Fast Facts On the First Auctions

*Some of the first auctions were held in ancient Rome.  Like in modern times, the people of ancient Rome would sell off household goods like furniture to pay off debts.  These auctions could last for months.

*When the items that were seized by the Army during the American Civil War, they would be sold by the Colonel of the Division.  That’s why you see some auctioneers carry the title of “Colonel”.

With the invention of the internet, it is now very possible to find and attend any auction that you could ever want.  This is a great way to help you find that piece to help you complete your collection.

Madrid Depression Glass And It’s Counterpart

This pattern has been around since 1932, and is still being produced today (now it is being called the Recollection Pattern made by Indiana Glass Company).  There are quite a few ways to tell if the piece you’re looking at is Madrid, or if it is part of the Recollection pattern.

In 1976, the Federal Glass company released Madrid as part of their Bicentennial line.  To help discern this from the original, there’s a “76” that has been stamped into the mold.

The Indiana Glass company released the Recollection starting in the 1980’s.  Some of the pieces that Indiana Glass has released were never produced by the Federal Glass company.  Some of the molds were put together, like the candlestick and bowl molds to produce a kind of a pedestal bowl.  If you happen to run across one of these pieces, look at where the bowl joins with the “base”.  If you see some ribbing inside what looks like a hollow area, then this is a modern piece.

The grill plate is different as well.  The original has been divided into three compartments, and the newer one has only two.

It’s amazing how much of both patterns are here in the Ozarks.  Keep an eye peeled when it comes to this pattern—you just might be paying good money for a newer piece.

Flow Blue Brush Holder

It's great to see when an antique or collectible can still be used many years after it was first produced.

Take this terrific Flow Blue brush holder.  With Flow blue being introduced sometimes in the 1820's, it became popular in America in the 1840's.  It's still popular with collectors today.

There are plenty of pieces of Flow Blue that are like this holder.  There are pitchers, bowls, plates, saucers, soup taureens, the list just goes on and on.  Tons of pieces can be still be used today.

You could find a job for this holder in the bathroom, by the artist's easel, on the dresser in your room, or even on the kitchen counter holding pens or pencils so you can take a phone message, if the need arises.  What kind of ideas could you come up with for such a versitile piece?

You can find the Flow Blue brush holder in my Etsy store here.

And The Answer Is…

Did you figure out what the lid belongs to?

I bet you’re dying to find out…

It’s a vintage Mt. Washington mustard Jar!  With the advent of refrigeration, and plastic that is cheap enough to mass-produce a bottle that can be used long enough to hold the mustard, the days where we need a glass jar like the one pictured has come and gone.

It has opened up a collectible field that can be very diverse.  The containers could be made out of pottery, glass, or even metal.  The shape is also as diverse as the material that the jar is made out of.  It could be round, square (or a combination of both), squat, bulbous, or just about anything.

The mustard jar is for sale in my Etsy store, you can go there here.  Just be sure to use coupon code STORESALE20 when you checkout.  You can even use that coupon code on anything in my Esty store from now until July 22^nd.

What’s That?

Over time, there are items that people will just stop using.  It could be for a number of reasons, like a design that might have come along that is better.   It could even be an item that helps you offer a service that we don’t even see much of anymore, like a shoe repair company.

Can you tell what the lid is to in the picture?

Stay tuned to see what the answer is, it just might surprise you.

The Enamel Sign

Enamel signs are a great collectible.  They can advertise anything from a bookstore to an eyeglass shop.  The flanged signs are more easily seen than the regular flat signs that lay flat against the wall.  With the flanged signs coming out from the wall, they are more susceptible to damage, espically on the bottom of the sign, where it could potentially be hit by items being carried or people walking by, espically on the bottom edge of the sign.

Here in the Ozarks, the flanged sign brings more money than the flat signs do (especially if it’s for a company like Western Union, Goodyear, or Wrigley’s Chewing Gum).

One of the ways to help out in figuring if the sign is a reproduction is the fading on the item.  There are quite a few ways to fake fading or even rust, but on an item that is authentic, the fading and rust is not even over the entire piece.

Great Backdrops To Use When You Photograph Your Vintage Items

Ever wonder what you could use for a backdrop when you take a photo of that vintage item?  You could use just about anything, and it will make your item look even better.

One way that helps me is to use a vintage drop leaf table with some paint that is starting to show some paint loss as a backdrop.

Another item that could help are vintage napkins with a pattern that have been applied to it.

Just about any item could be made into a great backdrop.

Super Gigantic Sale!

Here's a great way to save some money in my Etsy store--just use the coupon code STORESALE20 to recieve 20% off on your purchase!

There has been great interest in what's in the shop at Esty, so I have decided to change things up a bit, for the better.  I have extended the sale, it will run through July 22nd.  Make sure that you go and find you a great deals here.

So don't delay, you might miss something very cool!

Hijacked!!

Hi, I’m Jake the dog.  I’m John’s shopping partner in the world of antiques.

Now, I must say, that guy is pretty smart when it comes to spotting a good deal, or even something for me to play with.  My tip for the holidays, especially on a day like July 4th?  I would try to drink as much fluids as possible, especially on hot days like today.

The other thing that you should do is to go with a shopping buddy.  It doesn't matter how big the garage sale of antique mall is, it's always a good thing to have an extra set of eyes with you.

Have a Great July 4th holiday, and make sure that you pass some sweet tea and a hot dog my way!

Hall Pottery

*The Hall China Company was founded in 1903 by Robert Hall, and is currently operating today.

*In the early years, Hall Pottery made institutional pieces like bedpans, toilet seats, and chamber pots.

*Hall pottery made dinnerware for the Jewel Tea Company from the mid 1920’s until 1980.

Hall pottery recently re-issued many of the older pieces that they made.  To help distinguish the new from the old, Hall pottery has different colors for the pieces, and they also have a different mark on them.