Casting Pearls

The Pearl Buying Guide By Renee Newman

I know that this isn't quite a book on antiques but I felt that after reading it, that it deserved a place here. This is a must read for anyone who deals in antique jewelry. If you love the pearl this book is for you.  Jewelry has always been an interest of mine. This book didn't disappoint in the least.

This is not a " rub the pearls against your teeth to determine if they are real" type book. It is a serious lesson on buying and dealing in one of the oldest collected objects in the world.  It covers many topics such as "Curious facts bout pearls", "Pearl types and Shapes", Judging color/flaws and make, "Imitation or not?" and "Caring for your Pearls." Subjects that are useful and needed.

 This is a second edition from 1995. Heavy weight paper. However, it is one of those bindings that in time will crack open, with heavy use. That's good thing, because it means you're looking and reading it.  I can handle this  easily enough. There are 188 numbered pages with a full index, a serious appendix and a world class bibliography. It even has a quiz after each chapter, I love this! There is one section of full color photos that really brings things to life, but I wish that there were more color photos.  Renee has written several other books in this field. They are now on my want list. Wouldn't one on ivory be great?  I found this pearl book online priced under $5.00. The photos are worth that.  Mine was a book sale from my local library. Duh! they should have kept this one.

 An important book on the shelf of any jewelry dealer or even someone needing to buy a great strand for a special gift.

Remember Knowledge is Power, So Arm Yourself.

Halloween In America



The front cover

 Pick A Pumpkin:

You know I love Halloween. But I miss the Halloween of years gone by.  I'm not too much into the blood and gore scene that fills so much of this holiday now. I enjoy the change of the seasons and lure of mystery and old fashioned scares. If you feel the same way, this book is for you.  This is one of my favorites as you can tell from its rag tag condition.

This is Halloween in America: A Collector's Guide With Prices by Stuart Scheider. A Schiffer book for collectors, so you know that its a quality read.  This is a 1995 publication and likely its been reprinted and updated.

 Loaded with full color,glossy illustrations and 208 numbered pages with a full index and table on contents. It shows items that today are only in the best collections and once were purchased for mere pennies. There are pages devoted to just post cards, lanterns, party papers, noisemakers and much more. Of course
 you have to take a grain of salt with the prices. If you read this blog you know my feelings about price guides. This book is a true education for the Halloween collector.  In fact, Halloween now out sells Christmas and the prices, even in this economy, for the vintage items are rising in value.   

A view of one of the post card pages.

These things have long since gone from being decorations to being works of art and culture.  A decorators dream is to group these items together for a folky op-art look.  If you on a regular basis deal in or collect vintage Halloween items you have to have this book. This edition was found online for around $20.00.

Remember Knowledge Is Power, So Arm Yourself.

Art of Tennessee

Tennessee Time Again

Art of Tennessee by exhibition curators Benjamin H. Caldwell jr., Robert Hicks, Mark W. Scala. Yet another epic tome from the Volunteer State, Tennessee. Other states had better take a lesson from Tennessee and produce some more high quality larger books.

This is a collection from some of the best collectors and museums in the state. Unlike "Art & Mystery" it covers a wide spectrum of the decorative arts, Furniture, silver, fine art, folk art, pottery and the like. It was a joy to read over this book. Not only does it showcase the art but it delves into the world of the artist / creator and the thoughts and meanings behind the actual work.

The opening introductions to each chapter are a pleasure to read. Easy reading and with passion and zeal. Writing that are timeless and current at the same time. Stuff you'll actually use. You'll travel from prehistoric Native American Art to the funky art, both folk and outsider, of the 1950's and 60's. There is an image of Kentucky's darling artist, Edward Troye's, rendition of the horse "Gamma" this is from the collection of Belle Meade Plantation.

Every illustration is full color on heavy luxurious paper. This book which measures contains 375 numbered pages and is fully indexed with all the necessary catalog listings for the serious appraiser and collector. A plus in your collection. These can be found online for as low as $38.00 for the soft cover to as high as $170.00 for the hard back edition. Well worth the price and worth the space on your shelf.

