Treasures | February/March 2016 by Pioneer Communications, Inc.

FEB/MAR 2016

art deco style

PLUS

Harry Bertoia Lustron Homes Hawaiiana Sewing Collectibles

Ammonite

WINTER EDITION

Fe b r u a r y 2 6 - 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 BENEFITING UNITED VETERANS SERVICES S A N M AT E O E V E N T C E N T E R hillsboroughantiquesartdesign.com

SPRING EDITION

M A R C H 1 8 -2 0 , 2 0 1 6 GEORGE R . BROWN CONVENTION CENTER houstonantiquesartdesign.com

AMMOLITE Snuff BottleS SNUFF BOTTLES BILL EGLESTON

509H Brentwood Rd. Marshalltown, Iowa 50158 Telephone: 1-800-798-4579 egleston64@mchsi.com

THE WORLD’S LARGEST INDOOR ANTIQUE SHOW JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 1, 2016

PHOTO CREDIT: OPHIR GALLERY

MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER r £ ä£ " 6 / " / , , 6 ] č č ] ] ÎÎ£Î

Booth Talks Learn about subjects such as silver, antique canes, antique jewelry and much more. č 1č,9 Îä Î£

NEARLY 1,000 DEALERS FROM 28 COUNTRIES!

č -- " \ fÓä ", č x č9"* - č/ "" č 9

Appraisal Day Sponsored by: AUCTIONEERS AND APPRAISERS OF OBJECTS OF VALUE

č 1č,9 Îä

ÓÎ °ÇÎÓ°ÈÈ{Ó U - "7° "J1-č / +1 - "7-° "

MIAMIBEACHANTIQUESHOW.COM Are you 39 years old or younger?

Þ Õ Ü À Ì i > Ì µÕiÃ À >vw >Ìi` ÌÀ>`i¶ OF THE ANTIQUES TRADE

JOIN ANTIQUES YOUNG GUNS U.S.A. TODAY! ANTIQUESYOUNGGUNSUSA.COM

26 40

Features

18 DESIGNER PROFILE: HARRY BERTOIA

Though he preferred to be known as a metalworker, the late Harry Bertoia is now among the most celebrated American designers.

26 KENSIGNTON HOUSEWARES

When Alcoa decided to launch an affordable line of aluminum Art Deco housewares in the 1930s, it hired designer Lurelle Guild to create them.

40 LUSTRON HOMES

For a few years after World War II, you could order a new home made of prefabricated steel parts.

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

48 SEWING COLLECTIBLES

Pincushions, thimbles, and thimble holders are catching the attention of collectors who like sewing-related equipment. But there’s so much more, including needle books, sewing kits, and battery-powered children’s sewing machines.

58 HAWAIIANA

Since the early 20th century, tourists have treated themselves to Hawaiiana, ranging from the sublime (ceramic figurines by Julene Mechler) to the much less so (black velvet paintings of erupting volcanoes). Almost any item imaginable seems to have been refashioned and released as a “souvenir of Hawaii.”

m Antique & Collectible Shows PORTLAND, OREGON AT THE PORTLAND EXPO CENTER: MARCH 5 & 6 - 900 BOOTHS JULY 16 & 17 - 1,300 BOOTHS OCTOBER 29 & 30 - 900 BOOTHS

WWW.CHRISTINEPALMER.NET 503-282-0877 Early Admission Friday $30 good for all three days* *On Fridays Early Admission customers see the show as it sets up - 10-6

Open Every Day From 10am - 5pm

Antique Malls

Mercantile Mall

3 Large connecting malls including 3 floors in our circa 1880’s Dairy barn! 250 of the areas finest dealers displaying antiques and collectibles. Furniture to small wares. Disney collectibles, jewelry, fine art, Pyrex, Matchbox, Hot Wheels, oddities and kitsch, Star Wars collectibles, vintage advertising, books and magazines, vintage tools and hardware, bar collectibles, architectural and garden, and so much more!

50 Dealers displaying antiques and collectibles, home décor, architectural and garden, vintage toys and trains, bar collectibles, die-cast cars, sports themed collectibles, autographed movie, TV, sports, and animation collectibles, Vintage video games and systems, jewelry, furniture, gifts for men and women and more!

Space Available for Quality Dealers! 4 Malls Filled to the Nooks and Crannies 100’s of Showcases and 100’s of Booths! At the Famous Volo Auto Museum Rts 12 & 120 in Volo, IL. About 50 Miles From Chicago, Rockford, or Milwaukee See Booth Video Tours on Our Website!

815-344-6062

Mall Gift Cards Available

February/March 2016

TREASURES

Departments 6 AUCTIONS

34 SHOWS

10 BOOKS

35 CALENDAR

Heritage Auctions recently completed a six-year series of auctions of one of the most comprehensive illustration art collections in existence. Get your typewriter fix with Tony Allan’s new book chronicling the machine’s place in history. And learn about Kentucky’s role the Index of American Design, an artistic offshoot of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal.

12 STORES

12 4

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

Join us for retro shopping trips to Beaverdale Vintage in Des Moines, Iowa, and The Green Shag Market in St. Louis.

20th Century Cincinnati, an annual modern show, is gearing up for another weekend of acitvity. More than 70 dealers will be on hand. This issue’s event calendar covers U.S. antiques shows, flea markets, and collectibles shows through spring.

68 WHY I LOVE IT

Silhouette artist Wendy Schultz Wubbels recently discovered midcentury-modern design. By applying an 18th-century art form to classic modern designs, she gives them a whole new spin.

Passing the Century Mark

COLLECTING

Publisher

Editor

Creative Director

Copy Editor

Polly Clark Erich Gaukel Ann Donohoe Paul Soucy

Advertising

Ronda Jans Becca Wodrich

Accounting Manager

Allison Volker

Subscription Services

Michelle Zeiner

VOLUME 5, NUMBER 4 February/March 2016 CONTRIBUTORS Megan Boettcher, Tom Gaukel, Donald-Brian Johnson, Brian Libby, John Sayles, Neil Stoffregen EDITORIAL editor@treasuresmagazine.com 300 Walnut St., Suite 6, Des Moines, IA 50309 Phone: 877/899-9977, Fax: 515/246-0398 ADVERTISING advertise@treasuresmagazine.com 300 Walnut St., Suite 6, Des Moines, IA 50309 Phone: 877/899-9977, Fax: 515/246-0398 CUSTOMER SERVICE & SUBSCRIPTIONS For subscription services and change of address, visit TreasuresMagazine.com or call 800-765-1690 TREASURES: Vintage to Modern Collecting (ISSN 2162-3147/USPS 902-260). Published bi-monthly, $34.00 per year in U.S., $68.00 international PUBLISHED BY Pioneer Communications, Inc., 300 Walnut St., Suite 6, Des Moines IA 50309. TREASURES: Vintage to Modern Collecting is a Pioneer Communications, Inc. publication. PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID at Des Moines, Iowa, and additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: TREASURES: Vintage to Modern Collecting, 316 W. Fifth St., Waterloo IA 50701 COPYRIGHT © 2016 by TREASURES: Vintage to Modern Collecting. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. The opinions in articles written by contributing columnists and writers are solely those of the authors and not necessarily those of TREASURES: Vintage to Modern Collecting. HEADQUARTERS 300 Walnut St., Suite 6, Des Moines IA 50309 Phone: 877/899-9977, Fax: 515/246-0398

