Kovels - December 2019 Page 37

The Newsletter For Dealers, Collectors and Investors

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Letter to Lee .... 38 Hotlines .... 38 On the Road – South Park City, Colorado.... 44 Market Report – Silver Flatware .... 45

Tips .... 45 Dictionary of Marks – Ma-ma Dolls .... 46 Buyer’s Price Guide .... 47 Collector’s Gallery .... 48

SALES REPORTSNippon .... 39 Candy Containers .... 40 Frosted Pressed Glass .... 41

Vintage Christmas .... 42 Memphis Design Furniture .... 43

December 2019 Volume 46 • Number 4

Memphis Design Aesthetic Is Bold, BrightCollectors are drawn to the colorful, asymmetric shapes of furniture and other household items by the radical design collective called Memphis. The furnishings from the bold Italian movement, including this Big Sur sofa designed in 1981 by Peter Shire, are growing in popularity and price. Memphis design prices and more examples are on page 43.

Japanese Porcelain Made for AmericaBetween 1891 and 1921, Japanese porcelain marked “Nippon” was sold in the United States. Its designs, including this plaque with an iris and gold border, often included animals, flowers and landscapes. See the full Nippon story on page 39.

Vintage Decorations Keep Season BrightHoliday ornaments, cards, signs, advertising and games still stir collector interest, especially toys in original packaging. Figures, such as this folk art redware belsnickel keep traditions alive. For more on seasonal collectibles, go to page 42.

Pressed Glass Enhanced by Frosted DetailsLate 19th century and early 20th century pressed glass with frosted details is sought-after by glass lovers. This Gillinder & Sons compote features an early American scene with a frosted kneeling American Indian finial. For more examples, see page 41.

Sweet Treats For CollectorsVintage candy containers could be used after the candy was long gone as decorations or toys.This container, part of a toy village, is made with folded tin and has a glass container inside. For more on these fun collectibles, see page 40.

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Letter to Lee – Buried treasures

Page 38

HotLiines

➤ If you are old enough to remember the Beatles famous album called “Yesterday and Today” issued in 1966, you probably remember the furor over the cover picture of the Beatles dressed in white butchers’ coats while holding mutilated parts of baby dolls and bloody slabs of raw meat. Some say it was the Beatles protest of the way their albums were being butchered. Some say it was the idea of the photographer.

The public objection led to pasting a more traditional cover on all the albums that were not yet sold and getting any original album covers returned. Originals are rare, and recently Juliens Auctions in California sold an autographed example for $234,000. It belonged to John Lennon and was autographed by three of the Beatles. There are hundreds of copies of the cover selling today as posters and other decorations.

Editor and Publisher: Terry Kovel; Editor in Chief: Susan Condon Love; CFO & Website Director: Kim Kovel; Graphic Designer: Maureen Bole; Photo Editor: Janet Dodrill; Associate Editor: Liz Lillis; Copy Editor: Cherrie Smrekar; Marketing: Hamsy Mirre; Reporter: Lee Kovel; Editorial Contributors: Al Eiber, Gay Hunter, Beverly Malone; Polly Powers Stramm; and Jodie Tweed Norquist.

Letters to the Editor: Write to us at Kovels On Antiques & Collectibles, PO Box 22192, Beachwood, OH 44122 or email to Susan@Kovels.com.

Subscriptions: $45 one year, $5 single copy. Customer Service: (print subscription)Call: 1-800-829-9158

KOVELS ON ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES (ISSN 0741-6091) is published monthly for $45 per year by Kovels Antiques, Inc., 30799 Pinetree Road, #305, Cleveland, OH 44124. Write or send payments and address changes to: KOVELS ON ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES, PO Box 292758Kettering, OH 45429-8758 Customer Service: kovels@sfsdayton.comOnline: go to Kovels.com and clickon “Contact Us” at the top of the Homepage.Digital Subscription: Kovels.com/digital Connect with us:

Copyright 2019 by Terry Kovel and Kim 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 or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Photos are not reproduced to scale; actual size of items pictured is given when possible. Out-of-print reference books mentioned in articles may be available through interlibrary loan, from book search services or online.

A rchaeologists dig where there were old cities, carefully sieving the dirt looking for pieces of bones, chipped stones, pottery, wood and other man-made objects. They

learned to “read” history. So when they dug the foundation for our house on land that once was a Shaker Community farm, we saved anything that seemed man-made. We found a two-inch Staffordshire figure of a woman and several tiny dishes indicating that children once played in the field. A huge boulder was moved to the front yard landscaping as original Shaker. We altered the house five times, and each time we left notes or objects for someone to discover someday that will add to the history of the house. Our house is now our private time capsule.

We signed and dated every cement addition. Our garden stepping stones have the handprints of our children before they were five, and other stones have adult handprints with names. Our five-year-old son went out into the muddy yard and lost his shoe. It is buried somewhere and will be a treasure when found. (There are no examples of what the pilgrims wore on their feet.) We removed a front porch and the space below was filled with the workmen’s soft drink bottles. The bottles had an iridized finish from years in water. I put one in my bottle collection with an explanation, then reburied the rest. Every room has studs with notes from the family, the date, the weather, or national or local events of the day – “Just lost my last baby tooth,” “Won the spelling bee at school,” or “Got a flu shot.” Future historians will probably like reading the fashion comments or the early amazement at how computers could do research. There are also razor blades in between studs in the bathroom, which was the safest place to dispose of them. (Shaving had changed from lather and a straight razor to a single-use blade, but not yet an electric razor.) And damaged glass insulators are buried near the bottom of our streetlight pole.

I have friends who moved and found a statue of St. Joseph buried by the previous owner to help sell the house. And many find a pet cemetery in the back yard. (There are those who believe a dead cat wards off malicious spirits.)

