Stickley Era, the Arts & Crafts Movement

[Stonecat]

Since the "what should we collect now?" thread saw little action, lets try the opposite. What shouldn't we collect? What is too expensive or so over-hyped that it will never really gain in value or interest. I assume there is no need to analyze very high-end stuff because it lives in a world of it's own, so any thoughts on the more humble stuff? Someone mentioned in another thread how they thought Roycroft was over-valued but interestingly the guy who runs the Roycroft copper website thinks it is undervalued, compared to Van Erp and others. What about pottery? Personally, I don't understand the valuation of many pieces of 'common' Rookwood, Van Briggle, and similar stuff. In furniture, some very plain Stickley Bros seems to sell very high, but I guess it's the name and not the construction.
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Stonecat

[Bev.]

Hey, Stonecat,

If you are looking for undervalued things, look for A & C tableclothes and linens. There is nothing that sets off an A & C end table like an authentic table runner that drips off the edges with embroidered Mac roses, etc. They add the finishing touches to the antique furniture.

The linens helps prevent the bottoms of pottery, lamps, etc. from scratching the orginal finshes. They are also a wonderful contrast with the dark wood. You can pick up something for less than $10 or as much as $75 to a $100. That is undervalued for that craftsmanship. (I couldn't sew like that for anything in the world.) But you do have to know what you are looking for in design and color. A lot of the stuff is mislabeled.

Another thing that is undervalued are the book covers that were designed and printed in gold leaf/silver leaf in the style of Beardsley, Macintosch, etc. from England and Scotland. They are stunning.

I thinkt that lamps and clocks are undervalued.

About the pottery, I am still learning about it. There is such a wide range of prices for the same items. They have no hairlines nor broken handles, intact rims, etc., and are produced by the same company. I just don't know what is going on with the selling prices on E-bay.

Bev.

[Stonecat]

Bev is back; Happy New Year!

I wish I saw more linens, but maybe I'm not looking hard enough. Maybe I should stab at some eBay stuff; buy what I like and hope for no problems.

As far as pottery goes; still lots to learn! I saw Rago on the Antiques Roadshow with a piece of molded Van Briggle with an estimate of $4000.00 - looked a little different than the regular molded Van Briggle you see all the time, but why $4000.00 etc. etc. etc.
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Stonecat

[Bev.]

Thanks for the welcome back. It has been busy here. I didn't realize that I had been gone so long. Happy New Year to everyone else, too. (Better late than never.)

Pottery confuses me. Watching the stuff on E-bay makes no sense. But when you look at the auction prices, YIKES, they seem to go sky high.

But now for another question. I own a small Roseville Mostique jardinaire which is 7 inches tall and 8 inches in diameter across the top. I paid to have it restored because of some hair line cracks on the exterior. It looks great but I would never put a plant or flowers in it without a liner. It it the real popular design with the yellow and red Mac roses. Now for the problem . . .

Recently, I came across the biggest A & C Roseville jardinaire I have ever seen. (I think that it is over 14 inches tall.) It is in that same style that sells real well on E-bay and weighs a ton. A local dealer who sells books has it marked down to $90 and refuses to bargain at all. It has some serious structural flaws with cracks going all the way through the exterior to the inside of the piece. It would cost well over $100 to fix becaue the rim also needs attention. I have been watching it for 6 months. It is a better size for potted plants but I think that the cracks and flaws could make the pot unstable. Cosmetic repairs of the flaws will make it gorgeous but what happens when you use it as a planter (with a liner in it) and something weighty is put inside? I have been on the fence about this purchase for a long time.

If he came down to 75, I would buy it. The repair bill is what stops me. There is not a clean side anywhere on the pot. So you can't put the bad side to wall.

Stonecat, would you buy this pot and restore it?

Bev.

[Stonecat]