The $750 Song Title

I inherited boxes of vinyl record albums. At least 300. And we want them out of storage. There are buyers, too — vinyl is making a comeback!

Do you have a treasure in your vinyl collection?

So one day I made up a spreadsheet, painstakingly looking up each one and cataloguing it by what it appeared to be worth. Most would sell for about $8, but there were a few that could fetch hundreds.

The key word is “could.”

And that’s where valuing vinyl gets tricky. And that’s why our collection continues to sit in the basement (out of extreme temperatures, of course).

I found what I thought was a $750 Beatles rarity.

If the song title is on one line, you may have the rare Monarch pressing!

After HOURS of research, however, I discovered that mine is not the extremely rare “Monarch” pressing. The distinguishing factor? “Take Out Some Insurance on Me, Baby” is on two lines. On the Monarch pressing, the title is on one line. A $700 difference. But I’m happy to get $50 for it.

Here’s how tricky it can get.

When the Rolling Stones first put out their “Some Girls” album, they used photos of celebrities such as Judy Garland and Farrah Fawcett Majors. Within four weeks they had to pull the album because of threats of lawsuits. That version is worth a lot of money.

Subsequent versions have different color bars. This one is perhaps the second, with an “under construction” notice on the actual album sleeve. It’s worth maybe $25. The newer ones have illustrations instead of photos.

This is the “corrected” version of the original 1978 album, which featured celebrity images without permission. If Farrah Fawcett Majors is on your album, it’s worth a lot!

 

I highly recommend expert help in valuing your record collection.

For one thing, It may not be vinyl.
Some were made with styrene — and the difference could be significant.

The record must be in near mint condition to be worth anything. So must the paper sleeve or album cover.

The album artwork can determine value, as well.

Led Zeppelin’s “Physical Graffiti” has great album artwork. But too many people still own the original to make it worth much at all.

And the record must be “important.”

First pressings by major bands like the Beatles or Rolling Stones may qualify. So are misprints or alternative covers (think the Beatles “White Album” with nudie or “Some Girls”).

Few of us have the knowledge or expertise to grade and value our own vinyl 45s and albums. I know I sure don’t know enough!

Here is a list of professionals who can help you decide what to do with your collection:

Revilla Grooves and Gear (Southern NJ area)

Music Appraisals

Go Continental

If you know of other reputable companies, please let us know!

Ordinary thrift shop lamp…or work of art?

Someone recently asked in a Facebook group about a lamp she’d inherited from her grandmother. It was very retro, with a corset-shaped base and white drum shade. She said it was marked “Tye of California.”

Photo courtesy of Janet Jones

I’m not much of a lamp specialist, so out of curiosity I looked up the company name. All I can tell you is that if you have such a lamp, you have a treasure, indeed! Asking prices seem to start at $400 and go up from there.

Photo courtesy of F&F Vintage, Etsy

The lamps that I’ve seen are fairly large (in the 20-inch tall range) and all have ceramic bases. They often feature colorful geometric designs, either carved or applied. But they have a truly 1950s style that fits perfectly with mid-century and contemporary décor.

Photo courtesty of OddMidModTheShop, Etsy

Some Tye lamps are pure works of art. This 1950s ceramic lamp depicts carved and glazed symbols of Paris, perhaps a tribute to French artist Raoul Dufy, with drilled holes to allow the windows to light up. It was purchased for $20 from a thrift shop — the experts on Antiques Roadshow valued at $1200 in 2014!!!

Found in a thrift shop and valued at $1200 by “Antiques Roadshow”

Close-up of lamp showing drilled holes to allow “window” lights to shine.

All Tye of California lamps are signed, which should make it easy for you to know if you’re holding one.

The company was founded in 1956, and as far as I can tell, made nothing but lamps and other lighting fixtures. I have seen other ceramic items for sale, listed as an “unsigned” Tye of California bowl, for example. However, I have no evidence that non-lighting items were made by Tye.

Because the company wasn’t in business very long, the Tye name isn’t one that most vintage hunters might know. But now you do.

 

Next time you see a large ceramic 1950s-style lamp in a yard sale, thrift store or flea market, check for the distinctive Tye signature. You may have just found the bargain of the year!

Is it a stretch vase or a swung vase?