Most time capsules are in a corner stone with a written explanation of the items included and a prediction of what life will be like in the future. When our local historical society opened a time capsule filled by women 100 years earlier, they found the prophesies were surprisingly accurate. They predicted airplanes, automobiles (the farthest you could travel then was less than 30 miles a day with a horse), refrigeration of food, large factories making tools, photographs, and lighting and talking machines. But nothing resembled our modern computers and long-distance communication. Space travel, new energy sources like wind and solar power, and self-driven cars are almost here.

What will the unimaginable of the future be? Put your ideas in your house where they will be found in 100 years. We remodeled a bathroom and found our 50-year-old notes. We had just gotten our first microwave and we couldn’t believe we could cook dinner so quickly. We never imagined there would be microwavable frozen dinners. And we never, ever could have imagined a “website” with our name – Kovels.com.

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SaleS RepoRt nippon coLLection

DIGGING DEEPERThe 1890 McKinley Tariff Act was created to protect American industries from foreign competition. It also required imported items to be marked or branded with the name of the country. Nippon, the Japanese name for Japan, was used at the time. Japanese goods were considered lower quality. It was allowed as a mark for Japan until 1921, when it was considered a word of Japanese origin and no longer accepted by U.S. Customs. From that point on, Japanese imports were stamped “Japan.” Between February 1947 and April 1952, items imported from Japan were marked “Made in Occupied Japan” to distinguish when U.S. and other Allied Forces occupied Imperial Japan after the country surrendered following World War II. Today, Japanese products are stamped “Made in Japan.”

Photos are courtesy of Eldred’s, PO Box 796, 1483 Route 6A, East Dennis, MA 02641. Its Sept. 27, 2019, catalog of The Nippon Collection of Valerie Herts auction is archived at Eldreds.com.

Pictured on CoverNIPPON PLAQUE, iris decoration, gold border with raised outlines and beading, Nippon blue M in wreath mark, 9 3/4 in. w., $168.

B etween 1891 and 1921, United States law said ceramics had to be marked with the country of origin. Manufacturers started using

the word “Nippon,” the Japanese word for ceramics made in Japan. A few firms continued to use Nippon on ceramics after 1921 as a part of a company name to identify things as made in Japan. A recent Eldred’s auction in Massachusetts included a large collection of Nippon porcelain.

Nippon painted decorations were embellished with two decorating techniques. “Coralene” used small raised dots or glass beads that were applied to enhance the decoration. “Moriage” used pieces of clay shaped by hand or applied through a tube to make raised designs before a piece was glazed or gilded. Elaborate designs often included animals, flowers and landscapes. They were meant to appeal more to western tastes since Nippon was made for markets in the United States and Europe. It was usually less expensive for Americans to buy than English china.

Nippon wares were not sold in Japan with the Nippon mark. Japanese collectors now are buying it to take back to collections in Japan. Early Nippon-era ceramics continue to sell for high prices.

A Nippon vase with wisteria and gold trim sold for $1,020. The design looks like vases hand-painted by amateurs in America. A Nippon plate with a floral and coralene border encircling

an image of an elegant, bejeweled young woman brought $1,200. Its design resembles a French style. Another porcelain plaque with irises and a thick gold border auctioned for $168 (pictured on cover).

Humidors, storage containers for cigars and other types of tobacco, were popular Nippon ceramics. An Egyptian-style rectangular humidor sold for $144. Another oval humidor decorated with horses and trees also brought $144. Both had decorations that looked American.

A small Nippon box decorated with a lake and evergreens in a landscape, likely used to keep jewelry or other small personal items, brought $144. All prices include Buyer’s Premium.

NIPPON HUMIDOR, Egyptian style decoration, straight sides, curved ends, Nippon green M in wreath mark, 7 1/2 in. h., $144.

NIPPON VASE, wisteria, purple, shaded green ground, gold trim, beading and jewelwork, leaf handles, elongated oval shape, Nippon maple leaf mark, 16 in. h., $1,020.

NIPPON BOX, landscape with lake and trees on cover, gold bands with beading, rectangular, Nippon maple leaf mark, 4 1/2 in., $144.

NIPPON HUMIDOR, horses’ heads and trees, oval with flattened sides, Nippon green M in wreath mark, 4 3/4 in. h., $144.

NIPPON PLATE, portrait of a young woman, border with flowers and coralene, Nippon Kinran mark, 9 5/8 in. w., $1,200.

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SaleS RepoRt candy containers

Photos are courtesy of Morphy Auctions, 2000 North Reading Rd., Denver, PA 17517. Its Sept. 24-25, 2019, Toys, Dolls, and Figural Cast Iron catalog is archived at MorphyAuctions.com.

Pictured on CoverTHE VILLAGE "5 & 10¢ STORE" CANDY CONTAINER, tin, 3 in. h. by 2 3/4 in. w. by 1 3/4 in. d., $461.

C ollectors are interested in the history of candy, its containers and its advertising. A recent

Morphy auction in Pennsylvania included 125 lots of candy containers, most from the early 1900s to the 1930s.

Little figural candy containers have been a novelty since they were first used, probably around the time of the 1876 U.S. Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. Early sweets were packaged in papier-mâché or composition containers that doubled as souvenirs or playthings. Countless containers were made in all kinds of shapes from animals, birds and buildings to buses, cars and lanterns. In the early 1900s, glass and tin containers were popular. Many were shown in window or store displays or made as promotional giveaways.

A Liberty Motor biplane candy container, glass with tin wings, sold at Morphy for $1,200. It’s a good example of a candy container meant to be played with or kept as a novelty. A rare, holiday-themed winking black cat brought $4,800. The cat is made of painted glass and sits on its metal screw cap.

A 1920s candy container shaped like a 1927 General Electric Monitor-Top refrigerator was an unusual form that auctioned for $2,400. The GE Monitor was the first refrigerator that was widely used in the United States. Another unusually shaped container was a 1920s footed bathtub that sold for $2,040.

