The Ever Popular Pfaltzgraf Pottery

As a collector and reseller of vintage collectibles, like many others, every few weeks go to the “lists.”  The lists are what tell us what people are searching for and we hope, if they are searching for, they are buying.  As webmaster, I also check my own list, to see what searches have landed people on my website, but there are also lists on Tias and eBay that are published periodically for all to see.  One name that has seems to be on these lists for a little while now is Pfaltzgraff.

The name comes up so often probably because they have been around for more than two hundred years and have made massive amounts of product in that time.  Based in Pennsylvania this company has thousands of people who collect their pottery.  Some of their most popular patterns include the Yorktowne, Naturewood, Pistoulet and the ever popular Winterberry.  Mind you, their pottery is normally not worth thousands of dollars, but the right pieces will sell and sell briskly.

Some of the best prices realized by antiques and collectibles dealers are for the antique crocks that are highly decorated.  Prices for some of the more sought after crocks can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousands of dollars or more.   Pieces from their Winterberry collection on the other hand don’t bring in a lot of money, but they do sell.  We recently saw a serving platter go for about $50 and a set of appetizer plates for about $40.

Abingdon Pottery Cookie Jars

Both of the pictured cookie jars were made by Abington Potteries in the Mid-40s.  They were made very similar in size and pretty much look and feel.  What is the difference between the two cookies jars, besides the obvious?  One is white and one is black for sure and their hand-painted decorations are different as well.   However, the major difference between the two is their value; the Mammy (black) cookie jar is worth in the range of $800, the Little Ol’ Lady cookie jar more in the range of about $150-$200.

The price disparity has nothing to do with one being black and one being white.  In fact, the Little Ol’ Lady cookie jar was made both in black and white.  The price disparity has more to do with the quantity made; many of the Little Ol’ Lady cookie jars were made by the company while only a very limited number of Mammy cookie jars were made.  These were given as prizes to pottery distributors who achieved certain sales goals at the time.  Experts can only tell them apart by the slight shape difference and the type of glaze used.

To make matters even more confusing, Abingdon Potteries were not the only ones to make Mammy cookie jars.  About the same time period, McCoy Pottery, which is a well-known name amongst collectors, was also making them.  These are also very collectible and appeal to many different types of collectors.  And whether they were made by McCoy or Abingdon, because of their popularity and worth, many unscrupulous dealers have made reproductions and fakes.  Collectors beware.

Incredible Goodwill Find

As a dealer, I have on many occasions purchased things from Goodwill, Salvation Army or other thrift stores to resell either at antiques and collectibles markets or through eBay.  Some of my nicest finds include a beautiful Royal Delft bowl, countless vintage Replogle globes and various collectible glass including Fenton vases, Murano bowls and Blenko candy dishes.  On many other occasions, I may have passed up other antiques, artifacts or collectibles that I may not have quickly recognized. As reported in a recent story from Buffalo, I probably would have walked right past their exciting find.

Seems a piece of antique pottery dating back at least a thousand years was donated and no one recognized it as such.  It was put up for auction with a price of $4.99 and received a couple of bids until someone actually recognized it for what it was; a historical Native American artifact that was taken from a burial site in Oklahoma.  Inside the vessel, a note was found that read, “found in a burial mound near Spiro Oklahoma in 1970.”  Goodwill has decided to return the vessel, which measures 7.5 inches tall, to the Caddo Indian Nation.

A Brief History of Polish Pottery

Our friend Agnus does a very brisk business selling Polish Pottery at the local area antique and collectibles markets. We can’t help but marvel at her salesmanship as she explains to the throngs of collectors and potential customers who hang around her booth, what Polish Pottery is, where it comes from and best of all the different vibrant patterns it comes in.

Polish Pottery is high-fired in over 1250 degrees C, and is extremely durable and lasts for many many years. The first known pieces of this pottery date back to the 1500’s and were hand made and hand decorated. In the early days, the pottery was decorated using potatoes to create the designs, today the designs are created with sponges. The main colors used even to this day are cobalt blue, peacock blue as well as earth tones. Each piece was an individual piece of artwork. Most of the pottery comes from the City of Boleslawiec, called by some the “Home of Polish Pottery.”

