaret Alexander and Others auction held in Hatfield, Pa., Oct. 24-25, 2008, is available from Majolica Auctions by Michael G. Strawser, P.O. Box 332, Wolcottville, IN 46795, www.MajolicaAuctions.com. Photos are courtesy of Strawser Auction Group. Realized hammer prices from the auction can be viewed in the archives at LiveAuctioneers.com. For additional information and marks, see Majolica: British, Continental and American Wares, 1851-1915 by Victoria Bergesen (Barrie & Jenkins, London, 1989); and Victorian Majolica by Leslie Bockol (Schiffer, Atglen, PA, 1996). The Majolica International Society (PMB103, 1275 First Ave., New York, NY 10021, www.MajolicaSociety.com) publishes a quarterly newsletter for collectors.

PICTURED ON COVER Majolica asparagus and artichoke plate, Lunéville, 9 in., $104.

Majolica bamboo and fern plate, cobalt center, James Wardle & Co., 7 3/4 in., $58.

Majolica daisy, wheat, ribbon and bow plate, S. Fielding & Co., 7 1/2 in., $115.

Majolica pansy plate, Choisy-le-Roi, 8 in., $58.

Majolica chestnut leaf napkin plate, pink napkin background, George Jones, 9 in., $431.

Majolica yellow fish and daisy plate, Joseph Holdcroft, 8 1/2 in., $230.

Majolica individual strawberry plate, Minton, (professionally restored), 8 in., $207. Majolica oyster plate, six wells, Sarreguemines, 10 in., $23.

Majolica turkey oyster plate, five wells, Stangl Pottery, marked “Handcrafted for Port Norris Oyster Co., Port Norris, N.J.,” 9 in., $460.

Kovels – January 2009

Majolica shell and seaweed oyster plate, six wells, St. Clement, 9 in., $81.

Majolica oyster plate, six wells, Union Porcelain Works, 9 1/2 in., $288.

Dictionary of Marks

ajolica has been made for centuries by potteries in many countries, including several major manufacturers in Europe and the United States. Minton, Haviland, George Jones, Wedgwood and many others all made fine-quality majolica during the last half of the 19th century. Today’s collectors look for majolica made during that

Choisy-le-Roi H. Boulenger (beginning in 1863) Choisy-le-Roi, France 1785-1933 Made majolica, 1860s1910 One of several marks

S. Fielding & Co. (Ltd.) S. Fielding & Son (beginning in 1879) Stoke, Staffordshire, England 1870-c.1982 Founded by Simon Fielding; in 1878 his son, Abraham, took over the pottery.Some majolica was not marked. Impressed mark, c.1879+

St. Clément Lorraine, France 1758-present A branch of the Lunéville pottery Made majolica, 1860s-present Early mark

Victorian Majolica period, known as the Victorian era. Not all pieces were marked, and makers often used more than one mark. But if you know the marks used by the major makers, you may be able to find a “bargain” at a house sale or flea market. The marks shown here are those of potteries whose majolica plates are pictured in our sale report.

Joseph Holdcroft Longton, Staffordshire, England 1865-1939 Printed or impressed mark, 1865-1906

Stangl Pottery Trenton, New Jersey 1805-1978 Stamped mark

George Jones George Jones & Sons Ltd. (beginning in 1874) Stoke-on-Trent, England 1861-1951 Impressed mark, 1861-73

Union Porcelain Works Greenpoint, New York 1865-1904 Impressed mark, registered 1877

Lunéville Keller et Guérin (17881800s) Lorraine, France 1731-1981 Impressed mark, registered 1879

James Wardle & Co. Wardle & Co. (Ltd.) Hanley, Staffordshire, England 1871-1910 Became Wardle Art Pottery Co. in 1910 and no longer made majolica. Impressed mark, 1871+ (“England” added after 1891)

