Once-popular painted porcelain plaques can be pricey and reproductions

by Anne Gilbert | Mar 26, 2023 | Antique Detective, Features

April 2023

ANTIQUE DETECTIVE

Once-popular painted porcelain plaques can be pricey and reproductions

by Anne Gilbert

Painted Porcelain Plaques

Back in the 1970s and ‘80s, 19th-century small or miniature painted porcelain portrait plaques were hot collectibles. When they came to market they always looked properly old. They appeared to be painted on porcelain as well as ivory. Sometimes the backs were even covered with what seemed to be 18th or 19th century newsprint. Chances are, your mother or grandmother bought one. Was it worth as much as she paid for it? These days it could be worth thousands of dollars or less than $100. If you have one, check the following facts.

A painted porcelain plaque woman, signed Wagner. (Image courtesy of eBay)

Clues

Are they what they appear to be? Choice, authentic pieces are marked KPM (King’s Porcelain Manufactory) and were made in Germany. The earliest such marks were painted on Meissen china (1723-24) with crossed swords. However, the KPM signature might be etched on a blank or an inferior porcelain plaque from Austria or Germany. As for the painting itself, it may be a decal of a painting. The use of decals around the 1830s was the revival of earlier styles. Reproduction of those early decals has never stopped.

When considering a pur-chase or a sale, use a strong magnifying glass or a jewelers’ loupe. A decal will show a small dot matrix. Another trick of fakers was to place transfer print plaques under convex glass. This gives the effect of a hand painted piece. Details such as jewelry or hats are touched up with paint. The result is that they are raised under a magnifying glass.

When the small plaques are supposedly framed on ivory, they may actually be on plastic.

By the early 19th century, factories on the continent and in England turned neoclassical paintings, portraits of beautiful women and famous people into decals and miniature plaques. Lady Hamilton and Napoleon were popular subjects.

Pass on a piece when the back is covered with felt and you can’t see makers’ marks. The seller may not even know what is behind the felt backing.

Most fakes are porcelains signed Wagner. However, when it is a hand-signed and hand-painted plaque by the renowned artist Wagner, it could sell for thousands of dollars. You have the clues so do your research if you plan to buy or sell.

A painted porcelain plaque Napoleon. (Image courtesy of eBay)

Anne Gilbert has been self-syndicating the ANTIQUE DETECTIVE to such papers as the Chicago Sun-Times and the Miami Herald since 1983.
She has authored nine books on antiques, collectibles, and art and appeared on national TV.
She has done appraisals for museums and private individuals.

How do you display your collection?

by Anne Gilbert | Mar 2, 2023 | Antique Detective, Features

March 2023

ANTIQUE DETECTIVE

How do you display your collection?

by Anne Gilbert

Curio Cabinets

Whether a collection is large or small, over the centuries, furniture was made just to show it off. It began in ancient Rome, with royalty and the wealthy, who used table tops to show off small treasures. However, it was more common for them to use an entire room devoted to their collections. Wealthy Greeks built entire rooms to house their treasured books that were then placed in small cupboards. Not too different than today, when rooms of corporate offices often display collections related to their businesses or just because the CEO collects them.

Collections became status symbols during the Italian Renaissance, which lasted from the middle of the 14th century until the end of the 16th. It was the first time special types of furniture were designed to show them off. Among them: the credenza that later evolved into the sideboard. Sometimes it used the base topped with an open cupboard to display more collections.

King Louis XIV owned the first display showcase for his diverse collections of every-thing from porcelains to silver.
By the mid-17th century, Oriental designs and lacquered pieces were imported from the Far East. And in England, Thomas Chippendale designed massive, library breakfront bookcases in the Gothic style.

In 18th-century France, the four Martin brothers created a type of lacquer referred to as “vernis.” Curio cabinets using it have never stopped being reproduced. They are referred to as “vernis Martin” cabinets.

Victorian collectors in England and America collected on a more humble scale, though their collections often covered every visible space. By the mid-19th century, the curio cabinet was apt to be a towering, heavily carved Étagère, combining upper and base mirrors with shelving.

Modern and contemporary- style curio cabinets are made today to fit in with current decors and collectibles.

Vernis Martin style curio cabinet, late 19th century. (Image courtesy of eBay)

Clues

The “vitrine,” originally a French, small cabinet on legs with three sides of glass, was revived during the Art Nouveau period. It was lacquered with colorful painted subjects.

The vitrine, Victorian etageres and court cupboards are still being reproduced, as are variations of the vernis Martin curio cabinets.

Modern curio cabinet. (Image courtesy of AMBfurniture.com/coaster)

Anne Gilbert has been self-syndicating the ANTIQUE DETECTIVE to such papers as the Chicago Sun-Times and the Miami Herald since 1983.
She has authored nine books on antiques, collectibles, and art and appeared on national TV.
She has done appraisals for museums and private individuals.