Chances are, you see those elongated, colorful glass vases everywhere. Just about any yard sale, estate sale or flea market features at least one.
So what are they called? Will they work in today’s homes? And are they worth anything?

Let’s start with the definitions. There are “stretch vases” and “swung vases,”

Stretch vases are often iridescent, with a distinctive “onion skin” appearance. This happens when mineral salts are applied before the vase has been shaped, causing the iridescence to stretch and “crinkle.” They’re technically different from Carnival Glass, which is first pressed, then crimped, ruffled or flared, with mineral salts added last.

Vintage art glass stretch vase. Photo courtesy of Shooting Creek, Etsy

Swung vases, on the other hand, were created when the glassblower held the “gather” on the end of the blow pipe and, using a special tool swung the molten glass in a circle to elongate it. Some people call them “sling vases,” but that isn’t correct.

Mid-Century swung vase. Photo courtesy of The Vintage Glass Shop, Etsy

Some of the companies best-known for swung vases are Viking Art Glass, L. E. Smith Glass Company and Fenton. Other companies include Tiffin, Fostoria and Pilgrim.
Many swung vases were sold with paper or foil labels, rather than with an engraved manufacturer’s name. Many other companies jumped on the swung vase bandwagon, which makes them a challenge to identify. These design hints can help:

Bryce Higbee is one of the oldest companies that produced swung vases. Their stunningly slender “Cut Log” (Ethol) pattern goes back to 1889. Each vase is exceedingly tall and since each is hand-finished, no two are exactly alike. Mine does not feature the classic “bee” mark, although many do.

15” Bryce Higbee “Ethol/Cut Log” swung vase, circa late 1800s. Photo courtesy of Saltwater Village, Etsy

Viking used foil stickers (most of which are long gone), and was known for its brightly colored vases. In 1951 alone, they produced Crystal, Ruby, Evergreen, Amber, Black (Ebony), Cobalt blue and Colonial Blue. In addition, Viking introduced the extremely popular Epic Six Petal line that was made from 1956-1975. This free-form design features six “sides” or petals on each piece. Epic began with 14 pieces in amber, amethyst, charcoal, crystal and olive green. The line soon grew to more than 50 pieces and introduced Bluenique, a sort of cross between cobalt and royal blue.

Fenton was also known for swung vases, and can often be recognized because virtually no Fenton pieces have a pontil mark on the bottom (Fenton used snap rings instead of punty rods to hold the glass during manufacture.)

If a vase is true Carnival Glass, suspect Fenton – they pretty much introduced Carnival Glass in 1907 as “poor man’s Tiffany” under the Iridill name.

Most swung vases are still very affordable, as you can imagine. That’s because so many are still available today. Some, either with original label attached, or a known brand name, command higher prices. And others, such as the Bryce Higbee “Cut Log” vase, are a bit pricier since they are so elongated and fragile — although it’s surprising how many have survived for more than 130 years!

Swung vases and stretch vases easily lend themselves to one or two dramatic floral stems, and can make a bold statement in a minimalist interior, perfectly complement a mid-century design, or serve as a colorful focal point in any Art Deco room.

Some good books on swung vases include:
Book about Bryce Higbee
Viking Art Glass (requires subscription)

Books on Fenton Glass:
Fenton Art Glass: A Centennial of Glass Making

Fenton A-Z

From Grief to Glamour: The Enduring Beauty of Camphor Glass

I’ve had this necklace and bracelet forever.
I can only assume it originally belonged to my grandmother and was passed down to my mother.

Esemco camphor glass necklace, circa 1920

 

I had no idea what it was, but I loved to wear it on special occasions (the bracelet is far too small). Then one night I found the pendant and chain tangled in my sweater — the bail was missing. I was heartbroken, but thankful that the bail was the only thing that was gone.

Suddenly I wanted to know more about the treasure I’d almost lost. It took hours of typing in “glass,” “filigree” and “silver” to discover that it’s camphor glass.

Esemco camphor glass bracelet, circa 1920

What is Camphor Glass?
According to the Antique Jewelry University, “Camphor glass is clear glass that has been treated with hydrofluoric acid vapors to give it a frosted whitish appearance. This effect resembles gum camphor (a fascinating thing to learn about itself!), hence the name…In jewelry the glass was often cast with a star pattern on the reverse to give it a radiant appearance. Camphor glass was made to imitate the carved rock crystal quartz (a semi precious stone) that was popular from the mid-nineteenth century through the 1930’s.”

