G is for Glass

G is for Glass

Today, I am writing mostly about decorative glassware, the kind one acquires and collects.  There is a type of glass for every budget; old and new, plain and fancy, decorative and functional.  If you are a glass collector read on.

There are a number of definitions for Glass, but for the sake of antiques and collectibles, I will go with the combination of a couple from my favorite dictionary:  Merriam-Webster.  Glass is a hard material, often transparent or translucent, made by melting silica sand.  Much of the early examples of glass have a greenish tint, because the silica with with it was made contained iron impurities.  Glass examples have been found dating back to 3500 BC in Egypt and Mespotamia.  There have been some glass beads found in Egypt that date to about 3100 BC.  The first glass however, is believed to be black volcanic glass called obsidian (hardened magma).  Even though the process was extremely slow, ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians made tools, weapons and some decorative items out of glass.

The art of glass blowing (began in Syria, around the first century BC) made glass production easier and more simple.  As technology does today, the knowledge of glass making spread around the ancient world, and more uses of glass were found and invented.

Early Obsidian tool

Online Auction dot com (OLA) has eight auction categories for glass in addition to the general antiques collectibles categories:  1950s to Present; Art Glass; Carnival Glass; Crystal; Depression Glass; Early American Pattern Glass (EAPG); and the General Glass category.  Below are some OLA Glass auctions that caught my eye today.

 1880s Northwood Custard Glass Sugar Dish (no lid)

Pink depression glass bowl

Green Depression Glass Serving dish

Thanks for your interest in collecting...and for shopping on OLA!

Until next time, happy shopping!

Chloe

F is for FAKES!

F is for FAKES!

As a seasoned antiques & collectibles dealer, I wanted to spend a bit of time writing about the myriad of FAKE items found for sale on the internet.  Pictures often do not tell the whole story about an item, so if you are looking for authentic antiques (or collectibles), it's a good thing to educate yourself about how to spot the differences between the real deals and the ones that are not so real.  I am not implying that all dealers who present fake merchandise for sale are attempting to exploit buyers.  My point is that I want buyers to be aware that not all dealers know the differences between the authentic or genuine and fakes or reproductions.  Some sellers may, in all honesty, present a FAKE or reproduced item as authentic because they don't know the difference, either.  This is a major reason why the phrase caveat emptor prevails in the antiques and collectibles business.  

First, a couple of definitions:

• Did you know that to be a genuine antique, an item has to be at least 100 years old?  A century.  That's a long time.  Generations. 
• A reproduction is a copy of something.  There are lots of reproductions offered online, and that's fine--as long as the sellers accurately present them as such.  (One of my concerns are sellers who do not do this, either due to inexperience or lack of knowledge.  I am disturbed when I see auctions presenting reproduced  antiques as being authentic period pieces.  
• A FAKE is something that is not real; "a worthless item passed off as genuine."  A FAKE is something that was made to intentionally deceive potential buyers.  People have been doing this for centuries, so be aware, that sometimes FAKES can be real antiques (over 100 years old), too.

So, the main difference between a reproduction and a fake seems to me to be intent.  A reproduction of an item is a sincere copy; a FAKE is intentionally made in order to deceive or exploit someone (usually for money).

There is not enough space in this blog to list all categories of antiques and collectibles and to write about all of the differences between the authentic and FAKE items, thus, I will offer some general advice to the novice collector.  

1. Educate yourself about what you collect.  Talk to experienced collectors and dealers.  Go to museums.  Visit antique shops.  Make good use of your local library, and/or build your own collection of reference resources (there are tons of books about antiques & collectibles). Read history books.  Watch Antiques Roadshow, History Detectives, Pawn Stars, and any other educational TV show.
2.  Examine any item that you are considering purchasing using all senses.  (This is where buying online becomes a bit tricky).  If possible, look at the entire item.  Look for any distinctive maker's marks or signatures, feel it with your hands and fingers, smell it.  Remember that it is often the imperfections of an item that indicates authenticity.
3. Ask the seller for provenance.  Ask the seller if there is a return policy in case you find that the item you purchase turns out not to be authentic.
4. Know that no one is perfect, and not all antiques & collectibles sellers know everything there is to know about an item.  Most sellers honestly want the folks who buy from them to be happy with their purchases.  So if you have doubts about an item, always ask questions.

