Schatt and Morgan Celluloid Handled Knives
Here's an item that's as unique as it is stunningly beautiful -- a Schatt and Morgan Celluloid Handled Knife. Schatt and Morgan Celluloid Handled Knives are historical gems that date all the way back to the turn of the century. By the 1940s and 1950s these knives were no longer being manufactured which makes hunting down a Schatt and Morgan Celluloid Handled Knife a real find.
Schatt and Morgan Celluloid Handled Knives first became world renown for their amazing attention to detail at the end of the 19th Century. The Schatt and Morgan Cutlery Company is founded in
Gowanda, NY in 1890, eventually becoming Queen Cutlery. Queen Cutlery is still housed in the original Schatt and Morgan factory and many of the delicate hand processes and operations employed by Schatt and Morgan are being used to this day. Skilled craftsmen are essential to build a "factory knife" by hand and, while it doesn't lead to mass production or extremely low prices, the results are beautiful, functional knives. This tradition of excellence goes back to the days when Schatt and Morgan Celluloid Handled Knives began gathering a wide variety of loyal customers.
You've probably seen Celluloid and perhaps have mistaken it for plastic or mother of pearl. But the defining quality of a Schatt and Morgan Celluloid Handled Knife, the Celluloid handle itself, has a more humble beginning. Celluloid is a man-made material that was commonly used for knife handles for almost fifty years. Celluloid was the world's first successful thermoplastic substance. It was developed and patented just after America's Civil War by Alexander Parkes. Made from a combination of tree resin, camphor and a nitrate/cellulose substance, the new material -- Celluloid -- was given a name made up by Parkes. Early on, Celluloid came in only two colors and had rather limited applications. The white version was used mostly in knife handles like the Schatt and Morgan Celluloid Handled Knife and trimmings for horse harnesses. A flesh color was used for denture bases. Within a few years of its introduction, Celluloid was being made in most colors. Imitation ivory, coral and tortoise shell versions were also being used in costume jewelry. Extensive dressing table sets -- combs, hand mirrors, hair receivers, boxes -- were soon being manufactured. But Celluloid's greatest use was in the fashion industry, where artificial collars and cuffs became the standard. Even dolls were made from this fascinating substance.
So as you can see, the Celluloid you'll find on a Schatt and Morgan Celluloid Handled Knife can be clear, come in many different colors, or perhaps will have swirled patterns in it for extra decoration. Schatt and Morgan Celluloid Handled Knives hit their peak in the 1920s and 1930s, but by mid-century Celluloid's day was about over, as modern plastics came to the forefront.
While a fascinating treasure, it's worth noting that vintage Schatt and Morgan Celluloid Handled Knives require great care as the Celluloid can be problematic in its upkeep. The lighter or clearer the color of the Celluloid, the greater the tendency for the material to break down, causing the steel blade of the knife to decompose or rust. Still, a Schatt and Morgan Celluloid Handled Knife or collection of them is well worth the extra effort and upkeep. Heavy oils and protective waxes will help ensure that your Schatt and Morgan Celluloid Handled Knife stays one of your most valued keepsakes.
Monday, January 28, 2008
RS PRUSSIA VASES
RS PRUSSIA VASE
The wonderful thing about the fine art of collecting is not only finding the right pieces that suit your eye but also those pieces that suit your budget. If you're willing to spend a little more, then a remarkable treasure is a RS Prussia Vase. This company's mold designs were quite ornate and their porcelain was nothing short of exquisite. With a little research you'll soon discover that RS Prussia Vases are stunning pieces and come in many shapes, sizes and decorations. While you might be spending a little more on a RS Prussia Vase, you won't regret your decision to add one or more to your collection.
RS Prussia Vases became known as one of the premiere antique Victorian porcelains. Production began in 1861 by Erdmann Schlegelmilch. With the help of his brother, Reinhold, by the 1880s their RS Prussia Vases became very popular in Victorian America and Canada. If you've been lucky enough to come across a RS Prussia Vase, then you probably noticed the company's distinctive mark that honors their father, Rudolph. That mark today is known as the “red mark.” What makes RS Prussia Vases so highly sought after is their thin and high quality antique porcelain. Over the years the company was recognized for the variety of decal or transferware decorations against a palette of textures and vibrant colors. A plethora of RS Prussia molds are identifiable by their relief patterns of floral and geometric designs. Some of the more popular are the iris mold, the carnation mold, swag and jewel mold, hidden image mold, stippled floral and point and clover. Another sought after decorating theme depicts birds and animals as well as human portraits. Scenic transfer designs and various landscape designs are also highly desirable. While bowls may be among the most available forms of RS Prussia's wares, there is a plentiful supply of antique vases sure to capture your imagination.