10% PCW Paper Made in the USA

In each issue of Treasures, we profile a designer whose work had a profound influence on 20th-century design. In the course of choosing which designers to feature, I’ve noticed that many of these people were born at least 100 years ago. In this issue, for example, writer Brian Libby shares the story of Harry Bertoia, an Italian-American designer whose midcentury furniture designs and artworks are widely celebrated by homeowners and museums alike. If he were still alive, Bertoia would be celebrating his 100th birthday this year. In last year’s September/ October issue, we profiled Danish-American designer Jens Risom. He’s still Designer Eva Zeisel (1906-2011). Image courtesy of Chronicle Books. designing, and he will be celebrating his 100th birthday in May. And, in our next issue, we’ll tell the story of Eva Zeisel (above), the Hungarian-American designer, who died in 2011 at the age of 105. I shouldn’t be surprised that most of the pioneers of modern design were born more than a century ago. I am amazed, however, at the timeless beauty of the many objects (we call them midcentury-modern now) these designers created roughly half a century ago. Modernism Shows Scheduled Speaking of Bertoia, Risom, and Zeisel, you’re likely to find some of their designs for sale at one of the upcoming modernism shows: Palm Springs Modernism Week, Feb. 11-21 (modernismweek.com), 20th Century Cincinnati, Feb. 20-21 (20thcenturycincinnati.com), Los Angeles Modern Design Show and Sale, May 13-15 (lamodernism.com), and the Denver Modernism Show, Sep. 11-13 (denvermodernism.com). For more events, see the advertisements throughout the issue and our show calendar starting on page 35. Erich Gaukel Editor editor@treasuresmagazine.com P.S. You might have noticed that this issue of Treasures has a different type of binding. Going forward, this will allow us to include more pages as the magazine continues to grow. It also allows us to put the magazine title and date on the flat spine, which will make organizing and locating back issues easier. Let us know what you think about the change!

facebook.com/treasuresmagazine

February/March 2016

TREASURES

AUCTIONS

SHOWS

CALENDAR

Pin-up, Pulp, and More The Charles Martignette collection of illustration art adds up to nearlyADVERTISER $22 million INDEX ADVERTISER INDEX

RETRO LOOKS

In 2009, when the art world first learned that collector Charles Martignette’s illustration art collection was headed to auction, industry experts speculated about how the market would respond to what was widely considered the most comprehensive and impressive survey of the genre ever assembled. Once the last of the works finally crossed the block in late 2015, the Martignette collection had realized more than $21.68 million during nearly six years of sales at Heritage Auctions. “We predicted this collection had the potential to set records, and it certainly delivered,” says Heritage Auctions co-founder James Halperin, a onetime employer (in the early 1970s) and longtime friend of Martignette. “America’s artistic history owes a great debt to Charles. I’m thrilled that Heritage played a role in sharing the collection with the entire world, and demonstrating what a brilliant guy he was.” Martignette himself was controversial— outspoken, hard-living, and obsessive in his singular pursuit of the art he so coveted—yet there is no controversy surrounding what is now his extraordinary legacy. What started with pin-up and glamour art of the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s rapidly expanded into an exquisite, all-embracing consideration of the history of illustration art in the United States. He also is remembered for his opus, Gil Elvgren: All His Glamorous American Pin-Ups, a book he co-wrote with Louis K. Meisel for Taschen in 1996. Martignette died in 2008 in Florida. The collection was originally appraised at $12.2 million, and Heritage began auctioning items from it in mid-2009, setting numerous artist records. Career-

VINTAGE STYLE WHY I LOVE IT

INTRODUCTION

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

ADVERTISER INDEX

RETRO LOOKS

VINTAGE STYLE

defining artworks of America’s greatest illustration artists, including Norman Rockwell, Gil Elvgren, Alberto Vargas, Dean Cornwell, and J.C. Leyendecker, saw their auction debut as part of the collection. Among the more iconic and highest-selling works was Gay Nymph (1947), by Elvgren, which realized $286,800 in 2011, the still-standing world record price for the artist. The collection’s emphasis on high-end works and pin-up classics by Elvgren quickly made headlines around the world after It's a Snap (Pretty Snappy; Snap Judgment) (1958) sold for $215,100—a-then-unheard-of sum paid for a work of its kind. The painting had been estimated to sell for just $30,000. The collection also held artworks by masters of modern and contemporary art, including Sheena, Queen of the Jungle (1963) by Mel Ramos, which sold for $179,250 in 2010, and classic examples of popular American West illustrators, such as William Herbert Dunton. His The Badger Hole (Spill) (1906) sold for $143,400 in 2009. Demand for the artwork that caught Martignette’s eye shows no signs of slowing: Elvgren’s Bear Facts (A Modest Look; Bearback Rider) (1962), a Brown & Bigelow calendar illustration, sold for $209,000 in Heritage Auctions’ October 2015 Illustration Art Auction in New York. “Charles pursued artworks decades before the artists were household names,” Halperin says. “When Heritage Auctions first examined the collection, we were astounded. It cast an overdue spotlight on artists whose work had been an endearing, but largely overlooked, contribution to American pop culture.”

Above: The Baker, Saturday Evening Post cover, March 16, 1940, Albert W. Hampson, oil on board, 24 x 20 inches, $17,925.

WHY I LOVE IT

INTRODUCTION

Above: Saturday Evening Post cover, April 4, 1942, Douglass Crockwell, oil and pencil on masonite, 28 x 24 inches, $71,700.

Below: Mailing the Valentine, Charles Twelvetrees, gouache on board, 10¼ x 14½ inches, $1,314.

Left: Western Story pulp cover, April 22, 1933, Modest Stein, oil on board, 25½ x 16 inches, $6,572.

Right: Charles Beach - WWI American Sailor (1918), Joseph Christian Leyendecker, oil on canvas mounted on board, 19½ x 15¼ inches, $26,290

Below: Gay Nymph (1947), Gil Elvgren, oil on canvas, 36 x 25 inches, $286,800.

Right: Brooke, Playboy illustration (1983), Patrick Nagel, acrylic on canvas, 29½ x 29½ inches, $33,460

February/March 2016

TREASURES

AUCTIONS

SHOWS Furniture + Art SHOWS Sale in Miami A robust market for modern design powers CALENDAR CALENDAR Palm Beach Modern’s November sale to a $1.5 million finish ADVERTISER INDEX ADVERTISER INDEX

RETRO LOOKS

From the mainstream point of view, furniture is utilitarian, while art is decorative. “But among collectors of modern design, those lines blurred long ago,” says Rico Baca, the auctioneer and co-owner of Palm Beach Modern Auctions (PBMA). “Furniture is art, and art is indispensable to room decor—it’s not an optional go-with.” PBMA’s solid foothold in the modern and contemporary furniture market evidenced itself convincingly on Nov. 21-22. A classic George Nakashima Minguren I coffee table with extensive documentation, including an original receipt from the artist dated March 13, 1973, surpassed its estimate to land at $16,250. From Directional’s Cityscape furniture line, a Paul Evansdesigned cabinet of mixed metals and wood with three sets of doors easily met expectations at $11,875. Other furniture highlights included a pair of Mies van der Rohe (Knoll) Barcelona chairs, $6,250; and a pair of Ubald Klug Terrazza Furniture System convoluted leather sofas, $9,375. (All prices quoted are inclusive of a 25 percent buyer’s premium.) Chandeliers have become “statement pieces” in people’s homes, Baca says. “Often they are the first visual impression to greet a visitor to someone’s home or workplace.” The many enviable “new classics” in PBMA’s November auction included a marvelous Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce (Italy) chandelier with upwardfacing light cones positioned around a spiral track. It garnered $23,750. A massive Sputnik-style brass chandelier festooned with dozens of tiny light orbs fetched $12,500, and a rare Max Ingrand 1657 by Fontana Arte (Italy) sold within estimate for $20,000.

