the newsletter for dealers, collectors and investors january … · 2019-12-17 · committee...

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Kovels - January 2020 Page 49 The Newsletter For Dealers, Collectors and Investors INSIDE THIS ISSUE Letter to Lee .... 50 Tips .... 50, 57 Reproductions.... 55 On the Road – TEFAF New York... 56 Market Report – C. Jerė Wall Hangings .... 57 Dictionary of Marks – Bell-Shaped pottery marks .... 58 Hotlines .... 58 Buyer’s Price Guide .... 59 Collector’s Gallery .... 60 SALES REPORTS Innovative Chair Design .... 51 Buttons .... 52 Framed Advertising .... 53 Kimonos .... 54-55 January 2020 Volume 46 • Number 5 Surprising Diversity in Vintage Buttons Buttons are tiny time capsules of art, style and history. This solid gold fox head button is from the early 1900s. Button collectors have found that prices have consistently risen in recent decades. For more on vintage buttons and auction prices, turn to page 52. History Enhances Collectibility of Kimonos Kimonos, once worn daily by Japanese men and women, are now reserved for special occasions and traditional ceremonies or events. A recent sale featured kimonos spanning 250 years. Silk kimonos, like this 1830s purple damask embroidered example, are the most desirable. For more on the history, collectibility and prices of kimonos, go to page 54-55. Framed Advertisements are Windows to Past Collectors love the catchy slogans and images from old advertisements. Already framed images, such as this sign promoting Orange-Julep, make them even more attractive to buyers, as seen on page 53. Vintage Decorations are Popular Again The low-priced metal wall hangings of Curtis Jeré, such as this “Raindrops” wall hanging, are part of a renewed interest in items from that era. The wall hangings were popular between 1963 and 1972. To see more, go to page 57. Unique Chairs Reflect Innovative Design Chairs with unusual materials and designed by visionary artists draw collectors and high bids. This 2004 bright red-and- yellow LEGO chair by Mario Minale reflects the unique styles attracting collectors. To see more photos and prices, take a seat and flip to page 51.

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Kovels - January 2020 Page 49

The Newsletter For Dealers, Collectors and Investors

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Letter to Lee .... 50 Tips .... 50, 57 Reproductions.... 55 On the Road – TEFAF New York... 56 Market Report – C. Jerė Wall Hangings .... 57

Dictionary of Marks – Bell-Shaped pottery marks .... 58 Hotlines .... 58 Buyer’s Price Guide .... 59 Collector’s Gallery .... 60

SALES REPORTSInnovative Chair Design .... 51 Buttons .... 52 Framed Advertising .... 53 Kimonos .... 54-55

January 2020 Volume 46 • Number 5

Surprising Diversity in Vintage ButtonsButtons are tiny time capsules of art, style and history. This solid gold fox head button is from the early 1900s. Button collectors have found that prices have consistently risen in recent decades. For more on vintage buttons and auction prices, turn to page 52.

History Enhances Collectibility of Kimonos Kimonos, once worn daily by Japanese men and women, are now reserved for special occasions and traditional ceremonies or events. A recent sale featured kimonos spanning 250 years. Silk kimonos, like this 1830s purple damask embroidered example, are the most desirable. For more on the history, collectibility and prices of kimonos, go to page 54-55.

Framed Advertisements are Windows to PastCollectors love the catchy slogans and images from old advertisements. Already framed images, such as this sign promoting Orange-Julep, make them even more attractive to buyers, as seen on page 53.

Vintage Decorations are Popular AgainThe low-priced metal wall hangings of Curtis Jeré, such as this “Raindrops” wall hanging, are part of a renewed interest in items from that era. The wall hangings were popular between 1963 and 1972. To see more, go to page 57.

Unique Chairs Reflect Innovative DesignChairs with unusual materials and

designed by visionary artists draw collectors and high bids. This 2004 bright red-and-

yellow LEGO chair by Mario Minale reflects the unique styles attracting collectors. To see more photos and prices, take a seat and flip to page 51.

Kovels - January 2020Page 50

Letter to Lee – Watch out for the BuBBLes

Page 50

tips

Pair of Michael Jordan Converse sneakers, worn in the 1984 Olympic gold medal game won by Team USA, signed by Jordan. Photo: SCP Auctions

Dear Lee,

During the past month, the news has informed us of record prices in the stock market, record prices in the art market, and the newest economic “bubble” — sneaker collecting — which is growing and making money.

We first wrote about sneaker collecting in 2010. We first used the term “sneakerheads” in 2017. Sneakerheads are collectors who invest in new, used, rare or limited high-end sneakers. Many hold them for a year or more, then sell them for a profit. It requires watching sneaker “stock market” prices morning and night and timing sales just right.

But now, sneaker trading has become huge in China and it is worrying more traditional investors. China is worried that demand for important sneakers may end and prices will start to go down. Investing “bubbles” like this can cause huge loses and bankruptcy because they end so suddenly. China recently has had bitcoin, garlic and even crab futures bubbles. Sneaker traders have tried to set up platforms to help identify fakes and eliminate some loopholes, but there are time lags that crafty traders can exploit to cancel or bid. Buyers must take delivery of already-inspected sneakers before they can sell them, but they are still allowed to buy some announced new-to-market sneakers before they even go on sale.

Collectors beware. Learn from the history of what was probably the first “bubble” — Tulipmania — the crazy ups and downs in the price of tulip bulbs in Holland from 1633 to 1637. Hybrid tulips were developed in amazing color combinations and were important features of the Dutch garden. They were almost all originally one of a kind and a sign of wealth and social standing. Tulipmania started when a house was traded for three tulip bulbs. Before that, bulbs had been traded among growers. Florists bought and sold bulbs still in the ground. They became so popular, they were used as collateral for loans, but without inspection of the bulbs or even proof they were real. Promissory notes and other payment methods outside of government banking were used. Speculators bought the bulbs even though there was no way to settle payment disputes. In January 1637, some florists sold their investments and other investors noticed. By February, an auction of bulbs had no bids. Lowered prices still couldn’t attract bidders. It set off a crash with panicked investors selling at any price. Bulb prices went down to 1 to 5 percent of their previous prices. Many investors went bankrupt because of the loses.