A submarine candy container made by the George Borgfeldt Company, a New York importer and wholesaler of toys, china and glassware, sold for $461. A black-and-white taxi sold for $510. Its tin roof lifts off, revealing the candy inside.

LIBERTY MOTOR AIRPLANE CANDY CONTAINER, c.1920. Glass, tin, West Glass Co., 4 1/2 by 6 1/4 by 3 1/4 in., $1,200.

REFRIGERATOR CANDY CONTAINER, c.1920. Glass, Victory Glass Co., 3 3/4 by 2 by 1 1/4 in., $2,400.

TAXI CANDY CONTAINER, glass, tin, original wheels,Westmoreland Glass Co., 2 1/4 in. h. by 4 in. w., $510.

SUBMARINE CANDY CONTAINER, c.1915. Glass, lithographed tin sail and American flag; snap-on tin hull closure, George Borgfeldt Co., 2 1/4 in. h. by 5 1/2 in. w., $461.

FLOSSIE FISHER’S FUNNIES SIDEBOARD CANDY CONTAINER, 1920s. Tin, Helene Nyce, 3 in. h. by 3 1/2 in. w. by 1 1/2 in. d., $510.

DOLLY’S BATH TUB CANDY CONTAINER, 1920s. Glass, painted, shell feet, (missing closure), Victory Glass Co.,1 3/4 in. h. by 4 3/4 in. w., $2,040

WINKING CAT WITH STRETCHED NECK CANDY CONTAINER, c.1925. Glass, painted, metal screw cap on bottom, Victory Glass Co., 5 in. h. by 2 in. w., $4,800.

American illustrator Helene Nyce (1885-1969) was best known for her Flossie Fisher’s Funnies, a series of cartoons that ran in the Ladies Home Journal magazine from 1910 to 1918. Lithographed tin Flossie Fisher-themed candy containers doubled as doll furniture. The yellow and black containers included kitchen, dining room and bedroom pieces. A Flossie Fisher sideboard sold at Morphy for $510. Other lithographed tin candy containers were shaped like stores and houses and could later be used to build “towns.” A Village 5 & 10 cent store container sold for $461 (pictured on cover). There are at least eight other buildings that could be added.

Glass containers with recognizable characters or cartoons are also popular and the auction included a Charlie Chaplin example that went for $512. Several different versions of the Chaplin container were made.

Candy containers have cross-over appeal to advertising, bottle and toy collectors. PEZ dispensers are collectible candy containers, too; since 1950 more than 1500 have been made.All prices include Buyer’s Premium.

CHARLIE CHAPLIN BY STRAIGHT BARREL CANDY CONTAINER, c.1920. Glass, painted, clear ribbed barrel with slotted metal lid, L.E. Smith Co., 4 1/4 in. h. by 4 in. w., $512.

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SaleS RepoRt Frosted pressed GLass

Photos are courtesy of Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates, 2177 Green Valley Lane, Mt. Crawford, VA 22841. Its Sept. 21, 2019, 25th Annual Fall Auction of EAPG & Other catalog is archived at JefferySEvans.com.

Pictured on CoverWESTWARD HO / PIONEER COVERED COMPOTE, frosted glass bowl with raised scenes of a charging buffalo, log cabin and deer in mountain and plains landscapes. Colorless cover with a frosted figural kneeling Native American Indian finial, Gillinder & Sons, c.1879, 15 3/4 in. h. by 9 in. w., $380.

MILK PITCHER, colorless and frosted glass, alternating arched panels of cut glass and frosted classical figures, textured branch handle and feet, Gillinder & Sons, c.1875, 8 3/4 in., $105.

JUMBO COVERED COMPOTE, colorless glass, wafer connection, domed foot and elephant finial, Canton Glass Co., c.1881, 13 in. h. by 8 1/4 in.4 w., $140.

LION POWDER JAR, frosted glass, raised reclining lions around jar, figural rampaging lion finial, Gillinder & Sons, c.1876, 4 1/2 in. h. by 3 1/4 in. w., $1,638.

LOG CABIN COVERED MARMALADE / PICKLE JAR, amber textured glass, Central Glass Co., c.1884, 6 3/4 in. h by 3 in. w. by 2 5/8 in. d., $995.

THREE FACE / DUNCAN NO. 400 COMPOTE, colorless glass bowl with engraved stars and dots, pie crust rim with 48 oval beads, frosted stem with three faces in relief and a fluted foot, Geo. Duncan & Sons, Pittsburgh, 1878-1886, 9 1/4 in. h. by 10 in. w., $878.

U.S. COIN / SILVER AGE KEROSENE LAMP, colorless glass, amber stained stem with six half dollar coins, Taplin No. 2 collar, Central Glass Co., 1891-1892, 10 in. h., 4 1/2 in. dia. foot, $380.

An amber Log Cabin covered marmalade or pickle jar sold for $995. It was made by the Central Glass Company of Wheeling, West Virginia. The U.S. Coin/Silver Age pattern was made for one year by Central Glass. A U.S. Coin kerosene lamp auctioned for $380. Real U.S. coins were used as the models, but without a lot of detail to give them a cleaner appearance. However, the U.S. Treasury Department deemed the Coin glass products a form of counterfeiting and forced the company to stop its production. The design was replaced with coins bearing pictures of explorers and U.S. and Spanish coats of arms.

A compote made by George Duncan & Sons of Pittsburgh in the Three Face pattern brought $878. The compote’s frosted glass stem has three faces in relief. Other signature Duncan patterns are Ribbon and Shell & Tassel. All prices include Buyer’s Premium.

L ate 19th century and early 20th century pressed glass comes in many patterns and styles. Pressed

glass, or early American pattern glass (EAPG), was made by pressing molten glass into a mold that created a raised decoration on the outside.