VINTAGE STYLE WHY I LOVE IT

INTRODUCTION

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

SHOWS CALENDAR ADVERTISER INDEX

RETRO LOOKS

VINTAGE STYLE

WHY I LOVE IT

INTRODUCTION

Among the stars of the auction was a Harry Bertoia two-sided metal sculpture that was one of 10 commissioned by and displayed at the First National Bank of Miami. The work was also exhibited at Sotheby’s 2014 event, “Bertoia – A Celebration of Sound and Motion.” Living up to expectations that it would reach the top of prices realized, it sold well within its estimate range for $112,500. (See pages 18-24 for a profile of Harry Bertoia. It includes a photograph of this sculpture.) A Wolf Kahn impressionistic oil-oncanvas of autumn foliage came with provenance from Shaheem Gallery in Cleveland and two prestigious private collections. The signed, 56½ x 58-inch painting changed hands for $37,500. Both an original Kumi Sugai painting with Sotheby’s provenance and a signed Willem de Kooning lithograph, No. 15 from an edition of 50, exceeded pre-sale expectations at $13,750. It was a good day for lithographs overall, with many of today’s most-collected artists appearing. Among the most sought-after lithos were works by Briton David Hockney, $13,750; and Americans Jim Dine, $8,125; Ed Rusha, $5,315; and Frank Stella, $3,750. A signed, limited-edition Ellsworth Kelly lithograph titled Colored Paper Image XVII, No. 10 from an edition of 22, swept past its $6,000-$8,000 estimate to settle at $15,000. And there was no shortage of interest for a large (61¾ x by 43-inch), signed Francis Bacon limitededition litho, 51/200, titled The Human Body (Study for Metropolitan Museum). With provenance from Marlborough Gallery, New York (1970) and Vincent Motzel of Palm Beach, Florida, it more than tripled its low estimate at $12,500.

Above: Colored Paper Image XVII, Ellsworth Kelly, signed limited edition, 10/22, $15,000.

Against a confident pre-sale estimate of $10,000-$15,000, a Tom Wesselmann signed, limited-edition lithograph titled Bedroom Blonde Doodle with Photo, 73/100, commanded $13,750. “There were strong sell-through rates in virtually all categories, and prices realized were consistently high, both in the art and furniture sections of the sale,” Baca says. “In the auction business, it’s always a case of supply and demand. Because there’s currently so much demand in the marketplace for premium-quality modern design, consignors to this sale felt confident about bringing us their best pieces.”

Above: Gino Sarfatti chandelier for Arteluce (Italy), $23,750.

Above: Pierre Paulin â&#x20AC;&#x153;ribbonâ&#x20AC;? lounge chair for Artifort, $4,690.

Left: Quatre Lithographies: One Print, Willem de Kooning, limited edition lithograph, titled and signed, 15/50, $13,750.

Above: Kumi Sugai, signed and dated 1960, paint on canvas, $13,750.

Right: Rare Fontana Arte coffee table with concave, blue mirrored-crystal top, est. $30,000-$50,000 (not sold).

Above: George Nakashima Minguren I coffee table with extensive documentation and 1973 receipt from the artist, $16,250. February/March 2016

TREASURES

BOOKS

Kentucky by Design STORES STORES

STORES

The Decorative Arts and American Culture Edited by Andrew Kelly

AUCTIONS

2015, University Press of Kentucky, $50

AUCTIONS

The Index of American Design was one of the most significant undertakings of the Federal Art Project—the visual arts arm of the Works Progress Administration. Part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, this ambitious initiative set out to discover and document an authentic American style in everyday objects. The curators of the Index combed the country for art of the machine age—from carved carousel horses to engraved powder horns to woven coverlets—created by artisans for practical use. In their search for a true American artistic identity, they also sought furniture designed by regional craftsmen laboring in isolation from European traditions.  Kentucky by Design is the first comprehensive examination of the objects from the Bluegrass State featured in this historic venture. It showcases a wide array of offerings, including architecture, furniture, ceramics, musical instruments, textiles, clothing, and glassand metalworks. The Federal Art Project played an important role in documenting and preserving the work of Shaker artists from the Pleasant Hill and South Union communities, and their creations are shown here. Illustrated with both the original watercolor depictions and contemporary, art-quality photographs of the works, this book creates a revealing portrait of the region’s contribution to American culture and modern design.

SHOWS

CALENDAR

ADVERTISER INDEX

RETRO LOOKS

VINTAGE STYLE

WHY I LOVE IT

INTRODUCTION

Typewriter

The History, The Machines, The Writers By Tony Allan

2015, Shelter Harbor Press, $12.95 We’ve covered typewriters in the pages of this magazine (see “Soft Return” in the May 2014 issue). Like many vintage lowtech devices, typewriters just won’t go away. Working manual machines (or at least those that still look good) still fetch decent prices ($50 to $150) at antiques stores and shows. Tony Allan’s book is compact and under 100 pages, and it playfully weaves together the history of the typewriter, vintage photos of people using them, and lots of quick sidebars on such topics as typewriter museums, famous authors’ favorite machines, and typing-speed competitions. Best of all, the book’s text is set in a typewriter type, with all of its lovely imperfections. Paul Schweitzer, a typewriter repairman for 55 years, provides the book’s foreword and mentions that he’s glad to see some old friends in the book, including the 100-year-old Underwood No. 5, the 1923 Corona portable, and the 1961 IBM Selectric. 10

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

AUCTION

ONE OWNER 1,000+ LOT 2-DAY ADVERTISING

Feb. 12 & 13 at 9:00 AM

Selling 100's of Old Original Signs. Pedal Cars & Tractors, Cast Iron & Buckboard Seats, Clocks, Corn Shellers, Butter Churns, Oil Cans, Thermometers, etc, etc.

Location 1625 Butts Ave Tomah WI 54660 (Monroe County Fairgrounds) No Buyers Premium at the auction. Check website for Online Bidding & Photos. Millers Auction Co #347-50 • Hixton WI • TERMS Cash or Check Questions? Glenn Miller 715 299 2543 or wisconsinjunk@yahoo.com

WWW.MILLERSAUCTIONCO.COM

ANTIQUE MALL SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Warner’s Blue Ribbon Books 2016 on Swarovski Crystal Call 937.698.4508 to order now! www.wbrb.com

Now is the time to get your Swarovski Collection inventoried and insurance updated.

WBRBOnline.com

has offered Page View Subscriptions since 2000. NEW! AS a Subscription service in WBRBOnline.com, you may inventory your Swarovski crystal to have an off-site record of you collection. Use our ERVs for insurance or your own values. Plus, download the text file of your inventory to create your own custom report.

Antiques • Collectibles Glassware & China • Accessories New Items Arriving Daily

600 Booths & Cases

Thousands of Items to Choose From

Victorian to Country Advertising Signs to Artwork

– LAKE CITY, FL–

245 SW Webbs Glen 25 miles N. of Gainesville 1-1/2 hours N. of Orlando Exit 414, I-75 and on Route U.S. 441 & 41

386-758-5564

Open 10 AM to 5 PM EVERY DAY

www.webbsantiquemalls.com Visa, MasterCard, & Discover

Owners: Verlon Webb & Marcie Webb

Sunday Market

ANTIQUES Bloomington, Illinois February 21, 2016 100 QUALITY DEALERS Americana • Furniture Folk Art Jewlery • Advertising Textiles • Glassware INTERSTATE CENTER 2301 W. Market Street

Exit 160 from I-55 & I-74 - Rt. 9 West

8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Adm. $6.00 (13 & under free)

NO PETS • RAIN OR SHINE • FREE PARKING

Contact: Mike & Emily Raycraft (217) 202-2847

3rd Sunday Market Box 396 Bloomington, IL 61702-0396

thirdsundaymarket@aol.com

thirdsundaymarket.com February/March 2016

TREASURES

BE AV VIN ERDA Des TAG LE Mo E in es,

Iow

His Midcentury Obsession John Sayles had two choices: Open a store. Or get buried in treasures