Remember Knowledge is Power So Arm Yourself.

The Art and Mystery of Tennessee Furniture

Tennessee Waltz:

The Art & Mystery of Tennessee Furniture and its Makers Through 1850 by Derita Coleman Williams & Nathan Harsh.

This is one valuable addition to your library. I don't mean that just figuratively but literally. This book is likely one of the most expensive, modern, mass produced (supposedly) book out in the market. It is worth every penny.

I had said earlier that I was going to begin concentrating on more of favorite titles of the south land. This is a landmark book from way back in 1988, a mere twenty three years ago. Yes, there have been other books and articles on southern furnishings and decorative arts. Many that are outstandingly written and presented. However, most other southern books are smaller in size and length and focus on very tight regional aspects, almost niche subjects. Some writings are more incredibly rare than than this modern volume, but none can touch the cache and the covetness that this book from 1988 does. No other works compare, some come close and some with diligence, time and research can even equal, one day. However for today this is the book to own and reference to. One can only imagine what the world would be like if every state in the south produced at least one book on furniture like this.

"Art and Mystery" as it is commonly referred too, is broken down into various chapters, of course. There are " The Art and Mystery of Furniture Making in Tennessee", "Incidence of Artisans and Their Productions", River Trade and Importing." I personally loved the chapter titled "Patrons" this chapter discusses the active roles that patrons played with cabinet makers and the style setters. The real "meat and potatoes" chapters are, "Desks, Secretaries, and Bookcases", "Safes", "Sugar Chests & Related Forms" and "Bedsteads" just to name a few. The basis of this book is straight forward. There is no, pardon me Mr. Sack, "Good, better & best" categories. If its in here, this book, it is a Tennessee masterpiece and it totally deserves to be there. Another nice fact is that there is a chapter on bedsteads and one on chairs and settees. The chapter on cupboards shows some stunning photos of architectural paneled rooms. Something that you don't see referenced outside of Williamsburg publications.

Photos are basic black and white but are very well done and they show what needs to be shown. There is no dribble of fluffy genealogy and none of the "my piece is better than yours" attitudes that you'll find with some ego stroking authors out there. It just tells what the piece is, a description and a brief history. There are a few pages of color photographs that showcase the highlights from all the chapters.

There are 344 numbered pages in this book. You'll want to read over every page too. If you can find a copy anyway. I eluded to the fact that this book is expensive. Online sources list this book anywhere from $500.00 to as high at $2,000.00. Some have been lucky enough to have found this at bargain prices for under $200.00 and some actually purchased this volume for the original price of $35.00. Library as of late will not inter-library loan this book. And public institutions that have this title in their stacks, should if they have any sense, lock it up. And the reasons behind its limited production or distribution are legendary. Yes, you'll want this book for your reference library.

Granite Ware

Hard as Granite:

I think that there is nothing as endearing as granite ware. Its swirling colors are happy and almost dream like. Everyone has encountered that piece of blue and white granite ware in the market place. Durable meant and to last and meant to be used and used hard.

The Collector's Encyclopedia of Granite Ware: Colors, Shapes & Values. by Helen Greguire

This book and its volume II companion are invaluable to the appraiser and collector alike. A story of the American kitchen and hearth. It covers many things are just one of a kind and items that are so incredibly hard to find in the marketplace. I don't think that granite ware, like soooo many things in this decorative arts business, has moved through this down economy unscathed. Sometimes the prices for granite ware are half of what was being traded 20, 10 or 5 years ago. But some of the values for common household items can be shocking even in this economy. So take a grain of salt when looking at the value guide.

A heavy substantial hard back book published by Collector Books. My copy is from 1990 and has been reprinted several times. Full color glossy photographs, 414 numbered pages. Covers a wide range of items broken down by some excellent categories, like What is Granite Ware?, Shades of Color, Granite Ware Names and Makers and just page after page of American and European wares. some things that I didn't even know were made in granite ware, like dust pans and watering cans. The chapters, and there are several, on children's ware and toys is worth the cost of the book.

A plus for any appraiser that deals with country or primitives on a regular basis. Everyone needs to have this book.