A recent auction by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Virginia offered a selection of clear pressed glass pieces with frosted figural details.

Pressed glass was first made in the United States in the 1820s after the invention of glass pressing machines. Hundreds of patterns were made in complete table settings. Its popularity began to dwindle about 1910 when imported glass became available. By the 1930s, many people could not afford fancy or imported tableware and American Depression glass, machine-pressed glassware that was often given away at movies and grocery stores, was favored. But collectors rediscovered pressed glass, patterns and makers were identified, and pressed glass items were wanted for use and display.

An 1881 compote with a Jumbo finial made by the Canton Glass Company brought $140. Jumbo was an African elephant exhibited by P.T. Barnum in 1882 and advertised as the world’s largest. A rare Lion powder jar made in 1876 by Gillinder & Sons auctioned for $1,638. The Lion pattern was introduced after the successful 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, where Gillinder had a factory. Other Gillinder pieces included a covered compote with raised scenes of a log cabin and animals and an American Indian finial. The pattern is known as Westward Ho or Pioneer and the compote brought $380 (pictured on cover). And a Gillinder milk pitcher with alternating cut and frosted panels with classical figures sold for $105.

DIGGING DEEPERGlass with figural decoration was also made in other countries. A pair of knife rests with frosted babies’ heads on the ends sold at Jeffrey S. Evans for $117. They were made about 1900 by Baccarat, the French glassworks that has been making high quality lead-crystal glass since 1765. The shape is called enfants boudeurs or “pouty children,” not to be confused with the early American pressed glass pattern Baby Face.

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SaleS RepoRt VintaGe cHristmas

Pictured on CoverBELSNICKLE, Pennsylvania, redware, paint. Santa figure holding sack of Christmas toys, 11 in., $15,600.

V intage holiday collectibles, especially those with original boxes,

continue to be popular. Ornaments, department store signs and advertising posters, vintage Christmas cards and game boards are all collected.

A recent Bertoia auction in New Jersey featured a collection of Christmas items. Vintage items, especially fragile paper and cardboard items and those with original packaging, brought four- and five-figure prices. A 1920s toy Strawbridge & Clothier delivery van sold for $4,500. Its original box was decorated for Christmas appeal with images of Santa. Strawbridge’s store was in business in Philadelphia from 1861 until 2006.

What would Christmas be without games? A Tobogganing at Christmas game with all the pieces brought $9,600. A vintage Christmas village and candle house, complete with a propeller that spins in the rising heat from the candles, brought $5,700.

In European and Pennsylvania Dutch cultures, a belsnickel is a grumpy-looking character who visits homes right before Christmas to make sure children are behaving and worthy of gifts. A folk art redware belsnickel figure sold for $15,600 (pictured on cover).

Sometimes it’s the details that make decorations unique. A detailed German Christmas village scene with figures on their way to visit the Baby Jesus sold for $11,400.

Nearly gone are the days when department stores put up elaborate window displays for Christmas, except perhaps on New York’s 5th Avenue. A vintage animated window advertising display with moving figures and twinkling stars brought $4,500.

Circus memorabilia are always popular and even more so when combined with the holiday season. A 1941 Christmas poster wishing Seasons Greetings from the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey gorillas sold for $540. All prices include Buyer’s Premium.

TOY ADVERTISING DELIVERY VAN, 1920s. Lithographed tin, store logo on sides, driver. Original box has frame with Santa images and holly in the corners that reads, “The Strawbridge & Clothier Toy Store is Santa Claus’ Favorite Source of Supply,” van 7 1/2 in. l., $4,500.

GAME OF TOBOGGANING AT CHRISTMAS, McLoughlin Bros., c.1899. Cover depicts children playing in the snow; game includes board, spinner and four spelter Santa and sleigh playing pieces; box 20 by 17 in., $9,600.

CHRISTMAS VILLAGE AND CANDLE HOUSE, pressed cardboard on wood. Three tiers with reflective foil behind windows, uses candles for light and heat to spin propeller at the top, 15 in. h. by 16 in. w., $5,700.

CHRISTMAS DISPLAY, Gruhlich, Germany. Mountain village scene at Christmas, buildings with mirror windows and many figures visiting the central manger, wood and pulp, 36 1/2 in. w., $11,400.

CHRISTMAS POSTER, 1941. Gorillas in wreath, “Mr. and Mrs. Gargantua the Great wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.” Tag reads: “Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus / The Greatest Show on Earth / Winter Quarters, Sarasota, Florida / December 25, 1941,” plastic frame, 46 in. w., $540.

Photos are courtesy of Bertoia Auctions, 2141 DeMarco Drive, Vineland, NJ 08360. Its Oct. 11, 2019, Fall Signature Auction, Tony Annese Collection catalog is archived at BertoiaAuctions.com.

CHRISTMAS ANIMATED WINDOW DISPLAY, Gregory Motors, Inc. Pictures Santa and elves loading sleigh on Christmas Eve; six figures move, stars twinkle, in working condition, 33 in. h. by 48 in. w., $4,500.

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SaleS RepoRt mempHis FurnisHinGs

Pictured on CoverBIG SUR SOFA, designed by Peter Shire, Memphis, USA/Italy, 1986. Laminate, upholstery, aluminum label on side: “Memphis / Milano / Peter Shire / 1986 / Made in Italy,” 36 in. h. by 83 in. w. by 28 1/2 in. d., $11,250.

T he radical design collective Memphis (1981-1988), a strange name for an Italian company, created bold and

functional works that have made a lasting impact on the field of design. The designs and aesthetic were revolutionary, and Memphis pieces found their way into movie sets as well as the homes of forward thinking, daring, and creative minds such as David Bowie and Karl Lagerfeld. There were unfamiliar shapes that are hard to describe.

A dedicated auction of Memphis Design was presented by Wright auction house in Chicago. The auction included important examples. Many lots sold at strong prices, above estimates. 