At first in 2010, buyers could get sneakers from the stores on the first day of release. Today it is by lottery, and sneakerheads must pay lucky owners a higher price.

What will happen in the United States? Remember the swift fall of Ty Beanie Babies, collector plates, limited edition ingots and medals, and other company-produced rarities. Limited edition plates now cost only a few dollars and only about three vintage Ty animals are wanted by collectors.

➤ Wash aluminum with mild dishwasher soap. Rinse, dry. If needed, use silver polish to add more luster. High temperatures in the dishwasher or oven will dull the shine.

➤ Never use olive oil to treat a wooden bowl. It will turn rancid. If you used an

olive oil-based salad dressing in the bowl at a meal, be sure to rinse the bowl.

➤ Postage stamps, produce seals, or other gummed paper pieces that have stuck together can be separated with this simple trick: put them in a freezer overnight. The glue will loosen.

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 [email protected].

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 292758 Kettering, OH 45429-8758

Customer Service: [email protected]

Online: go to Kovels.com and click on “Contact Us” at the top of the Homepage.

Digital Subscription: Kovels.com/digital Connect with us:

Copyright 2020 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.

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 - January 2020 Page 51

SaleS RepoRt chairs With innovative Design

Photos are courtesy of Wright Auctions, 1440 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL 60642. Its Oct. 24, 2019, Design auction is archived at Wright20.com

Pictured on CoverMARIO MINALE CHAIR, Droog, The Netherlands, c.2004. LEGO chair, aluminum frame, 33 in. h. by 26 1/2 in. w. by 33 in. d., $13,750.

C ollecting and living with chairs of different periods is an enjoyable and potentially profitable way to decorate

your home. A recent auction by Wright of Chicago featured iconic late 19th and 20th century chairs. The sale showcased the originality of such designers as Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd

Wright, Charles and Ray Eames and Mario Minale. Collectors are paying consistently high prices for early versions of name designer chairs.

Selling for $12,500 was a 1956 Committee armchair by Pierre Jeanneret used in the High Court of Chandigarh, India. As a young architect, Jeanneret (1896-1967) was mentored by his cousin, Charles Edouard Jeanneret, known as Le Corbusier (1887-1965). The Jeannerets were responsible for the design of many of the buildings of Chandigarh, an early “planned” community. They also designed much of the furniture decorating the interiors.

Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) is one of the the best-known 20th-century architects and designers. While his homes are well-known, his furniture is not as famous. A pair of chairs designed by Wright in 1955 for the Kalita Humphreys Theater in Dallas brought $5,000.

PIERRE JEANNERET CHAIR, France / India, c.1956. Committee chair from the High Court of Chandigarh, India. Teak and hide, 35 in. h. by 23 in. w., $12,500.

PAIR OF FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT CHAIRS, from the Kalita Humphreys Theater, Dallas, 1955. Enameled steel, upholstery, laminate, and stained maple, 34 in. h. by 21 in. w. by 24 in. d., $5,000 for the pair (one pictured).

ARNE JACOBSEN EGG CHAIR, made by Fritz Hansen, Denmark, 1958. Leather, cast aluminum and plastic. Manufacturer’s decal on bottom, “Made in Denmark / 0864 / by Fritz Hansen,” 42 in. h. by 34 in. w. by 32 in. d., $5,000.

PAIR OF CHARLES AND RAY EAMES LARS CHAIRS, made by Herman Miller, 1950 – 1960. Molded fiberglass, chrome-plated steel, rubber and vinyl, with upholstery by Alexander Girard. Molded manufacturer’s mark on bottom, “Exclusive Licensee of Herman Miller Furniture Products,” 25 in. h. by 25 in. w. by 24 in. d., $1,500.

Scandinavia holds plenty of midcentury design bragging rights, including those for the famous Egg chair that was the brainchild of architect and designer Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971). The chair made its debut in 1958 and was manufactured by Fritz Hansen of Denmark. A 1958 Egg chair sold for $5,000.

Married couple Charles (1907-1978) and Bernice Alexandra “Ray” Eames (1912-1988) were esteemed midcentury designers whose molded plywood chair was described by critics as “the chair of the century.” A pair of 1960s chairs designed by the Eameses and made by Herman Miller U.S.A. brought $1,500. The chairs were upholstered in fabric designed by Alexander Girard, who was known for abstract and geometric patterns.

A bright red-and-blue 2004 LEGO chair from a limited edition of five by Mario Minale of The Netherlands brought $13,750 (pictured on cover). You can sit in it, but it’s uncomfortable. Minale, who was born in Germany, later joined forces with Japanese designer Kuniko Maeda. They founded their design studio Minale-Maeda in 2006 and based it in Rotterdam.

Carlo Bugatti (1856-1940) designed and manufactured Art Nouveau furniture using natural materials like wood and parchment. Bugatti chairs are always very desirable. At auction, the pictured 1902 lacquered wood Bugatti chair with copper brought $15,000.All prices include Buyer’s Premium.

CARLO BUGATTI CHAIR, Italy, c.1902. Partly ebonized and turned walnut with copper, vellum panels, white metal and bone inlay, and rope, 57 in. h. by 16 in. w. by 16 in. d., $15,000.

Kovels - January 2020Page 52

SaleS RepoRt Buttons

Photos are courtesy of Whitley’s Auctioneers, 485 S. Federal Hwy., Dania Beach, FL 33004. Its Oct. 26-27, 2019, Antique, Vintage and Collectible Button Auction catalog is archived at WhitleysAuctioneers.com.

B utton, button, who’s got the button? Button collectors discovered a treasure trove of antique,

vintage and collectible buttons at a recent auction at Whitley’s Auctioneers in Florida. The sale contained 1,228 lots, and many featured whole cards, bags, multiple cart lots and frames filled with assorted buttons.