While molds are used for some pieces, most of the pieces are still made on a pottery wheel. The decoration is applied after the pieces are fired in coal and gas ovens, then a glaze is applied to the piece. Today the pottery comes in hundreds of patterns. Because of the high temperatures, the Polish Pottery pieces are extremely resilient and can withstand use of the microwave oven, the fridge and or regular ovens. Polish Pottery is also very collectible; especially those pieces marked “Unikat” which stands for unique. These unique pieces are created by accomplished artisans who create their own work from start to finish.

NOVA-Antiques Newsletter Archives – June 9, 2005 . . . .

The History of Moorcroft Pottery

William Moorcroft (1872 to 1945) was born in Burslem, Staffordshire and studied art in both London and Paris. He designed his first pieces of pottery while working at the James Macintyre Company in 1897 but was highly successful after opening his own studio in 1913 in Cobridge, England. Moorcroft created pottery with an Asian feel and developed high luster glazes to create dramatic, eye catching designs. Most of his products sold through Liberty of London and Tiffany in New York. After his passing in 1945, the company passed on to his son Walter.

Walter’s vision and designs helped the company continue its long standing tradition of using brilliant colors and translucent glazes to produce some of the best quality mid-century art pottery. However, later in the 60’s the company was purchased by the Roper Brothers and they unsuccessfully tried to mass produce merchandise and failed. In 1987, Walter resigned from Moorcroft and the design duties turned to Sally Dennis and now to Rachel Bishop. Under these new designers, Moorcroft saw a resurgence in both the quality of their product and interest by collectors.

Clarice Cliff Pottery Designer

Many of you who love Art Deco will know a piece of Clarice Cliff ceramic from a mile away. The Artist was born in 1899 in Staffordshire and started in meager beginnings as a painter of pottery, as many women of that time, in that area of the world. However, that is where the similarities with other women of the time ended.

Clarice had much ambition to become a designer and in 1928 launched the Bizarre line of pottery. The pottery resembled its name, with its bold and exuberant designs, but they were stamped with her name and quickly became popular. Now collectors clamor to discover one of her works. One of her decorative platters recently sold at auction $72,000. The Designer, Clarice Cliff, passed away in 1972.

NOVA-Antiques Newsletter Archives - September 1, 2005 . . . .

Satsuma Japanese Pottery

Satsuma pottery is usually cream colored earthenware that is high fired and glazed. One of the most unusual characteristics of this type of pottery is that the surface will also have a fine crackle effect. The earliest known pieces are believed to be from the early 1600’s. The name Satsuma is actually the name of the province in Japan where this type of pottery may have originated from.

A recent Satsuma plate that we acquired from my mother featured a beautiful pair of peacocks; however a lot of the Satsuma pieces have gorgeous floral designs. Satsuma pottery was later mass produced and the style copied not only by other areas of Japan, but in England as well. For this reason, prices of Satsuma pottery can vary greatly from ten or fifteen dollars to many thousands of dollars.

NOVA-Antiques Newsletter Archives July 20, 2005 . . . .

Capodimonte Porcelain

Capodimonte porcelain dates back to the reign of Charles of Bourbon and the Kingdom of Naples in the eighteenth century. Charles initially set a side a small building at his Royal Palace to produce porcelain under the artistic director Giovanni Caselli and chemist Livio Ottavio Scheppers. However, by 1743, he had determined that the conditions of the small building did not allow for an appropriate and efficient work environment, so he commissioned construction of a new factory in Capodimonte.

Charles ascended to the Spanish throne in 1759 after the death of Philip V. When he left Naples he ordered the Capodimonte factory demolished and took all of his porcelain manufacturing secrets with him to Madrid, Spain. Charles’ son, Ferdinand succeeded his father as King of Naples and started another factory where his father had pulled up roots. By 1772, a new factory, known as the Royal Factory, had been built and production resembled the original Capodimonte factory.

NOVA-Antiques Newsletter Archives January 5, 2005 . . . .