Today Memphis designs are celebrated icons included in major museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. One of the founders of the movement was Ettore Sottsass and pieces designed by him frequently get higher prices. Other designers include Michele De Lucci, Shiro Kuramata and Michael Graves, who designed the Walt Disney World Dolphin and Swan Hotels. They were the first projects to embody Disney’s interest in “entertainment architecture.” 

The brightly colored and unique pieces in the Wright auction brought healthy auction prices, showing increased interest in modern design. A 1981 striped, enameled steel table lamp by Michele De Lucchi sold for $1,750, above the estimate of $900. A second De Lucchi lamp, a 1983 design, 88 inches high with a metal pole

and an arched acrylic shade, sold for $3,500, more than twice the estimate.

Photos are courtesy of Wright, 1440 W Hubbard St., Chicago, IL 60642. Its Oct. 3, 2019, Memphis Design: The Zanone Collection catalog is archived at Wright20.com.

SPLENDID FLOOR LAMP, designed by Martine Bedin, Memphis, France / Italy, 1981. Enameled aluminum and steel, 75 in. h. by 17 1/4 in. w., $1,375.

CASABLANCA CABINET, designed by Ettore Sottsass, Memphis, Italy, 1981. Laminate; two doors opening to two adjustable shelves, three drawers. Aluminum label on side: “Memphis / Milano / Ettore Sottsass / 1981 / Made in Italy,” 85 in. h. by 63 in. w. by 15 in. d., $10,625.

CARLTON BOOKCASE, designed by Ettore Sottsass, Memphis, Italy, 1981. Laminate over wood, aluminum label on base: “Memphis / Milano / Ettore Sottsass / 1981 / Made in Italy,” 78 in. h. by 75 in. w. by 15 3/4 in., $15,000.

GRAND FLOOR LAMP, designed by Michele De Lucchi, Memphis, 1983. Enameled steel and acrylic, 88 in. h. by 33 in. w., $3,500.

TAWARAYA, designed by Masanori Umeda, Memphis, Japan / Italy, 1981. “Conversation pit” styled as a boxing ring, lacquered wood, laminate, chrome-plated steel, glass and woven straw tatami mats, 72 in. h. by 110 in. square, $22,500.

BRAZIL TABLE, designed by Peter Shire, Memphis, USA / Italy, 1981. Lacquered wood, 28 1/4 in. h. by 79 3/4 in. w. by 31 1/4 in. d., $4,062.

Another lighting fixture, a 1981 floor lamp designed by Martine Bedin, auctioned for $1,375. It is a steel pole topped by two lights.

A 1986 colorful sofa designed by Peter Shire sold for $11,250, (pictured on cover). It has varnished wood legs and felt-like fabric upholstery. It bears the Memphis label.

Storage and display items also sold well. A silver-and-gold 1981 Casablanca cabinet with protruding shelves designed by Ettore Sottsass auctioned for $10,625. A red, green, yellow and blue Carlton bookcase, also designed by Sottsass in 1981, has an unusual placement of shelves and brought $15,000.

A sideboard with angular lines and chrome-plated steel mixed with maple burl auctioned for $7,150 (not pictured), while an angular yellow, green, pink and black side table called "Brazil" brought $4,062.

A unique “conversation pit” made to look like a boxing ring with seating inside the “ropes” sold for a healthy $22,500, substantially over estimate.All prices include Buyer’s Premium.

OCEANIC TABLE LAMP, designed by Michele De Lucchi, Memphis, Italy, 1981. Enameled steel, metal label on base, “Memphis / Milano / M. de Lucchi / 1981 / Made in Italy,” 29 1/4 in. h. by 5 1/2 in. w. by 4 3/4 in. d., $1,750.

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on tHe road ~ mininG town resurrected

C alifornia wasn’t the only state filled with miners looking to get rich during the Gold Rush of the mid-1800s.

Colorado was dotted with cities that sprung up to support the miners, especially the area of Tarryall Creek, where gold was discovered in 1859. One hundred years later, those towns were mostly abandoned, and history was being lost to vandals and the ravages of weather.

During a recent visit to Colorado, we discovered what daily life might be like in a gold rush town, thanks to a group of citizens determined to preserve history. They started South Park City Museum, a “city” created in Fairplay, Colorado, out of seven original buildings and nearly 30 buildings moved from nearby mining towns to recreate an 1880s mining town. Opening as an attraction in 1959, South Park City shows visitors what life was like in the 18th and 19th centuries for fur traders, gold miners and settlers. The city features more than 60,000 authentic items in re-creations of a saloon, post office, casket maker, dentist office and gold mining shaft, to name a few sites.

South Park City Museum has replicas and original buildings of an 1880s mining town. Buildings include a General Store.

Photos are courtesy of South Park City Museum, 100 4th Street, PO Box 634, Fairplay, CO 80440, SouthParkCity.Org.

The General Store – Old medicines frequently contained alcohol and opium.

Vintage 1949 poster from Fairplay, Colorado, celebrating the Gold Rush days.

The Schoolhouse – No computers, just slates to write on.

Kovels - December 2019 Page 45

market report ~ sterLinG siLVer FLatware

tips

Grandmother’s sterling silver flatware may look nice on her dinner table,

but if you’re like most millennials, what has been nicknamed the “good silver” isn’t necessarily something that matches your casual style.

What will become of Granny’s forks, knives and spoons when nobody wants them? Selling sterling flatware at auction is an option some choose. Often, bidders are interested in buying silver flatware to melt down, especially with the price of silver increasing daily.

Several sets of sterling silver flatware recently went on the block at Tremont Auctions in Massachusetts and resulted in varying sales prices. Some of the most popular sterling patterns are: Reed and Barton’s Florentine Lace; Gorham’s Chantilly; Georg Jensen’s, Acorn and Wallace Sterling’s Grand Baroque. A 60-piece set of Florentine Lace sold for $1,000 and a 61-piece partial set of Chantilly brought $900. A 73-piece Acorn set auctioned for $2,700, and a 60-piece partial set of Grand Baroque sold for $1,000.