Included in the sale were buttons from the 1600s to the early 2000s. Prices ranged from $13 for two cards of 59 plastic buttons, including some made of Lucite (not pictured), to $8,750 for a rare large oval Gay 90s button with the center body of an ornate frog created by glassmaker Leo Popper. The button had never before been to auction and surpassed its estimated sale price of $6,000. Gay 90s buttons,

often colorful and bright, were popular in the 1890s and continue to be prized by collectors.

Bruce Beck of Whitley’s Auctioneers says button collecting is a sophisticated hobby, explaining that every form of art and type of material can be found in buttons. Buttons are usually mounted on card stock and sold by category. Beck added that button prices are often driven by collectors who enter button “competitions.” These regional and nationwide gatherings allow button collectors to get together for friendly competition, as well as to buy and sell the small works of wearable art.

Buttons aren’t usually marked and can be difficult to date, but clues can be found in the materials and styles of the time period in which they were made. It’s also helpful if the button has a distinctive use. A rare 17th century smugglers button, likely Austro-Hungarian, sold for $250. The button opens by unscrewing the silver setting that holds the garnet cabochon, revealing a small hollowed cylinder where opium or other drugs could be stored. These buttons could be sewn on a jacket or sleeves.

A large Liverpool tranfser button with a warrior’s head and a burgundy border sold for $38. A glass on metal button picturing the profile of a woman sold

for $438. This button likely sold higher because of its rare size and intricate coralene decoration. LIVERPOOL TRANSFER

BUTTON, metal, centurion’s head transfer on gilt ground, painted burgundy border, large, $38.

FOUR-LEAF CLOVER BUTTON, gold Lacy glass with iridescent highlights, original back paint, beaded, metal beaded mount, large size, $238.

SMUGGLER’S BUTTON, 17th century. Gilt silver with enameled florets, garnet cabochon attached to a threaded pole, unscrews and opens to hollow cavity, medium size, $250.

JAPANESE SHAKUDO BUTTON, metal with inlaid copper, silver and gold alloy, dark blue-purple patina, depicts Japanese scholar with scroll, medium size, $175.

GRAPES AND LEAVES BUTTON, Motiwala Studios, India, 1950s. Metal, example of “liquid enamel” technique, large size, $625.

JASPERWARE BUTTON, Wedgwood, England, 19th century. Pottery, metal mount, large size, $188.

BLEU-DE-ROI ENAMEL BUTTON, 18th century. Cobalt blue enamel, gilt paillon, silver mount, paste border, medium size, $500.

FROG BUTTON, Leo Popper & Sons, 1890s. Oval glass cabochon body, green paste eyes, ornate brass mount with Greek key border and red pastes, large size, $8,750. PLIQUE-A-JOUR

BUTTON, pierced silvered brass, enamel, Arts and Crafts style, extra large, $375.

A plique-a-jour button sold for $375. The plique-a-jour technique uses translucent enamel to produce a stained glass effect. Another enamel button, cobalt blue with gilt foil and paste border sold for $500.

A large button with grapes and leaves made by Motiwala Studios in India in the 1950s sold for $625. Motiwala Studios introduced 27 different techniques in button production, and this rare technique called “Liquid Enamel” made this button attractive to collectors. A Japanese Shakudo button picturing a scholar sold for $175. Shakudo is an alloy of copper and gold that has a blue-purple patina.

In the late 1800s, lacy glass buttons made in what is now the Czech Republic were popular. Reproductions made in the 1990s brought down their value. Prices have returned for original lacy glass buttons – a large, never-used example depicting a four-leaf clover auctioned for $238.

A 19th century Wedgwood Jasperware button depicting a mother and child sold for $188. And a solid gold fox’s head button with ruby eyes went for $188 (pictured on cover). The button was probably made about 1900. All prices include Buyer’s Premium.

Pictured on CoverFOX HEAD BUTTON, textured gold, red stone eyes, possibly rubies, $188.

CORALENE BUTTON, woman’s profile, green, yellow, pink and brown with white glass coralene, metal mount, rare medium size, $438.

Kovels - January 2020 Page 53

SaleS RepoRt frameD aDvertising

Photos are courtesy of Rich Penn Auctions, PO Box 1355, Waterloo, IA 50704. Its Nov. 1-3, 2019 Rich Penn Collector Auction is archived at RichPennAuctions.com.

Advertising signs with catchy images and slogans have always been effective sales tools. Many

older advertising signs were made of cardboard or lithographed tin. They were thrown away or even used to stop leaks in barn roofs. Signs in good condition are rare collectibles and were among many advertising items offered at a recent sale by Rich Penn Auctions in Iowa.

Framed advertising appeals as “ready-to-go” decoration for collectors. Many pieces sold for affordable prices, ranging from $98 for a die-cut cardboard Orange-Julep sign with a girl sipping soda to $2,214 for an early 1900s Dr. Pepper “King of Beverages” lithograph with a lion. (The period after Dr was dropped in the 1950s.)

While advertising for well-known brands such as Dr Pepper and Coca-Cola are prized, some collectors prefer lesser-known brand advertisements, including companies or drinks that disappeared decades ago. Whistle was a soft drink developed and marketed in the 1920s by Charles Leiper Grigg, a salesman for the Vess Soda Co. of St. Louis. The Whistle Soda elves were introduced about 1938 and appeared on advertising for the orange-flavored soda until the early 1950s. A 1947 embossed metal “Thirsty? Just Whistle” sign with the elves auctioned for $738. Grigg later invented the formula for 7Up soda and started the 7Up Company in 1929.

INSURANCE ADVERTISING SIGN, Continental Insurance Co. of New York, soldier, lithographed metal, self-framed, c.1915, 30 1/2 in. h. by 20 1/2 in. w., $1,230.

CANDY STORE ADVERTISING BANNER, Demand Dartmouth Chocolates, Made by Smith & Son Inc., White River Jct. Vt. Canvas, made by the John Ingelstrom Co., Massillon, Ohio, matted and framed, 23 1/2 in. h. by 53 in. w., $276.

