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The Newsletter For Dealers, Collectors and Investors

March 2017 Volume 43 • Number 7

InsIde ThIs IssueLetter to Lee....74 Tips....74 & 79 Hotlines....79 Are Antiques a Good Investment?....82 Hotlines.... 79 & 82

Dictionary of Marks • Conjoined Marks....81 Buyer’s Price Guide....83 Collector’s Gallery....84

sale RepoRTsTramp Art....75 Postmodern Furniture....76 Steuben Figurines....77 Wristwatches....78-79 Rookwood Pottery....80

Wristwatches have been collected since they were used by soldiers in WWI. Collectors know the big brands but middle market watches are great buys. Watches keep us running on time and are often an extension of one’s unique taste. A 1999 man’s Rolex GMT-Master II stainless steel watch with a red and black bezel display brought a surprising price. Skip to page 78-79 to learn what to look for before you purchase your next timepiece.

Rookwood Large and SmallRookwood has been popular with collectors for over 100 years. Smaller useful pieces are sometimes overlooked like this 1928 pencil holder. Like many other pieces in an Ohio auction, it is decorated with rooks under trees and with a matte glaze. Rookwood pieces sell for a wide range of prices. For more photos and prices from under $100 to over $300,000, turn to page 80.

A rare auction was held in Chicago that featured many unique furniture pieces

designed by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, designers that led the postmodern movement in America. This "Art Deco" chair, made by Knoll, shows the characteristic Art Deco

period shapes in new, modern forms. To see more examples and their prices, turn to page 76.

Postmodern Furniture: Flat and Fantastic

Wristwatches Keep Value

Tramp art is a folk art that dates from the turn of the 20th century. The furniture and other wood pieces were made by carpenters, stonemasons and DIY folks from discarded

cigar boxes, vegetable crates, and scrap wood. Pieces like this birdcage

were made by chip carving (decorating

wood with notched V-shaped cuts). Flip to page 75 to

learn more about this mysterious art.

Tramp Art, Resourceful Art

Sleek, luminous, clear glass animals delighted collectors at a recent auction in Boston. Butterflies, rabbits, seahorses

and pigs, like this one from 1964, were made by well-known designers at Steuben. These animals can be found in museums and houses across the United States. To find the price and see more of the menagerie, march over to page 77.

Steuben Glass Shines

Letter to Lee — Antique or reproduction???

Kovels - March 2017

Dear Lee,

“How can I tell if my furniture, silver, dishes, glassware, tools, posters and other things are antiques or reproductions?” Our mail is filled with similar questions. It takes a long time to know real from fakes, fantasies or reproductions. Even museums are fooled. But here are a few of our favorite clues. You may already know some.

English silver has hallmarks, groups of small indented pictures or letters. A standing lion is the mark for sterling silver. A picture of a head represents the monarch and the date. A queen’s left-facing head stands for the years Queen Victoria reigned, 1838–1890. Letters tell the date and maker.

The tip of a spoon handle bends down from 1730 to 1775 and up most times after that. A monogram on the back, not the front, of the handle indicates a piece made before 1825.

The English use a diamond-shaped mark on metal, ceramics, and more that tells when the design was registered. It gives legal information and the date. How to date using the English registry marks is free on our website (kovels.com/identification-help/english-registry-marks.html).

American metal tools, apple peelers and even lamps and decorative pieces may have a mark, “Patd,” with a number that tells when the piece was patented. The piece was probably made soon after that date.

Saw blades leave track marks on wood. The tracks on the bottom of early dresser drawers are easy to recognize. Early furniture has straight tracks. After about 1860, circular saws were used that left curved tracks.

Handmade wood screws were first made about 1720. They had off-center slots. Machine made modern style screws were used after 1860.

Wood shrinks only in one direction, so a round table top is no longer a perfect circle after 50 or more years.

Examine old and new pieces at antiques shows so you can recognize them at a house sale. Most dealers will be glad to explain the clues.

Some reproductions are clearly labeled with words you may not know. “Desperate Enterprises” are words found on reproduction and fantasy metal advertising signs, food tins and more. “Wheaton NJ” is a glass mark for a company that makes copies of old pattern glass, flasks and more. MMA stands for Metropolitan Museum of Art and appears on many of the reproductions sold in their gift shop and on eBay.

After 1891, pottery and porcelain sold in the United States had to be marked with the country of origin. OJ stand for Occupied Japan (1947–1952) and West Germany was used from 1949 to 1989.

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Letters to the Editor: Write to us at Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles, P.O. Box 22192, Beachwood, OH 44122. Email: Editor@Kovels.com.

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

KOVELS ON ANTIQUES AND 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 AND COLLECTIBLES, P.O. 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 2017 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.

Editor and Publisher: Terry Kovel; Editor in Chief: Danielle Devine; CFO & Website Director: Kim Kovel; Designer & Photo Editor: Lauren R. Svitak; Associate Editor: Liz Lillis; Copy Editor: Cherrie Smrekar; Marketing: Hamsy Mirre; Staff: Gay Hunter; Reporters: Beverly Malone; Lee Kovel; Customer Service: Tina McBean. Editorial Contributors: Rebekah Kaufman and Jodie Tweed.

tips➤ When storing plastic toys and novelties like PEZ dispensers, keep them away from heat. They might melt. Don’t store plastic items touching each other. The different types of materials sometimes react, causing damage.

➤ The original finish on an antique is considered part of the history of the piece and should be kept. If the original finish is removed it can’t be replaced and lowers the value.

Kovels - March 2017 Page 75 Photos are courtesy of Skinner. The Elaine Rush Collection catalog, December 16, 2016, is available from Skinner, 63 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, SkinnerInc.com.

ARCHITECTURAL TRAMP ART BIRDCAGE, wood and wire, house shape with five doors, relief carving and green paint. 35 inches, $615.

Pictured on Cover

TRAMP ART CORNER SHELF, wood, scrollwork sides, and applied heart, star, and bird ornaments. 23 ½ inches, $738.