RS Prussia Vases can be broken down into several categories relating to their size. Very large vases are typically less than 20 inches high. Large vases measure less than 14 inches high. Standards measure less than 10 inches. Intermediates measure less than 7 inches and finally, the miniature or small vases, coming in under 5 inches. RS Prussia Vases produced between 1900 and 1910 are probably the most sought after by collectors. Many of the designs during this period were classified as Art Nouveau and will simply take one's breath away.
RS Prussia Vases and porcelain have been popular in the United State for over a century. And while RS Prussia Vases popularity has begun to wane a bit recently, there's never been a better time to start collecting. While admittedly not cheap, RS Prussia Vases will most likely appreciate handsomely in the years to come. Prices can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the individual item. A good rule of thumb to remember is that the more ornate the pattern or deeper the relief mold, the more the vase will be worth. Another heads up for the would-be collector are the large number of unmarked pieces that left the RS Prussia factories. Hit the books and soon you'll be able to recognize these pieces and you'll get more for your collecting dollar, especially if you're a budget-conscious shopper or dealer looking to make a profit. Still, the signed RS Prussia Vases are the safer bet when it comes to holding or appreciating in value, especially those with the common floral themes. Although they're quite popular, floral motifs are also less expensive and less difficult to come by. Among the many treasures we've discussed on this website, perhaps one of the most beautiful is the RS Prussia Vase. It captures the beauty and artistry of antique porcelain flawlessly.
The wonderful thing about the fine art of collecting is not only finding the right pieces that suit your eye but also those pieces that suit your budget. If you're willing to spend a little more, then a remarkable treasure is a RS Prussia Vase. This company's mold designs were quite ornate and their porcelain was nothing short of exquisite. With a little research you'll soon discover that RS Prussia Vases are stunning pieces and come in many shapes, sizes and decorations. While you might be spending a little more on a RS Prussia Vase, you won't regret your decision to add one or more to your collection.
RS Prussia Vases became known as one of the premiere antique Victorian porcelains. Production began in 1861 by Erdmann Schlegelmilch. With the help of his brother, Reinhold, by the 1880s their RS Prussia Vases became very popular in Victorian America and Canada. If you've been lucky enough to come across a RS Prussia Vase, then you probably noticed the company's distinctive mark that honors their father, Rudolph. That mark today is known as the “red mark.” What makes RS Prussia Vases so highly sought after is their thin and high quality antique porcelain. Over the years the company was recognized for the variety of decal or transferware decorations against a palette of textures and vibrant colors. A plethora of RS Prussia molds are identifiable by their relief patterns of floral and geometric designs. Some of the more popular are the iris mold, the carnation mold, swag and jewel mold, hidden image mold, stippled floral and point and clover. Another sought after decorating theme depicts birds and animals as well as human portraits. Scenic transfer designs and various landscape designs are also highly desirable. While bowls may be among the most available forms of RS Prussia's wares, there is a plentiful supply of antique vases sure to capture your imagination.
RS Prussia Vases can be broken down into several categories relating to their size. Very large vases are typically less than 20 inches high. Large vases measure less than 14 inches high. Standards measure less than 10 inches. Intermediates measure less than 7 inches and finally, the miniature or small vases, coming in under 5 inches. RS Prussia Vases produced between 1900 and 1910 are probably the most sought after by collectors. Many of the designs during this period were classified as Art Nouveau and will simply take one's breath away.