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAN WEEKS

’m not a retailer,” John Sayles says right “I off the bat. “I’m a graphic designer and a collector of midcentury design.” He looks around his 3,200-square-foot store, Beaverdale Vintage. The place is dripping midcentury modern: Far-out chrome light fixtures dangle tantalizingly from the ceiling. Equally mod acrylic art lamps seem to sprout from the shagcarpeted floor. Furniture, art, tableware, accessories, and clothing from the ’50s to ’70s are everywhere. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Sayles owns two nearby buildings in this charming Des Moines residential 12

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

STORES

AUCTIONS

SHOWS

CALENDAR

ADVERTISER INDEX

RETRO LOOKS

VINTAGE STYLE

WHY I LOVE IT

neighborhood—a ’50s ranch home INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

and a converted medical office of the same vintage that houses his design business. Both are packed with midcentury collectibles. He opened the store to save himself from his own obsession. He offers an explanation. “Modern designers—Raymond Loewy, Russel Wright, Donald Deskey, Henry Dreyfuss, George Nelson, Ray and Charles Eames—they were some of the best of all time,” he says. “They could design anything: fabric, furniture, fixtures, cars, airplanes, everything. But they were best known for their furniture. It still looks fresh and new, even today. And the quality—there’s nothing like it. Teak. Glass. Chrome. Solid stuff. I’ve become kind of obsessed with it. It’s an ‘ism,’ like alcoholism.” For 30 years, Sayles has been going to modernism shows and antiques and thrift stores all over the country, collecting vintage lamps, tables, sofas, chairs, fixtures, art glass, tableware, dishes, framed art—even vintage men’s and women’s clothing and jewelry, which today take up about a quarter of his store’s floor space. Continued

February/March 2016

TREASURES

STORES

AUCTIONS

SHOWS

CALENDAR

ADVERTISER INDEX

RETRO LOOKS

VINTAGE STYLE

WHY I LOVE IT

INTRODUCTION

“So I had to open this place,” he explains. “I’m at an age—I need to pare down. I thought of donating it all to a museum, but what museum needs 500 place settings of different-colored Russel Wright Iroquois tableware?” He’s also found a lot of his collection— er, inventory—right near home in Iowa. “We Iowans,” he says, “we like to stay up with the times like everyone else. But we’re thrifty. We never throw anything away. So when we redid our houses in the 1980s or whenever, all the midcentury stuff went into the basement. And it’s still there. I’ve bought stuff off people’s porches. Gorgeous, gorgeous stuff. And thrift stores! This Russel Wright pilsner glass?” he says, snatching a tall, graceful shape from a shelf. “It’s incredibly rare. I’d never seen one. I

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

found it at Goodwill, 39 cents. I said, ‘I’ll wrap it myself, thanks.’ But you have to know what you’re looking for.” Or you just have to know about Sayles’ shop. It’s all there, it’s all in great condition, and it’s all at reasonable prices. Still, the store is somewhat of a little-known secret in its own hometown. “There are months I sell more online— to people all over the country—than I sell out the door here,” Sayles says. “I’ve thought of buying a house in Palm Beach and opening the shop there. The stuff would command twice as much as here. But I’m from here. I grew up on the east side. I went to Tech High. Like everybody else, I lost a lot of great ’50s stuff at half a buck a pop when my parents sold it at a yard sale after I grew up. Maybe that’s my problem. Maybe I’m trying to get it all back.” If so, the experiment has been a bit too successful. Sayles’ inventory still outstrips his floor space. And he’s constantly buying more. But there’s hope for him yet: The midcentury aesthetic is catching on. “My clientele sees this kind of design in home magazines,” Sayles says. “They see it in Target. They recognize its quality. But they want the original stuff, not knock-offs. And they realize they don’t have to travel all over the country to get it like I did. They can just come in here.”

How to find it

Beaverdale Vintage 3702 Beaver Ave. Des Moines IA 50310 515-979-8958 Open Saturday-Sunday, Noon to 5 p.m. facebook.com/BeaverdaleVintage

February/March 2016

TREASURES

BOOTH SPACE AVAILABLE!

Antique & Collectibles Show

Treasures of the Past Sat., Mar. 5, 2016, 9 am – 4 pm CST Sun., Mar. 6, 2016, 10 am – 4 pm CST

Porter County Expo Center

Iowa’s largest antique mall north of Des Moines on Interstate 35. OPEN DAILY 10 am – 7 pm 1639 Broad St. Story City, IA • Exit 124 on I-35 515-733-9311 valentines sale: february 12-14

www.antiquesiowa.com

Great vintage at a great place!

State Road 49 & Division Road

VALPARAISO, INDIANA

Adm. $4 Adult, Child under 12 Free For more info: 219-462-6267 mmhodson@mhapc.org Sponsored by:

Mental Health America of Porter County

www.mentalhealthpc.org

Present this COUPON for 1 free appraisal OR $1 off admission! * * * Good for 2016 show only * * *

Bar W Antiques & Collectibles Show WARRENTON, TX - 4001 South Side Hwy. 237

Show Dates: March 17– April 3 Shows First Week in April & October

P.O. Box 33 Warrenton, TX 78961

Roy Wied 979-278-3447

SUBSCRIBE TO

TREASURES

Dept. 275CNW111

The only national magazine with an editorial focus on midcentury modern objects— housewares, furniture, lighting, collectibles, decorative accessories, pottery, clothing, toys, art, rugs, electronics, and more.

IBE SCR SUB DAY TO

www.asheford.com 16

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

Don’t Miss an Issue

34 ORDER NOW

T R E A S U R E S M A G A Z I N E . C O M

STORES

G A H S N EAUCTIONS AUCTIONS E T E R K G AR souri M , MSHOWS is SHOWS

STORES

CALENDAR

ADVERTISER INDEX

RETRO LOOKS

VINTAGE STYLE

is u o L St.

ADVERTISER INDEX

Family Business VINTAGE STYLE RETRO LOOKS

A mother-son duo are giving WHYnew I LOVE life toITvintage items inWHY a St. Louis antique mall

INTRODUCTION

BY MEGAN BOETTCHER

AUCTIONS SHOWS

I LOVE IT

WHY I LOVE IT

INTRODUCTION

hile caring for her aging mother, W Karen Tipton realized how important it was for people who were downsizing to find new homes for their treasured belongings. “People have strong emotional connections to their things,” Tipton says. “It can be easier for them to let go of an item if they know it’s going to someone who will love it as much as they did.” As her initial step into the business, Tipton began helping older folks consign their housewares and furniture. Then, four years ago, she and her son Dan Tipton opened Green Shag Market in St. Louis, a 5,000-square-foot antique mall with space for 60 vintage dealers. The marketplace also has a 2,000-square foot-consignment store and showroom. While they still work to help individuals and estates sell furnishings, the two have quickly grown the retail business and now focus much of their time on managing the mix of vendors. “We are so fortunate to have such an

eclectic blend of dealers,” Tipton says. “They each have their own specialty, and I’m continually impressed with their ability to find and sell what people are looking for. Some of them have an amazing eye for vintage products.” From books to furniture and decor to vintage clothing, the range of retro antiques at Green Shag Market attracts both avid collectors to homeowners looking How to find it for decor. Like the people who inspired her to start this business, Tipton loves to see vintage products matched with a new owner. Green Shag Market “Nothing makes me happier than to 15733 Manchester Ave. see young couples go home with a St. Louis MO 63110 piece of real, high-quality furniture,” 314-646-8687 Tipton says. “Not only do they get an Open Monday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and affordable piece for their home, but Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. we also prevent more stuff from being thegreenshagmarket.com thrown into a landfill.” facebook.com/The-Green-Shag-Market

February/March 2016

TREASURES

Harry Bertoia Though he preferred to be known as a metalworker, he became one of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most celebrated designers BY BRIAN LIBBY

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

Right: Knoll Internationalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1969 marketing pamphlet The Bertoia Collection. Below: Three classic chair designs that Harry Bertoia created for Knoll in 1952 (from left): Childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chair, Diamond Chair, Side Chair. Chairs and pamphlet from the John Sayles personal collection, photographed by Tom Gaukel.