TRAMP ART CABINET, New York, 1921. Carved wood and mirrored glass. 68 inches, $5,228.

The Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is putting the spotlight on tramp art from March 12, 2017 through September 16, 2018. The exhibit, “No Idle Hands: The Myths & Meanings of Tramp Art,” will feature more than 150 examples from the United States and abroad and will be “the first large-scale museum exhibition dedicated to tramp art since 1975.” For more information, visit InternationalFolkArt.org.

dIGGInG DEEPER

T ramp art is one of the lesser known folk art ideas. Its heyday was between 1870 and 1940. Artisans and

hobbyists created dramatically carved and decorated pieces of furniture, frames, and other items from old wooden cigar boxes and shipping crates. Skinner had more than two dozen examples of early tramp art in its December 2016 auction in Boston. Prices realized ranged from $197 to $5,228.

There is little historical documentation about tramp art. It is thought that it was made by men in their spare time, at home. A 68-inch-tall wood cabinet dated 1921 sold for $5,228. It has elaborate relief carving, a gallery top, mirrored doors and side decoration. Tramp art expert Clifford Wallach says this cabinet is extraordinary and may have taken an artist over a year to construct and carve. A tall 20th-century cabinet with tooled molding brought $800. And an undated wooden, triangular corner shelf with applied decoration sold for $738.

Picture frames are another popular tramp art form. An early 20th-century wood and glass frame, chip carved with eight openings, auctioned for $197. A late 19th/early 20th-century diamond-shaped frame decorated with openwork molding, and velvet trim realized an eye-catching $615.

The auction also featured decorative tramp art items such as lamps, boxes, mirrors, and easels. A wood and wire birdcage shaped like a house that was relief-carved and painted green found a new owner at $615 (pictured on cover). And an early 20th-century five-tier wooden tower, decorated with tooled molding, mustard colored paint, and a red lens on top, sold for $984. Paint on tramp art is unusual because paint cost money. Early tramp art makers probably would have used shellac or varnish, as these finishes could be made at home.

Wallach said, “Tramp art quite frequently features hearts as decoration. They are on all sorts of examples, ranging from very large pieces of furniture to small trinket boxes. These pieces were usually carved for family members or loved ones, and more often than not, were tokens of love.”

TRAMP ART TOWER, early 20th century. Wood, tooled molding, mustard colored paint, and fitted red lens on top section. 57 inches, $984.

TRAMP ART FRAME, late 19th/early 20th century. Wood, velvet and glass, openwork molding with rust velvet borders. 30 inches, $615.

TRAMP ART FRAME, early 20th century. Wood and glass, chipped relief decoration, fitted with eight openings. 24 ¼ inches, $197.

SALES REPORTtrAmp Art cArves A mArket

For more information, see Clifford Wallach’s book, A Legacy in Tramp Art, published by Schiffer, 2012. Wallach also has a website, TrampArt.com.

TRAMP ART CABINET, 20th century. Wood, tower shape with tooled molding. 34 ½ inches, $800.

Photos are courtesy of Wright, 1440 W. Hubbard Street, Chicago, IL, 60642. The catalogs for the Design auctions of June 9, 2016; October 20, 2016; and December 8, 2016, can be viewed at Wright20.com. Kovels - March 2017

T he 1970s and ‘80s was a time of experimentation in design. The movement was called postmodernism and some of

the innovative furniture pieces from that period are worth a pretty penny today. Wright of Chicago included a small selection of postmodern furniture designed by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown in the summer, fall, and winter 2016 auctions. Custom pieces brought the highest prices.

Architects Robert Venturi and his wife and partner, Denise Scott Brown, paved the way for postmodernism in America. Beginning in the 1970s, they created a series of chairs for Knoll International that played on historic styles. Knoll asked for three designs, but over a period of five years, Venturi had created nine. The designs included stylized versions of Chippendale, Queen Anne, Empire, Hepplewhite, Sheraton, Biedermeier, Gothic Revival, Art Nouveau and Art Deco chairs. They were made as flattened shapes with false facades from laminated plywood. The facade was to show that period styling could be applied for purely decorative purposes to create a witty design. When the chairs are viewed from the side, they all look similar, like thin factory-made molded plywood forms.

A pair of “Queen Anne” chairs from 1984 sold for $5,000. A “Gothic Revival” chair brought $6,250. Its “Grandmother” pattern decoration was designed by Scott Brown, inspired by a friend’s grandmother’s tablecloth. A pair of birch plywood chairs from 1985 that were styled after a chair by the famous English designer Thomas Chippendale sold for $4,375. An “Art Deco” chair from 1986, one of their most famous designs, has hand-applied stencil decoration. It went for $3,328. A 1984 “Urn” dining table made from the same materials brought $2,500.

Venturi and Scott Brown have continued to design in the postmodern style. Some designs have not gone into production, and prototypes occasionally hit the auction block. Wright had three prototypes of the couple’s “Tiffany” lamp that dates from 2001. The lamp was meant to imitate Tiffany Studios' famous stained glass lamps. A whimsical transfer printed design on an acrylic facade hides an enameled steel frame, socket and bulb that actually lights. One prototype sold for $5,000 and the other two for $5,313 each. Higher priced pieces in the sales were two matching colored lacquered wood custom consoles designed in 2002. Each sold for $25,000.

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Pictured on Cover“ART DECO” CHAIR, designed by Robert Venturi, made by Knoll International, 1986. Laminate over plywood with hand-applied decoration. Manufacturer's decal on bottom reads “Knoll Int. Dec 18 1986.” 23¼ by 23¼ by 31½ inches, $3,328.

CUSTOM CONSOLE, designed by Robert Venturi with Denise Scott Brown, 2002. Lacquered wood. 98 by 25½ by 37 inches, $25,000.