Were the bidders planning to melt the silver? It’s tough to say. But consider this: To complete the Acorn partial set, you’d pay $559.95 for one used 5-piece place setting from on online silver replacement service.

If you’re in the market to sell flatware, for whatever the reason, remember these guidelines:

• Check to see if your flatware is silver or silver plate. The marks EPNS, silver plate, A1, triple plate or EPWM all mean silver plate (a base metal with a thin silver coating). Coin, sterling and 925 all indicate silver.

Photos are courtesy of Tremont Auction, 615 Boston Post Road, Sudbury, MA 01776. Its Sept. 6, 2019, Fine Silver, Trophy, and Medals catalog is archived at TremontAuctions.com.

• Makers names and hallmarks are important. Some you might find include Jensen, Tiffany, Martele, Spratling and Liberty. Silver by these makers have extra value.

• Study the pattern. Some patterns are more valuable than others. Today modern and Arts and Crafts patterns sell the best. Most of the more traditional and elaborate patterns sell for meltdown. Silver plate is even more difficult to sell unless a modern pattern.

• Partial sets are hard to sell. Buyers look for 8 or 12 place setting sets.

Next, decide whether you want to send the silver to an auction house or try to sell

it yourself either online, to a local antique dealer or jewelry store, or to a refiner (smelter). The minimum price you should receive is usually meltdown less 20%. The meltdown price is the spot price of silver times the weight of the silver in troy ounces (31.1 grams per ounce). Be sure to weigh your silver before you take it in. Check an online converter to calculate troy ounces and the daily meltdown price. The highest prices are paid by the refiners but they usually want sufficient quantity. When using a local antique dealer or jeweler, choose one that has been in business for over five years. Expect everyone to make some money on the transaction. Consider your time and effort when determining what to do. And don’t forget, maybe a family member would treasure this heirloom.

GEORG JENSEN STERLING FLATWARE, Acorn pattern, 73-piece set, $2,700.

GORHAM STERLING FLATWARE, Chantilly pattern, 61-piece partial set, $900.

REED AND BARTON STERLING FLATWARE, Florentine lace pattern, 60-piece set, $1,000.

WALLACE STERLING FLATWARE, Grand Baroque pattern, 60-piece partial set, $1,000.

➤ Modern decorators often put a small accent rug on top of a big neutral one. It is also a good way to cover damage on an old rug. ➤ When using antiques on a holiday table, be careful. Wax from candles can stain a cloth. Dishes may be stained from cranberry or other fruits. Flower containers are easily water stained. Vases and plants often stain wood; be sure to

use a coaster or dish. Greens draped on pictures or marble can stain. Cellophane tape will leave a mark.

➤ Someone stole the statue of Marilyn Monroe from the “Ladies of Hollywood Gazebo” on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was on top of the tower-shaped gazebo. A man was seen sawing the statue and removing it on June 16, 2019. The only clue is some fingerprints.

A 73-piece flatware set by Georg Jensen, Denmark, in the Acorn pattern sold for $2,700.

Kovels - December 2019Page 46

dictionary oF marks - ma-ma doLLs

M a-ma dolls were the most popular doll in the 1920s. The first Ma-ma dolls were

made in the United States in 1918. By the early 1920s, Ma-ma dolls were also being made in Europe. The dolls had a composition head, lower arms, and hands. The stuffed cloth body had a voice box in it that said “Ma-ma” when the doll was tilted. Cloth legs attached to the body swung so the doll could be “walked” across the floor. Ma-ma dolls with partial composition lower legs were made beginning in 1927. All-composition arms and legs were made about 1928. Some dolls were made with one-tone voice boxes that only

said "Ma" in the late 1920s. In 1929 a campaign was started demanding that only dolls with two-tone voices be called “Ma-ma” dolls. Popularity of Ma-ma dolls declined by the mid-1940s.

Here are marks of some makers of Ma-ma dolls. Marks shown are from The Collector’s Encyclopedia of Dolls, Volume Two by Dorothy S., Elizabeth A., and Evelyn J. Coleman (Crown, New York, 1986).

Ma-ma doll, Annette by Acme Toy Co., c.1930, composition and cloth, 27 in. Photo: Alderfer Auction.

Acme Toy Manufacturing Co.New York City1910-1930s

American Character Doll Co.New York City1919-1968The name “Petite” was used on a line of Ma-ma dolls and character dolls beginning in 1923.

Baby Phyllis Doll Co.Brooklyn, New York1919-1929The company made composition dolls, also imported bisque dolls made in Germany.

L. Cohen & SonsNew York City1923-1929The company’s Elco line of Ma-ma dolls came with or without sleep eyes.

Nibur Novelty Co.New York City1914-1929

Penn Stuffed Toy Co.New York City1924-1930

Louis Wolf & Co.Sonneberg, Thüringia; Nürnberg, Bavaria; Boston, and New York City.1870-c.1930The company produced, imported, assembled, and distributed dolls.

European Doll Manufacturing Co.New York City1911-1930 and later Despite their name, the dolls were made in the United States.

HotLines

➤ The Netflix show “Stranger Things” is set in the 1980s. Several episodes feature cans and ads for the failed product “New Coke” that was introduced by Coca-Cola in 1985. The unpopular soft drink was rebranded as Coke II in 1992 and discontinued in 2002. In a cross-promotion with Coca-Cola, the old recipe was revived for the show’s third season, and a limited number of Coke cans and bottles are being sold with the “Stranger Things” logo. Cans of New Coke were also given away at the World of Coca-Cola museum in

Atlanta in June 2019. All the reproduced cans are very limited collectibles that could be confused with the old ones.