February/March 2016

TREASURES

ultitalented designer and artist Harry Bertoia’s career is a reminder that in challenging moments are tremendous opportunities. For if Bertoia’s role in developing Charles Eames’s famous molded plywood chairs once went unrecognized, it helped set in motion the legendary career that followed. Bertoia would not only go on to design midcentury-modern classics like the Bertoia Diamond Chair, but he also flourished in several other disciplines: sculpture, jewelry, printmaking, and even inventing a musical instrument. “What’s so fascinating about Bertoia is he’s this Renaissance man who worked in so many mediums,” says curator Kathryn Hiesinger of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Born in a small Italian village in 1915, Bertoia was creative from a young age, designing embroidery patterns for local brides’ wedding dresses. He immigrated to America at 15 and went on to study at Detroit’s Cranbrook Academy of Art alongside soon-to-be legendary designers like Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen. “It’s been called by many people a golden era,” says Shelly Selim of the Cranbrook Art Museum, who curated a 2015 exhibition devoted to Bertoia’s work called “Bent, Cast, and Forged: The Jewelry of Harry Bertoia.” “There was very little structure to the curriculum. Saarinen described it as a working place for creative art, based on self-direction under good leadership. It was about working together, learning from each other, and breaking down mediums.” Bertoia initially studied painting at Cranbrook before turning to jewelry design and metalwork. But during World War II, when the supply of metal was limited, Bertoia also pursued graphic design and monotype printmaking. Even so, “when people asked him what he wanted to be called—an artist, a sculptor—he said he wanted to be called a metalworker,” explains Bertoia’s daughter, Celia Bertoia, who oversees a website devoted to his work and legacy as well as the 20

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

An interior spread from the 1969 Knoll International pamphlet The Bertoia Collection shows Bertoia at work in his Pennsylvania studio. A red Bertoia Bird Chair with Ottoman (1952) are visible on the left.

February/March 2016

TREASURES

Another interior view of The Bertoia Collection pamphlet shows Bertoia working with metal while puffing on his ever-present tobacco pipe. 22

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

nonprofit Harry Bertoia Foundation. After the war, a problem emerged with Bertoia’s residency, and he was almost deported when it was discovered that he held a visa from Canada, not the U.S. Wanting to help keep him in the country, the Eameses invited Bertoia to join their studio in California, where he would help develop methods of laminating and bending plywood for furniture. “They were trying to do a one-piece plywood chair, but Harry said, ‘Look, this plywood isn’t going to bend in that many directions. You’ve got to split it in two,’ Cecilia Bertoia recalls. “Being a metals man, he figured out a wire structure that would hold the wood pieces together. They realized that was the way to go. But what was promised from Eames was that everyone who was on this team would get credit for what they did. Then the chair came out, and it was known as the ‘Eames’ chair. That did create a bit of angst on Harry’s part, and shortly thereafter he left.” Bertoia’s departure was opportune, though. Florence Knoll, his Cranbrook classmate, invited him to move to Pennsylvania and design for her namesake furniture company. But Knoll knew the key to unlocking Bertoia’s creativity was freedom. “He’d been invited by Florence Knoll to come out and experiment,” Cranbrook’s Selim says. “It wasn’t, ‘Please design us a line of furniture.’ It was, ‘I’m trying to take this company in another direction. You can come out and set up a studio and start making things, and if something’s good enough for mass production you can bring it to us.’” After setting up shop in a former garage in rural Bally, Pennsylvania, Bertoia would go on to create the Bertoia Diamond Chair, introduced in 1952 by Knoll, which became the best known of a five-piece series called the Bertoia Collection; the pieces were constructed of latticed steel rods finished in polished or satin chrome. And notice the “Bertoia” in the chair’s name despite the piece being Knoll’s. “She featured the designers’ names long before designer jeans and designer everything came about,” says Hiesinger, who recently participated in a panel discussion at

February/March 2016

TREASURES

the Design Philadelphia festival called “Bertoia, Nakashima, Schultz at Knoll: Reflections by the Next Generation.” After the Diamond series became popular, ranking among the most identifiable modern furniture of the 1950s, Knoll compensated Bertoia handsomely. He was able to purchase the farmhouse and garage-turnedstudio he had been renting, and Bertoia turned his attention to other types of art and expression. He went on to create a series of highly-acclaimed architectural sculptures, beginning in 1953 with a 36-foot-long metal screen of welded interlocking pieces at the Saarinendesigned General Motors Technical Center in Warren, Michigan. It would lead to more than 50 such commissions around the nation, such as an altar piece for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Chapel in 1955 (also designed by Saarinen) made of cylindrical hanging metal strands below a circular skylight, reflecting its illumination into a gently shimmering glow. His smaller sculptures were also exhibited regularly, including at the United States pavilion of the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair, and regularly over the years at New York’s Staempfli Gallery. In his later years, Bertoia became known for making sculptures of long metal rods that could make tonal sounds. He and brother Oreste would spend hours making over a hundred of these new instruments in Bertoia’s studio and playing what they called “Sonambient” music together, which was collected in 11 original recordings recently reissued on CD. Although the Knoll furniture may be his most lasting creation, ultimately Bertoia cannot be boxed in as simply a designer, even an iconic one. His daughter says her most lasting memory is of his passion for the work. “He worked all day long, came home for dinner, and went back to work until midnight,” she recalls. “Sometimes he’d unknowingly work through the night. His assistants would come in and find him in yesterday’s clothing. But he was a humble man. He didn’t even sign his works, because he felt the creative juices were coming from some divine source.”

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

Above: Split Gong, bronze with applied patina, 1976, 63 inches tall (Palm Beach Modern Auctions image). Below: Bertoia’s Memorial Fountain on the campus of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia (dedicated in 1972). Left: A Bertoia double-sided metal sculpture, 134½ inches tall, one of 10 commissioned by First National Bank of Miami. Sold by Palm Beach Modern Auctions in 2015 for $112,500.

70 Dealers

20thcenturycincinnati.com

show hours: sat & sun 11-5 $8 admission good both days java preview sat. 9 am - 11 am $25 advance, $30 at the door

513.738.7256

february 20-21, 2016

sharonville convention center exit #15 off I-75

Now view & purchase Studio’s items on our Website!

special guest: Wendy Schultz Wubbels – modern in silhouette

aesthetic appeal and value In addition, call or write for your copy of catalogue.

Box 290, White Plains, NY 10605 www.teamantiques.com (914) 686-8147

KANE COUNTY ANTIQUE FLEA MARKET "Best In The Midwest Or Anywhere" – Antiques, Collectibles, & Fancy Junque –

KANE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS 525 S. Randall Rd. Between Rtes. 38 & 64

ST. CHARLES, ILLINOIS

1st Sunday Every Month Mar.–Dec. Preceding Sat. Afternoon

March 5-6, 2016 & April 2-3 SAT. 12 Noon-5 p.m.; SUN. 7 a.m.- 4 p.m. Adm. $5 each day, children under 12 free Information: (630) 377-2252 www.kanecountyfleamarket.com

Share your Flea Finds #iFounditAtKANE @KCFMarket

Nothing beats a Great Day of Antiquing

Visit the East Coast’s largest Antique Mall right there in Lewisburg PA. Three floors packed with antiques, collectibles, furniture, one– of– a– kind items, memoribilia and more. If you haven’t been here in awhile – you’ll be amazed at the selection of quality merchandise from hundreds of antique dealers LEWISBURG

517 St. Mary St.

570-524-5733 • OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK February/March 2016

TREASURES

“Mayfair Pitcher,” 8¼ inches tall, $15, and “Continental Bowl,” 7¼-inch- diameter, $25. Wallpaper: “Grille of Kells,” originally designed in 1977 by Linda Holtzschue for Philip Graf Wallpapers. Now available for $123 per roll from Meg Braff Designs, megbraffdesigns.com.