“TIFFANy” LAMP designed by Robert Venturi with Denise Scott Brown, 2001. Transfer print on acrylic, enameled steel. Sold with a copy of original drawing by Venturi. 13¾ by 4½ by 16 inches, $5,000.

"URN" DINING TABLE, designed by Robert Venturi, made by Knoll International, 1984. Laminate over plywood and birch plywood. 59½ by 29 inches, $2,500.

How popular was postmodernism?Postmodernism promoted the progress of historic styles while rejecting the modernist bias against tradition. Designs were often funny, whimsical or absurd takeoffs of traditional ideas or forms. From the late 1970s through the '80s, many architects and designers transformed traditional architecture, furniture, tabletop accessories, and jewelry into objects of fantasy. Famous architects like Robert Venturi and Michael Graves accepted commissions to design products for international companies that included Knoll, Alessi, and Formica.

dIGGInG DEEPER

“CHIPPENDALE” CHAIR, one of a pair, designed by Robert Venturi, made by Knoll International, 1985. Birch plywood, vinyl. Manufacturer's label on bottom “Knoll International, Inc.” 25½ by 24 by 37½ inches, $4,375 for the pair.

“QUEEN ANNE” CHAIR, one of a pair, designed by Robert Venturi with Denise Scott Brown, made by Knoll International, 1984. Laminate over plywood. Signed with paper manufacturer's label

on the bottom of each example, Knoll Int. Venturi Chair. 26¾ by 23 by 38½ inches, $5,000 for the pair.

“GOTHIC REvIvAL” chair, designed by Robert Venturi with Denise Scott Brown, made by Knoll International, 1984. Laminate over plywood. Chair features the “Grandmother” pattern. 21½ by 23 by 41 inches, $6,250.

SALES REPORT postmodern Furniture pops

Kovels - March 2017 Page 77 Photos are courtesy of Skinner. The 20th Century Design catalog, December 15, 2016, is available from Skinner, 63 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, SkinnerInc.com.

S teuben is an American company known for its colored and clear glass.

The company first started making clear glass animals in the early 1930s, but their menagerie greatly expanded in the 1960s. Examples made in the 1960s through the 1980s are most popular with collectors. Skinner Auctions in Boston included a small selection of older Steuben animals in their winter 2016 sale. Some new ones are being sold at the Corning Museum of Art. Prices for the auctioned glass range from $215 to $1,046.

When Steuben was founded in 1903, the company made useful objects. As the brand grew, lines included decorative objects that became big sellers. The price point for Steuben glass has always been high. In the 1960s, the company decided to create pieces that were more affordable. The animal line was the perfect line to expand. The pieces were made with the high-quality colorless glass Steuben was known for, but small enough to keep prices down. One of the most well-known animal designers in the 1960s was Paul Schulze. A Schulze pig from 1964 with large floppy ears and a defined snout sold for $246 (on cover). A dinosaur by another famous designer, James Houston, made in the early 1960s sold for $738.

By the 1970s, the most popular stock items at Steuben were the moderately priced animal figures. As time went on, the animals’ shapes became more streamlined. The smooth lines of the designs during this later period are seen in the 1975 rabbit by Lloyd Atkins that auctioned for $215 and the 1980 hippopotamus, also by Atkins, that brought $431. A 1976 seahorse by Donald

Pollard was one of the larger pieces in the sale. At over 6 inches tall and 7 inches wide, it sold for $431.

Steuben glass has been on bridal registries for decades, and presidents have given the glass as official state gifts. For collectors that wanted a more ornate version of the animals, designer James Houston added a touch of metal to some of his pieces in the 1960s. Houston designed animals for Steuben for over 43 years. The most famous glass and metal combination made by Houston was the Trout and Fly, in which a fish leaps from the glass to catch a gold fly. Two Houston pieces with metal accents were included in the auction—a mushroom with a gold butterfly resting on the cap and a glass butterfly resting on a gold frame. Each sold for $1,046.

Great design and glass quality made Steuben an important glass company. Steuben hired artists and glass artisans who have designed for the company throughout the years. Some of the famous designers include Georgia O’Keefe, Henri Matisse, and Salvador Dali. The company was closed in 2011, and the Corning Museum of Glass purchased the rights. Corning recently commissioned well-known glass artisans to make an additional line of animals. The new glass is only for sale at the museum, and pieces are made using the same colorless glass formula used by Steuben since the 1930s.

What makes the glass so special?Steuben originally focused on colored glass until 1933 when a new formula to make colorless lead crystal with a high refractive index was developed. It was used for the popular line of glass bowls, vases, etc.

dIGGInG DEEPER

STEUBEN LARGE DINOSAUR, designed by James Houston, 1964. Signed Steuben. 7 ¼ by 12 ¾ inches, $738.

Pictured on CoverSTEUBEN PIG, designed by Paul Schulze, 1964. Signed Steuben. 3 ½ by 3 ⅝ inches, $246.

STEUBEN HIPPOPOTAMUS, designed by Lloyd Atkins, 1980. Signed Steuben. 3 by 6 ¼ inches, $431.

STEUBEN BUTTERFLy ON 18K GOLD FRAME, designed by James Houston, 1964. Signed Steuben. 2 ½ by 3 inches, $1,046.

STEUBEN MUSHROOM WITH 18K GOLD BUTTERFLy, designed by James Houston, 1964. Signed Steuben. 3½ inches, $1,046.

RARE STANDING RABBIT, designed by Lloyd Atkins, 1975. Signed Steuben. 7 ⅞ inches, $215.

STEUBEN SEAHORSE, designed by Donald Pollard, 1976. Signed Steuben, 6 ¾ by 7 inches, $431.

SALES REPORTcLAssy, GLAssy steuben

Kovels - March 2017Page 78

Wristwatches continue to withstand the test of time.Buyers snatched up vintage wristwatches at a

December 2016 Leslie Hindman auction. There were high-quality watches for just over $100. The trick is knowing what to look for.