RS Prussia Vases and porcelain have been popular in the United State for over a century. And while RS Prussia Vases popularity has begun to wane a bit recently, there's never been a better time to start collecting. While admittedly not cheap, RS Prussia Vases will most likely appreciate handsomely in the years to come. Prices can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the individual item. A good rule of thumb to remember is that the more ornate the pattern or deeper the relief mold, the more the vase will be worth. Another heads up for the would-be collector are the large number of unmarked pieces that left the RS Prussia factories. Hit the books and soon you'll be able to recognize these pieces and you'll get more for your collecting dollar, especially if you're a budget-conscious shopper or dealer looking to make a profit. Still, the signed RS Prussia Vases are the safer bet when it comes to holding or appreciating in value, especially those with the common floral themes. Although they're quite popular, floral motifs are also less expensive and less difficult to come by. Among the many treasures we've discussed on this website, perhaps one of the most beautiful is the RS Prussia Vase. It captures the beauty and artistry of antique porcelain flawlessly.
HONES CUCKCOO CLOCKS
HONES CUCKOO CLOCKS
Turning a house into a home requires furnishing it with the sights and sounds family members will cherish and remember forever. A Hones Cuckoo Clock is just such a memento. Expertly crafted, the Hones Cuckoo Clock epitomizes the century old tradition of clock making. Hones Cuckoo Clocks are still hand assembled, with precise movements and gorgeous wood carvings set off by a sturdy clock case that will stand the test of time.
Hones Cuckoo Clocks are produced in the German Black Forest. The first Black Forest cuckoo clock was designed by Franz Anton Ketterer in the small village of Schonwald near Triberg, Germany around 1730. Over the decades, the cuckoo clock industry developed rapidly in the Black Forest. The local citizens became world renown for their attention to detail. Hones Cuckoo Clock is a testament to the Black Forest inhabitant’s skill and dedication. Long ago, German clock makers and their families would carve and assemble the cuckoo clocks during the cold winter months when family farms were snowed in. These expert craftsmen would use a variety of woods, Linden wood being the most common, to construct their signature timepieces. Once the clocks were made, locals called “clock carriers” would fan out across the region in the spring and summer months, selling the clocks throughout Europe. Thus, the tradition was born.
Centuries later, Hones Cuckoo Clocks have endured to become some of the most popular timepieces in the world. Hones Cuckoo Clocks still use only woodcarvings and cases that are equipped with mechanical movements of the highest quality. This precision is what defines a Hones Cuckoo Clock--an attention to detail that makes its clocks cherished for a lifetime.
Like most cuckoo clocks, Hones Cuckoo Clocks employ a pendulum that strikes the hours using small bellows and whistles that imitate the call of the cuckoo bird. The cuckoo bird on which the clocks are based can still be found in Africa, Asia, and of course, inside the Black Forest of Germany. Because Hones Cuckoo Clocks are made with such expert skill, clock lovers from around the world have come to regard them as a symbol of the Black Forest.
To keep precise time, Hones Cuckoo Clocks employ weights at the bottom of the clock. The weights drop over either a one-day or eight-day period and provide the clock's functions. The first weight, along with the pendulum, provides the clock timekeeping function, the second weight controls the cuckoo and movements, and the third weight controls the music. On non-musical clocks the third weight is absent.
Hones Cuckoo Clocks utilize a combination of design, creativity and animation that are second to none. With its crafted detail and superior quality, a Hones Cuckoo Clock is a welcome addition to any home. And with one of the largest model ranges among contemporary clock makers, Hones Cuckoo Clocks from the heart of Germany's Black Forest are a treasure your home should not be without. It's a timepiece that's timeless.
Turning a house into a home requires furnishing it with the sights and sounds family members will cherish and remember forever. A Hones Cuckoo Clock is just such a memento. Expertly crafted, the Hones Cuckoo Clock epitomizes the century old tradition of clock making. Hones Cuckoo Clocks are still hand assembled, with precise movements and gorgeous wood carvings set off by a sturdy clock case that will stand the test of time.
Hones Cuckoo Clocks are produced in the German Black Forest. The first Black Forest cuckoo clock was designed by Franz Anton Ketterer in the small village of Schonwald near Triberg, Germany around 1730. Over the decades, the cuckoo clock industry developed rapidly in the Black Forest. The local citizens became world renown for their attention to detail. Hones Cuckoo Clock is a testament to the Black Forest inhabitant’s skill and dedication. Long ago, German clock makers and their families would carve and assemble the cuckoo clocks during the cold winter months when family farms were snowed in. These expert craftsmen would use a variety of woods, Linden wood being the most common, to construct their signature timepieces. Once the clocks were made, locals called “clock carriers” would fan out across the region in the spring and summer months, selling the clocks throughout Europe. Thus, the tradition was born.