“Luxurious beauty is superseding frivolous glitter. Kensington’s beauty is rich, substantial, aristocratic. Kensington metal is a recently discovered alloy of Aluminum which does not tarnish or stain. It keeps its silvery luster indefinitely. Kensington laughs at time.”

– American Home, May 1937

Kensington Art Deco’s Shining Star STORY BY DONALD-BRIAN JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM GAUKEL

pon its introduction in the early 1930s, Alcoa’s Kensington line of brushed-aluminum housewares was an immediate hit. The reasons were simple. Kensington was attractive. It was durable. And, most important to Depression-era buyers, it was affordable. From console sets to barware, vases to serving trays, Kensington allowed 1930s households to entertain stylishly on a minimal budget. With silver services running into the hundreds of dollars, frugal homemakers instead opted to stuff their sideboards with silvery, inexpensive Kensington. Even a massive eye-catcher, such as Kensington’s 18-inch “Zodiac Tray” with its interior brass ring depiction of astrological symbols, sold for $10. While not exactly cheap back then, it was still much less than pieces made from other metals. Kensington remains affordable (and collectible) today. Even 80 years after its 1936 introduction, that “Zodiac Tray” remains a steal at $25-$50. Other Kensington pieces are just as reasonably priced, some in the $10-$15 range. In addition to price, today’s collectors are lured to Kensington by the same beauty and durability that initially drew

consumers. Over the years, however, there has been one important addition: Viewed through the lens of time, Kensington pieces have become prime examples of the classic lines and elegant simplicity that define Art Deco. Alcoa’s “Kensington Ware” first came to the public eye in the summer of 1934 with showings at the Chicago and New York Gift Shows, attended by more than 4,000 retail buyers. (The “Kensington” name was a tribute to New Kensington, Pennsylvania, where Alcoa was headquartered.) A Kensington sales brochure from early 1935 touted the line’s numerous advantages: • “The world is always waiting for something new and different. Gifts made from gold and silver, copper, pewter, and bronze, have been handed down from generation to generation. Now we introduce a new metal…Kensington.” • “Kensington metal is an alloy of aluminum. It has most of the advantages of silver, pewter, and chromium, yet none of their disadvantages. It will not

February/March 2016

TREASURES

tarnish or stain, but retains its soft, silvery luster. This obviates the necessity of constant cleaning. A mild soap and warm water is all that is necessary.” • “Kensington metal will not finger print easily. It has a hard surface, which is protection against normal wear and scuffing. And, as there is no superficial plating, there will be no peeling.” • “This beautiful metal, exceptionally suitable for gift pieces, will have your customers coming back for more! To design it, we’ve chosen a man named by ‘Fortune’ magazine as one of the foremost commercial designers in the United States: Lurelle Guild.” Lurelle Guild was often referred to as “the gadget man,” and he didn’t mind one bit. During his heydey in the 1920s and ’30s, more than a thousand designs left the indefatigable industrial designer’s drawing board each year. Working on a freelance basis, Guild’s diverse assignments included, in addition to Kensington, projects for such clients as Westinghouse, General Electric, and the Chase Brass & Copper Co. Among his nearly innumerable credits: the Electolux vacuum; the Norge refrigerator; 28

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

Above: A hearty helping of Lurelle Guild’s designs for Kensington.

Underwood typewriters; GE washing machines; Columbia Mills lace curtains and tablecloths; more than 200 books and pamphlets, including the stillin-demand decor book Designed For Living; nearly the entire line of Chase lamps; Fostoria liqueur glasses, and an American Locomotive streamliner. As Art & Industry noted in 1938, “there are few products Lurelle Guild hasn’t designed or re-designed.” Guild, born in 1898, graduated from Syracuse University with an art degree. He began his career as an illustrator, drawing interiors for homemaking magazines. By 1926, the urge to bring his ideas from the page to real life led him to a career in the newly-popular field of industrial design. Here, Guild’s efforts to combine eye-pleasing form with life-enhancing function came to full fruition. Unlike many of his design contemporaries, Guild was also a canny businessman. His inventions were always patented, with the patent assigned to the manufacturer. Guild then assessed his clients a design fee, plus a royalty on all items produced from the patent. In 1934, his Chase remuneration alone amounted to $25,000. At that time,

“Laurel Vase,” 9 inches tall, $50. “Dome Cigarette Box” (pair), 4¾ inches tall, $45 each.

“Riviera Pitcher,” 7½ inches tall, $30. “Mayfair” sugar with wood handles, 3½ inches tall, $10. “Vanity Fair” butter plates, 5½-inchdiameter, $5 each. ”Hostess” ashtrays, 2½-inch-daimeter, $5 each.

“Laurel Tray,” 17-inch-diameter (including handles), $25.

annual take-home pay for the typical American family averaged $1,500. Lurelle Guild not only designed his products, but also had very definite (and almost always successful) ideas on displaying them to their best advantage. His Kensington showroom in Rockefeller Center offered one of the first examples of objects lit from below. Like aging actresses, the Kensington pieces were highlighted by flattering, indirect

“The beauty of Kensington is not merely style-deep. It is not something to be bought today and discarded tomorrow. Each piece has an heirloom quality that will last through generations. Lovers of loveliness will want to examine the whole, fascinating family of Kensington.” – Kensington sales brochure, 1935 lighting, rather than harsh overhead spots. Graduated wall tints and floor tiles that replicated the wall colorings, contributed to a sophisticated, unified display atmosphere. But always, there was one goal in mind. As Forbes noted in a 1936 profile, “Guild is first, last, and always, a salesman. His point of departure, therefore, is the market. He first decides what people want to buy, and what they can pay.” Kensington’s combination of brushed aluminum and brass made it easy to identify, and the company’s logo was also emblazoned on the base. Although period Alcoa promotions sometimes refer to the style as “Empire,”

February/March 2016

TREASURES

Above: “Savoy” serving tray, 12¼-inch-diameter, $20. the most commonly used descriptor for Kensington is “classic modern.” Guild was heavily influenced by the classic Greek decorative usage of laurel leaves and symbolic imagery. He successfully married these images to the modern Art Deco fondness for uncluttered lines. Freed from any embellishments that would tie them to a specific timeframe, Kensington pieces, as the ads promised, “go well with the primitive early American, as well as complementing the sophisticated modern.” In a word, they’re timeless. Kensington (and Guild) did their best to cover all giftware bases. Included in the line were table and service items (bowls, plates, trays, candleholders, compotes, and the like); decorative pieces, such as vases and picture frames; barware; smoker’s articles; and desk accessories. There were also occasional one-offs, such as a Kensington clothes brush, a Kensington “lipstick tissue holder,” and even the “Kenfold Money Minder,” essentially a metal billfold. While not readily categorized, each of these 32

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

possesses the same stylistic traits as the mainstays of the Kensington line. Good design may be timeless, but popular taste always has a sell-by date. By the 1940s, what seemed forwardthinking and modern just a few years prior, now appeared quaint and musty. Additionally, the onset of World War II meant that manufacturers were turning their attentions toward more immediate and necessary pursuits. The Kensington line, with its careful detailing, and painstakingly applied brass accents, was a luxury Alcoa could no longer afford. Fortunately, because it was mass-produced, Art Deco Kensington Ware still remains readily available on the secondary market. Collectors can revel in its beauty, delight in its usability—or do both, which is just as Lurelle Guild intended. Research materials courtesy of Leslie Piña, co-author of Art Deco Aluminum: Kensington (Schiffer).

“Marlborough Vase,” 10 inches tall, $50. “Stratford” candle holders, 3 inches tall, $40 for the pair.