Alexander Eblen of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers says, “There will always be a market for high-end timepieces, and many good watches with mid-market brands are also selling well.” A Tissot “T-Touch” man’s wristwatch with multiple functions, including barometric pressure, altimeter, chronograph, compass, alarm and thermometer, sold for only $113.

Mechanical watches generally retain greater value than quartz movement timepieces. But many collectors still enjoy the ease of battery watches.

Rolex and Patek Philippe are the most popular timepieces. An 18K yellow gold Patek wristwatch sold for $3,500. The watch had a case that was small for a man's wristwatch. “A

similar, larger Patek would sell for at least $2,000 more,” Eblen says. “The really in-demand Patek watches will be in the 36 millimeter range and those from the 1940s and ’50s.”

A 1999 Rolex GMT-Master II wristwatch, a stainless steel man’s watch with red and black rotating bezel to display a second 24-hour time zone, sold for $5,500. Rolex makes few changes to their watches year after year, and those from a first year of production in good condition are a great find. Still, the name sells the watch. The market will pay more for a vintage Rolex than contemporary. There’s an added aura of importance to the older ones. Rolex all-stainless steel sport watches from the ‘60s to ‘80s tend to be the hottest of that brand for financial appreciation. Paul Newman’s Daytonas, the holy grail of the sports line from the ‘60s, have appreciated to over $100K.

A woman’s 1982 18K gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust watch sold for $3,750, and another woman’s Rolex, a 1984 18K gold and stainless steel model, sold for $1,750. Women often value watches as pieces of jewelry; the mechanical

Don’t discard old wristwatches. Even Bulova Accutron electric watches from the ‘60s, still found at garage sales, can fetch from $300 to over $1,000 in good working order. But beware of getting one that doesn’t work. The price to repair often eclipses the value. Be sure to give it to a qualified watchmaker to get it running and NEVER polish or redo cases or dials. Most collectors want to purchase watches in the original condition. Even a stainless steel bracelet can be cleaned, but NOT polished to retain real collector value.

dIGGInG DEEPER

CARTIER “SANTOS” WRISTWATCH. Stainless steel, polished gold bezel, screws. Quartz movement signed Cartier. Dial signed Cartier. Steel link bracelet, screws, fold-out clasp, gold double C logo. Case, outer box, booklet, cleaning kit. Case 35 by 23 mm, $1,000.

Photos are courtesy of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, 1338 West Lake St., Chicago, IL 60607. The catalog Fine Timepieces, December 6, 2016, can be viewed online at LeslieHindman.com.

SALES REPORT time−tested WristWAtches

TISSOT “T-TOUCH” WRISTWATCH. Stainless steel, digital display. Quartz movement. Functions: barometric pressure, altimeter, chronograph, compass, alarm and thermometer. Three pushers, turning bezel, compass markings, water resistant, steel bracelet with fold-out clasp. Case 40 mm, $113.

OMEGA F300HZ ELECTRONIC CHRONOMETER WRISTWATCH. Stainless steel case. Jewel quartz movement. Embossed Omega symbol on crown. Link bracelet with fold-out clasp. Case 44 by 40 mm, $313.

HAMILTON WRISTWATCH, c.1937. 14K yellow gold. Curved case, dial signed Hamilton, subdial for seconds. Manual wind, 19 jewel movement, signed Hamilton. Alligator strap with buckle. Case back stamped Hamilton, inner case stamped Hamilton Watch Co. Lancaster, Pa., 45 by 21 ½ mm, $344.

Kovels - March 2017 Page 79

ROLEX GMT-MASTER II WRISTWATCH, c.1999. Stainless steel. Screw case and crown. Dial signed Rolex. Luminous indicators, date. Rotating bezel, 31 jewel self-winding rhodium-plated movement, five positions, temperature. Oyster link bracelet, fold-out clasp. 39 mm, $5,500.

Pictured on Cover

SALES REPORTmovement is not as important. A woman’s 18K yellow gold Rolex watch with round brilliant and single cut diamonds sold for $6,250. Diamonds remain a girl’s best friend. But make sure the diamonds weren’t added later when purchasing a Rolex. They may not be as high quality as diamonds originally used by Rolex.

As Patek Philippe and Rolex have become out of reach for many buyers, other brands like Omega are stepping into those price points. A man’s Omega electronic chronometer wristwatch with a blue dial sold for $313. Omega is a respected Swiss brand known for high-quality old and new

watches. An Omega watch with a large gold case, even one less than 10 years old, is in demand. Cartier is another high-end brand that draws watch collectors. A man’s Cartier “Santos” wristwatch, stainless steel with a quartz movement, auctioned for $1,000.

A 14K yellow gold Hamilton wristwatch, circa 1937 with a manual-wind movement and a brown alligator strap, sold for $344. Eblen says, “If you just like watches and are interested, there is so much out there. You don’t have to spend a lot of money.”

time−tested WristWAtches

PATEK PHILIPPE CO. WRISTWATCH. 18K gold. Dial signed Patek Philippe, subdial for seconds. 18 jewel manual-wind rhodium-plated damascene movement adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism, five positions, signed Patek Philippe. Later leather strap with buckle. Case 30 mm, $3,500.

ROLEX OySTER PERPETUAL DATEJUST WRISTWATCH, c.1984. Stainless steel and 18K yellow gold. Screw case and crown. Dial signed Rolex, sweep second hand, date opening with magnifier window. Gold coin edge bezel. Self-winding 29 jewel movement adjusted to five positions and temperature, signed Rolex. Jubilee link bracelet with fold-out clasp. 25 mm, $1,750.

ROLEX OySTER PERPETUAL DATEJUST WOMAN’S WRISTWATCH, c.1982. 18K gold. Screw case and crown. Dial signed Rolex with center second hand, date opening with magnifying window. Self-winding 30 jewel rhodium-plated movement adjusted to temperature, five positions, signed Rolex. President link bracelet with fold-out clasp. 26 mm, $3,750.