Centuries later, Hones Cuckoo Clocks have endured to become some of the most popular timepieces in the world. Hones Cuckoo Clocks still use only woodcarvings and cases that are equipped with mechanical movements of the highest quality. This precision is what defines a Hones Cuckoo Clock--an attention to detail that makes its clocks cherished for a lifetime.
Like most cuckoo clocks, Hones Cuckoo Clocks employ a pendulum that strikes the hours using small bellows and whistles that imitate the call of the cuckoo bird. The cuckoo bird on which the clocks are based can still be found in Africa, Asia, and of course, inside the Black Forest of Germany. Because Hones Cuckoo Clocks are made with such expert skill, clock lovers from around the world have come to regard them as a symbol of the Black Forest.
To keep precise time, Hones Cuckoo Clocks employ weights at the bottom of the clock. The weights drop over either a one-day or eight-day period and provide the clock's functions. The first weight, along with the pendulum, provides the clock timekeeping function, the second weight controls the cuckoo and movements, and the third weight controls the music. On non-musical clocks the third weight is absent.
Hones Cuckoo Clocks utilize a combination of design, creativity and animation that are second to none. With its crafted detail and superior quality, a Hones Cuckoo Clock is a welcome addition to any home. And with one of the largest model ranges among contemporary clock makers, Hones Cuckoo Clocks from the heart of Germany's Black Forest are a treasure your home should not be without. It's a timepiece that's timeless.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
McCOY MAMMY COOKIE JARS
McCOY MAMMY COOKIE JARS
The McCoy Mammy cookie jars are one of the oldest and best known cookie jars in the history of the McCoy pottery company. How could you not fall in love with such a delightful character that has the added bonus of fresh made cookies inside her? The McCoy Mammy cookie jars are made to look like an old time black mammy that is round and jovial. She depicts a perfect picture of how we would describe an old black mammy of times long ago. The McCoy Mammy cookie jars are about 11inches tall and about 8 inches wide. She is standing with her arms folded and each one resting on her robust waistline. She is wearing a long dress that buttons down the front. The dress has a wide collar that supports her round happy little black face with two big white eyes and a cherry red mouth with enlarged lips. The McCoy Mammy cookie jars also show her wearing a red handkerchief around her head. The word “Cookies” are embedded at the bottom of her puffy round skirt. This is a cookie jar to display front and center on your favorite shelf with all of the many treasures that you might be showing off to your friends.
In the late18th century, England was introducing the first cookie jars known as the “biscuit jars”. The American version of the first cookie jars were glass containers with screwed on metal lids. The glass jars were very plain and had no designs only a cylinder shape and often only found in grocery stores. During the Depression Era the American cookie jars started to gain popularity with many people. In the 1930’s the stoneware companies began to make some simple forms for their cookie containers. Brush Pottery Company is considered one of the first companies to manufacture the ceramic cookie jars. The early Brush cookie jars were marked with “Brush U.S.A.” and made in the color green with Cookies written on the front of each cookie jar. Many of the other pottery companies also began making cookie jars with unique designs and shapes to compete in the cookie jar market. The McCoy Mammy cookie jars are a good example of some of the first innovative figures to be produced. Many of the first cookies jars were “cold painted”. The paint on this type of cookie jar would wear off with too much use or rubbing on the paint. Later airbrushing the paint on the cookie jars became a more popular means of a lasting finish.
The Nelson McCoy Sanitary Stoneware Company in Roseville, Ohio was started by J.W. McCoy and his son Nelson McCoy in 1910. Besides making pottery for the area they also incorporated the mining and selling of clay to the area potteries of Roseville. Their success was a great asset to the pottery companies of this region of Ohio. The free land and the vast amounts of clay in this area was a huge factor to the growth of the McCoy Pottery Company. The Nelson McCoy Sanitary Stoneware Company was upgrading equipment and refining the production of the stoneware to a more decorative form of goods and not so much of the functional stoneware. By the mid 1920’s McCoy Pottery Company had purchased a 300 foot long tunnel kiln to make mass quantities of their wares. The McCoy Mammy cookie jar was perhaps fired in this very same kiln. The kiln was the most modern one for this region of Ohio. The Depression was having a negative impact on all of the pottery companies of the area so a co-op was formed called the American Clay Products Company. The co-op helped to unite all the marketing into one program to benefit all the pottery companies’ sales. The Nelson McCoy Pottery Company was the newly elected name for the company in the 1930’s. In the 1940’s the WWII changed the making of pottery to the making of land mines. Land mines were made of clay instead of metal so that they couldn’t be detectable with a metal detector. After the war ended the McCoy Company again went back to making the decorative and functional pottery pieces. The McCoy Mammy cookie jars was one of those artistic creations. The company ended in 1990 after a century of successful pottery manufacturing.