• Hotline • Hotline • Hotline • Hotline • Hotline • Hotline • Hotline • Hotline • Hotline • Hotline • Prices for some dinnerwares are falling. Lilac Fiesta dishes and Hall teapots have dropped in price, according to the Fiesta Collector’s Quarterly. The newsletter advises collectors who are selling to sell piece-by-piece, not in one lump. Dealers pay 50 to 60 percent of retail for a group. Whitefriars Glassworks (1834-1981) of Britain was an important producer of glass in the newest styles for many years. James Powell & Sons started the glassworks and the Powell family was involved for many years. Whitefriars glass has been ignored by collectors for a long time but is now becoming popular and more expensive in England. The Whitefriars Glass Collector’s Club (Whitefriars.com) has an informative website. The club will even try to determine if your piece of glass was

made by Whitefriars. The glass still sells for bargain prices in the United States if you are knowledgeable enough to recognize unmarked pieces. Years ago we started to save wooden hangers decorated with ads or made in unusual shapes. It was so easy—every hotel had its own special wooden hangers. So we weren’t surprised to learn that other collections of vintage wooden hangers exist. Most collectors display their hangers on a wall. Some use the hangers. All are conversation pieces. Look for them at house sales, flea markets and, for early examples, antique shows. Today most hotels have metal or wooden hangers that can’t be taken off the closet bar. French cameo glass, especially Gallé, is selling for less this year than last.

Kovels – January 2009

Mexican “Tourist” Jewelry

Mexican silver and turquoise brooch, by Victoria (aka Ana Maria Nuñez de Brilanti), styled after an Aztec god. Impressed “980, Victoria, Taxco,” design number 67, 3 3/4 in. h. by 2 1/2 in. w., 1.4 troy oz., $115.

you visited Mexico sometime since the 1940s, you probably came home with a piece of silver jewelry you picked up at a tourist shop for a few pesos. Today that jewelry can sell for a lot of money—but it’s not as pricey as some pieces by Mexico’s most famous 20th-century jewelry designers, such as William Spratling, Frederick Davis or Hector Aguilar. Dozens of pieces of Mexican jewelry, most of them silver and many marked, sold at a fall Cincinnati Art Galleries auction. Prices hit a high of $1,840 for a Davis folded and scrolled necklace. But bidders found plenty of good jewelry for under $210. Even Davis pieces were in that category: one of his figural silver pins went for $207 and a pair of his earrings for $173. Other pieces that went for $207 or less are pictured. The makers of some jewelry can be identified from the marks; the makers of other pieces are unknown. The eagle mark on several pieces identifies the metal as sterling silver. A bid of $69 won a pair of silver and malachite earrings (pictured) by Los Castillo, and a Los Ballesteros silver bracelet with figure-8 links sold for the same price. A pair of berry and leaf earrings “in the manner of William Spratling” auctioned for $58, and a sterling and amethyst necklace decorated with six roundels and designed by an unknown artist auctioned for $46. See the photos for other reasonably priced but good-quality Mexican jewelry. In general, whether you’re shopping for Mexican silver jewelry here or in Mexico, avoid pieces that are too light in weight (the metal is inferior). You want well-crafted cuttings, strong hinges and good-quality stones. Besides the designers already mentioned, watch for pieces by Margot de Taxco, Matilde Poulat or Victoria.

The Holiday Sale 2008 auction catalog, Nov. 1-2, 2008, is available from Cincinnati Art Galleries, 225 E. Sixth St., Cincinnati, OH 45202, www.CincyArt.com. Photos are courtesy of Cincinnati Art Galleries. For more information on Mexican costume jewelry, see Kovels’ Buyers’ Guide to 20th-Century Costume Jewelry, a Kovel special report (visit www.Kovels.com).

Mexican silver three-blossom pin, pink quartz roses carved and set on a silver thorn branch. Impressed “Silver, Mexico,” 2 5/8 in h. by 2 3/4 in. w., $115.

Mexican silver earrings, by Frederick Davis. Impressed “Silver” with Davis monogram, 1/2 in. dia., $173.