➤ Would you buy Goo-Goo gum? In September Pook & Pook auctioned a 1910 one-cent vending machine that held small square sticks of Goo-Goo gum for $24,000. It had a metal case with a raised decoration picturing a girl and the Goo-Goo name.

Kovels - December 2019 Page 47

Prices compiled monthly from sales and advertisements. For an additional 16,000 current prices, 2,500 color photographs and over 500 factory marks, see Kovels’ Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide 2020, 52nd edition, available at local bookstores and libraries. Order on Kovels.com or by mail to KOVELS, PO Box 22900, Beachwood, OH 44122-0900 ($29.99 plus $4.95 postage and handling).

Buyer’s price Guide

ADVERTISINGRolling pin, stoneware, blue & white glaze, “Davy &

Company / The Big Busy Grocery Will Save You Money Try It!” wood handles, 14 in. ................................... $150

Pin, Strawbridge & Clothier Toy Store, gold text, image of Santa giving gifts to WWI troops, W&H back paper, issued Christmas 1918, 1 1/4 in. ............................... $235

Thermometer, Coca-Cola, bottle shape, embossed, lithographed heavy grade tin, 1950s, 29 in. ...................... $300

Sign, “Life Savers, Always Good Taste, After Every Meal, After Every Smoke,” image of bathing beauty & early packages, cardboard, die cut, frame, 1920s, 21 x 19 in. .................................................................... $2,200

DOLLS & TOYSDoll, Schoenhut, character girl, wooden, painted face

blond wig, spring joints, oval, 1911 U.S.A. yellow trademark label, 16 1/2 in. ..................................................... $275

Toy, Betty Boop, Betty’s Acrobat, celluloid, metal frame, windup, Copyright Fleischer Studios Inc., Japan, box, 1930s, figure 6 in., with frame 9 in. ............ $425

Toy, Industrial Wrecking Truck, pressed steel, black & red, Kiddies Metal Toys Inc., N.J., box, 21 in. ................... $750

Ride 'Em steam roller, pressed steel construction, roof functions as seat, steering bar, decal, Keystone Mfg. Co., late 1920s, 20 x 8 x 14 in. ................................................. $800

Carousel, tin, painted, double canopy with woman holding flag finial, 3 hot air balloons, 6 penny toy airplanes & dirigibles, steam, Distler, 17 in. .................... $1,100

FURNITUREChair, bergères, French Provincial, upholstered, carved

crest & stiles, open padded arms, shaped seat rail, cabriole legs, 1800s, 45 x 32 in., pair ................................ $400

Blanket chest, pine & poplar, red paint, hinged lid, open interior with till, turned legs, Pennsylvania, c.1910, 18 x 25 x 15 in. ........................................................... $550

Dining table, mahogany, molded edge, 3 pedestals, tripod bases, outswept reeded legs, brass casters, England, 1800s, 29 x 97 x 48 in. .................................... $800

Settee, Sheraton, cane seat, black paint, flower & leaf decoration, scroll ends, turned legs, scroll shaped partial back, 27 x 76 x 20 in. .......................................... $1,500

GLASSKugel, green glass, cluster of grapes, beehive cap,

Germany, 5 in. ........................................................................... $225Bottle, figural, Indian Queen, “Brown’s Celebrated

Indian Herb Bitters,” “Patented Feb 11, 1868,” amber, 12 1/2 in. .................................................................... $350

Punch set, carnival glass, Acorn Burrs, green iridescent, punch bowl with pedestal base, 6 cups, Northwood, 11 x 11 1/2 in. .............................................................................. $425

Vase, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, iridescent, copper brown, blue tone swirls, curved neck, Charles Lotton, 1981, 14 3/4 in. .................................................................... $2,000

POTTERY & PORCELAINSpill vase, figural, 2 figures, hunter with shotgun,

woman with dead game, tree trunk with opening, painted, Staffordshire, 1800s, 6 in. ........................................ $25

Mug, Santa Claus head, sack of toys handle, Christmas series ware, artist Michael Abberley, stamped RoyalDoulton, 1983, 7 1/2 in. ........................................................... $60

Bowl, stylized giraffe, brown tones, round, Kjeld & Erica Deichmann, New Brunswick, Canada, c.1940, 5 1/2 x 9 in. .................................................................. $625

Toby jug, gentleman sitting holding jug & pipe, blue & brown, unglazed porcelain, Whieldon Pottery, pearlware, c.1760, 10 x 5 x 7 in. ........................................ $5,000

SILVER & OTHER METALSBrass floor lamps, funeral parlor, molded, spiral standard,

green glass shade, electrified, 1900s, 67 1/2 in., pair ....... $200Copper cuspidor, hammered, panels, weighted bottom,

flared rim, marked, Jos. Heinrichs Paris + New York Pure Copper, c.1910, 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 in. ............................ $225

Cast iron hitching post finial, horse’s head, G. Menzel & Co., 16 in. ................................................................................ $300

Silver water goblets, Francis I, designed by Ernest Meyers in 1907, Reed & Barton, 6 in., set of 8 ................ $3,750

TEXTILES & CLOTHINGDress, black polyester, drop-waist, flowing skirt, gold

& rhinestone beading, Diane Freis, 1980s, size 8/10 .......... $125Textile, American Independence scenes, Benjamin

Franklin, George Washington, Indian Princess with 1776 Independence sign, frame, 41 x 33 in. ...................... $590

Rug, zebra hide, figural shape, mounted on felt, 1900s, 125 x 80 in. ................................................................................. $850

Coverlet, embroidered, wool, colorful flowers & tree of life pattern, wool twill ground, silk ivory accents, later cloth backing, c.1700, 86 x 50 in. ........................ $3,250