The McCoy Mammy cookie jars are rich in history and one of the most collectible cookies jars with the McCoy name. There are many variations on this grand old mammy but the one that has held its value throughout history is the McCoy Mammy cookie jars. It was one of the first to help evolve the cookie jars that we use and cherish today. If collecting cookie jars is of interest to you then I would highly suggest that you hunt one down for your own. My favorite cookies can only be found in a McCoy Mammy cookie jar.
The McCoy Mammy cookie jars are one of the oldest and best known cookie jars in the history of the McCoy pottery company. How could you not fall in love with such a delightful character that has the added bonus of fresh made cookies inside her? The McCoy Mammy cookie jars are made to look like an old time black mammy that is round and jovial. She depicts a perfect picture of how we would describe an old black mammy of times long ago. The McCoy Mammy cookie jars are about 11inches tall and about 8 inches wide. She is standing with her arms folded and each one resting on her robust waistline. She is wearing a long dress that buttons down the front. The dress has a wide collar that supports her round happy little black face with two big white eyes and a cherry red mouth with enlarged lips. The McCoy Mammy cookie jars also show her wearing a red handkerchief around her head. The word “Cookies” are embedded at the bottom of her puffy round skirt. This is a cookie jar to display front and center on your favorite shelf with all of the many treasures that you might be showing off to your friends.
In the late18th century, England was introducing the first cookie jars known as the “biscuit jars”. The American version of the first cookie jars were glass containers with screwed on metal lids. The glass jars were very plain and had no designs only a cylinder shape and often only found in grocery stores. During the Depression Era the American cookie jars started to gain popularity with many people. In the 1930’s the stoneware companies began to make some simple forms for their cookie containers. Brush Pottery Company is considered one of the first companies to manufacture the ceramic cookie jars. The early Brush cookie jars were marked with “Brush U.S.A.” and made in the color green with Cookies written on the front of each cookie jar. Many of the other pottery companies also began making cookie jars with unique designs and shapes to compete in the cookie jar market. The McCoy Mammy cookie jars are a good example of some of the first innovative figures to be produced. Many of the first cookies jars were “cold painted”. The paint on this type of cookie jar would wear off with too much use or rubbing on the paint. Later airbrushing the paint on the cookie jars became a more popular means of a lasting finish.
The Nelson McCoy Sanitary Stoneware Company in Roseville, Ohio was started by J.W. McCoy and his son Nelson McCoy in 1910. Besides making pottery for the area they also incorporated the mining and selling of clay to the area potteries of Roseville. Their success was a great asset to the pottery companies of this region of Ohio. The free land and the vast amounts of clay in this area was a huge factor to the growth of the McCoy Pottery Company. The Nelson McCoy Sanitary Stoneware Company was upgrading equipment and refining the production of the stoneware to a more decorative form of goods and not so much of the functional stoneware. By the mid 1920’s McCoy Pottery Company had purchased a 300 foot long tunnel kiln to make mass quantities of their wares. The McCoy Mammy cookie jar was perhaps fired in this very same kiln. The kiln was the most modern one for this region of Ohio. The Depression was having a negative impact on all of the pottery companies of the area so a co-op was formed called the American Clay Products Company. The co-op helped to unite all the marketing into one program to benefit all the pottery companies’ sales. The Nelson McCoy Pottery Company was the newly elected name for the company in the 1930’s. In the 1940’s the WWII changed the making of pottery to the making of land mines. Land mines were made of clay instead of metal so that they couldn’t be detectable with a metal detector. After the war ended the McCoy Company again went back to making the decorative and functional pottery pieces. The McCoy Mammy cookie jars was one of those artistic creations. The company ended in 1990 after a century of successful pottery manufacturing.