Vintage camphor glass jewelry is quite distinctive, with its square, rectangular or oval shaped glass, typically framed with silver filigree metal (either pot metal, white gold, platinum or sterling), and featuring a single marcasite gem at the center. Some pieces have “rays” emanating from the gem; others, like my pieces, are plain. While most camphor glass is frosted/clear, some have been made in pale greens, pinks and varying shades of blue.

Art Deco glamour that began as a sign of sadness.

Antique White Gold Camphor Glass and Diamond Filigree Pendant
Photo courtesy of The Copper Canary, Etsy

The oldest necklaces and brooches were made in the Midwest in the 1890s as mourning pieces (the Victorians were big on celebrating death). They became extremely popular in the 1920s and 1930s, with their lovely filigree and Art Deco lines. I was surprised to learn that they were produced until the 1940s, primarily by two companies.

The most prominent seem to have been the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company and Esemco (which later became Shiman Mfg. Co.). It seems next to impossible to find out much about Esemco, but their marks are listed here under the Shiman name.

Esemco logo, date unknown

Camphor glass is rapidly becoming more popular, and prices reflect the demand. I have no idea what my necklace and bracelet are worth, but I’ve seen some beautiful pieces for thousands of dollars! And some authorities claim that blue camphor glass made by the Sandwich Glass Company is “extremely rare.” Alas, mine is Esemco.

Naturally, reproductions abound.
Prices for camphor glass can range from the low hundreds to several thousand dollars. It can be difficult for the layperson to distinguish the old from the new, but here are some guidelines:

• Check out the clasps. They can often help you date any piece of jewelry. Before 1930, the C clasp was in use.
• Be suspicious of “customized” pieces. Most genuine antique camphor glass pieces have a simple marcasite gemstone or diamond in the center. But some pieces feature coral flowers, Eastern Stars and other ornamentation. This may indicate a newer piece by an original manufacturer or one that has been customized. If in doubt, check with someone who is an expert before paying a high price.

The beauty and style of camphor glass lives on.
Many artisans are updating the look and creating new pieces that complement today’s styles. Some use flawed camphor glass; others re-recreate its look in new materials. Either way, camphor glass has a style all its own!

Dragonfly earrings camphor glass style
Photo courtesy of BrightEchoVintage, Etsy

PS: If anyone recognizes my necklace and knows where I can find a replacement bail, I’d really appreciate it. I’m dying to wear it again!

 

 

Go vintage for a truly fun, old-fashioned holiday!

It’s getting to be that time of year again.
The endless search for that special gift for that special person. You know, the one who already has everything.

Another sweater? A fondue set? A candle – again?
Can you take another trip to the mall?

Why not go vintage this year instead?
For the right person, an antique or vintage item can prove that it really is the thought that counts.

Add to their collection.
Does a friend already collect Depression Glass, Carnival Glass or Noritake porcelain?
When you add to their collection you tell your friend that you share their enthusiasm.

Rare Noritake walnut figural bowl.

Encourage a new collection.
Has someone recently moved into their first apartment? Inexpensive vintage glassware (especially the kind that will survive a dishwasher, such as Anchor Hocking’s “Wexford”) looks terrific and could encourage that someone to have fun hunting for additional pieces.

Anchor Hocking 1960s “Wexford” Berry Bowl

Enhance someone’s pleasures.
Maybe a relative loves to collect vintage perfumes. Perhaps a friend displays dried flowers, while another prefers the funky BoHo look.

Vintage 1960s Hippie BoHo Necklace

A vintage tea set will make that rooibos taste even better, and a genuine 1930s perfume bottle can be filled with a contemporary favorite scent. Dried flowers just seem to look better in antique vases or baskets – and tribal items are nicer when they’re truly old and one-of-a-kind. Vintage jewelry and even clothing can also add a dash of uniqueness for a friend who loves to look different!

And, of course, there’s vintage holiday decorating and hostess gifts, as well.