DIAMOND ROLEX WOMAN’S WRISTWATCH. 18K gold, diamonds. Dial signed Rolex, center second hand, date opening with magnifier. Self-winding 29 jewel rhodium-plated damascene movement adjusted to temperature, five positions, signed Rolex. President link bracelet with fold-out clasp. Case 26 mm, $6,250.

➤ A rare fire grenade, “Perfection Hand Grenade Pat’d by A. Jones 885,” auctioned for $13,800 at a 2016 Glass Works auction. It set the world record for a fire grenade. The owner had taken it to a bottle show because he had no idea what it was. His grandmother thought it was a liquor bottle.

➤ The antiques column in The New York Times has been “retired” after having been written by Eve Kahn for almost 50 years. Three other columnists have written the column since 1966. The newspaper has discontinued other art columns and is redesigning the pages to become more “visually appealing” and to “provide better guidance to readers.”

➤ A new scam started in a department store in Virginia. A preschool teacher bought high-priced luxury handbags in at least 12 states with 16 different credit cards then returned knockoffs she had made in China and Hong Kong. She swindled over $1 million with this scheme and was rich enough to have a Lexus, hundreds of real luxury handbags and to stay in high-end hotels while traveling. Some of the stores that were victims are afraid they may have sold the false bags to other customers at the original’s high price. The clever swindler was sentenced to 33 months in jail, and she must sell her assets to repay what she stole.

hotLines

Page 80 Kovels - March 2017Photos are courtesy of Humler & Nolan, 225 E. Sixth Street, 4th Floor, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Their November 6, 2016, Rookwood Auction catalog is archived at HumlerNolan.com.

DRAGON CANDLE HOLDER, 1930. Dragon clutching candle cup as handle. Dark blue over light blue matte glaze. Marked with Rookwood logo, date, shape 2920 and the fan-shaped mark used during the company’s 50th anniversary. 6 ½ inches, $350.

Rookwood Pottery was one of the first art potteries to become popular with collectors. Humler & Nolan’s fall

2016 sale in Cincinnati featured a collection of over 200 lots of antique and vintage Rookwood pottery from the 1880’s on. Large and important pieces sold for up to $15,000 but the many smaller items were more affordable, useful and collectible. Prices realized for small non-vase selections ranged from $70 to $550.

“Rookwood means quality,” according to Riley Humler of Humler & Nolan. “It is an amazing combination of technology and well-trained artists.” Many of Rookwood’s smaller items were designed as office accessories. They were often decorated with flora and fauna themes, including the company’s “rook” namesake. Two examples featuring the bird include a 1928 green over light blue matte pencil cup decorated with sitting rooks (pictured on cover) and a 1936 green and brown matte rook paperweight. Each took flight at $200. A 1951 cocker spaniel paperweight covered in Rookwood’s Nubian Black glaze realized $190, and a 1915 owl ashtray in green matte glaze with a maroon drip made $300.

Rookwood’s smaller specialties were also made to add a spot of color and whimsy to the home. This sale included the company’s scent jars, tableware, trivets, tiles, and other functional art pottery. To keep track of all the different forms, Rookwood impressed a shape number under the logo on the bottom of each of these pieces. A 1921 Iris wall pocket covered with the company’s signature mottled green over blue “frogskin” glaze realized $300. And a 1930 dark blue over light blue matte dragon candle holder bearing the company’s fan-shaped 50th anniversary mark realized $350.

Bookends were well-represented in this sale, with several early to mid 20th century examples. A pair of 1929 Sphinx bookends with frogskin glaze brought $500. The pair was designed by Louise Abel, an important company artist. Dutch Boy and Girl bookends designed by Sallie Toohey in 1943 sold for $100.

Humler explains that fakes are seldom a problem for collectors. Rookwood was costly to produce and expensive when new. “It would be nearly impossible to duplicate it in a convincing manner, although people try,” says Humler. The most expensive piece of Rookwood was sold in 2004 for $350,750. The extraordinary vase was made in 1900 by Kataro Shiriyamadani, a Japanese artist who worked at Rookwood for over 50 years, possibly for the Paris Exposition. It is decorated with flying cranes, Black Iris glaze and silver and copper overlay. The vase is now in the Cincinnati Art Museum.

Maria Longworth (1848–1932), a wealthy socialite, founded Rookwood in 1880 to produce art pottery on a par with Europe. Rookwood Pottery Company was the first female run manufacturing facility in America. It won the First Prize Gold Medal at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1889. Today the company continues to manufacture a full range of commercial and custom products in Cincinnati. It is owned by a group of private investors.

dIGGInG DEEPER

OWL ASHTRAy, 1915. Green matte glaze with maroon matte drip over the head. Marked with Rookwood logo, date, and shape 1084. 6 ¼ inches, $300.

SPHINX BOOKENDS, designed by Louise Abel, 1929. Mottled green over blue matte frogskin glaze. Marked with Rookwood logo, date, and shape 2503. 7 inches, $500.

ROOK PAPERWEIGHT, 1936. Stylized bird form, green and brown matte glaze. Marked with Rookwood logo, date, and shape 1623. 2⅞inches, $200.

Pictured on CoverROOK PENCIL HOLDER, 1928. Five-sided, each side featuring a rook seated under a tree branch, green over light blue matte glaze. Marked with Rookwood logo, date, and shape 1795. 4 ¾ inches, $200.

DUTCH BOy AND GIRL BOOKENDS, designed by Sallie Toohey, 1943. Matte glaze. Marked with Rookwood logo, date, shape 6022 and the designer’s mold monogram. 5 ¾ inches, $100.

WALL POCKET, 1921. Irises, green over blue matte frogskin glaze. Marked with Rookwood logo, date, and shape 1803. 12 ½ inches, $300.

COCKER SPANIEL PAPERWEIGHT, 1951. Dog form, Nubian Black glaze. Marked with the Rookwood logo, date, and shape 7024. 4 ¼ inches, $190.