The McCoy Mammy cookie jars are rich in history and one of the most collectible cookies jars with the McCoy name. There are many variations on this grand old mammy but the one that has held its value throughout history is the McCoy Mammy cookie jars. It was one of the first to help evolve the cookie jars that we use and cherish today. If collecting cookie jars is of interest to you then I would highly suggest that you hunt one down for your own. My favorite cookies can only be found in a McCoy Mammy cookie jar.
HUMMEL SPICE SET
HUMMEL SPICE SET
The Hummel spice set will make any collector’s mouth water with envy. The sheer beauty of each and every spice container is a link to the history of the enchanting artwork that was made by M. J. Hummel. The Hummel spice set is a twenty-four piece set of spice jars. Each of the spice containers are covered in an ivory glaze and trimmed in a magnificent 24K gold border. As you look at each spice jar you will see that each container has a different Hummel work of art placed on one side of the spice jar. The artwork is a picture of a small child in a setting that will melt your heart and warm your soul. As you turn the Hummel jar around you will notice a history of each spice that is printed on every jar of the Hummel spice set. It is a brief description of the spice and its origins. The Hummel spice set has the cutest little lids that rest on top of each Hummel piece in the set. The lids also have rubber seals around the rims so that the spices will retain there freshness and flavor. If you pick-up one of the jars from the set just look at the bottom to ensure that it is stamped with the real M. J. Hummel trademark. The M. J. Hummel spice set is usually displayed in a beautiful wood spice rack that holds all twenty-four spice jars to proudly display on any wall or counter top.
As you go back in time you will discover what makes the Hummel spice set such a valuable treasure to possess. M.J. Hummel or (Berta) was born in Bavaria, Germany in 1909. She started school at age six and amazed her teacher with her artistic talents for such a young girl. When Berta became twelve, she was sent to Merianhoehe, the Institute of English Sisters. With the religious influence of the Sisters at the school and the talented teaching of Sister Stephania in her art studies, Berta was becoming quite the artist. At age eighteen Berta moved to Munich to get professional training at the Academy of Applied Arts. After graduating with top honors from the Academy Berta Hummel declined to stay and teach at the school. Her love of god and the friendship of two Sisters helped in her decision to pledge her life to the Convent of Siessen.
Berta has a love for children. She enjoyed teaching her art classes to the girl’s at a school named St. Anna in Sauigau. Many of the families that resided at Sauigau would have Berta paint a portrait of their child. Is it possible that some of these portraits are the ones on the Hummel spice set? As Berta finished her novitiate in 1931 she took the name Maria Innocentia Hummel. Sister Maria Hummel continued to draw and her artwork was placed on cards and published in books. Franz Goebel, is renowned for his fine quality porcelain company. After tracking down Sister Hummel, Franz convinced the Sister to have her drawings of the children made into porcelain figurines. An agreement was reached between the two parties and the papers were signed on January 9th 1935. It was the beginning of the first M.J. Hummel figurines. The Hummel figurines quickly took the hearts of all who looked upon them. They spread through out Germany and the US. M. J. Hummel died in1946 at the age of 37.
The Hummel spice set is designed from the artworks of a Sister who loved the children in her drawings. She captured their youthful entices in her drawing that would become a collectible to cherish. The Hummel spice set gives us twenty-four of her masterpieces to look at as we use the spices in the rack to enhance our meals and our lives. God gave her this gift to share with the world. It is truly a blessing to have a Hummel spice set sitting on a kitchen counter filled with the spices that make it so complete.
The Hummel spice set will make any collector’s mouth water with envy. The sheer beauty of each and every spice container is a link to the history of the enchanting artwork that was made by M. J. Hummel. The Hummel spice set is a twenty-four piece set of spice jars. Each of the spice containers are covered in an ivory glaze and trimmed in a magnificent 24K gold border. As you look at each spice jar you will see that each container has a different Hummel work of art placed on one side of the spice jar. The artwork is a picture of a small child in a setting that will melt your heart and warm your soul. As you turn the Hummel jar around you will notice a history of each spice that is printed on every jar of the Hummel spice set. It is a brief description of the spice and its origins. The Hummel spice set has the cutest little lids that rest on top of each Hummel piece in the set. The lids also have rubber seals around the rims so that the spices will retain there freshness and flavor. If you pick-up one of the jars from the set just look at the bottom to ensure that it is stamped with the real M. J. Hummel trademark. The M. J. Hummel spice set is usually displayed in a beautiful wood spice rack that holds all twenty-four spice jars to proudly display on any wall or counter top.