MISCELLANEOUSAlbum, The Beatles, “Help!” soundtrack from the

movie, vinyl, LP, 33 1/3, c.1965 ............................................. $50Sundial, cast iron, dated 1840, Lancaster County,

Pennsylvania, 5 1/2 x 10 in. ................................................... $225Scale, balance, counter top, brass & copper, Henry

Troemner, Philadelphia, lead tag for Ohio county inspector, 1800s, 30 x 32 in. .............................................. $475

Ring, 14K yellow gold, rectangular with cut corners, emerald-cut treated emerald, surrounded by round brilliant-cut diamonds, total weight 6.0 grams .............. $1,875

$20 & UNDERToy, iron, It’s A Honey, electric, original box ........................ $5Cup & saucer, Garland pattern, Impromptu line, Iroquois

China, designed by Ben Seibel, 3 x 6 in. ................................ $8Souvenir plate, State of Iowa, Vernon Kilns, c.1950,

10 1/2 in. ......................................................................................... $16Tray, aluminum, hammered, fruits & flowers, folding

handle, marked, 9 3/4 x 7 1/2 in. ............................................... $18

Kovels - December 2019Page 48

CoLLector’s GaLLery

HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE COLLECTOR’S GALLERY? Your letters and emails help us keep track of the changing world of antiques and collectibles. We read every letter and answer those of general interest. Please send a question about only one item. Tell us what it is, when and where you got it, condition, and anything else you think is important. Be sure to include size, a clear picture or drawing of any marks or labels and a good picture of the entire item. We do not use pictures showing only part of a vase or chair. Check to see if the pictures are in focus. Mail a letter to PO Box 22192, Beachwood, OH 44122. Please send a stamped self-addressed envelope and we will try to return your pictures. To email your question and digital photos, use the email form on the “Contact Us” page of our website, Kovels.com. No questions about coins, stamps, books, or original paintings please. Do not send old letters, cards, or paper of value. We retain the right to use the photos in any Kovel publications, regardless of medium.

Q: I’m looking for more information on this Albany teapot made by Hall China. It’s brown with gold spout, handle, and design. On the bottom is “0227 GL, Hall, 6 cup, Made in USA.” I’d like to know its approximate date of manufacture and value.

A: Hall teapots made from the 1920s to the 1950s are popular with collectors. Hall China Company was founded in 1903 by Robert Hall in East Liverpool, Ohio. The company began making gold decorated teapots in 1919. Albany shape teapots were first made in the 1930s. Most had gold decorations. The Standard gold decoration included a filigree design near the top of the pot and a plain colored handle, spout, and finial. Your teapot is “Reflections,” which has added filigree designs in the middle of the pot and more gold trim. The number “0227 GL” indicates it’s part of the Gold Label Line which was made in the mid-1950s. Retail value of your teapot is $50 to $60 but bargains can be found at about $25.

Q: I bought this box holding a silver spoon and fork for $25. They don’t seem to have been used much. It’s marked “H & W Co.” in a shield, and with a crown, the letter “F,” a lion and a woman’s head. What was this set used for – picnics, camping or work lunch? There’s no knife.

A: This is a Victorian traveling set. Before the 1700s travelers brought their own fork, spoon and sometimes a knife with them because most inns didn’t provide eating utensils. Even after it became common for inns to provide flatware, some travelers preferred to bring their own. These English hallmarks include the maker’s mark for Henry Wilkinson & Co. The crown is the city mark (Sheffield), the lion is the standard mark (.925 or sterling), “F” is the date letter (1873), the woman’s head or sovereign’s head (Queen Victoria) is the duty mark. The Queen Victoria duty mark was used from 1838 to 1890, when the sovereign’s head was no longer used. Henry Wilkinson & Co. started in Sheffield about 1830. It became Henry Wilkinson & Co. Ltd. in 1872. It was liquidated in 1892 and bought by Walker & Hall. So, you have a sterling silver traveler’s set made in 1873.

Q: Can you give me some information about this plate? I bought seven of them years ago at a junk store. I thought maybe they were made for airline use. The backs are marked “O.P. Co., Syracuse China” and “Z-8.”

A: This trademark was used on commercial ware made by the Onondaga Pottery of Syracuse, New York, from 1920 to 1946. The date stamp, Z-8, under the mark on your plate indicates the dishes were made in August 1945. Onondaga Pottery was established in 1871 and made earthenware. In the late 1880s it became the first American pottery to make vitreous china. The words “Syracuse China” were first used in the mark in 1897. Syracuse made dinnerware for restaurants, railroads and airlines, but most dishes are marked with the name of the company they were made for. Your dishes picture a DC-3 (Douglas Commercial), a twin-engine plane made by Douglas Aircraft. The plates could go for several hundred dollars, since there isn’t a lot of airplane china. Q: I’m hoping you can help

me identify a ceramic mug I bought recently at an estate sale. It’s glazed white with small crackling in the glaze. The words “The Universities, Toilet Club, 17 Coventry Street, 6 Glasshouse Street” are printed in black and the bottom is stamped “Made in England.” It’s 6 inches high and 4 inches wide at the bottom. Is this a real piece from the mid to late 1800s or a modern replica?

A: Toilet clubs were popular in the 1800s before homes had indoor plumbing. They were places where a man could go to get a shave, shampoo and haircut. The Universities Toilet Club name was a private men’s club in London, close to three universities. An 1881 ad listed it as the “Universities” Toilet Club, providing haircuts, shaves and shampooing “with American comfort.” Separate rooms were provided for ladies. The club was listed as the Universities Toilet Club & Hat Co., “hatters, hairdressers and perfumers,” in 1891. The last listing we found was in a 1921 directory of chemists & druggists, where the Universities’ Toilet Club & Hat Co. was listed under “Perfumers-Retail.” The words “Made in England” on the bottom of your mug indicate it was made after 1891. We haven’t heard of any modern copies, but the name “Toilet Club” could be part of a joke.