I hope this blog has helped create some awareness about the FAKES out there.  This topic is one of great interest to me, and I will probably be writing more at a later date.  

Until then, I wish you Happy Shopping on OLA, the online place where buyers & sellers meet!

Classic_Chloe

The E of Collecting: Ephemera

The E of Collecting:  Ephemera 

Merriam Webster's online dictionary defines Ephemera as:  1.) something of no lasting significance —usually used in plural OR 2.) ephemera plural : paper items (as posters, broadsides, and tickets) that were originally meant to be discarded after use but have since become collectibles.

In the collecting world, the word Ephemera usually applies to items made of PAPER, because paper ages and disintegrates over time.  There's lots of things that were originally not meant to be saved or collected and which have had lasting interest to collectors.    Things like menus, matches, invitations, diplomas, certificates, postcards, envelopes, advertising brochures and pamphlets (recipe booklets for one), and magazines can be considered ephemera.  Collecting ephemera can be fun, inexpensive and educational.

There are lots of items scattered all over OLA that fit into this category of collecting.   Here are a few that grabbed my attention this morning.

1939 World's Fair Menu autographed by Jack Dempsey

Squeaking Alligator Post Card

Paper Dolls

1927 Calendar Page

Fruit Crate Box Label

1952 Recipe Booklet

State Planter's Bank Christmas Carols Booklet

OLD Brer Rabbit Recipe Booklet

1912 Domino Sugar Recipes Booklet

Old Instruction Booklet for Maple Flooring

Collecting Ephemera can provide hours of recreation!  Collecting Ephemera can provide tons of knowledge.  Follow your interests.  Explore OLA's many categories for lots of ideas and collecting possibilities. 

Ephemera can make inexpensive and thoughtful gifts (often, a small ad item can fit into a birthday, congratulations or holiday card).

I hope you have enjoyed reading about the Ephemera category of collecting. 

Until next time, when I will write about the letter F and collecting, 

Happy OLA Shopping!

Classic_Chloe

D is for Collecting Dolls

I found an interesting couple of paragraphs online about the history of dolls to share with you:  

The origins of the doll have been traced back by historians to religious rites of primitive societies.  Historians further speculate that as beliefs faded, the importance of the doll waned.  As a result, the dolls were handed down to children as toys.  Evidence of the link between the doll and religious rites is supported by ancient Greek literature, in which girls were observed making clothing for their dolls and offering these valued playthings to the nymphs or to Artemis at the time of their engagement for marriage.  Further evidence was noted by Boehn, a historian, on the practice of the Hopi Indians who, at the conclusion of ceremonial rites, gave the dolls to the children to play with.
    The earliest samples of European dolls dated from the fourteenth century in Nuremberg, Germany.  These dolls were modeled after children, monks, and women, dressed in the fashion of the time.  One notable characteristic of these dolls was a circular hollow in the breast.  It has been speculated that these cavities may have been designed to hold a christening gift, such as a florin.  Archaeologists noted the existence of similar dolls in diggings, which indicated that these dolls were made in multiple numbers.  These discoveries indicated that the doll industry was a thriving enterprise at this time. (Gadia-Smitley, 1987) 

There are hundreds of listings under the keyword dolls on OLA.  Here are some that I really like.

$20 the pair from Classic_Chloe

From PiasRotty Blue Bonnet Margarine Dolls $8.99

$10 for the Bisque Flapper Doll

One of a kind doll from DustyCorners

Until next time, happy shopping!