PICTURED ON COVER Mexican sterling and enamel double-scroll necklace, by Margot de Taxco, box clasp, (enamel chips). Impressed “Sterling, Made in Mexico” in circle and “Margo de Taxco” with eagle mark and design number, $104.

Mexican silver and malachite earrings, by Los Castillo. One impressed “Los Castillo, Taxco” in circle, “Hecho en Mexico” and “15” with eagle mark, the other impressed “Onix Negro, 04P,” 1 1/2 in. h. by 3/4 in. w., $69.

Mexican silver guitarist pin, by Frederick Davis. Impressed “Made in Mexico, silver” with Davis monogram, Sansborn Mexico box and receipt, 2 3/8 in. h., $207.

Kovels – January 2009

Mexican silver earrings, by Margo de Taxco, amethyst teardrops. One earring impressed “Margo de Taxco, 5128,” the other marked “Sterling, Made in Mexico” surrounding eagle mark, 1 3/4 in. h. by 3/4 in. w., $161.

Mexican silver and enamel bracelet, by Margo de Taxco, box clasp with safety chain, (enamel nicks and crazing). Impressed “Sterling, Made in Mexico” in circle, “Margo de Taxco,” “5389” and with eagle mark, 7 1/2 in. l. by 3/4 in. w., $115.

Mexican silver and green malachite cabochons belt, by Los Ballesteros, oval rope and scroll connected by silver domes. One connector impressed “Sterling 925, Hecho en Mexico,” “Talleres de Los Ballesteros, Taxco, Gro.” and “42” with eagle mark, 36 1/2 in. l. by 1 in. w., $207.

Buyer’s Price Guide ADVERTISING Kraft figural vinyl bank, vegetable man, movable head, coin slot on back, Kraft name badge, 1960s, 7 in............. $65 Motorola Radio pocket mirror, black & white photo of Rita Hayworth, reads “A Motorola Radio for Me Every Time,” 1940s, 2 1/2 in. dia.................................... $100 Noxzema blue glass advertising ashtray, lower rim threaded to look like top of store jar, 1920s, 5 in............ $110 Pale Dry Pete Beer figural display, Pete as cowboy wearing 10-gallon hat, painted plaster, marked Plasto Mfg. Co., Chicago, 1960s, 12 x 8 1/2 in.............. $175 Alka-Seltzer countertop display, die-cut cardboard, blond woman holding glass, 1930s, 13 x 11 in............... $210 Quaker Cereals store clerk’s button, “Ask Me,” photo of Babe Ruth, July 1937, 3 in.......................................... $515 DOLLS & TOYS Wizard of Oz Tin Woodsman doll, cloth body, vinyl head, Mego, 1974, 15 in.................................................... $85 Steiff gold mohair teddy bear, brown glass eyes, stitched features, felt paws, swivel joints, c.1950, 13 1/2 in........ $104 Barbie vinyl lunch box, Barbie in different poses, metal thermos with red plastic cap, Mattel copyright, King-Seeley Thermos Co., 1962..................................... $175 Roy Rogers & Trigger flash camera, Herbert George Co., 1950s, original box, 4 x 5 x 9 in.............................. $220 Mickey Mouse & Donald Duck toy drum, metal rims, paper drum head, string laces, Noble & Cooley Co., 1936, 6 1/2 x 3 3/4 in...................................................... $320 Dick Tracy Crime Stoppers Lab, hinged box, fingerprint book, microscope, booklet, 1950s, 9 x 12 in.......... $410 FURNITURE Art deco card table, walnut, square leather top, 4 creamcolor upholstered chairs, 1930s, 5 piece......................... $425 Lancashire side chairs, oak & elm, shaped yoke crest rail, plank seats, turned legs & stretchers, 1830s, 36 in., set of 4.................................................................. $700 Chippendale mirror, mahogany & pine, scrolled crest, gilt liner, scrolled base, c.1760, 41 x 22 in......... $1,010 William & Mary gate-leg table, figured oak top, block & baluster turned legs, c.1720, 27 x 43 in.......... $1,175 Gustav Stickley cube settle, spindles, drop-in spring seat, reupholstered, branded mark, 31 x 78 in.............. $9,600 GLASS Jenny Lind calabash flask, aqua, yellow tint, glass house, smoke going left, c.1845, 9 in.............................. $175 Pressed glass table set, Three Face pattern, engraved ivy, butter, sugar, creamer & spooner, 4 piece................ $955 Tiffany Studios Favrile glass tazza, pulled leaves on green luster, etched mark, 6 1/2 in............................... $1,020 Durand bottle, white pulled hearts & vine, blue luster ground, etched mark, 12 3/4 in..................................... $2,885 Daum pâte-de-verre paperweight, squirrel, mauve on forest green base, French, signed, 4 1/2 in................... $3,900