SHOWS

CALENDAR

ADVERTISER INDEX

RETRO LOOKS

VINTAGE STYLE

WHY I LOVE IT

INTRODUCTION

Modern ADVERTISER INDEX Showcase T RETRO LOOKS

he annual 20th Century Cincinnati modern design retrospective kicks off February 20 at Sharonville Convention Center. An expanded lineup of 70 regional and national dealers will be selling vintage and modern objects. The show celebrates genres including Arts and Crafts, Art Deco, Streamline Moderne, Machine Age, midcentury modern, and Pop Art. Exhibitors will offer paintings, sculptures, posters, art glass, pottery, dinnerware and textiles. Several top-shelf clothing, jewelry, and apparel dealers contribute an important fashion element to the mix. Nostalgic pop-culture memorabilia rounds out a showroom floor that is playful but also a serious study of the era’s most important designers. 20th Century Cincinnati show manager Bruce Metzger has invited Williamsburg, Virginia-based artist Wendy Schultz Wubbels to be the show’s 2016 special guest. A respected practitioner of the 18th-century art of silhouette portraiture, Wubbels has more recently adapted her skills to creating midcentury-modern design icons and scenes—all cut from paper. “Modern in Silhouette” will be Wubbels’s first showing of entirely modern design creations. (Read more about Wubbels on page 68.) For a $25 advance registration fee ($30 at the door), early--bird shoppers can get in the doors at 20th Century Cincinnati beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday. The fee includes beverages and full admission throughout the weekend. For $8, attendees can enter the show anytime during normal hours of operation, which are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visit 20thcenturycincinnati.com for more information.

TREASURES

Above: Many of the furnishings and lighting offered at 20th Century Cincinnati are restored. The midcentury-modern lounge chairs in this booth (from the 2015 show) were shown alongside floor lamps and bullet shades. Right: This room setting at the 2015 show by Broadway Antique Market of Chicago features classic furnishings, lighting, and accessories. The display was accented with Pop/Op Art prints from the 1970s. Photography by Sam Wilder, positive365.com

treasuresmagazine.com

CALENDAR

FEBRUARY

ADVERTISER CALIFORNIA INDEX

CALENDAR

ADVERTISER MINNESOTA INDEX

FEBRUARY 5-6 San Mateo, CA San Francisco Antiquarian Book Print & Paper Fair, San Mateo County Event Center, Nancy Johnson Events Mgmt. LLC. PSMA. FEBRUARY 12-15 Palm Springs, CA Modernism Show, Palm Springs (CA) Convention Center, Dolphin Promotions. FEBRUARY 26-28 San Mateo, CA Hillsborough Antiques, Art + Design Show, San Mateo County Event Center, Dolphin Promotions.

FEBRUARY 28 Rochester, MN Mayo Civic Center Flea Market, Mayo Civic Center, 30 Civic Center Drive, Townsend Promotions, Inc.

FLORIDA

FEBRUARY 12-13 Henderson, NV Las Vegas Antique Bottles & Collectibles Club 51st Annual, Henderson Convention Center, 200 South Water Street, Las Vegas Antique Bottles and Collectibles Club, sp.

RETRO LOOKS

RETRO LOOKSMONTANA

VINTAGE STYLE

VINTAGE STYLENEVADA

JANUARY 28-FEBRUARY 1 Miami Beach, FL The Original Miami Beach Antique Show, Thursday-Sunday: 12-8pm, Monday: 12-5pm, Miami Beach Convention Center, Produced by U.S. Antique Shows. 239-732-6642 show.info@usantiqueshows.com MiamiBeachAntiqueShow.com FEBRUARY 19-21 Mount Dora, FL Antique Extravaganza, 20651 U.S. Hwy. 441, Antique Center, Renninger’s Antique Market, www.renningers.net FEBRUARY 20-21 Venice, FL Antiques Show, Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Allman Promotions, LLC.

WHY I LOVE IT

FEBRUARY 26-28 Billings, MT Antique Show & Sale, MetraPark, Huff’s Shows.

WHY I LOVE IT

INTRODUCTION

NEW JERSEY

FEBRUARY 6-7 Millville, NJ Mid-Winter Antiques Show, 1501 Glasstown Road, Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center.

INTRODUCTION

NORTH CAROLINA FEBRUARY 26-28 Raleigh, NC Antiques Extravaganza, Expo Center-NC State Fairgrounds, Antiques Extravaganza of N.C.

GEORGIA

OHIO

FEBRAURY 11-14 Atlanta, GA Antique Show, Atlanta Expo Centers, I-285 Exit 55 (Jonesboro Rd.), Scott Antique Markets.

FEBRUARY 20-21 Cincinnati, OH 20th Century Cincinnati, Sharonville Convention Center, 11am – 5pm both days, 70 vintage modern design dealers: Art, Furnishings, and Fashion. 513-738-7256; info@queencityshows.com; www.20thcenturycincinnati.com

IDAHO FEBRUARY 19-21 Nampa, ID Karcher Mall Antique Market, I-84 Exit 33A, 1509 Caldwell Blvd., Alee Marsters, mgr. 208-720-1146, haileyantiques@aol.com

TENNESSEE FEBRUARY 19-21 Knoxville, TN Flea Market, Knoxville Expo Center, Stewart Promotions.

ILLINOIS

TEXAS

FEBRUARY 21 Bloomington, IL  Sunday Market Antiques, Interstate Center 2301 W. Market Street, Third Sunday Market. FEBRUARY 28 Wheaton, IL 67th Illinois Plastic Kit & Toy Show, DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 W. Manchester Rd. Past-Time Hobbies, Inc., 150 Tables Available, 9 am to 3 pm. Adm.: Adults $5.00, Children under 12 yrs.: $2.00. Buy-Sell-Trade-Browse. Re-live your Childhood Memories. 630-969-1847

FEBRUARY 13-14 Austin, TX Glass, China & Pottery Show & Sale, Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Lane, Looking Glass Productions. 972-672-6213 www.meyershows.com FEBRUARY 19-21 Amarillo, TX 32nd Annual Western Antiques & Collectibles Show, Amarillo Civic Center, 401 S. Buchanan Street, Randy & Brenda Butters, mgrs. FEBRUARY 20 Dallas, TX Fine & Decorative Arts including Estates Auction, 3500 Maple Avenue, Heritage Auctions. FEBRUARY 20 Amarillo, TX Western Auction, Amarillo Civic Center, 401 S. Buchanan Street, Braden Auctions.

IOWA FEBRUARY 5-7 Des Moines, IA Antique Spectacular, Iowa State Fairgrounds, Animal Learning Center, East 33rd Street just off E. University (Exit At I-235/ University), Kimberly Schilling, Melting Pot Productions, Inc. PSMA. Adm. $7 Friday 5pm-9pm; Saturday 10am-6pm; Sunday 11am-4pm, 712-326-9964 www.AntiqueSpectacular.com FEBRUARY 7 Dubuque, IA

Flea Market & Antique Show, Dubuque County Fairgrounds, JFK Promotions.

FEBRUARY 14 Maquoketa, IA Flea Market, Jackson County Fairgrounds, 1212 East Quarry St., Callahan Promotions.

KANSAS FEBRUARY 7 Hutchinson, KS Flea Market, Kansas St. Fairgrounds, Mid America Markets. FEBRUARY 14 Wichita, KS Flea Market, Kansas Pavilions, Mid America Markets.

MASSACHUSETTS FEBRUARY 20-21 Holliston, MA Antiques Show, Holliston Mass High School, Hollis St., Allman Promotions, LLC.