For more information see the Rookwood section in Kovels’ American Art Pottery by Ralph & Terry Kovel, Crown Publishers, 1993. Watch for the Rookwood numbering system and drawings of shapes in an upcoming Dictionary of Marks.

SALES REPORT A Look At rookWood

Kovels - March 2017 Page 81

Charles Ahrenfeldt & SonAltrohlau, Boehmia (now Stara Role, Czech Republic)Limoges, FranceNew York, New York1894–1910Mark registered 1909, used on white porcelain, also with “Limoges” The company had a porcelain decorating shop in Altrohlau, a factory in Limoges, and an import business in New York City. The shop in Altrohlau decorated porcelain for the American market. The New York office imported porcelain from Bohemia and Germany.

Porcelain Factory Weiden Bros., BauscherWeiden, Bavaria, Germany1881–presentMark used c.1900 to after 1910Founded by brothers August and Conrad Bauscher, who made hotel and catering china. The company is still in business, now under the name Bauscher. It makes porcelain for hotels, restaurants, catering, care facilities, and hospitals.

Bernhard BertramLuftelberg, Rhineland, Germany1830–c.1935Mark used before 1887–1906 and 1930–c.1935Art pottery, majolica, and terra-cotta.

Hauber & ReutherFreising, Bavaria, Germany1882–1907Mark used 1887–before 1910Albert Hauber became part owner of a stoneware factory in Freising in 1876. He was the sole owner by 1878. After Hans Reuther became a partner in 1882, the company became Hauber & Reuther. It began making porcelain in 1886. The company made household articles and steins.

Marks including two or more entwined letters can be hard to identify. Some letters are hard to distinguish from flowing lines. Once you’ve deciphered the letters, you may need to determine their order to find the maker. The entwined

marks shown here were used by German porcelain manufacturers. Marks shown are from Keramik-Marken Lexikon, 1885–1935 (Arnoldsche, Stuttgart, 1994).

Johann HavilandWaldershof, Bavaria, Germany1907–1924Mark used 1909–1924John Haviland, a member of the famous French Haviland family, founded his porcelain factory in 1907. The company made vases, household porcelain, and coffee and tea sets. In 1924 it was sold to Richard Ginori Porcelain and renamed Porcelain Factory Waldershof AG, formerly Johann Haviland. Ginori sold it to Rosenthal in 1933. Some Johann Haviland dinnerware was sold as grocery store premiums in the United States in the 1970s and ’80s. Production stopped in the late 1980s.

Johann HufnaglGmunden, Austria1888–1930+Mark used after 1930Porcelain decorating shop.

Reissner, Stellmacher & Kessel AmphoraTurn-Teplitz, Bohemia (now Trnovany, Czech Republic)1892–1905Mark used 1892–c.1904)The company was founded by Hans and Carl Reissner, Edward Stellmacher, and Rudolf Kessel. After Stellmacher left in 1905, the company was renamed Reissner & Kessel Amphora Works.

Albert SchmidtWaltershausen, Thuringia, Germany1863–c.1930Mark used before 1887–c.1930Ceramic art workshop. Animal figures, animal heads, vases, watch cases, and advertising items were made. Schmidt’s sons took over the business about 1900.

➤ To clean the stem and bowl of a collectible briar pipe, dip a pipe cleaner in vodka. Push the pipe cleaner through the stem. Use a dry pipe cleaner for any pipe but a briar pipe.

➤ To clean stained aluminum, boil it in a pot with water and grapefruit or lemon rind for about 30 minutes. Another method of cleaning stained aluminum is to put two heaping tablespoons of cream of tartar in a pot of water and boil the aluminum in the mixture for 30 minutes.

➤ You may be able to rejuvenate dirty suede or cloth shoes by using a soft pencil eraser, an emery board, or a light sanding with 100 grit or higher sandpaper (the higher the number, the finer the sandpaper). Then rub with a cloth dampened with vinegar.➤ Have an emergency plan for your collection. For storms with advance warning, arrange to move the collection or at least pack it and move it to the safest part of the house. Be sure to have packing materials available.

dictionAry oF mArks — conjoined mArks

Tips

Kovels - March 2017Page 82

neW uses For oLd stuFF

Antiques were selling well in 1976–1977. American collectors were paying higher prices for quilts,

cloisonné, and 18th century American furniture by important cabinetmakers. Most of the furniture and quilts were made in east coast cities such as Boston, New York, Baltimore and Philadelphia. It was the first part of the country to have European craftsmen who had immigrated, brought their skills, and made American style pieces. It took the colonists a year to get dishes or samples from England by ship.

During 1977, there were special exhibitions, new books, and publicity about women’s movement activities that helped raise prices for works by female artists in areas like sewing, crafts and art pottery. More collectors were looking for 19th and early 20th century things that reminded them of the past—English and American Victorian art pottery, corkscrews, Victorian rococo furniture and the slightly newer oak furniture, baskets, Heisey glass, dolls of all ages, Canton ware, fairings, spongeware, Gallé glass, Victorian Chinese furniture, and valuable gem-set Victorian jewelry. We predicted that prices for oak furniture and informal pottery and glass would continue to go up because 20 to

30-year-old buyers were starting to enter the vintage and antiques market. Buyers wanted advertising items; political pieces; and memorabilia related to comic books, radio and TV shows, so prices were going up. So were prices for 20th-century glass by makers like Heisey, Fenton, Cambridge, and McKee, as well as Depression glass.

A few things went down in price during this period—18th century English porcelain, English Delft, Victorian art glass, Prattware, early 19th century English furniture, carnival glass, U.S. Centennial and Civil War items, and English Georgian-period silver. Bronzes were at an all-time high at the beginning of the year, but by the end, prices had dropped.

Record prices from 1976–77 included $22,000 paid for a chair by Duncan Phyfe, the New York City cabinetmaker, and $135,000 for a Massachusetts Chippendale bombe chest of drawers, the highest price ever paid for a piece of American furniture. The Birds of America, the book with illustrations by John James Audubon, set a record at $352,000. A daguerreotype sold for $9,860 and a photograph for $8,750. It took $3,100 to set the record when buying a cobalt Mason jar embossed CFJCO.

