The portraits done by American itinerant artists, known as “folk artists” or “naive” painters, can also be priced for thousands of dollars. They worked usually in the Northeast, moving from place to place. Many began their livelihood painting furniture and signs.
Folk art painters of the 18th and early 19th centuries created their own stylistic techniques that help identify many of their unsigned pieces.

Ammi Phillips (1788-1865), Wm. Matthew Prior (1806-1873), Horace Bundy (1814-1883), and Rufus Hathaway (1770-1822)  are among the most important documented. Prior is of special interest since he was an abolitionist who also painted portraits of African-Americans. Hathaway was a physician.  But what about Joshua Johnson (1763-1824)?

Johnson is one of the few documented African-American portrait folk artists in the late 18th to early 19th centuries. After he received his freedom, he was listed as a portrait painter or limner in Baltimore city directories beginning in 1796. Remaining examples are of white people. His painting of “The Westwood Children” is part of the National Gallery collection. Eighty-three of his paintings are recorded.

While many American women did folk art paintings at that time, their subjects were usually family and friends. They are mostly undocumented. An exception is Mary B. Tucker (1824-1898). She began doing watercolor profile portraits at age 16.

Sometimes signatures were added to an old painting. Warts and crossed eyes were removed. Charming pets such as dogs and were added to increase the value. They still are being passed off as authentic. Get a certificate of authenticity before paying big bucks.
Prints of the most popular folk art portraits are bargain-priced — some as low as $25.

Artists are still working in the folk art style if you would like family portraits done in that style.

Take a look — Mustaches and beards are seen everywhere! It couldn’t be a better time to give a second glance to gifting or collecting antique and vintage mustache sentiment cups. You probably aren’t familiar with them, but beginning in the mid-19th century they were a “hot” necessity. They have never stopped being made around the world and were part of the sentiment cup gift craze that began in the 19th century.

Sentiment cups had a variety of greetings. “Merry Christmas” was a favorite. Other popular greetings were “To a friend,” “remember me” and “a friend.” Among the most collectible are those with a copper luster glaze and applied-raised motifs, such as fruit and flowers.

Their decoration technique was often done during the hand painting hobby in America during the first few years of the 20th century. They were also made in sterling silver by companies such as Tiffany.

Historically, the mustache cup was invented in 1860 by an Englishman, Harvey Adams. The cup had a ledge with one semicircular opening against the side of the cup. The mustache stayed safe and dry on the guard. The new invention was soon available all over Europe and America. Companies such as Royal Crown Derby, Limoges, and Royal Bayreuth; others created their own versions.

From 1860 to 1916, the British Military actually required all of the military brass to wear mustaches as an image of authority. Since mustache wax was applied to keep mustaches stiff, drinking hot liquids would melt the wax, causing it to drip into the liquid. The rimmed mustache cup solved the problem.

In the 1970s reproductions of Victorian mustache and sentiment cups were made in Japan. They were marked on the bottom, in red, R.S. Prussia.

Currently, prices are under $50, so it’s a great time to start a collection.

Chances are that you or someone in your family have eaten animal crackers and loved every bite. Perhaps you are even a collector of the tin boxes they came in. They have been woven into our culture in many ways. One example is the song sung by Shirley Temple in 1935, “Animal Crackers In My Soup.” “Animal Crackers” was also the name of a 1938 Marx Brothers film. In 2017 they were part of an animated film by the name “Animal Crackers” as magical animal crackers.

The original tin box design depicted four caged wild circus animals. However, in 2018 the animal rights group PETA forced a design change that now shows five wild animals together, free in an African landscap.

The tins are an important part of advertising tin box history that began in England in 1877 with the development of colorful lithography. By the end of the 19th century, companies were hiring artists to showcase their products on tin. Early designers often depicted popular fads and fashions from mid-Victorian through the Art Nouveau to Art Deco eras.

By the late 19th century, animal-shaped crackers or “biscuits,” in British terms were imported to America. They became so popular that bakers in America began making them by 1871, Animal “biscuits” were made in 1902 by The National Biscuit Co. They became officially known as “Barnum’s Animals” after the then-popular Barnum & Bailey Circus. Fifty-three different animals have been depicted since 1902.

In 1948, the company changed the product name to the current name of “Barnum’s Animal Crackers.”  Currently, several American companies make animal crackers and sell them in a variety of tin containers.

Prices are modest, usually in the $25 range. However, the 1987 anniversary tin box in the original design can cost more than $100. Now is the time to add to a collection.

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.

You might be surprised to learn that many items of 17th and 18th centuries still come up for sale at modest prices. Also, there are many collectors around the world, including the United States, buying items dating to the American Revolution. Both British and American sides of the war are popular. This includes everything from military and clothing buttons to eating and serving items.

The great hunt for old pewter was revived in 1976 during the Bicentennial celebration. Not only were collectors on the hunt, but reproductions were made by the thousands. As you are about to learn, they are a continuing problem for todays’ collectors.

Historically, the making and use of pewter items dates back 2,000 years to Roman times. These were primarily utilitarian objects.
Fast forward several hundred years to Europe. The average person was using wood utensils. The wealthy and royalty used pewter and considered it a luxury item. Pewterers identified their work stamped with a mark called “touchmark.”

Before the American Revolution, the British used a lion image touch mark. Pewter was marked not only by the makers but by the owners. They would stamp or engrave their initials on important pieces or family crests or coat-of-arms.

In Colonial America, there was such high regard for English pewter that many early pieces were stamped “London” or “old England.” to make them more sellable. In Jamestown, VA, and in New England, by 1630, newly arrived Colonists brought pewter from England. Pewtermakers trained in England began working here.

In America. during the American Revolution, many pieces of pewter were donated to be cast into musket balls.

You don’t hear much about antique pewter buttons, but they still turn up. The British and American uniforms, both Army and Navy, used them on uniforms.

Pewter buttons were in high demand for women’s and men’s clothing in 18th and early 19th century England and America. Motifs included floral designs and stars. Designs were cast or stamped. Currently, a single button could sell for $175 or more. There are reproductions of the many designs offered on the Internet.

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.

While many once- popular collectibles are languishing, nothing seems to stop autograph collectors from spending big bucks. The question is, are their purchases authentic? What about their future value? A good example to consider are old-time movie and stage stars? Who in this generation ever heard of Clara Bow or Eddie Cantor? Consider Joan Crawford autographed photos, once-hot collectibles. Were they even autographed by the stars?

Consider current “hot” celebrities and their autographs. Currently, you could pay $1,200 for a Madonna autograph. Bob Dylan’s autograph could cost $1,275. Fast forward a few decades and who will remember them? On the other hand, a Neil Armstrong (first man on the moon) now fetches $76,500. He will be remembered, and prices will go up.

Historically, the first autograph book or “book of friends” was created in 1466. Some inscribers made small sketches next to signatures. Seventeenth-century students at universities like Oxford and Paris collected signatures of classmates, just like today’s students. Serious autograph collecting began in America around 1815.

Collectors often specialize in categories. Among them are: presidents, military soldiers, athletes, movie and stage stars, artists, social and religious leaders, astronauts, and authors. Many of them had others sign their names. During the Civil War, Jefferson Davis’ wife signed his name to his letters and documents.

Forgers often buy a real document from the American Revolutionary War and sign other famous patriots’ names. Other times, copies are aged with tea or tobacco stains.

Some celebrities refused to sign autographs, including Paul Newman, Greta Garbo and Charles Lindbergh.

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.