The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, has acquired the outstanding fraktur collection Joy and David Brocklebank. Having focused on western Pennsylvania fraktur for 38 years, the Brocklebanks' collection consists of more than 200 hand-drawn and printed fraktur from Westmoreland County and other western Pennsylvania counties. It was assembled by a dedicated scholar who was interested in the artistry and genealogy of these works on paper. First published by the Brocklebank's daughter in "Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Fraktur, An Initial Survey" in The Magazine ANTIQUES in 1986, the collection has grown substantially and was featured in the 2007 exhibition at The Westermoreland titled "Made in Pennsylvania: A Folk Art Tradition."
Judith H. O'Toole, Director/CEO, states, "The acquisition of this major collection of western Pennsylvania fraktur strengthens The Westmoreland's already significant regional folk art collection, which contains important examples of furniture including painted furniture from Soap Hollow, textiles including samplers and coverlets, redware and decorated stoneware, and paintings."
The fraktur tradition in western Pennsylvania flourished primarily in Westmoreland County for more than one hundred years, where nine artists have been identified by surviving work dated as early as 1788. The collection also contains fraktur from Allegheny, Bedford, Indiana, McKean, Somerset, and Washington counties. The Brocklebank fraktur join more than a dozen important Westmoreland County fraktur collected by the Museum since its founding in 1959, making the Westmoreland's collection of western Pennsylvania fraktur the most important public or private collection known.
The work fraktur comes from the Latin word meaning "broken" - the same as our word "fracture." From an article in the catalogue that accompanied the exhibition, "Made In Pennsylvania: A Folk Art Tradition," by R. David Brocklebank and Barbara L. Jones, comes this definition of the word fraktur, "The term is used today to describe a wide variety of Pennsylvania German folk-art documents. For the present purposes, embellishment "beyond necessity" seems to be an adequate definition of folk art." They continue, "The work fraktur has its origin in the presentation of text in discrete letters as opposed to a cursive hand. In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the vast influx of immigrants from what is now Germany and Switzerland brought the tradition to Pennsylvania, where it underwent considerable evolution. Schoolteachers in the rural areas made a very large percentage of the fraktur that survives today."
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Fooled By Fakes: Buyer Beware!
Fabulous Fenton Glass
by Anita Stratos
Fenton became a source of chatter in the glass collecting and auction world when it announced last year that it would be closing in October 2007 after 102 years as a family owned and operated business. Of great concern was the possibility that Fenton’s molds would become the property of companies that would produce fake pieces, some of which would be unmarked and all of which would be difficult to detect. However, these fears were temporarily relieved when the company recently announced that it would undergo a financial restructuring in an attempt to stay in business. Part of this restructuring is the creation of two Fenton companies; Fenton USA and Fenton International.
“Fenton USA will consist of glass made domestically and Fenton International will consist of glass and non-glass products that are imported,” explained George W. Fenton, President of Fenton Art Glass in a December 4, 2007 web press release. “Each brand will be clearly marked.”
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Grand Re-Opening Benton Antiques, Etc.
Closed for two months for renovations, Benton Antiques, Etc., in Benton, Pennsylvania, will have a Grand Re-opening Celebration Saturday, May 17th and Sunday, May 18th with treats, door prizes, and special sale items. The market is located in a turn-of-the-century building, originally the Benton Store Company, and later a hardware store, at 235 Main Street.
Using great care to maintain the original integrity of the building, the original plank flooring has been newly refurbished and many items long hidden from view, such as the original wainscoting on the walls and ceiling, have been brought back to life. Windows long covered over have found new meaning.
Adding to the historic charm of the building is appropriate lighting and a vintage stained glass window which exactly fit an original opening in the wall. Even a few doors, long collecting dust in the basement, have been reinstalled and are now in use.
The newly remodeled facility now houses thousands of antiques and collectibles on two floors from over 50 exhibitors. Furniture, lighting, primitives, jewelry, glassware, and china, to name just a few, fill the building.
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Holt-Howard Price Guide
The Second Edition of the Price Guide to Holt-Howard Collectibles and Related Ceramicware of the 50’s and 60’s, by Walter Dworkin, is published by Krause.
In the 1950’s and 60’s, whimsical Holt-Howard ceramic pieces found their way into every nook and cranny of American homes. They held dressings, relishes, salt and pepper, cream and sugar, toothpicks, candles, and much more, while decorating kitchens, countertops, and dining room sideboards and picnic tables.
The ceramics were so popular that a host of other companies followed suit, and created their own line of similar pieces. A generation later, they are still popular and highly collectible.
Rely on this updated edition of the groundbreaking Holt-Howard book to answer all of your questions about these nostalgic pieces. No other book comes close to the amount of detailed information readers will find inside. Included are 800 color photographs with up-to-date values and eight brand-new chapters. Covered in Price Guide to Holt-Howard Collectibles and Related Ceramicware of the 50’s and 60’s are Holt-Howard Pixies, Cozy Kittens, Coq Rouge, Christmas, Easter, second generation items, and much more. Also included are similar pieces by Lefton, Davar, Napco, Norcrest, Relco, PY, and others.