Toy farm tractors come to town for child and adult collectors

by Anne Gilbert | Feb 9, 2023 | Antique Detective, Features

February 2023

ANTIQUE DETECTIVE

Toy farm tractors come to town for child and adult collectors

by Anne Gilbert

Antique Toy Farm Tractors

Farm toys have been collected for decades. One of the most popular categories is the small toy farm tractor. While late 19th century and some vintage examples are priced in the thousands of dollars, new ones can be less than $50.

Historically, two of the earliest makers of farm toy tractors included the Hubley Co., founded in 1894 in Lancaster, PA. They made molded metal toys that were painted and detailed at the company foundry. The Arcade Manufacturing Co., Freeport, IL, founded in 1885, made the first commercially made toy tractor, “the Fordson.”

The Wilkins Toy Co., in Keene, NH, was making cast iron toy tractors around 1886. They were sold in the Montgomery Ward and Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalogs for a few dollars. These days, prices could be in the thousands of dollars if they can even be for sale. They are among the makers of the “Golden Age.” Others are arcade, such as those from the Dent Hardware Co., founded in 1898.

The Ertl Co. was founded in 1945 in Iowa by Frederick Ertl, who made some of the most important John Deere toy tractors. He is credited with starting collector interest. It began with a sand cast toy farm tractor he made in his home furnace in Dubuque, IA, in 1945. These days, one of his tractors could sell for more than $900. The Ertl Co. is one of the biggest farm toy tractor makers these days.

By the 1970s, collecting toy farm tractors was hot. A price guide on the subject by Bill Vossle in 1978 set it off.

Antique Allis Chalmers toy farm tractor

Clues

Some older cast iron toy tractors, like the Fordson, have been reproduced and can be mistaken by buyers and sellers. Newer pieces often have thin paint and few painted details. Repros are usually smaller than the originals due to newer molding and production techniques.

Things to consider: Are all the pieces intact, including tires and steering wheels? Is the paint new, chipped off, scratched, worn off in places or even completely missing? Are all the pieces intact, including steering wheels and tires?
Limited edition toy farm tractors are offered in small quantities, usually as a onetime production or with a specific number of pieces.
Toy farm tractors with original box adds to the value.

Knowing the type of material the toys are made of helps to date them. Cast iron was used from the 1880s to the 1920s. Pressed steel was used from the 1950s to 1986. They were stamped out of steel that was rolled flat. After World War II, plastic became a popular material for the toy farm tractors. They continued to be made into the 1990s. In the 1980s spun-cast tractor toys (aluminum, zinc, and pewter) were made in a mold.

To learn more, check out the National Farm Toy Museum site. Their collectors corner page shows a group of new reproductions as well as vintage collectibles. Keep tabs on current and recent past auctions to get an idea of pricing and rarities.

Make sure you get an authenticity agreement before paying too much for a reproduction.

Antique John Deere toy farm tractor

Anne Gilbert has been self-syndicating the ANTIQUE DETECTIVE to such papers as the Chicago Sun-Times and the Miami Herald since 1983.
She has authored nine books on antiques, collectibles, and art and appeared on national TV.
She has done appraisals for museums and private individuals.

Victorian Gothic revival furniture can be weird and pricey

by Anne Gilbert | Dec 10, 2022 | Antique Detective

December 2022

ANTIQUE DETECTIVE

Victorian Gothic revival furniture can be weird and pricey

by Anne Gilbert

Victorian Gothic revival furniture

You might think that Victorian Gothic revival furniture was made for Halloween. The carved, devilish-looking heads on chairs are downright spooky. However, that is a far cry from what their designers and collectors thought when they were created in the mid-19th century. It was actually the result of a growing romantic era, created by the novels of author Sir Walter Scott. His novel “Ivanhoe” is an example.

Historically, Gothic-carved motifs on furniture had their beginnings in Rome with the folding chair known as the “Dante” or “Savonarola” chair. It was named after Gerolamo Savonarola, a priest known for his radical views in the 13th century. Reproductions have never stopped being made.

The Gothic revival look in furniture and architecture began in England in the second half of the 18th and throughout the 19th century. It was an outgrowth of the furniture and architecture made in Europe from 1150 to 1500 for churches.
Victorian items can be recognized by painted arches, heavy fabrics, and wood. Furniture has detailed carvings featuring elaborate carvings, decorative paintings, and elaborate sculptures.

The Gothic revival movement spread across the world, including Asia. In America, important cabinet makers in Pennsylvania created everything from parlor sets to cabinets, headboards, and dining room tables, among them, Gustav Herter, John Henry Belter and Robert Horner.

Another influence that popularized the Gothic look was the Industrial Revolution. Mass-produced furniture made quality pieces affordable.

From mansions to modest houses, the Gothic motifs were everywhere and can be seen today during museum tours. They can be viewed in existing churches.