Remember Knowledge is Power, So Arm Your Self.

Been Away

Been Away;

Sorry that I've been away. The store and other things have pulled my away. But I'm feelign motivated and plan to start back reviewing again. Als0, I plan on including more book and magazine articles on Kentucky decorative arts. Look for these soon. So dear readers thank you for hanging in there with me.

Knowledge is Power, So Arm Yourself.

Clear As Mud edited by Warren Payne

This book has been a long time in coming. For decades the field of Kentucky art pottery has been a mystery. Not only has it been a mystery to novices but also to seasoned antique dealers like myself. There is a handful of Kentucky potteries, but all have as many quirks and bends in their history as any Ohio or New England pottery does. And until this time there was no rhyme nor reason to the markings, glazes or shapes.

In an interview, author Warren Payne said “Kentucky has a long history of pottery-making . From the crocks and jugs of the 19th century river trade to the sophisticated vases of the 1920s Selden-Bybee line, the commonwealth has been up to its knees in clay. As with many Southern states, the concept of “art pottery,” a concept very hard to nail down even among scholars, came later than it did to some East Coast and Midwestern potteries. But Kentucky’s art pottery hewed closed to a simple folk-inspired template that in its best examples reminds one of archaic Mediterranean and Asian forms. And I mean “simple” in the sense that the Shaker aesthetic, a Federal house, a Blanchard spoon [Asa Blanchard was a silversmith from Lexington, Kentucky], a dry-stone fence, that these demonstrate a simplicity that is terribly sophisticated. However, much of the literature on American pottery is hung up on the concept of pottery as canvas, something to be painted on or ornamented once you come up with your base glazes. I find this concept to be very Victorian, grounded in the Aesthetic Movement, and essentially dated. I look at some pieces of Rookwood, for example, and I know they would never really look good in my home, which despite our love of the old has been influenced by over a hundred years of spare, modernist thought. Yet the most basic piece of Kentucky art pottery fits in as though it were made for the space, as would virtually any piece of ancient Asian pottery. There’s a lesson there – and an appreciation for what was created in Kentucky under very difficult conditions.”

This book is an excellent start to a wide and diverse category. I say start because, as well written and researched as this book is, I still have more questions. The nearly untouched topic of Kentucky art pottery has the potential to have a book devoted to each chapter featured here in this work, a worthy suggestion I think. It is lavishly illustrated with high quality color photographs on high quality paper. The photographs are worthy of framing in their own right. The chapters are broken down into various fields of interest. Each chapter is written by a collector or scholar, so it gives you a first hand view of the workings of a collectors / scholars mind. Chapter topics include but are not limited to: “Waco Pottery” by Larry G. Hackley,” Louisville Pottery Company (Cherokee) ” by Stephen J. Lee and my personal favorite “Kenton Hills Porcelains” by Nick & Marilyn Nicholson. A very helpful feature is a series of pages scattered through several chapters titled The Bottom Line that show the various marks on what ever pottery is being discussed in that particular chapter. Though the vast majority of illustrations is well-captioned, there are several pages on which the photographs are not captioned. The necessary information regarding these photos is contained in the body of work but a novice Kentucky art pottery dealer / collector might need things pointed out a little more clearly. This is a minor detail in a great ground- breaking work. The text, although written in a scholarly manner, is easily read and understood.

This soft backed book with 119 numbered pages is published by the Cane Ridge Publishing House in Paris, Kentucky, with an edition of only 1000 copies. The book retails for $30.00 and is available on eBay, Carmichael’s bookstores in Louisville and at the book’s Web site:

http://www.caneridgepublishinghouse.com/clearasmud.html

There are plans are for it to be sold through Borders bookstores, book/gift shops and in such venues as The Louisville Stoneware Co., the Kentucky Museum of Art & Craft and Speed Art Museum in Louisville, KY, the Log House/Boone Tavern shop in Berea and at Lexington outlets.

This is sure to be a desirable and collectible book in the future. An enjoyable and educating read. This book is highly recommended for all lovers of Kentucky pottery and Kentucky decorative arts.

Remember Knowledge Is Power, So Arm Yourself