POTTERY & PORCELAIN Chinese Export teapot, white & blue, twisted handle, strawberry finial, monogram, 1700s, 6 x 10 in............... $270 Stoneware canning jar, stenciled cobalt shield in wreath, tapered sides, tooled ring, c.1850, 8 in............... $785 Fulper mushroom-shape lamp base, leopard-skin crystalline glaze, 2 sockets, 17 x 13 in......................... $1,200 Zsolnay vase, tapered, snail handles, mottled majolica glaze, marked, 8 1/4 x 4 1/4 in...................... $3,055 Paul Revere bowl, roosters on green ground, verse “Early to Bed & Early to Rise,” 1909, 5 1/2 in............ $4,500 SILVER & OTHER METALS Aluminum wastebasket, embossed with world map, gold tint, oval, Arthur Armour, 10 in............................... $310 National Cash Register register, brass, wood base, numbered keys up to $3, c.1900, 16 x 17 in................... $565 Cast-iron mechanical bank, Mule Entering Barn, J. & E. Stevens, c.1880, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 in..................................... $995 Roycroft copper fernery, incised & embossed dogwood flowers, 3 ball feet, marked, 3 1/2 x 7 1/4 in................ $1,800 Silver cigar cutter, figural eagle’s head, real bird’s beak, silver tongue, glass eyes, 1880s, 6 1/2 in............ $2,230 TEXTILES & CLOTHING Poodle skirt, gray felt, pink & black poodle wearing sequin collar with chain, early 1950s, size 12................... $95 Table scarf, red floral fabric, embroidered with metallic threads, yellow quilted border, early 18th century, 32 x 33 1/2 in................................................................... $465 Amish pieced quilt, nine-patch, cotton & wool, flannel back, lines & squares, stars within frames, black, mulberry, blue, gold & red, 1900-50, 63 x 69 in............. $420 Hooked rug, wool on burlap, verse surrounded by oak leaves & acorns, “Don’t spit in the well, You might wan to drink from et,” 1940s, 23 x 37 in........................ $485 MISCELLANEOUS “Trade In Your Ford in 76” political button, cartoon of driver in Edsel car, head of Gerald Ford, white ground, red letters, 2 1/2 in............................................. $135 Bamboo fishing pole, barrel reel, tapered shaft, Bakelite inserts, c.1910, 81 1/2 in................................... $170 Charles A. Lindbergh mirror, photo of him in jacket with fur collar, facsimile signature, 1927, 2 3/4 in......... $230 $15 & UNDER Calumet “Happy Times Recipe Book,” 1934, 23 pages......... $5 Taylor, Smith & Taylor berry bowl, Boutonniere pattern, Ever Yours shape, 5 1/2 in................................................... $6 Lone Ranger jigsaw puzzle, “The Legend of the Lone Ranger,” 250 pieces, copyright 1980, 19 x 13 in................ $9 Tupperware lunch bowl, light green with clear lid, 3 compartments, 9 1/2 x 10 1/2 in..................................... $10 Carnival glass plate, Stippled Rays, marigold, 6 in.............. $12 Borden’s Ice Cream carton, Elsie the Cow on front, 1957, pint........................................................................... $15

Prices compiled monthly from sales and advertisements. For 44,000 current prices and 2,500 color photographs and factory marks, see Kovels’ Antiques & Collectibles Price List 2009, 41st edition, available at local bookstores and libraries, from Kovels.com or by mail from KOVELS, P.O. Box 22200, Beachwood, OH 44122 ($27.95 plus $4.95 postage and handling).