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Mother’s Day Jewelry Appraisal Event
Jewelers Workshop and Shaub Auction Services Group will host a special Mother’s Day Jewelry Appraisal Event on Thursday, May 22, from 4 to 8 p.m. This community event will be held at RockMeyer Auction Parke, 9 Brooks Avenue in Willow Street, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (along Rt. 272, between Frey’s and EM Herr).
Shaub Auctioneers recognizes that many women have jewelry that has been handed down through their families or received as gifts. Jessica Shaub Meyer has partnered with Jessica Finch, Graduate Gemologist, to invite women to bring their jewelry to be evaluated. The sole purpose of this event is to provide helpful information regarding your jewelry. In order to serve as many people as possible, please limit items to two per person. The $5 donation per item will be given to Relay for Life to be used for their fight against cancer.
Interested readers should call Shaub Auction Services Group at (717) 464-3541.
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National Imperial Glass Collectors’ Society 2008 Convention
The National Imperial Glass Collectors’ Society (NIGCS) has announced plans for their 32nd Annual Convention to be held May 28 to May 31, in St. Clairsville, Ohio. This year’s convention will be celebrating the 5th Anniversary of the opening of the National Imperial Glass Museum in Bellaire, Ohio.
The popular Museum Open House and Ice Cream Social will be held at the museum in Bellaire on Thursday, May 29, from 6 to 8 p.m. This year NIGCS will have a specialized display in the main viewing room of the museum, highlighting glassware related to one or more of the seminar programs.
All of Friday’s scheduled events will take place in Undo’s West function facility at the Hampton Inn, St. Clairsville, Ohio. The regular Study Group Get-Together will include a “Bring & Brag” session open to all convention attendees. This activity is a regular part of the Study Group meetings and we encourage attendees to bring an Imperial glass item and share the identification.
This year the educational seminars will include 1) Peachblow & Hokey Pokey Production, conducted by Cylde McFeley, who was employed by Imperial Hot Metal Department continuously from leaving high school in 1949 until Imperial closed in 1984, excluding a two-year stint in the Army from 1952-1954. 2) Candlewick Topics, conducted by Larry Lodenstein and will focus on several revelations about Candlewick production.
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Penny Banks Book Revised And Expanded
The Penny Bank Book, Collecting Still Banks, 4th Edition, by Andy and Susan Moore, is published by Schiffer.
A virtual treasure, The Penny Bank Book has more than 1,670 still banks beautifully presented in color and many more black and white illustrations. The book is a tour through the Moores’ Penny Door collection, one of the largest and most important collections in the country.
Focusing on American and English banks, there are many lovely examples of still banks from other countries as well, all rated in terms of their scarcity. The Penny Bank Book contains a comprehensive look at the history of major manufacturers of still banks, more than eighty copies of original United States patent papers and more than 250 illustrated pages from early toy company and jobber catalogs, cover in excess of 1,100 banks.
Andy and Susan Moore also include a series of conversion tables which correlate the numbering system used in his book with that of all other major works on still banks.
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Perfume Advertising Subject Of New Book
Classic Perfume Advertising 1920-1970, by Jacqueline Johnson, is published by Schiffer.
Someone once said, “There is nothing new under the sun, only new ways to do things.” This could be the anthem of the agencies that produced the advertisements shown in this recently-published book. Perfume magazine ads not only tell the story of the brand, they are on the resumes of the world’s most famous fine artists.
The images in Classic Perfume Advertising 1920-1970 represent great perfume houses at the height of their marketing prowess: Guerlain, Schiaparelli, Caron, Lentheric, Hattie Carnegie, Lanvin, Houbigant, and more.
To make their brands unforgettable they hired the most creative talents available, including Andy Warhol, Dugo, Vladimir Bobrsky (aka bobri), and fabulous photographers like Irving Penn and Edward Jacobson. These talented artists thrived in the fast paced, very lucrative perfume industry.
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Pook & Pook’s First Annual Estate Jewelry Auction
On May 16, Pook & Pook, Inc. of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, will hold its first annual estate jewelry auction. The 360 lot sale will commence at noon on Friday, after a week of preview hours from May 12 to May 16.
The sale encompasses several large estate groupings including the collection of the heiress Anne Brossman Sweigart of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, and Anna Ellen Edge Weisbrod of Unionville, Pennsylvania.
The sale starts with seventeen lots of Bakelite, Lucite, and celluloid jewelry. Similar examples can be found throughout the sale. Some of the highlights include a red Bakelite bangle and matching pendant with rhinestone decoration, rare bug brooches, many bangles including laminated examples, a celluloid cat bracelet, and black celluloid bow pin and earrings with rhinestones.
Many vintage and costume jewelry pieces will be offered, including items by Weiss, Boucher, Sandor, Hobe, Trifari, Kramer, Carnegie, Coro, Haskell, Rosenstein, Wiesner, etc., including sets.