Chloe

Pray for those in Oklahoma

I know that most of you have been doing just that . . . . praying for those in Oklahoma.

Sometimes, though, we get busy with our day to day lives and our own problems; too busy to see what has happened to our fellow Americans.

Oklahoma was hit hard . . . and the number of deaths surprised me, considering the devastation. I thought for sure it would be much higher. But those that have to pick up the pieces and rebuild, both their homes and sometimes reshape their families due to a death, those are the people really in need of every prayer that we can send. And the rest of the community also needs our prayers. Even though their homes are still standing, the entire community is going to be affected.

If you can, please donate to the Red Cross. They are going out of their way, doing what they do best, helping people. Volunteers, yes, but funds are needed to supply them with the items necessary to help these people. After all, they are also still helping those affected by Hurricane Sandy. Please go to http://www.redcross.org/charitable-donations to make your donation. I just did!! It's easy to do!! I know that some organizations are gathering clothing and staples but money is what is really needed. The Red Cross are right there, on the scene and can determine best what is needed.

Keep these people in your prayers, please. They are going to need all the prayers and help that we can send them.

Thank you for your support.

C is for Collecting...

C is for Collecting...

Thanks for shopping on OLA, where some of the best online deals are made.  Here are a few Current offerings, all of which fit into the C-Category of my ongoing blog list.  Here goes!

Comics:

The Avengers

Coins:

Gold Coin from DandyDon

1859 coin from NJcoin

Cameras:

Kodak Brownie Starflash less than $5

Kodak Movie Camera $5

The wonderful sellers on OLA offer many cameras and lots of camera accessories...use the advanced search function to specify your wants.

Clocks:

Mickey Mouse Clock from Vermont

Time on My Hand Art Clock

Elgin Key wound Anniversary Clock

Candleholders:

From KornKountryTreasures:  Friendship Candleholder

From OLASwansea, a GREAT pair of Figural Candleholders

Candy:

Old Pair of Santa's Boots:  Crystal Candy Containers

More next time with the letter D!  

Until then, Happy Shopping,

Chloe

A Kind Heart...

Our own special onlineauction.com seller, Kornkountrytreasures, is making and selling these beautiful, inspirational "Prayer Doilys" to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

kornkountrytreasures

Here is the story:

"On December 27, 2012, our lives were turned upside down when my husband was diagnosed with leukemia. Acute Myloid Leukemia, or AML, to be exact. And there are so many different subtypes and things to learn about leukemia!

During his hospital stays, we have met some remarkable people!! Liz is one of those people, another patient in the cancer ward, fighting lymphoma for the second time.

Liz knitted "Prayer Squares" and gave us one!! I traded her some doilys. She is such a sweetheart and an inspiration! This gave me an idea for all those doilys that I love to crochet but never know what to do with!! So, I have turned them into "Prayer Doilys" and all proceeds from the sales are going to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society And I will be making more during those hospital stays!!!

http://www.onlineauction.com/auction/1647468http://www.onlineauction.com/auction/1647472Each one is a little different, either in color combinations or pattern. This particular doily is about 7 1/2" wide and crocheted with new 100% cotton thread.

Attached with a ribbon, is a card that says:

Prayer Doily
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed' for I am thy God; I will stregthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10.

On the other side, it says:

The Lord will provide,
His message is clear,
In His love abide,
Dispel all your fear.

Jesus hears your prayer. You can trust in Him."

This is a great little gift for someone in need of a word of hope and encouragement. Please consider this as a way to help someone and help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

If you wish to donate more or donate directly or find out how to become a donor, please click here, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, to go to the website.

We thank you!!"

I bid on the top one, but there's still time to outbid me (but ya just better NOT!!)

Here are a few more of these 

treasures:

kornkountrytreasures

kornkountrytreasures

kornkountrytreasures

kornkountrytreasures

kornkountrytreasures

There are many more to choose from, so shop till ya drop - and thank you!!