Kovels – January 2009

Collector’s Gallery

This teapot was given to me 52 years ago and it was not new then. The word “Linthorpe” is impressed on the bottom. It also has an imprinted number and painted initials on the bottom. Does it have any value? The Linthorpe Pottery Co. worked in Middlesbrough, England, for only 10 years, from 1879 to 1889. Christopher Dresser (1834-1904), the British design genius who is considered the world’s first independent industrial designer, was a co-founder and the art director until 1882. He contributed many design shapes that continued to be used even after he left. Most Linthorpe art pottery items have their mold numbers impressed into the bases. Most items also bear artists’ marks, initials or even full signatures impressed, incised or, most commonly, painted in black underglaze. Pattern numbers as high as 2119 (c.1881) are thought to be Dresser designs, although they do not have his signature mark if produced after he left. Your teapot would probably sell for $200 to $500. Best price would be for a full tea set, including teapot, sugar and creamer, and six cups and saucers—around $1,600.

After reading the Kovels newsletter article, “Don’t Throw Away Anything Baseball” (July 2008), we remembered that we have an RCA Victor record called “My Favorite Hits: Mickey Mantle.” The album and record are in very good condition, but there’s no sleeve for the record. The price written on the back cover in pencil is $1.49. What is it worth today? This album of Mickey Mantle’s “favorite hits” was originally issued in 1958. It usually sells for $50 to $150 today, but a copy with the cover autographed by Mickey Mantle recently sold for $220.

I have a machine called “Renulife.” With it is a book of instructions claiming cures from A (abcesses) to W (writer’s cramp). The warranty reads Dec. 2, 1924, and it has a seal dated 1920. Can give me any information? Your set is a “quack” medical device that was popular in the 1920s and ’30s. It is the Violet Ray Health Generator made by the Renulife Electric Co. of Detroit from 1919 until about 1926. The set consists of a vacuum tube that, when electrified, crackled, glowed and produced a tingling sensation when brought near the skin. A variety of electrodes and tubes were designed for use on different parts of the body. The literature sold with the device claimed it could “cure” a long list of ailments, including anemia, baldness, skin imperfections, toothaches and warts. Violet ray machines could be found in doctors’ offices, but sets like yours were designed for home use. Many other companies made them, some until the 1950s. Quack medicine collectors will pay about $300 for the set.

A Q

Can you tell me what this is? Is it a cherry pitter? It’s silver plate with a design of birds, leaves and cattails. When you push the plunger on top, it pushes a four-pronged “pitter” into the curved tines. I was told it may have been made in the 1800s. What is it? We’ve never seen anything like this. It could be an olive or cherry pitter. The handle design suggests it was made in the late 1800s when many unusual serving pieces were used. Can any of our readers help?

Letters from readers help us keep track of the changing world of antiques and collectibles. We wish we could answer all questions individually, but that just isn’t possible. We do read every letter, but only a limited number of questions of general interest are answered. Values given are average for the type of antique, not a specific appraisal. No questions about coins, stamps, books or oil paintings, please. Send written questions to P.O. Box 22200, Beachwood, OH 44122. Photos should be in focus and processed by a traditional photo lab; computer-generated prints on regular paper cannot be used. We try extra hard for subscribers, so include your newsletter label and a large, self-addressed, stamped envelope. Email questions and digital photos using the form at www.Kovels.com/contactus/collectorsgallery.html. We regret that we cannot return any photos. We retain the right to use them in this publication or other Kovel forums, regardless of medium. Please do not send old letters, cards or papers of value. Sometimes research takes time, so please be patient.

Kovels – January 2009