COUNTRY STORE ADVERTISING SIGN, Welcome Soap, Curtis Davis & Co., Boston, Mass., lithograph on paper with fabric dresses, original frame, 31 in. h. by 16 1/2 in. w., $553.

CHEWING GUM ADVERTISING SIGN, Kis-Me Gum Co., Louisville, Ky., die cut, lithograph with glitter accents on Victorian woman’s hair clip and collar, print by Ernst Kaufman, Berlin, gilt shadowbox frame, c.1900, 26 in. h. by 21 1/2 in. w., $430.

Pictured on CoverSODA FOUNTAIN ADVERTISING SIGN, Orange-Julep, die cut cardboard, framed under glass, 20 1/2 in. h. by 17 in. w., $98.

A 1915 lithographed tin sign with a Revolutionary War soldier was a slice of Americana that auctioned for $1,230. The sign advertised the Continental Insurance Co. of New York that was in business from 1853 to 1905.

Mischievous candy-making elves decorated a colorful canvas banner advertising Dartmouth Chocolates, a Canadian company started in 1815 by Scottish immigrant and baker James Moir, bought by the Hershey Co. in 1997, and closed in 2007. The “Demand Dartmouth Chocolates” sign sold at Rich Penn for $276.

Advertisements for everyday foods and goods also attract collectors if the images are catchy. A 1900 framed country store sign advertising Welcome Soap with two young women reads “Mail us 25 Welcome Soap wrappers and get This Picture.” It sold for $553. A die-cut Kis-Me Gum Co. sign with a beautiful Victorian woman framed in a gilt shadowbox brought $430. Jonathan P. Primley, creator of the first fruit-flavored gum, manufactured the popular “Kis-Me” gum in the 1880s. He used sex-appeal in his advertisements to counter the prevailing thought that chewing gum was neither elegant nor healthy. All prices include Buyer’s Premium.

SODA ADVERTISING SIGN, Dr. Pepper King of Beverages, lithographed paper, framed, early 1900s, 13 1/2 in. h. by 18 1/2 in w., $2,214.

SODA ADVERTISING SIGN, Thirsty? Just Whistle, embossed metal, Stout Sign Co., St. Louis, dated 1947, self framed, $738.

Kovels - January 2020Page 54

T he beauty, history and symbolism of kimonos, the national dress of Japan, are all draws for collectors. The

word kimono literally translates to “thing to wear.” In the 8th century, the kimono became the official dress of Japan. The color and designs of the garments, worn by both men and women, indicate time period, gender, marital status and special occasions such as a wedding, festival or season.

Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers of Rhode Island recently sold a kimono collection that spanned 250 years of Japanese history. Pictured are kimonos made during Japan’s Edo (1603-1868) and Meiji (1868-1912) periods. An 1850 man’s silk kimono with decorations of the gods of fertility, worldly success and agriculture, sold for $2,500. Another kimono made about 1800 had a tie-dyed block pattern and

brought $1,625. During the Edo period, treasured kimonos were passed down to family members. A uchikake kimono is one worn on stage at the theater or for a formal wedding. An 1840 embroidered white silk uchikake kimono auctioned for $1,375. Selling for the same price was a satin damask, purple-and-gold floral kimono made in 1830 (pictured on cover). The Meiji Period ushered in the western influence of clothing in place of the traditional kimono. Many traditionalists still preferred kimonos. An 1870 silk satin blue furisode kimono (means “swinging sleeves,” worn by unmarried women) with flowers and embroidery sold for $938, and a navy blue silk uchikake kimono with gold thread brought $688.

A 1915 silk furisode with hand-painted flowers and platinum couching brought $625. A silk kimono with silver embroidery made in 1890, also sold for $625. A silk 1900 kimono with a painted dragon sold for $500. A silk tomesode kimono, a formal kimono worn by married women, brought $438.

SaleS RepoRt Kimonos

UCHIKAKE KIMONO, Japan, c.1890. Silk with five crests, painted trees and flowers and silver thread embroidery, length 62 in., body width 24 in., wingspan 49 1/2 in., $625.

UCHIKAKE KIMONO, Japan, c.1840. White damask silk with pink and red flowers, gold couching and gold thread embroidery, length 63 in., body width 23 in., wingspan 48 1/2 in., $1,375.

MAN’S FIGURAL KIMONO, Japan, c.1850. Silk with painted decoration, Inari Okami, god of fertility, agriculture, prosperity, worldly success and sake holding a fan on the back, length 51 in., body width 26 in., wingspan 52 in., $2,500.

FURISODE KIMONO, Japan, c.1870. Light blue silk satin with five crests, painted flowers, embroidery and gold couching, length 65 in., body width 23 in., wingspan 48 1/2 in., $938.

JUBAN KIMONO, Japan, c.1900. Silk with painted dragon clutching a pearl. Signed by the artist, length 48 1/2 in., body width 25 1/4 in., wingspan 51 in., $500.

TIE-DYED KIMONO, JAPAN, c.1800. Purple silk decorated with tie-dyed block design, length 53 in., body width 23 in., wingspan 48 1/2 in., $1,625.

GLOSSARYUchikake: The most formal kimono, worn for weddings or theater. Worn open, not belted, draped over another layer.

Furisode: Means “swing sleeves.” Formal kimono worn by unmarried women. Has colorful patterns all over the garment.

Juban: Type of garment worn under a kimono.

Tomesode: Formal kimono, worn by married women. Single color with pattern below the waist. Often with family crests called kamon (one, three or five crests) printed on the sleeves, chest and back.

Kovels - January 2020 Page 55

Silk kimonos are the most desirable. Other materials used included silk crepe, satin, hemp and thread-banana fiber. Kimonos with large patterns embroidered on the back are probably fake (dragons, pagodas and geishas, for example). Also, satin cloth with brocade is a feature of traditional Chinese clothing and not seen on Japanese kimonos. The collar of a kimono should be made with the same fabric as the body of the kimono. If they are made from two different fabrics or colors, then they are either fake, or possibly a juban (underwear for kimono that often has a white collar).