As you go back in time you will discover what makes the Hummel spice set such a valuable treasure to possess. M.J. Hummel or (Berta) was born in Bavaria, Germany in 1909. She started school at age six and amazed her teacher with her artistic talents for such a young girl. When Berta became twelve, she was sent to Merianhoehe, the Institute of English Sisters. With the religious influence of the Sisters at the school and the talented teaching of Sister Stephania in her art studies, Berta was becoming quite the artist. At age eighteen Berta moved to Munich to get professional training at the Academy of Applied Arts. After graduating with top honors from the Academy Berta Hummel declined to stay and teach at the school. Her love of god and the friendship of two Sisters helped in her decision to pledge her life to the Convent of Siessen.
Berta has a love for children. She enjoyed teaching her art classes to the girl’s at a school named St. Anna in Sauigau. Many of the families that resided at Sauigau would have Berta paint a portrait of their child. Is it possible that some of these portraits are the ones on the Hummel spice set? As Berta finished her novitiate in 1931 she took the name Maria Innocentia Hummel. Sister Maria Hummel continued to draw and her artwork was placed on cards and published in books. Franz Goebel, is renowned for his fine quality porcelain company. After tracking down Sister Hummel, Franz convinced the Sister to have her drawings of the children made into porcelain figurines. An agreement was reached between the two parties and the papers were signed on January 9th 1935. It was the beginning of the first M.J. Hummel figurines. The Hummel figurines quickly took the hearts of all who looked upon them. They spread through out Germany and the US. M. J. Hummel died in1946 at the age of 37.
The Hummel spice set is designed from the artworks of a Sister who loved the children in her drawings. She captured their youthful entices in her drawing that would become a collectible to cherish. The Hummel spice set gives us twenty-four of her masterpieces to look at as we use the spices in the rack to enhance our meals and our lives. God gave her this gift to share with the world. It is truly a blessing to have a Hummel spice set sitting on a kitchen counter filled with the spices that make it so complete.
Monday, January 21, 2008
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Sunday, January 13, 2008
ANTIQUE KEWPIE DOLLS
ANTIQUE KEWPIE DOLLS
Antique Kewpie Dolls have been capturing the hearts of collectors around the globe for almost one hundred years. Beloved Antique Kewpie Dolls have been remembered in song, cherished by many, and now are highly sought after by treasure hunters everywhere. Antique Kewpie Dolls, often referred to as “Kewpies,” were adored by little girls years ago because so often this was the very first doll given to them. You'll fall in love too once you've laid eyes on a precious Antique Kewpie Doll.
Antique Kewpie Dolls were first mere illustrations made by a woman named Rose O'Neill, drawing them for Ladies' Home Journal in 1909. O'Neill once described how these Kewpies came to her -- in her dreams. The name Kewpie, she said, was derived from Cupid, the Roman God of Love. Rose O'Neill quickly realized her creations potential as toy dolls and soon her lovable creatures became paper doll cut-outs. These were the first double-sided paper dolls produced in the United States. Not long after, with their popularity growing stronger, Kewpie Dolls would soon find their way into the bedrooms and play houses of little girls everywhere. Manufactured in 1912, Antique Kewpie Dolls were made in Germany. Joseph L. Kallas designed the first Kewpie doll and O'Neill was so pleased she gave him exclusive rights to her beloved Kewpies. Made from bisque, these dolls came in various sizes all modeled on O'Neill's designs. Kallas' company, Came Doll Products, continues to make Kewpies and many other dolls to this day.
Bisque Antique Kewpie Dolls are known for their molded and painted topknot hair, expressive painted eyes, and adorable smiles and in some cases, a pair of tiny blue wings. Finding such a doll in good condition might easily fetch more than a thousand dollars. These cute moppets have been produced in nearly every size imaginable -- anywhere from 1 inch to 3 feet in height. Antique Kewpie Dolls were also made out of wood pulp and chalk, though the bisque models tend to be the more highly prized. Because of the Kewpie Dolls growing popularity, of course imitations flooded the market place. The most popular of these knock-offs was a doll made from celluloid -- what we now know is a highly unstable compound widely used during World War I.
