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Antiques Update: Pottery's luster adds value
By Ralph and Terry Kovel, Special to the Times
Published September 8, 2007
Our Collectors Guide to American Art Pottery is one of two books published in 1974 that explains art pottery. Information about factories, marks and artists is included, as well as pictures of the best pottery. Rookwood, Roseville, Weller, Grueby, Ohr and other potteries were soon "discovered" by collectors, and prices began to rise. Collectors with limited budgets searched for works by some of the smaller, lesser-known potteries. Today, because the best of early 20th century art pottery is in museums or private collections, prices are very high. A $25 vase in 1974 could be worth $2,000 today. So collectors have turned to English, French or German art pottery. It is surprising how similar some of the techniques, shapes and designs appear when comparing American and European art pottery. One technique is iridescent glazing. Jacques Sicard made an iridescent glaze for his French pottery and later for Weller Pottery in Ohio. The metallic luster was so successful that Sicard was determined not to give away his secret. He is said to have worked in a secret room with no peepholes at Weller. But other potteries in both the United States and France were able to make a similar metallic luster. Today all pre-1930 luster-glazed art pottery from France or the United States is very collectible. A seller, not a maker Q: We bought a 10-piece dining-room several years ago. There's a medallion in the drawer of the buffet that reads, "Special design made for James McCreery & Company, New York, N.Y." I'd like information about the set and its maker. Can you help? A: McCreery & Co. was a major New York City department store, not a furniture maker. There also might be a maker's mark on your furniture. McCreery's sold quality furniture by various makers, including Drexel and the Byrdcliffe Art Colony. Pieces often were marked by both the store and the maker. McCreery & Co. opened in 1867 as a silk retailer, but within three years, its founder, James McCreery (1826-1903), bought a large building on Broadway and added several other departments to the store. So McCreery's became an early New York department store. McCreery's closed in 1953, so your set was made before then. What archival means Q: You're always suggesting that people store their old photographs, postcards, baseball cards and papers in "archival albums" or "archival boxes." What do you mean? A: Anything printed on paper that you want to preserve should be stored in specially treated albums or boxes. They're called "archival" because they're designed for archiving things for generations. Photos, for example, won't fade as quickly or be ruined by moisture or insects. These are acid-free and are treated with agents that resist dust, dirt and light. You can buy museum-quality boxes and albums online or at some high-end photography or picture-framing stores. Send questions to Antiques, Ralph and Terry Kovel, c/o the St. Petersburg Times, King Features Syndicate, 300 W 57th St., 15th Floor, New York, NY 10019. Visit www.kovels.com to sign up and see more than 750,000 free antiques and collectibles prices and to receive free weekly e-mail updates with the latest information on the world of collecting. - - - Current prices Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions. - Harvard football-player doll, stuffed cloth body, celluloid head, crimson uniform, 14-1/2 inches, $175. - Laurel and Hardy pendant watch on chain, face has one smiling, one frowning, gold luster finish, Dirty Time Co., 1970, 24-inch chain, $335. - Chippendale-style game table, mahogany, skirt, acanthus-carved knees, green felt-lined playing surface, 1930s, 30 x 36 x 18 inches, $460. - SBlt Andy Gump countertop change receiver, advertises Andy Gump cigars, wooden base, glass dome, 7 x 7 x 2 1/4 inches, $630. - Russian silver belt buckle, interlocking cartouche, niello design, sword-form latch, fabric strip with applied bar and buttons, 1880s, 28 inches, $690. - A.P.W. Satin Tissue toilet-paper sign, stand-up easel back, cardboard, maid stocking cupboard with tissue rolls, 1920s, 38 x 21 inches, $1,155.
[Last modified September 6, 2007, 17:09:00]
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