Chicago Antiques Guide Blog
Antique Maps
Posted Friday, September 23 by CAG •
Chicago Antiques Guide was recently asked to write some articles for WorthPoint.com . Our first article Charting the Art and History of Antique Maps has just been published. It is the first in what is expected to be a short series of articles on how to begin a collection of antique maps.
The article gives a brief overview of the printing techniques. It also introduces some of the reasons people collect antique maps.
Future articles will suggest some possible themes for putting together a collection, sources for antique maps, and strategies for building your collection.
To read the complete article, CLICK HERE
The map shown here was published by Anthony Finley in 1824, just 6 years after Illinois became a state. It shows, that unlike today, the population center was in Southern Illinois. Immigrants to Illinois typically arrived by river, either the Mississippi or more commonly the Ohio River. So, towns grew and counties formed closest to the rivers where immigrants first reached Illinois.
The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 and later the coming of railroads sped up travel and immigration to Northern Illinois.
1760's Miniature (Thumb) Bible at Auction
Posted Tuesday, August 02 by CAG •
I am interested in the "ball park" value of my 1769 Thumb Bible 7th Edition with Amendments. Published in Philadelphia, by A. Steuart. Size is appx. 2" high, 1 1/2" across and 1" wide. I am not sure of the best way to proceed in order to get the best price for it. Please feel free to email me with any questions. Thank you! Judy
I know enough about books in general, and Bibles specifically, to know that age alone isn't enough to make this item valuable. Bibles especially, are not necessarily rare even from the 1700's. What made me suspect that this "thumb" Bible was special were two things. First it was printed in Philadelphia before the Revolutionary War. And, second that it was a miniature.
Knowing that this was beyond my expertise, I contacted Mary Williams, the Director of the Fine Books and Manuscripts Department at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. After further research and seeing the Bible in person to confirm its condition, she estimated the piece at $3,000 to $5,000. The Bible is part of their next Fine Book and Manuscript Auction being held on Tuesday, August 9, 2011.
To see the full description of this item, and another photo Click HERE
To see the entire catalog for this auction Click HERE and then click on the Fine Book and Manuscript link.
Roos Cedar Chests - History & Information
Posted Sunday, January 16 by CAG •
It appears that I am doomed to become an expert on Roos cedar chests. After I answered the first inquiry about a Roos chest and posted the answer, I have received at least a hundred more inquiries about Roos cedar chests.
Before I go on and tell what I have learned about them, let me tell you what I don't know. I have no idea what a Roos cedar chest looks like from just the model number or serial number. I have probably received 50+ inquiries that just give a model number, serial number or both, and ask what their chest is worth. To the best of my knowledge, there is no publicly available reference that gives years of manufacture by model number or serial number. Neither is there any reference that would let me look up a photo of that model. So without a photo I can't tell anything. If you send a photo, I can narrow the time period down a little by style, and estimate a value.
After considerable searching, I learned several rather interesting facts.
The "Roos Manufacturing Co." of Chicago was established in 1871 by Edward Roos (born in Germany in December 1848), died in 1906. He had several children including Otto (born 1877) and Edward (born 1880). Otto took over the Roos Manufacturing Company when his father died in 1906. They did manufacture cedar chests, but it is unclear when they started. The business began making curtain rods and later wooden boxes. They used a rooster in several variations in some of their logos.
The "Ed Roos Company of Forest Park" started in Chicago as the Roos Cedar Chest Company in 1916, and also manufactured cedar chests, but it is a different company. They used a tree (presumably a cedar tree) in a circle as their logo. There are also other logos without the tree, and one with a heart for their "Sweetheart" chests. They also used a variety of paper and cardboard labels.
It was started by Otto's brother, Edward. The company moved to Forest Park, IL in 1918 and changed its name to the Ed Roos Company of Forest Park
In the 1920 federal census, Otto Roos is listed as President of a wooden wares business. So it is clear that the original Roos Manufacturing Company was still at work in 1920, after Ed Roos opened up shop in 1918 in Forest Park. I have found no information yet that says whether the original company continued to make cedar chests or not, although one of their marks does say "Original" as part of the mark. This would imply at least some overlap when both companies were making cedar chests.
There are at least two possible explanations for why Edward left to start his own company. First, Edward disagreed with Otto about the business and split off to start his own company. Second, they agreed that to expand the cedar chest business, it should be split off and moved. There are of course other possibilities that I haven't considered. I lean toward the first as the most likely.