1970s Christmas ornament. Photo courtesy of BeQueath, Etsy

There’s something about older ornaments, candle holders and fabrics that brings back warm memories.
Whether you treat yourself to an old-fashioned Christmas or know someone who loves vintage charm, you’ll find a wealth of ideas at your local antique shop or online venue such as Etsy, eBay, or Ruby Lane.

This year, get out of the mall mindset. And enjoy the hunt!

Ridgeleigh by Heisey: Art Deco Star of the 1930s

Heisey “Ridgeleigh” cigarette holder, 1930s or 1940s

Every so often I take out this Heisey Ridgeleigh cigarette holder and prepare to list it in my Etsy shop. And every time, I end up putting it right back in the hutch. Why?

It’s just so pretty, and feels so good to hold, that I can’t bear to part with it. And I keep thinking that once I have more space, Ridgeleigh may be a pattern I’d like to collect more of.

Heisey “Ridgeleigh” candy dish. Photo courtesy of Orange Pawn Shop, Etsy.

Introduced in 1935 by A. H. Heisey & Co. of Ohio, “1469 Ridgeleigh” is the epitome of 1930s design. With its sharp angles and ribs, Ridgeleigh features the superb clarity and brilliance for which Heisey was known.

In addition to dinner service, “Ridgeleigh” was available in a wide variety of serving pieces, including candelabras, vases and cruets.

But Baby Boomers are probably most familiar with the smoking sets. I wish I still had my family’s Ridgeleigh ashtrays! Cigarette boxes were available with lids, and in upright oval and square styles.

Ridgeleigh Bridge Series Ashtray Set. Photo courtesy of Ravensbrooke Antique, Etsy.

The Heisey company was founded in 1896 by a German immigrant named Augustus H. Heisey after serving in the Union Army during the Civil War. His company produced outstanding hand-made pressed and mold-blown glassware. And, of all things, Heisey also made automobile headlights and lighting fixtures!

In 1957 the factory closed, and Imperial Glass purchased many of Heisey’s molds. Most pre-1957 Heisey pieces are marked with the distinctive “H” in a triangle, although unmarked early pieces are known to exist. (My cigarette holder has no mark, but it was in our Janvier Road bungalow since at least the 1940s.)

While many Heisey pieces are available in crystal, the company began producing exotic colors in the 1920s. “Ridgeleigh” pieces were also made in a beautiful green Zircon, and today are very rare and sought-after.

Heisey “Ridgeleigh” ashtrays in rare Zircon color.

Heisey glass is so beloved that the Collectors of America group was formed in 1971 to celebrate this ever-popular company.. And in 1972 the National Heisey Glass Museum for vintage Heisey glass was founded.

Keep a sharp eye out for “Ridgeleigh” in thrift stores and yard sales as well as in antique shops in your area and online. Other than Zircon, it’s still relatively affordable. And it’s a pattern that will enhance even the most sophisticated décor!

Alice Annglow: The definition of cottage chic.

One of the best things about spending summers at my family’s Janvier Road bungalow was being surrounded by antiques. I’m sure that’s where I found my love for all things old.

The Janvier Road bungalow, circa 1920s

The bungalow was built around 1910, and I assume relatives and friends gave my grandfather cast-off glass, lamps and furniture to fill the small rooms.
But probably in the 1930s my grandmother must have purchased a set of Edwin Knowles’ “Alice Annglow” dinnerware. I distinctly remember an entire set of plates, cups, saucers and serving pieces on the oak hutch in the country kitchen.

Alice Annglow plates by Edwin M. Knowles China Co. 1931

When we closed the bungalow down in 1960, my brother gathered up as much as his van could hold—and several of the Alice Annglow pieces were among his haul.
I also remember seeing Alice Annglow pieces in our local 5 & 10 in the late 1960s, and I suppose I assumed they’d always be around.

But now, this delightful pattern seems to have disappeared, at least online. Perhaps people have held onto their set all these years, and I don’t blame them! Alice Annglow is a perfect pattern for those who love cottage chic.

Alice Annglow creamer, 1932

In 1900 Edwin Knowles started a pottery in Chester, West Virginia, following in the footsteps of his father, who had founded Knowles, Taylor & Knowles—the world’s largest pottery. Edwin was committed to making the finest semi-vitreous tableware. “Crockery and Glass Journal” agreed, stating that the “weight is light, its finish the finest, its shapes graceful, its decorations artistic, and its body and quality most durable.”