If a kimono comes with a thin matching belt made of the same material as the kimono, it is most likely not authentic. Authentic kimonos are closed with a thick sash called an obi that is not made with the same material as the kimono.

As Japan became more Westernized, kimonos started to feature motifs like planes, boats and skyscrapers. Pre-WWII kimonos designed with militaristic imagery are rare and collectible. 

SaleS RepoRt Kimonos

Photos are courtesy of Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers, 63 4th Ave., Cranston, RI 02910. Its Oct. 26, 2019 auction Kimono & Japanese Art – The Alex Murray Collection is archived at BruneauAndCo.com.

FURISODE SUMMER KIMONO, Japan, c.1915. Cream silk with five crests, painted flowers, platinum leaf and platinum couching, length 66 in., body width 25 2/3 in., wingspan 51 in., $625.

TOMESODE KIMONO, Japan, c.1910. Black silk crepe with shibori tie dye, gold thread, gold leaf and gold couching, five crests, length 64 in., body width 24 in., wingspan 50 1/2 in., $438.

UCHIKAKE KIMONO, Japan, c.1880. Navy blue silk satin with five crests, gold thread, green embroidered trees along the bottom, length 61 in., body width 23 1/2 in., wingspan 49 in., $688.

Today in Japan, kimonos are rarely worn in everyday life. They are mostly worn for special occasions such as weddings, funerals, tea ceremonies or special events.All prices include Buyer’s Premium.

Pictured on CoverFLORAL KIMONO, Japan, c.1830. Purple silk satin damask with embroidered flowers and clouds and gold couching, length 65 1/2 in., body width 25 in., wingspan 52 1/2 in., $1,375.

reproDuctions

O ld fakes never die. They just hide for a few years and reappear after they are forgotten. Carl Wilhelm Becker

(1772-1830) is still probably the most successful antique coin forger and his coins are a puzzle even for modern collectors. The largest fake scam of the 1970s was the Wells Fargo Belt Buckle exploit. Large brass buckles marked Tiffany & Co. were sold by a London company to American dealers. Since belts with buckles were in style, many were bought as vintage pieces made by the famous Tiffany store (who insisted they never made a Wells Fargo buckle). Soon a fake book with doctored old catalog pages “proved” the buckles were real and prices rose to over $800 for “rare” examples. We traced the book “Tiffany & Gaylord Express & Exhibition Belt Plates” to a company that did school yearbooks and noticed the vintage order pages had been altered to include pictures of the buckles. There was a long fictitious history of the makers, designs and sales. They even quoted a fakes expert, Percy Seibert, who claimed to have known Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Thousands (the book says millions) of buckles were sold for up to $800 before the buckle fakes were exposed.

But it didn’t end there. Today there are cheap, lightweight copies of the original Wells Fargo fakes. Even new Wells Fargo designs are sometimes thought to be old. And impossible designs like Mickey Mouse, Coca-Cola, Southern Comfort Whiskey, Levi Strauss & Co., Kansas State Penitentiary, Alcatraz, Remington, Winchester, Texas Rangers, Buffalo Jubilee and many different patterns of belt plates in the style of Wells Fargo buckles were made. Watch out. We see them at many flea markets, some being sold as new fantasy buckles and some still thought to be antiques.

Kovels - January 2020Page 56

on the roaD ~ tefaf neW YorK

E very year, one of the most important art and design fairs in Europe (TEFAF Maastricht)

sets up in New York City. In the fall, galleries sell ancient to 20th-century decorative arts and paintings. In the spring, the galleries sell modern to contemporary works.

This year we were in N.Y.C. during the fall show, and we were privileged to see rare and exquisite objects that you might see in a museum — with prices to match. Since the dealers are some of the top in their fields, most items are unique. Each dealer has his or her own specialty from ancient art to illuminated manuscripts. Many are the top dealers in the world, so expect many items to be fully researched with a known provenance (history of who owned the antique). It isn’t unusual for a piece to have remained in a family’s possession for hundreds of years. Here is a photo journey of the fair with some highlighted objects that caught our eye to show what you can buy if you have an unlimited budget.

Micro-mosaic picture of a rabbit made of tiny pieces of stone, $75,000.

Tiffany hood, Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933), from Tiffany’s mansion on 72nd Street in N.Y.C., 1882-1885. Wrought iron and mica, this hood was stored in a garage for 50 years. The clear “glass” was originally mica, a see-through fireproof type of rock. $475,000.

Jeweled book cover and illuminated manuscript, Book of Hours, made for Queen Claude of France by the Master of Claude of France (the artist was “named” after this work and was active in Tours c.1520-1523). Extremely small illuminated manuscript on vellum. With numerous references to the queen and in a size common at this time in court, this book is one of the finest in private hands. It was rebound in a jeweled binding of gold enamel studded with diamonds from the court of Emperor Rudolf II of Habsburg, Prague, c.1600-1610. From the Rothchild Collection. $7.8 million.

Picasso vase, Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), 1957, stamped “Madoura Plein Feu” and “Edition Picasso” and marked “Edition Picasso 6/50.” White faience clay, slipware engraved by knife, paraffin and white glaze, 22 by 10 by 10 in., $180,000.

Nautilus shell, c.1670, from Knutstorp Castle, Sweden. Given to the family as a wedding gift c.1860. A similar mount was given to the National Museum of Stockholm by Sweden’s King Carl XV. Engraved Nautilus with fire-gilt silver. Meant as a collector’s item, it shows the combination of nature and art that was treasured by collectors in the 17th century. The shell was done in two pieces. It came from In-donesia, was engraved in the Netherlands, and the silver work was done in Sweden. It is one of a pair and in perfect condition. The second one is in a museum. $500,000.