1977 Kovels' Price Guide compared to 2017 Kovels' Price Guide

Depression glass, cameo butter, cover, $185Now $65

Depression glass, Columbia, butter, 6 in., $12Now $4

Hummel, figurine, Apple Tree Girl, 4 in., $90Now $38

Bank, Mechanical, Teddy & the Bear, $150Now $1,080

CAMEO BUTTER DISH

HUMMEL APPLE TREE GIRL

➤ More than 350 different backstamps have been used on Nippon-era dishes from Japan. Half of them are related to the Noritake Company.

➤ When checking a catalog for a large sale, be sure to study the last few pages. Less expensive pieces, often by the same artists who made the expensive wares in the front of the sale, are sold in groups (lots). They are often bargains.

➤ It’s getting harder to know all the things that are banned or can’t be bought or sold because of special laws to protect endangered species or historic or sacred places. But once in a while, a ban is removed. In October 2016, the United States lifted the ban on rubies coming into the country from Myanmar. It was put in place in 2008 to force the military government to improve human rights. The rubies now permitted are the famed Burma rubies, considered some of the best in the

world. (Yes, Myanmar is the new name for Burma.) The ban caused financial problems and the miners are happy to go back to work. Look for new ruby jewelry. For the past eight years, only old ruby jewelry could be imported.

➤ Two pairs of Shirley Temple’s tap shoes sold for $20,000 at a Heritage auction on December 5-6, 2016.

hotLines

Are Antiques A Good investment?

Depression glass was among the most popular categories in the 1970s, but today it is very low-priced and sells primarily online. Hummel figurines became popular with soldiers who brought them home from Germany after World War II. They went up in price until about 1997, when production switched to the Far East. By 2008, the fig-urines were no longer made by Goebel. Rights were sold and a different company is making new ones. Collectors lost interest and prices plummeted for most of the old figurines.

Part II, 1977 − 201750 years of PrIces

ADVERTISINGSign, Home Comfort, Wrought Steel Ranges &

Furnaces, St. Louis, Mo., Toronto, Ont., factory scene, porcelain, 1890s, 4⅜ x 5⅞ inches ........................$220

Radiator hood ornament, Studebaker, Motometer, metal, winged base, 1920s, 5 ½ x 8 inches .......................$315

Tray, Orange-Julep brand soda, bathing beauty by shore, tin lithograph, c.1922, 13 x 10 inches ....................$460

Box, Rinso Blue detergent, regular size, Paladin trading card offer inside, Richard Boone pictured, unopened, 1959, 6 x 8 ½ inches ...........................................$820

DOLLS & TOYSCandy container, PEZ, Batman, black body, 1980s..............$10Tea set, Mickey Mouse & Friends, tin lithograph,

Mickey, Minnie & Pluto scenes, plates, cups & saucers, teapot, tray, Ohio Art, 1930s, 14 piece ..............$260

Toy, Barney Google & Spark Plug, tin lithograph, windup, built-in key, rocks back & forth, Nifty, copyright 1924, 7 x 7 inches .................................................$385

Stereoscope, Marvel Super Heroes See-A-Show, cardboard display box, set No. 103-T, color cartoon shows, Kenner, 1966, 6 x 11 inches .....................$635

Toy, action figure, Captain America, fly away action, shield, window box, 1979, 12 ½ inches...............................$870

FURNITUREDressing table, Rococo Revival, mahogany, mirror,

3 serpentine drawers, cabochon carved cabriole legs, England, c.1850, 61 x 39 inches ..................................$515

Bed, trundle, rope, walnut, 4 low posts, ball finials, headboard & footboard, pegged rails, c.1810, 59 x 39 ½inches ....................................................................$1,100

Settee, Neoclassical, painted, 4 shield back, lyre splats, padded seats, shaped arms, tapered square legs, c.1810, 37 x 64 ½ inches ............................................$1,000

Half-tester bed, Rococo Revival, oval panel head- board, arched canopy, cast iron hardware, Mitchell &Rammelsberg, Ohio, c.1875, 97 x 79 inches .............$2,250

Chair & ottoman, Egg, aluminum, plastic, upholstered, Arne Jacobsen, Fritz Hansen, foil label, c.1960, chair 41 inches, ottoman 17 x 22 inches ........................$2,625

GLASSPeking glass brushpot, yellow snowflake glaze, red

overlay, carved symbols, c.1910, 5 inches .........................$125Daum vase, mottled aqua, yellow spots, matte, squat,

wide rim, ring foot, marked, 4 x 6 inches .........................$285Quezal shade, white, pulled green feathers, curled tips,

gold interior, ruffled rim, engraved, 8 x 5 inches ...........$295Bowl set, Patrician pattern, pedestal base, blown,

Josef Hoffmann, J. & L. Lobmeyr, 1930s, 4 ¾ x 3 ½ inches, 4 piece........................................................$800

Punch bowl, cut glass, silver rim with lotus blossoms, matching silver undertray with inlaid mahogany, Shreve & Co., c.1900, 14 inches ........................................$5,625

POTTERY & PORCELAIN Yellowware teapot, mottled glaze, molded, Rebecca

At The Well, palm tree, c.1865, 9 inches .......................$630Creamware plate set, titled Roman vignettes, Julius

Caesar era, Creil et Montereau, 1880-1920, 8 ½ inches, 8 piece ...............................................................$705

Grueby tile, yellow tulip, green leaf outlines & ground, square, wood frame, c.1910, 6 inches...........$1,625

Stoneware, plate, abstract design, glazed, white, gray & brown, signed, Peter Voulkos, c.1950, 10 inches..$3,750

SILVER & OTHER METALSSilver bonbon dish, reticulated, grape & grapeleaf

repousse decoration, Whiting Mfg. Co., 1866-1926, 5 ¾ inches, pair..............................................$185

