my Roseville Jardinere- piece by peice

Pottery collecting ain't what it used to be. Back in the day (early 1990's) when the money was still flowing from the 1980's stock market, people collected pottery Roseville, Hull, Hall, Occupied Japan, Flow Blue, Weller, McCoy, etc. However, these days people are not amassing large collections and these items are going for a song! It will come back. If you love it, buy it now and don't wait until it's in vogue again. If you wait, you will be adding at least a zero behind any price you see now- possibly more.

Then again, I started buying stock in 2010 when it went... uhhh... on sale, shall we say. So my purchasing logic and level for risk might be different than others.

Last week, I found this lovely piece of Roseville. It is called a jardiniere (read as a planter or cachepot) and sometimes comes with a base. My find didn't have a base, but I would have liked to have one.

Imagine my surprise when I found a base at an antique store turned upside down as a vase. I recognized the glaze pattern immediately. I have married the two, even though it is not optimal in the antique business. But what a pair!

Will I be collecting Roseville? Probably not, however, this is my second large pottery piece from the early quarter of the last century! And, I have learned a great deal from researching the base. The bases come marked and unmarked (unmarked is older), some are glazed on the inside, some not, some are completely hollow, some have a solid top, like mine. Right now, I will just think it is pretty and I hope the next owner thinks so too! It will be going off to Hanna's next month, after a good clean-up! I am adding my mid-century items to the booth at Hanna Antiques in August. We will see if Birmingham is ready for this national trend!

Picking this weekend- the big art show

There were so many good sales this weekend with great art. The sale I purchased the most from was the Estate of Barbara Evans. I have known of her work for many years and from the article in the Birmingham News in 2008, she lived a life as colorful as her art. These paintings span her trips to Europe and the High Sierras.

I am excited to own this collection! I think I might keep at least one of the six pieces I purchased... but how to pick just one!

Blenko glass- why you should have some!

I love a collectible that is functional. Murano glass vases, vintage salt and pepper shakers, and my personal fave vintage metal office items... but that's a whole 'nother post. I would suggest adding Blenko to that list!

Blenko glass is an American glass company that started making glass for windows in 1893 and later moved into the caste and blown glass objects still in production in West Virginia since 1921. Glass lends a lightness and elegance to a space. The colors can change with the light in the space and it gives a bit of sparkle!

The glass pieces from Blenko range from vessels like water bottles, bowls and decanters, to holiday items, candle holders and bookends. The bookends are my latest obsession. You can find them signed or unsigned, in the pebbled "ice floe" patterns- which really look like melting ice, and figural work.

starburst cubes

Half circle bookends

Cute "ice floe" bear bookends

Public Broadcast channels across the country are a great source for the story behind Blenko and often run the program during fund drives where you can get a piece of Blenko for a certain pledge amount. Though this is a great way to support public broadcasting and begin you collection, it's one of many. There is the website with new pieces, that can be signed for a small up charge. As well as the vintage market, where you will find a variety of styles and themes.