Madrid cabinet, an important piece, made about 1569 in the city of Augsburg, Germany. At the time it was the cabinet making center of the world with more than 300 cabinetmakers. The cabinetmakers were not allowed to use paint in any of their cabinets, so all the colors seen are made naturally. The green wood is white poplar infected with a green fungus. The shading was created by placing the wood in hot sand. Secret drawers are hidden throughout the piece. The inlaid work is called intarsia. It is only one of three of this caliber and was purchased by a museum in the U.S. Various inlaid woods, etched and fire-gilt iron made by the famous Augsburg cabinetmaker Bartholomeus Weisshaupt who worked for King Phillip II of Spain.

Kovels - January 2020 Page 57

marKet report – JerÉ WaLL hangings

tips

F rom shag carpet to light fixtures, home décor of the 1960s is rising again in popularity, possible because of nostalgia

by baby boomers. The low-priced metal wall hangings of Curtis Jeré, popular between 1963 and 1972, are part of that trend. In recent years, the metal sculptures of birds, trees, bridges and sunbursts (to name a few patterns) were staples at garage sales. Now they are selling for close to five figures at auctions and internet sales sites as art. Savvy collectors, however, still might find a treasure or two hanging in plain sight at flea markets or house sales.

Cowan’s Auctions of Ohio recently sold several Curtis Jeré wall hangings and sculptures made during the 1960s, ’70s and later.

Curtis Jeré is a metalwork company that still sells wall sculptures and home accessories. The business was founded in 1963 by brothers-in-law Jerry Fels and Curtis Freiler (they married sisters), who had previously worked together in copper jewelry design. They combined their names to create C. Jeré and marketed metal wall hangings and home décor through their company, Artisan House, which they sold in 1972. Since then, the company has gone through several owners and moved production to China.

Authentic C. Jeré wall sculptures and hangings are more valuable if they were manufactured under the original owners. In the early days, the men described their mission as producing “gallery-quality art for the masses.” Their affordable wall sculptures were hung or displayed in starter homes throughout the United States. The wall hangings are made of brass, copper and other metals that are torched, crimped and welded before being covered with shiny patinas.

Photos are courtesy of Cowan’s Auctions, 6270 Este Ave., Cincinnati, OH, 45232 . Its Oct. 18, 2019, Modern and Contemporary Art+Design Auction catalog is archived at Cowans.com.

DIGGING DEEPERThere is no known count of C. Jeré designs and no catalog. When the company started, its artwork was an instant success and carried by Raymor, a Manhattan showroom, and Gump’s in San Francisco, which increased its name-recognition and popularity. C. Jeré has reissued some of its most iconic designs in a partnership with Jonathan Adler.

SPRAY OF WHEAT WALL HANGING, mixed metals, signed, “© C. Jeré, 1987, 36 by 45 in., $188.

OAK LEAVES WALL HANGING, mixed metals, signed “© C. Jeré, ’69,” 29 by 59 in., $224.

BROOKLYN BRIDGE WALL SCULPTURE, brass, unsigned, attributed to C. Jeré, 22 1/2 by 58 in., $594.

➤ Don’t leave paper clips, newspapers, pressed flowers or other memorabilia in old books. They will cause stains, bend pages and do other damage.

➤ Collector preference has changed in mechanical bank collecting. The rarest banks were the most expensive from the

1950s to the 1980s. Now the collectors want great condition; almost perfect paint more than rarity.

➤ When storing dishes, glassware and especially textiles, don’t use old newspapers for wrapping. The ink will come off and may leave permanent stains.

Pictured on CoverRAINDROPS WALL HANGING, mixed metals, signed “© C. Jeré,” 23 by 59 in., $1,375.

Prices in the past for “Birds in Flight,” “Raindrops” or “Sunbursts” wall hangings were over $1,500. At Cowan, a signed metal wall hanging called “Raindrops” sold for $1,375 and an “Oak Leaves” metal wall hanging, signed and dated 1969, brought $224. It’s notable that both were made before Fels and Freiler sold the company.

An unsigned brass wall sculpture entitled “Brooklyn Bridge” brought $594 and a signed “Spray of Wheat” metal wall hanging dated 1987 sold for $188.All prices include Buyer’s Premium.

CURTIS JERÉ MIRROR, chrome-plated steel and glass, signed on frame, c.1970, 34 in. dia., sold in 2012 for $10,625. Photo: Wright

Kovels - January 2020Page 58

DictionarY of marKs ~ BeLL-shapeD marKs

hotLines

Waldsassen Porcelain FactoryWaldsassen, Bavaria, Germany1866-1994Mark used on collector plates, 1968-1994. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1994.

R ing in the New Year with these bell-shaped marks used by pottery manufacturers. Marks shown are from Kovels'

New Dictionary of Marks: New Dictionary of Marks, 1850 to the Present by Ralph & Terry Kovel (Crown, NY, 1986).

J. & M.P. BellGlasgow, Scotland1842-1928Impressed or printed mark used on earthenware and parian, 1881 and after.

Colonial Co.East Liverpool, Ohio1903-1929Mark used on semi-vitreous ware, 1903-1929.

Ebeling & ReussDevon and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania1866-c.2002Importer’s mark used in 1900 and after. Theodore Ebeling, Frederick Reuss and John Zeh founded Zeh, Ebeling & Reuss Co. in Philadelphia in 1866. The company imported porcelain, earthenware and gift items from European manufacturers.

After Zeh left the company in 1900, it became Ebeling & Reuss and moved to Devon. The company was sold in 1992 and moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania. It was sold to the Strathmore Corporation in 2002. There is no record of the use of this mark after that.

Franz MankaAltrohlau, Bohemia (Stara Rola, Czech Republic)1833-1945Mark used on hard-paste porcelain, 1936-1945.

Sebring Pottery Co.East Liverpool, Ohio1887-1948Mark used on hotel ware, 1900-c.1925Five Sebring brothers joined two other men to buy an existing pottery in East Liverpool in 1887. The pottery moved to Mahoning County in 1899, where each of

the brothers started their own pottery in what would become the town of Sebring, Ohio. Sebring Pottery Co. closed in the early 1940s.