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Rock ’n Roll Exhibited At Grist Mill
PeaceÖloveÖand rock ’n roll is the theme of the latest special display at the Grist Mill Antiques Center in Pemberton, New Jersey.
While the emphasis will be on the psychedelic sixties with its bold colors, bright graphics, and underlying message of flower power, all sorts of vintage rock ’n roll memorabilia from several eras will be represented.
Naturally, there will be vinyl 45’s and LP’s with fantastic cover art that is suitable for framing. There will also be fan magazines, pinback buttons, posters, and concert programs.
Peace symbols, pop art, and Peter Max will also work their way into the display.
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Snitchin’ Jar
Dear Collector™,
Enclosed find photos of our “Nanny” cookie jar. The top contains a
noisemaker that sounded when the lid was removed, though it does not work
anymore. Its history and age would interest us.
Designed by Helen Hutula, who emigrated to the United States from Finland, your “Tat-L-Tale” jar was produced in Helen’s small ceramics studio located in Los Angeles, probably in 1940 or shortly thereafter. Even though she’s lost her “voice,” your cookie jar could be worth $200 to $400.
Dear Collector™,
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Souvenir Spoon Collectors Plan 2008 San Diego Convention
The Southern California Spoon Collectors Club has finalized plans for the 2008 convention to be held in San Diego, California, September 10 to September 13. Spoon conventions feature buy/sell/swap sessions, sightseeing, displays, a spirited auction, and informative workshops.
Prior conventions have been attended by collectors from all 50 states, Canada, Japan, South Africa, and Australia. Information and registration packets will be available in March for $3 form Nickie Devine, 16 Fairway Drive, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266-7218.
The 2009 convention will be in Las Vagas hosted by the Liaison Committee of the clubs, which also is responsible for the National Spoon Library. Clubs are located in the Northeast, Southwest, Dallas, Southern California and Washington State.
For further information on spoon collecting, contact Erwin Goldman at (201) 662-1342 or e-mail to erthy@aol.com (subject:spoons); or visit the national Web site at http://souvenirspoons.com/spooncollectingclubs.
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Special Advertising Display At Haddon Heights Antique Center
Promoting a product or a business is nothing new, as visitors to the Haddon Heights Antiques Center in Haddon Heights, New Jersey, will find out.
Vintage advertising is the theme of May’s special display, and there will be a plethora of signs, cards, blotters, fans, pencils and rulers, plates and trays, ashtrays, calendars, toys, tins and boxes, and ephemera of all kinds to prove that Madison Avenue has been quite busy for the past hundred years or so.
Some advertising icons like Mr. Peanut, Speedy Alka-Seltzer, and the Michelin Man have become part of the popular culture. Some products like Coca-Cola, Marlboro cigarettes, and Maidenform bras have created advertising campaigns that aren’t likely to be forgotten.
Collectors love the colorful, nostalgic, classic advertising pieces. However, even the mundane products like ashtrays and calendars that advertise a long-forgotten local store or gas station have their following.
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Thousands Of Historic Antique Postcards And Photographic Images Coming Up For Auction
The Spring 2008 Lyn Knight Postcard and Paper Auction is scheduled to take place May 21, 22, and 23 in Lenexa, Kansas.
The sale will feature a fantastic group of historic images of the past, in vintage postcards - both Real Photo format as well as color lithographic printed images from the early 20th century.
Highlights of the three-day auction include: early transportation, aviation, railroadiana, Native Americans, Old West, Black Americana, state views, Fred Harvey, political, artist-signed, and other vintage images from around the world.
Details of the auction, as well as the online catalog are available for viewing and bidding at www.lynknightauctions.com. The sale is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see and purchase many of these rare and beautiful items. A 360-plus page color catalog with thousands of images is available for $25 postpaid, from Lyn Knight Auctions, Post Office Box 7364, Overland Park, Kansas 66207; or phone (800) 243-5211 for more details.
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Winterthur Shines A Design Eye On The 1930’s
Winterthur Museum’s second annual Chic It Up! design conference, to be held on May 16 and 17, will focus on design of the 1930’s, with an emphasis on the architects, designers, and patrons of that period. Chic It Up! will celebrate the design aesthetic established at Winterthur Museum & Country Estate by its founder Henry Francis du Pont in Winterthur, Delaware. This year’s event focuses on the period in which du Pont’s vision for an American country house began to take shape at Winterthur.
“The history of 20th-century design is a very hot topic today,” says J. Thomas Savage, Winterthur’s director of museum affairs. “Henry Francis du Pont’s creation of an American house at Winterthur is central to the story of American taste. Style was one of the principles that guided the designs at Winterthur. Du Pont (1880-1969), a passionate collector of American decorative arts, showcased his collections in elegant room settings. Winterthur was a dwelling classical in inspiration but clearly rooted in the 1930’s by its scale and mass.
Among the speakers and topics at the conference are: The Golf Cottage, Ruth Lord Holmes, daughter of Henry Francis du Pont.
Francis Elkins: An Icon of Twentieth-Century Design, Stephen M. Salney, independent scholar and author, Baltimore, Maryland.
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