Brass candelabrum, 5-light, applied flower decoration, Art Nouveau, marked “Pairpoint Mf’g Co” and “6199,” 13 ⅜ x 17 inches ...................................................$245

Pewter porringer, flower handle, William Calder, Rhode Island, marked J-67, 1817-1856, 5 inches.........$995

Bronze sculpture, girl, seated, legs tucked back to one side, inscribed on left leg S. Seangtian, 1900s, 26 x 29 inches .......................................................$1,250

TEXTILES & CLOTHING Sundress, cotton & polyester, pastel rose print, mid-

length, Lilly Pulitzer, 1970s, small ..................................$150Gloves, Plains Indian, hide, flowers, side fringe,

fur opening, velvet lining, late 19th century................$200Flag, British, Naval, Red Ensign, silk, red, Union Jack

in upper left corner, 1800-1850, 40 x 31 inches........$5,100Tapestry, hand woven, cranes in a forest setting,

muted colors, green, olive, tan, brown, Brussels, 1600s, 8 x 6 feet .................................................................$6,875

MISCELLANEOUSTrunk, leather, nailhead trim, R.G. monogram, label,

James Boyd & Sons, Boston & New Orleans, c.1850, 13 x 36 x 18 inches..................................................$550

Souvenir token, Buffalo Bill Wild West Show 1901, “Good Luck” horseshoe, pink ribbon attached, 1 ½ inches ..............................................................................$720

Barometer, Restauration, giltwood, carved, love bird crest, flowers, garlands, thermometer over weather dial, c.1810, 39 inches......................................$1,625

Typewriter, polygraph, Art Nouveau design, tin cover Polyphone Musikwerke, Germany, c.1905................$7,852

$20 & UNDERChopper, garnish, stainless steel, Kenberry, U.S.A.,

1950s, 4 ½ inches ....................................................................$12Soup, coupe, Pink Swirl pattern, Anchor Hocking,

Fire King, 7 ⅝ inches.............................................................$14Commemorative plate, Bicentennial, Independence

Hall, Amber, Avon, 1976, 8 inches .....................................$15Funnel, graniteware, gray enamel, mottled, handle,

Haberman Mfg. Co., c.1900, 4 ¼ inches............................$18

Prices compiled monthly from sales and advertisements. For an additional 25,000 current prices, 2,500 color photographs and factory marks, see Kovels’ Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide 2017, 49th edition, available at local bookstores and libraries, from KovelsOnlineStore.com or by mail from KOVEL'S, P.O. Box 22192, Beachwood, OH 44122 ($27.99 plus $4.95 postage and handling).

Kovels - March 2017 Page 83

Buyers price Guide

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, con-dition, 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 P.O. 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.

Kovels - March 2017

Q: I received this urn more than 50 years ago from my great-aunt. She said, “Please do not sell it as it is valuable.” I can’t find anyone to tell me what it is. It looks like ivory with the apostles carved around it. There are no distinguishable markings on it. Can you help?

A: Your Goofy animated talking telephone was made by TeleMania, a Segan product. Marc Segan founded M.H. Segan in 1999. The company specialized in inventing and developing new products and made several other character phones and musical toys. Segan also invented the first musical greeting card. Value $25 to $30.

Q: I bought two Centennial Chippendale chairs over 40 years ago. The original seats, black leather with a horsehair cushion, have aged but are still intact. I put new covers over the leather to help protect it. The chairs are mahogany with a linseed oil finish. The finish is worn off in a few places and there are a few minor dings on the edges. I’d like to know more about these chairs and approximate value.

Q: I recently inherited this lamp that hung over a table in my great-grandparents’ home. It is marked “Bohner’s Pat. Aug. 19, 1873, Oct. 13, 1876.” Why are there two patent dates? What goes on the hook on the top of the lamp? What is its current value?

A: This is a library lamp made by George Bohner & Co. of Chicago. The August 19, 1873, and Oct. 13, 1876, patent dates were for “improvements in hanging lamps.” George and Joseph E. Bohner held several patents for lamps. An 1883 newspaper ad listed George Bohner & Co. as makers of “lamp goods, chandeliers, glassware and bar goods.” Your lamp was meant to hang above a table or desk. The cord is 7 feet long. A smoke bell that protected the ceiling from smoke damage hung from the hook. Your lamp with the original shade is worth $200 to $500, depending on condition. You can find an old smoke bell at an antiques auction or you can buy a replacement smoke bell online.

Q: I bought this Goofy phone at a yard sale and would like to know its true worth. The phone is battery operated, and when it rings, Goofy lifts his head, opens his eyes, and says one of five different sayings. In between talking, he drops his head, closes his eyes, and snores. His clothing is cloth and the pushbutton dial is made to look like a rotary phone. It’s all original but has a few scratches which could lower the value, but it’s still in great shape and works. How much is its worth?

A: You have a sugar bowl, part of a stoneware “Apostle” tea set designed by Charles Meigh in the 1840s. The relief-molded design was registered in 1842. It is part of a tea set that includes a tea pot, water pitcher, covered sugar, and creamer. They are made of salt-glazed stoneware, not ivory. Meigh worked at Old Hall Works in Hanley, Staffordshire, England, from 1835 to 1849. Later he worked with his son and a partner. The pottery was

Charles Meigh & Son from 1851 to 1861 and then became Old Hall Earthenware Co. Ltd. Reproductions have been made. Value of a covered sugar bowl, $100 to $150.

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A: Thomas Chippendale began making furniture about 1750. He died in 1779. Centennial furniture was made in this style at the time of the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876. Linseed oil used to be recommended to protect wood, but it darkens after several years and is very hard to remove. Do not use linseed oil. Wax or polish the worn places with commercial furniture polish. The chairs are well-made and can be sold as used furniture but have no added “antique” value. In good usable condition, they might retail for $100 each.

CoLLector’s GALLery