Tressemanes & VogtLimoges, France1883-1907Mark used on porcelain, 1891-1907. The company was sold to Raynaud & Co. in 1907.

➤ Uncle Sam’s picture always increases the cost of an advertising piece. Rich Penn Auctions recently sold a coin-operated arcade machine (a recent copy) of a 1908 Caille Bros. Uncle Sam Strength Tester, Shake with Uncle Sam. He will tell you the strength of your personality. Ten traits, even “tax cheat.” An oak cabinet with a red, white and blue figure of Uncle Sam. It sold for $1,610 and is only a copy.

➤ Any Heisman Trophy awarded after 1999 cannot be sold. At that time, the Heisman Trust started making winners sign an agreement that forfeits their right to sell. The last Heisman Trophy that was eligible to be sold was auctioned in the Heritage Fall Sports Memorabila Collectibles event (October 2019) for a record $504,000. It was won in 1998 by Ricky Williams who played for the University of Texas. Heisman trophies awarded before that time can still be resold since they were won before the rule was put in place.

➤ American folk art canes usually had a handle and shaft made from a single piece of wood or other material.

➤ Strange things sell! A dead cat sold for $22,200 at an Ancient Objects online auction in October 2019. It was a 21-inch Egyptian mumified cat in an antique glass dome. A December 11, 1939, newspaper mentioned that it was bought at an earlier sale in 1939.

➤ The Dutch flintlock musket used to fire the first shot at the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775 was sold by Morphy Auctions for $492,000. It belonged to Private John Simson (1748-1825) and stayed in his family for the 244 years before the sale. It is said he fired the first shot against the Colonel’s famous orders, “Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes.” The gun was accompanied by family papers and other documention.Photo: Rich Penn

Auctions

Kovels - January 2020 Page 59

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

ADVERTISING Peanut butter pail, “Eat More Of Mosemann’s Brand

Peanut Butter,” tin lithograph, yellow ground, images of animals on sides, bail handle, 16 oz. ............................... $175

Playing cards, Planters Peanut Co., linen finish, original box, full deck, c.1932, 4 x 2 1/4 in. ...................................... $390

Tray, Senior and Senator Whiskies, Wheeling Liquor Co., Wheeling, West Virginia, tin lithograph, portrait of girl & horse, border with horse tack images, 16 1/2 x 13 1/2 in. .................................................................... $660

Dispenser, Ward’s Lemon Crush, soda fountain syrup, ceramic, figural lemon, embossed black lettering, 1920s, 14 x 10 x 7 in. .............................................................. $1,075

Sign, Thames Fire Insurance Co., scenes of Norwich,Connecticut, cloth backing, illustrated by Alphonse Bigot for T. Sinclair Litho Co., c.1870, 19 x 24 in. ............ $1,190

DOLLS & TOYS Doll, Madame Alexander, Madelaine, skater, vinyl

head, sleep eyes, synthetic wig, open/close mouth, hard plastic Sonja Henie body, dress, ice skates, 18 in. .......... $70

Mickey Mouse Scatter Ball game set, Disney cartoon character images on playing board corners & 8 images of Mickey Mouse, 2 piece box, c.1930, 11 x 11 x 2 in. ................................................................................. $155

Toy, motorcycle, Harley Davidson, painted, tin litho- graph, pistons move up & down, friction, TN, Japan, 1959, 5 x 9 x 2 in. ....................................................................... $400

Sight Seeing Auto No. 899, modeled after city tour bus, driver & 4 passengers, red, yellow & black, cast iron, Kenton, Ohio, c.1910, 10 in. ............................. $2,400

FURNITURE Table, occasional, Louis Phillippe, rosewood, inlaid,

drop leaf, 2 drawers, turned legs, stamped, Alphonse Giroux, mid-19th century, 26 x 28 x 19 in. ..................... $730

Stand, Neoclassical style, open bronze base, paw feet, X-form stretcher sides, wreath mounts, molded leaves, glass top, Continental, 1900s, 56 x 14 in., pair ........................................................................ $1,000

Dresser, Rococo Revival, rosewood, arched mirror, pierced fret support, scroll-carved crest, marble top, 3 graduated drawers, bracket feet, c.1875, 87 x 48 in. ................................................................................. $1,500

Chair & ottoman, Papa, stylized wingback, wood legs & trim, upholstered, stamped, Hans Wegner, c.1952, 38 x 36 in., ottoman 15 x 28 in. ....................... $7,500

GLASS Vase, Loetz, inverted baluster, Candia Phaenomen,

silver pulled threads, iridescent, blue trailing prunts, silver striations, engraved, c.1901, 9 1/2 in. ............ $970

Urn, classic shape, domed lid, wren, wild rose spray, gilt handles, Bristol, England, c.1880, 16 in. ...................... $2,250

Perfume bottle, Ruba Rombic, Opal Jade, stopper, Consolidated Lamp & Glass Co., 8 x 4 1/2 in. ................... $4,600

POTTERY & PORCELAIN Lamp base, 5 panels, high relief, veiled nude dancers,

various poses, pink & green, incised I.H., Muncie Pottery, Art Deco, 10 x 9 1/2 in. .......................................... $135

Tile, cherub carrying cornucopia of fruit, raised, painted, off-white & yellow, green ground, initials E.M. on border, Grueby, square, 6 in. ............................... $330

Vase, 3 ducks, spiky flower stalks, blue ground, interior with Rookwood’s Anniversary glaze, monogram for Jens Jensen in black slip, 1931, 5 1/2 in. ....................... $910

Charger, 3 crayfish, water ripples, carved, painted, blue & pale yellow, Marie Levering Benson, impressed, Newcomb logo, 1907, 7 1/2 in. ......................................... $2,180

SILVER & OTHER METALSCopper letter opener, dagger style, tooled handle,

hammered blade, impressed Roycroft logo, 1906-1910, 11 in. ...................................................................... $120