Lalique? (Not) Vase -Lamp Conversion
Posted Saturday, December 15 by Brian •
I was given a few item's from my Great Aunt & Uncle The First is a glass lamp, I was told by a friend that it should be insured. I've searched on all my item's, only to come up with a whole lotta nothing! Can you tell me what kind of lamp this is? How much it might sell for & to whom I might sell it? Thank you for your time! Sincerely, Jamie
Although the glass part of the lamp appears to be a Cherry vase by Lalique from the 1930's, the piece is either a reproduction or a fake. It is called a reproduction in Warman's Lalique book by Mark F Moran.
But, commenter Craig Orkney states in his comment, "The vase was never produced by Lalique. It is a Czech piece produced by Barolac. It is pattern number 12111, and made from the 1930s to 1970s at Rudolfova hut. The moulds were then transferred to Rosice, and manufactured there until 1996. It is shown on the website Lalique.com as a fake Lalique item." I couldn't find any reference to fakes on their site, but it could be there and I missed it.
Taking all of this information into consideration, it would appear that the original vase is neither a fake nor a reproduction, but a vase made by Barolac that has falsely been attributed to Lalique. This has been done knowingly by some trying to pass it off as Lalique with a fake signature.
So, I will officially stand corrected by Craig, and will revise my original response below.
To make the vase into a lamp, a hole was drilled into it to allow for the electric cord. Fortunately, in this case a piece of Lalique was not sacrificed. I don't ever recommend making a vase into a lamp, but if you must, there are ways of making a vase into a lamp without drilling or otherwise damaging the piece, but none of them look quite right. If you must make a vase into a lamp, choose a method that will not affect the original piece's value, or realize that it will greatly reduce any future appreciation.
A lamp identical to yours sold on Ebay 4/22/06 for $62.
McCoy Jack-O-Lantern Cookie Jar
Posted Wednesday, April 04 by Brian •
My wife bought this cookie jar at a garage sale 25 years ago. She always said it was valuable. Is it? Thanks Bill
Valuable is a relative term. But, I would say your wife was right. Your Jack-O-Lantern cookie jar was made by McCoy in the mid 1950's. I contacted Mercedes DiRenzo-Bolduc of Jazz'e Junque Inc., Chicago's first vintage cookie jar shop. She said that in 18 years of buying and selling cookie jars, she had only had this McCoy Jack O Lantern twice. In the past she has sold them in the $600-$700 range.
In today's market you would likely find one in an antique store for $500 and up depending on condition. It is definitely one of the harder cookie jars to find, especially in good condition.
Slag Glass Lamp with Metal Overlay by N.W. ART SHADE CO.
Posted Friday, February 16 by Brian •
Dear AntiquesGuide,
I'm delighted to find a Chicago group who can look at my lamp. This lamp was in grandma's house in the 1940's and I was lucky enough to acquire it. It is marked - N.W. ART SHADE CO. / CHICAGO,ILL. / N 40
Any info you would care to provide would be sincerely appreciated. Thank you. John
Lamps made with so called "slag glass" and decorative metal overlays were popular in the 1920's and early 30's. Lamps with bent glass are more labor intensive to make as well as being more attractive. They were more expensive when new, and still are. The lighted base is also a sign of a more expensive lamp.
A lamp nearly identical to yours sold last December at Skinner in Massachusetts for $3,250. You can see a photo and description of that lamp on the Live Auctioneers site.
You should notice a few differences. The most obvious is the color of the blue/turquoise glass in their lamp. Although I see some blue/turqoise in your lamp, it is not nearly as vibrant. I don't know if it is the glass itself or the lighting in your photo. A second difference is the finial. I believe yours is original, but the other is certainly more eyecatching.
I also found your lamp in Electric Lighting of the 20's -30's Vol. 1. The book reproduces pages from old catalogues. I don't consider it a particularly good reference book for two reasons. First, they did not even identify the company that the catalogue page was from.
Secondly, the prices in the back of the book said that all lamps on the page were $750+. Clearly some of the lamps were worth much more and some might not be worth the $750. The only really useful information was the picture of your lamp which confirmed that the finial on you lamp is original.
Finally the finish in the metal overlay on your lamp appears to be a dull gray, almost like it is the bare pot metal with no finish at all. The one at auction was said to have a gold finish and the catalogue listed the lamp with a polychrome (multi color) finish. Antique gold was mentioned on the catalogue page as a finish on other lamps.
Variations in glass color and metal finishes were not uncommon. Given all the minor variations, it is very hard to tell if yours would sell for the same price. But clearly, it is "a very high grade number", as the catalogue entry described it.
A True Silverplated Whatzit?
Posted Wednesday, January 31 by Brian •
Last October, I sent you a picture of an item and you were able to tell me what I had. I have come across this latest thing. I thought it was pretty cool. I think it’s a toothpick holder. There is no stamp on the bottom, but on the underside of the handle, there is a stamp. I’ll try to describe it.