Today's Kewpie Dolls are crafted out of vinyl and one of the more well-known manufacturers is the Charisma Company owned by Marie Osmond. There's nothing wrong with owning and loving a modern day Kewpie, but one should know what it is they are buying. Obviously, a collector must be careful not to bid on a reproduction, thinking it is in fact an original Antique Kewpie Doll. Most O'Neill Kewpies have labels, but to be sure you have a bisque original, Rose O'Neill's name should appear on the bottom of the doll's feet. To learn more about Antique Kewpie Dolls, you can join various Kewpie Doll clubs. There are also many books to help a new collector find the Antique Kewpie Doll of their dreams. Two very good resources are Kewpie Dolls & Art With Value Guide and Rose O'Neill Kewpies and Other Works.
Very few collectibles bring such joy and warmth as an Antique Kewpie Doll. Rose O'Neill created timeless treasures that are as lovable today as they were a century ago. Remarking about her adorable creations, O'Neill described her Kewpies as, “always searching out ways to make the world better and funnier.” Track down an Antique Kewpie Doll for yourself and you'll soon see why.
Antique Kewpie Dolls have been capturing the hearts of collectors around the globe for almost one hundred years. Beloved Antique Kewpie Dolls have been remembered in song, cherished by many, and now are highly sought after by treasure hunters everywhere. Antique Kewpie Dolls, often referred to as “Kewpies,” were adored by little girls years ago because so often this was the very first doll given to them. You'll fall in love too once you've laid eyes on a precious Antique Kewpie Doll.
Antique Kewpie Dolls were first mere illustrations made by a woman named Rose O'Neill, drawing them for Ladies' Home Journal in 1909. O'Neill once described how these Kewpies came to her -- in her dreams. The name Kewpie, she said, was derived from Cupid, the Roman God of Love. Rose O'Neill quickly realized her creations potential as toy dolls and soon her lovable creatures became paper doll cut-outs. These were the first double-sided paper dolls produced in the United States. Not long after, with their popularity growing stronger, Kewpie Dolls would soon find their way into the bedrooms and play houses of little girls everywhere. Manufactured in 1912, Antique Kewpie Dolls were made in Germany. Joseph L. Kallas designed the first Kewpie doll and O'Neill was so pleased she gave him exclusive rights to her beloved Kewpies. Made from bisque, these dolls came in various sizes all modeled on O'Neill's designs. Kallas' company, Came Doll Products, continues to make Kewpies and many other dolls to this day.
Bisque Antique Kewpie Dolls are known for their molded and painted topknot hair, expressive painted eyes, and adorable smiles and in some cases, a pair of tiny blue wings. Finding such a doll in good condition might easily fetch more than a thousand dollars. These cute moppets have been produced in nearly every size imaginable -- anywhere from 1 inch to 3 feet in height. Antique Kewpie Dolls were also made out of wood pulp and chalk, though the bisque models tend to be the more highly prized. Because of the Kewpie Dolls growing popularity, of course imitations flooded the market place. The most popular of these knock-offs was a doll made from celluloid -- what we now know is a highly unstable compound widely used during World War I.
Today's Kewpie Dolls are crafted out of vinyl and one of the more well-known manufacturers is the Charisma Company owned by Marie Osmond. There's nothing wrong with owning and loving a modern day Kewpie, but one should know what it is they are buying. Obviously, a collector must be careful not to bid on a reproduction, thinking it is in fact an original Antique Kewpie Doll. Most O'Neill Kewpies have labels, but to be sure you have a bisque original, Rose O'Neill's name should appear on the bottom of the doll's feet. To learn more about Antique Kewpie Dolls, you can join various Kewpie Doll clubs. There are also many books to help a new collector find the Antique Kewpie Doll of their dreams. Two very good resources are Kewpie Dolls & Art With Value Guide and Rose O'Neill Kewpies and Other Works.
Very few collectibles bring such joy and warmth as an Antique Kewpie Doll. Rose O'Neill created timeless treasures that are as lovable today as they were a century ago. Remarking about her adorable creations, O'Neill described her Kewpies as, “always searching out ways to make the world better and funnier.” Track down an Antique Kewpie Doll for yourself and you'll soon see why.
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