Pewter candleholders, Arts & Crafts, 4 pillar legs hold up egg-shaped cups, flat rim, 3 3/4 in., pair .............. $270

Bronze match holder, gold dore, Grapevine pattern, bulbous, flared flat rim, impressed Tiffany Studios, New York, 2 1/4 in. ..................................................................... $485

Silver cocktail shaker, figural, long-eared owl, beak as faux spout fitted with chained stopper, glass eyes, detachable strainer, Ludwig Neresheimer Co., Germany, 8 in. ......................................................................... $5,250

TEXTILES & CLOTHING Pillow, nesting chicken, brown wool, red linen comb &

waddle, yellow linen beak, button eyes, yellow embroidered details, 9 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 3 in. ................................ $25

Tablecloth, Canada, map of country, scenes of animals & activities, Canadian Mountie, green & white, maple leaf border, linen, 1940s, 34 x 34 in. .................................... $45

Purse, Judith Leiber, silver gray silk, embroidered stemmed flowers, silver & deep blue sequins & beads, silver metal clasp, lined, 8 1/2 x 6 1/2 x 2 in. ......... $235

MISCELLANEOUS Jewelry, pin, Mickey Mouse, walking pose, trembler,

spring-mounted hand waves, gold tone finish, marked Disney, 2 1/4 x 1 5/8 in. ......................................... $40

Bible box, wood, lift lid, scene of Northwest U.S. lake & snow-capped mountains, leather hinge, bible verse, 11 x 8 x 4 in. ............................................................ $55

Valet bristle brush, porcelain handle, whimsical, German Shepherd dog’s head, high gloss finish, marked No. 8577, c.1925, 8 x 1 3/4 in. ................................. $100

$20 & UNDER Flour sifter, plastic, red & white, ivy design, squeeze

handle, 5 cups, c.1945, 5 x 4 in. ............................................... $15 Wall plaque, cocker spaniel dog’s head, black & white,

Bossons, 1980, 4 3/4 in. .............................................................. $18 Hooked rug, doll’s, round, black & white, 3 pink flowers,

yellow leaves, label, Made in Occupied Japan, 9 1/2 in. ..... $20

Kovels - January 2020Page 60

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’d like to know the value of my copper weather vane. It’s a horse and buggy with a man in the buggy holding the reins. What’s it worth?

A: The first weather vane was made by the Greek astronomer Andronicus about 48 B.C. The first weather vane made in America was in 1716. They were mass-produced in the United States beginning about 1850. Weather vanes have been used by farmers, seamen and others to determine prevailing winds and predict the weather. They are also wanted for their decorative value. Some sell as examples of folk art. Horses and other animals are popular subjects. Weather vanes sell for several hundred to a few thousand dollars. The record price for a weather vane is $5.8 million for a molded copper Indian chief attributed to J. L. Mott Iron Works that sold in 2006. Many old designs have been copied. Age, design, material, condition and rarity determine price. Weather vanes like this are still being made. It’s not possible to guess the age of your horse and buggy weather vane from a picture.

Q: My wife is a more avid antique collector than I am, and she subscribes to your newsletter. However, the Breweriana article on pages 20-21 of the October 2019 issue caught my eye. My wife always said that I needed to collect something. As a longtime home brewer, I started collecting tap handles and now have over 200 of them. When I saw the picture of the Schlitz beer lady with globe statue that sold for $300, it reminded me of two of my tap handles. One has a globe on top and is 9 inches tall; the other has a lady sitting on a globe and is 9 1/2 inches tall. Are tap handles more valuable or less valuable than a statue?

A: Regulations requiring beer taps to be labeled with the brand of beer were passed when Prohibition was repealed in 1933. Tap handles have been made of wood, metal, urethane and other materials. Ball knobs were the most common between the 1930s and the mid-1950s. Specialty tap handles have been made in many designs and shapes. Although a fancy tap handle is not needed to pour the beer, they do serve as advertisements for the beer companies. The Schlitz statue we wrote about was 45 inches tall and lit up. Schlitz tap handles like yours are more common and most sell for under $50.

Q: Is there any value to this desk? It was found in the cellar of a very old friend. The blackboard top opens up to a pegboard, but it no longer has pegs. It says “Transogram TAK-A-PEG Desk-ette” along the bottom of the blackboard.

A: Transogram Co. was founded by Charles S. Raizen. He had worked for a company that made tissue paper patterns for embroidery and discovered a way to use friction to transfer the patterns. The company became Friction Transfer Pattern Co. in 1915. After the company realized children used the patterns for artwork, it began making patterns specifically for children. Raizen bought the business in 1917 and renamed it Transogram but kept 1915 as the start date. The company made toys, playsets, games, craft sets, and juvenile and playroom furniture. Raizen died in 1967 and the company was sold in 1969. The Tak-A-Peg Desk-ette was advertised in 1954 and came with a hammer and pegs. Value is less than $100, depending on condition.

Q: My mother has come into possession of a beautiful Belleek pitcher. The antiques dealer made a comment to her that he wished he had enough money to purchase it. I’m hoping maybe you can shed some light on this beautiful piece of pottery.

A: Belleek china was first made in 1857 in the village of Belleek, County Fermanagh, in what is now Northern Ireland. Early pieces made in other countries were sometimes marked Belleek, but the word “Belleek” is now used only on pieces made in Ireland. Your mark with the word “Belleek” above a serpent twisted to represent the letter “W” was used on decorated belleek china made by the Willets Manufacturing Co. of Trenton, New Jersey. The company was in business from 1879 until about 1912. It made belleek in shapes similar to those used by the Irish Belleek factory from about 1885 to about 1909. The company used a variety of marks. Pieces decorated at the Willets factory have red or blue marks. Pieces with green, brown or black marks like this were decorated by D’Arcy’s Art Studio of Kalamazoo, Michigan, a company known for its floral decorations. The company started elsewhere. The red “D’Arcy’s” mark on your pitcher shows it was decorated in the back of a jewelry store in 1903, so we know your pitcher was probably made between 1903 and 1909. Value is about $500.