Savonarola style chair

A Savonarola style chair. (Image courtesy of Pamono)

Clues

Revival of interest

There was a revival of interest in Victorian Gothic Revival furniture in the 1960s. Reproductions and copies flooded the market. Authentic period pieces made by important makers, such as John Henry Belter (1804-1863) became scarce. In a 2012 Neal auction, a Belter table sold for $27,060. The problem for interested collectors is that few of his pieces were signed. They can be identified by the use of rosewood and the carvings of poets, statesmen, and Gothic creature heads. They can still turn up anywhere.

Belter Renaissance revival table

An authentic Belter Renaissance revival table. (Image courtesy of Neal Auctions)

Anne Gilbert has been self-syndicating the ANTIQUE DETECTIVE to such papers as the Chicago Sun-Times and the Miami Herald since 1983.
She has authored nine books on antiques, collectibles, and art and appeared on national TV.
She has done appraisals for museums and private individuals.

Learn the many names and types of quilts

by Anne Gilbert | Oct 28, 2022 | Antique Detective, Features

November 2022

ANTIQUE DETECTIVE

Learn the many names and types of quilts

by Anne Gilbert

Collecting Quilts

In 1996, when I began researching for my book, “Collecting Quilts,” I quickly realized that research is a must. Would you recognize a Kapa, Crazy quilt, or a Trapunto quilt if you came across one at a rummage or estate sale? What about an Amish quilt? These are but a few of the many names that describe the techniques used in quilt-making. With prices for some of the more unusual antique and vintage quilts ranging over $1,000, it is worth the time spent to research the many books and museum collections on the subject. Consider the once-humble “Crazy quilt.” For many years examples never made it to major auction houses. Not so today if the designs and materials contain historical or unusual motifs.

Historically, one of the earliest forms of quilting that began in 14th-century Italy found its way to America by the 18th century. This technique was used here from 1800 through the Civil War. Two layers of cloth were stitched together with a design. A signature of a family member made them more important. Popular motifs were flowers and vines; when used with batting stuffing in the largest design, areas it had a “quilted” look. Popular motifs were flowers and vines.

An antique Crazy quilt

An antique Crazy quilt, Lancaster, PA. (image courtesy of Wegetlabor)

Clues

Album quilts

Album quilts are among the most expensive and rare. The name “album” was taken from the then-popular hobby of putting mementos into scrapbooks. The album quilt used the same idea as cloth squares. Each of the squares had a central motif such as an animal or flowering tree. Other objects for the squares used identifiable buildings, religious motifs, and overall geometric forms. What also makes them so special is the intricate piecing and appliqué work. For album bridal quilts, the stitches were almost invisible. Each square was supposedly made by a different friend of the bride and autographed by the maker in India ink.

Crazy quilts

Crazy quilts are a good example of unusual quilt names. They were based on the fact that they originally had no fixed design when first made in the American Colonies. As cloth became more available in the Colonies, the Crazy quilt became a thing of the past. In the 1870s, when the Crazy quilt technique was revived, it was totally different and used such fabrics as velvet, cotton, wool, and silk as well as plush, satin and linen. The name was also changed to “Crazy Patch Quilt.” Each colorful block was hand-sewn onto a backing of coarsely woven material. Once sewn together, they were connected by fancy stitches in variously colored threads. Advertisements or pictures printed on satin and woven silk political badges were made, as well as embroidered flowers, insects, and names.

Amish quilts

Amish quilts are defined by their use of large geometric designs and dark backgrounds, as are Mennonite quilts. Printed fabrics were rarely used. Amish crib quilts can be expensive not only because not many were made, but few have survived.

Log Cabin quilts

Log Cabin quilts are easily recognized since part of their designs always resembles the logs once stacked in pioneer homes. As such, they are symbolic of the actual log cabins. The center square is usually red, representing the placement of a fireplace or hearth. They were popular in the late 19th century.

Show quilts

Show quilts can also be Crazy or Log Cabin quilts. They were made in those styles, but strictly for display and of silk. Popular patterns such as the “Star of Bethlehem” was created as silk show quilts.

Hawaiian (Kapa) quilts

Hawaiian (Kapa) quilts are a spinoff from missionaries’ patchwork quilts. They were made of two whole pieces of material and appliquéd in a free-style island motif, usually a single color on white. Pattern designs included breadfruit, turtles, ferns, crescent moon, and baskets of flowers.

Patriotic or Freedom quilts

Patriotic or Freedom quilts always surfaced in times of war or surrounding some historical such as the 1876 Centennial. They used such symbols as the Stars and Stripes, American heroes, and statesmen. The most popular symbol was the American bald eagle.

Many quilters commemorating the 1976 Bicentennial use the eagle as their primary motif. They are popular with contemporary collectors.

Anne Gilbert has been self-syndicating the ANTIQUE DETECTIVE to such papers as the Chicago Sun-Times and the Miami Herald since 1983.
She has authored nine books on antiques, collectibles, and art and appeared on national TV.
She has done appraisals for museums and private individuals.