There is a little, what looks like it could be maybe a 3 leaf shamrock, or possibly a plus sign, I’m not sure. Then there is a name that says Wm. Rogers, then a 5 point star. Then it says “sectional”, not in quotations. After that, there are two numbers, maybe a letter and a number. The first one is either 1 or I, then stamped in separately looks like either a 5 or an S. The base is obviously made from a flattened spoon, I don’t know what the holder part is from.
If you have any information, I would be interested to know. Thanks, Becky
I am certain this is a "home made" piece, made from (as you said) a silverplated spoon (the base), and a handle from a dinner knife. Old silver knives had hollow handles filled with plaster. If left to soak, the plaster can become soft and the blade can be removed. Both pieces were silverplated.
The mark you gave is from the spoon. It is [an eagle], Wm. Rogers, [then a 5 point star]. I don't know what sectional means. The rest is IS for International Silver, which bought the company. I don't know the pattern of the spoon, since I can't see the handle, but much of it appears to be cut off anyway.
The knife handle is the "Heraldic" pattern by 1847 Rogers Bros. That is the name of the company, not when it was made. The pattern was introduced in 1916 and continued in production for some time, probably through the 20's and maybe early thirties, when styles started to change.
What the maker intended for it's use is a mystery. The opening is small for a toothpick holder. The handle gives it the form of an old candle holder, but again it is pretty small for that.
The value I think would be just as a curiosity, probably less than $25.
Chicago Antiques Guide will be on WGN Radio's Extension 720 with Milt Rosenberg
Posted Tuesday, January 02 by Brian •
Tune in to WGN radio (720 AM) this Thursday evening from 9PM to 11PM to listen to a discussion of The World of Antiques with Milt Rosenberg, host of Extension 720 since 1973, Brian Meyer of the Chicago Antiques Guide and Gene Douglas of Douglas Rosin Decorative Arts.
WGN can be heard at 720 AM in about 38 states. If you can't get WGN on your radio, you can listen on-line here.
For more information about Milt Rosenberg and Extension 720, click here.
Pickard Aura Argenta Linear Syrup Pitcher
Posted Thursday, December 28 by Brian •
Please find attached a picture of an item I recently received and I'm looking for the approximate value of it. It has the gold leaf mark on the bottom of both pieces.
Sincerely, Christine
The Pickard mark over a gold maple leaf was used from 1912 to 1918. The pattern on your syrup pitcher and underplate (to catch drips) is called "Aura Argenta Linear". The colors on this pattern are difficult to photograph. The name comes from the gold and silver colors used. Aura from the latin aurum for gold. Argenta from the latin argent for silver. The "silver" decoration on the piece is likely really platinum, because silver would quickly turn black. I assume that what appears to be black in the photos is actually shadow or reflection. I also have trouble photographing silver.
The Collector's Encyclopedia of Pickard China by Alan Reed pictures the syrup pitcher and underplate with a value of $295 to $375. As I've said before, this is one of the best reference books I own. It is well researched, well organized and well indexed. It also has over 900 excellent color photographs. It is unfortunately, I believe, out of print. But 3 copies recently sold on eBay in the $40-$50 range.
You didn't say if there are any artist initials on the pieces. Many pieces in this pattern are signed. Look for very small intials somewhere in the pattern of the piece not on the bottom. Look everywhere especially under the top of the syrup handle.
Duncan Miller Three Face Open Compote
Posted Friday, December 22 by Brian •
Attached are pictures of items that have been in my Father's family for years. The file labeled "ThreeFaces" is a bowl of some sort with three faces on the stem. The file labeled "GlassSlipper" is a small glass slipper about 8 inches long with "Gillender & Sons Centennial Exhibition" on the inside sole.
If possible I would like to know more about them and determine if either warrants any type of addtional insurance or care, etc.
Thank you, Paul R.
I'll answer the questions about the "bowl" first. As Maxwell Smart said, "missed it by that much". The actual name of this pattern is "Three Face", with out the more grammatically correct "s" on the end. It was designed by John Ernest Miller of the Duncan Miller Glass Company in the 1870's, using his wife Elizabeth as the model for the faces. It was first exhibited at the 1876 Centennial Exposition and was reportedly awarded a prize.
The shape of the piece is called a compote (or sometimes tazza), being a shallow bowl on a stemmed foot. Some are tall, some short, and some have covers. It used to be sought after by collectors of Early American Pattern Glass (EAPG). But demand for pattern glass has fallen dramatically over the last 10-15 years. Price guides value open compotes in this pattern at $85-$150. But one like yours recently attracted only one bidder on Ebay. So the price never rose from the opening bid and failed to meet the sellers reserve. We won't know what the bidder was willing to pay or what the seller was willing to take.
It took me several years to sell a covered compote in this pattern for about $65. The covered compote also has the faces as the finial of the lid.