It was during the 1930s that “Alice Annglow” was introduced. The Edwin M. Knowles China Co. used the famous ship backstamp, with the year and month of production shown underneath.

Typical 1930s Knowles backstamp. The first number is the year of manufacture; the second number is the month.

The company closed in 1962, and I guess that the pieces I saw in our local 5 &10 were the last of one of the Knowles’ classic patterns.

Alice Annglow is still affordable, and it worth seeking out at thrift shops and flea markets. I hope you like it as much as I do!

So. Is it Cronin or Cameron?

“Blue Tulip” round pitcher by Cameron Clay Products

Anyone who was alive in the 1960s must remember these pottery pieces. They were everywhere! The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A&P to most of us) gave them away as premiums to encourage customer loyalty. In fact, A&P was the first company to do such a thing!

The distinctive teal blue serving pieces included trays, covered handled soup bowls, tea pots and pitchers, and were produced mainly in the 1950s.

They’re almost always listed as Cronin Pottery “Blue Tulip” pattern, perhaps because the mark on the bottom was similar to a mark used by Ohio’s Cronin Pottery. But researchers now believe the pieces were made by Cameron Clay Products of West Virginia. Little is known about Cameron, but a website is being created to help collectors learn more.

Cameron Pottery tea pot, 1950s.

Regardless of who made “Blue Tulip,” it’s a wonderfully retro line that has held up remarkably well. While they command higher prices than you’d find at a yard sale, “Blue Tulip” pieces are still quite affordable, making it easy to assemble a collection. And their sleek lines allow them to complement virtually any décor, from cottage chic to minimalist.

An article by Antique Trader says that Cameron Pottery pieces, especially art pottery, should be collected now.

“With most pieces selling for less than $50, and many selling for less than $20, the time is now – before it’s as well-known and sought after as McCoy, Haeger and Red Wing!”

Enjoy the hunt!

Patrician (aka Spoke): The “everyday” Depression Glass Pattern

As with Federal’s “Petal” bowl, just about everyone owns an item in the Patrician or “Spoke” pattern, or knows someone who does.

Gene Florence says it’s so common, in fact, that people tell him they use their pieces every day. The larger diameter of the dinner plate (101/2”) could be one reason why.

Patrician or Spoke 10-1/2″ dinner plate in amber.

Just four years – and a lot of pieces!

Federal Glass Company produced Patrician for only four years, from 1933-1937. Yet they made so many items that, in Florence’s words, they “saturated the market.” Plates were given away in sacks of flour, but Florence isn’t clear how the other pieces were sold.

Patrician is known for its distinctive central “spoke” surrounded by a lacy pattern and a triple design on the rim. The shape is pentagonal, with five sides that at first glance appear to be six!

Amber is the most common color, followed by green, then pink and crystal. According to Florence, green dinner plates are scarce, and it would be “impossible” to collect an entire set in crystal. Pink, he says, is possible.

If you decide to collect Patrician/Spoke, here are some things to keep in mind:

• The applied-handled pitcher in amber is difficult to find.
• Check sugar lids for signs of repair – Florence says mint condition sugar lids are very difficult to come by
• Saucers are harder to find than cups.
• If you find a cookie jar – even without a lid – consider yourself fortunate!
• Unlike with many other patterns, cookie jar and butter lids aren’t impossible to find.

Patrician/Spoke is a terrific pattern you can confidently use today (although it definitely does not belong in the dishwasher, and you should be careful of sudden temperature changes, since older glass was probably not tempered.) Replacements are readily available and relatively inexpensive, should one of yours come to misfortune. It’s a quaint style that would go exceptionally well in a shabby chic setting, or even with more formal “Americana” décor.

Gold Plate. Gold Fill. Gold Wash. Confused?

I’ve always wondered about the differences in these jewelry terms, but not being a “jool,” I didn’t feel qualified to write an article about them.

Then voila! I stumbled upon this terrific article by Daye Salander of Daye Salander Antiques & Collectibles. Read and enjoy — and thanks, Daye, for allowing me to link to your blog!

Gold Plate. Gold Fill. Gold Wash. Confused?