WISCONSIN FEBRUARY 5-7 Oconomowoc WI “Red Wing Collectors Society MidWinter GetTogether - Olympia Resort, 1350 Royale Mile Road. Stoneware & Pottery Show and Sale Sat. Feb 6, 1pm - 4pm Auction at 6pm FREE & OPEN TO PUBLIC. Registered Member events include a Fri. night social, Sat. breakfast & education seminars.”http://www.redwingcollectors.org/rwcs-calendarof-events/rwcs-midwinter-gettogether FEBRUARY 12 Tomah, WI All Farm or Ag Related Antiques & Advertising, Monroe County Fairgrounds, 1625 Butts Ave., Millers Antiques & Auction Company. FEBRUARY 13 Tomah, WI 550 lots of Original Advertising Signs, Clocks & Thermometers, Military, & Other Items, Monroe County Fairgrounds, 1625 Butts Ave., Millers Antiques & Auction Company. FEBRUARY 13-14 Wausau, WI Antique Show, D.C. Everest High School, 6400 Alderson St., AR Promotions. 715-355-5144 www.antiqueshowsinwis.com

J-Display ADVERTISERcase INDEX Acrylic RETRO LOOKS DisplAy cAses for your Collection VINTAGE STYLE

1-800-971-6276

www.displaycasej.com WHY I LOVE IT 20,000 Sq. Ft. of Antiques

INTRODUCTION

Auntie’s Antique Mall 15567 Main Market (Rt. 422) PO Box 746 • Parkman, Ohio 44080 Located 1 mile West of Rt. 528 on Rt. 422

Geauga's Largest Treasure Chest! Phone: 440-548-5353 AuntiesAntiqueMall.com

Open 7 days a week • 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

COUNTRY SIDE ANTIQUE MALL 349 Cases and Spaces to browse through!

“One of Southern Minnesota’s Finest Antique Malls!”

Located just east off Hwy. 52 on the southern edge of Cannon Falls, Minnesota OPEN: Mon.-Sat. 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

507-263-0352 • www.csamantiques.com

- - - - 2016 - - - FEBRUARY 7, 2016 MARCH 6, 2016 APRIL 3, 2016 MAY 1, 2016 JUNE 5, 2016 JULY 10, 2016 AUGUST 7, 2016 ----- STATE FAIR ----OCTOBER 2, 2016 NOVEMBER 6, 2016 DECEMBER 4, 2016

February/March 2016

- - - - 2016 - - - FEBRUARY 14, 2016 MARCH 20, 2016 APRIL 17, 2016 MAY 22, 2016 JUNE 12, 2016 CLOSED JULY & AUGUST SEPTEMBER 18, 2016 OCTOBER 16, 2016 NOVEMBER 13, 2016 DECEMBER 11, 2016

TREASURES

CALENDAR

2016

ADVERTISER INDEX SHOWS HELD AT THE

DUBUQUE COUNTY Fairgrounds

RETRO LOOKS SUNDAY 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. FEB. 7, APR. 10 & OCT. 9

VINTAGE STYLE DUBUQUE, IOWA Five Miles West on Hwy. 20

Adm. $1.00 (11 & under free) JFK Promotions

260 Copper Kettle Ln.E. Dubuque, IL 61025 815-747-7745 E-mail: jfkpromo@mchsi.com

WHY I LOVE IT

INTRODUCTION

MARCH

ADVERTISER ARIZONA INDEX

MARCH 12-13 Mesa, AZ  American Indian Artifacts, Art & Related Collectibles Auction, Holiday Inn & Suites, 1600 S. Country Club Drive, Allard Auctions Inc. 406-745-0500 www.allardauctions.com

RETRO LOOKS CALIFORNIA

VINTAGE STYLE

MARCH 4-6 Pasadena, CA Antique Show, Pasadena Center, 300 E. Green Street, Bustamante Enterprises, Inc. MARCH 20 Clovis, CA Old Town Clovis Antiques & Collectibles Fair, On the Streets of Old Town Clovis, Business Organization of Old Town Clovis. 559-298-5774 oldtownclovis.org

WHY I LOVE IT FLORIDA

INTRODUCTION

MARCH 12-13 Sarasota, FL Pineapple Antiques Show, Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, Dolphin Promotions.

GEORGIA MARCH 10-13 Atlanta, GA Antique Show, Atlanta Expo Centers, I-285 Exit 55 (Jonesboro Rd.), Scott Antique Markets.

ILLINOIS

VINTAGE, COOL, COLLECTIBLE Art Metal Figurines, Replicas, Souvenir Buildings, Banks, Bookends, Busts, Paperweights, Lighters, and Mid-Century Modern Oddities… ONLINE AND ALWAYS OPEN

MAQUOKETA, IOWA

Flea Market Antique And Collectible Show

Sun., February 14 JACKSON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

Over 100 Sellers

8:30 AM - 3:30 PM • $3 ADM. 6:30 AM - 8:30 AM, $10 E.B. ADM. 319-462-0135 36

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

MARCH 4-6 Rock Island, IL Antique Spectacular, QCCA Expo Center, 2621 4th Avenue, Kimberly Schilling, Melting Pot Productions, Inc. PSMA. Adm. $7, Free Parking, Show Hours: Friday 5pm-9Ppm; Saturday 10am-6pm; Sunday 11am-4pm 712-326-9964 www.AntiqueSpectacular.com MARCH 5 Authur, IL Country Primitives & Early Americana Show, Otto Center, A Gathering on the Prairie, sp. MARCH 5-6 St. Charles, IL Antiques, Collectibles, & Fancy Junque Kane County Flea Market, Kane County Fairgrounds 525 S. Randall Rd. between Rtes. 38 & 64 KCF Market, Inc. Free Parking, WE NEVER CANCEL March thru December, Sat. 12 pm-5 pm & Sun. 7 am-4 pm Adm.: $5 Daily (children under 12 free) 630-377-2252 www.kanecountyfleamarket.com

INDIANA MARCH 5-6 Valparaiso, IN Antique & Collectibles Show, Porter County Expo Center, State Rd. 49 & Division Road, Mental Health America of Porter, sp. MARCH 18-20 Indianapolis, IN Flea Market, Indiana State Fairgrounds, AG/Hort Bldg., Stewart Promotions.

IOWA MARCH 18-20 Cedar Falls, IA UNI-Dome Antiques & Collectibles Show, UNI- Dome, 2401 Hudson Road, Kimberly Schilling, Melting Pot Productions, Inc. PSMA. Show Hours: Friday 4pm-9pm; Saturday 10am-6pm; Sunday 10am-4pm, Adm. $8, Now FREE Parking. 712-326-9964 www.AntiqueSpectacular.com

KANSAS MARCH 6 Hutchinson, KS Flea Market, Kansas St. Fairgrounds, Mid America Markets. MARCH 20 Wichita, KS Flea Market, Kansas Pavilions, Mid America Markets.

CALENDAR ADVERTISER INDEX

KENTUCKY

MARCH 18-20 Louisville, KY Flea Market, Kentucky Expo Center, Stewart Promotions.

RETRO LOOKS

MINNESOTA

MARCH 13 Rochester, MN Mayo Civic Center Flea Market, Mayo Civic Center, 30 Civic Center Drive, Townsend Promotions, Inc.

VINTAGE STYLE MONTANA

MARCH 17-19 Great Falls, MT 29th Annual March in Montana, Fine Art, Cowboy & Indian Collectibles Auction & Show, The Townhouse Inn, 1411 10th Ave. South, Manitou Galleries. info@marchinmontana.com 307-635-0019 www.MarchInMontana.com

WHY I LOVE IT

NEW YORK

INTRODUCTION

MARCH 12-13 Syracuse, NY Greater Syracuse Antiques Expo, NYS Fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Blvd., Horticulture Bldg., Allman Promotions, LLC.

OREGON MARCH 5-6 Portland, OR America’s Largest Antique & Collectible Shows, Portland Expo Center, Christine Palmer & Associates. PSMA.

TEXAS MARCH 3-4 Forth Worth, TX  Will Rogers Memorial Center, 3400 Burnett-Tandy Fort Worth Show of Antiques and Art. 817-291-3952 www.fortworthshow.com MARCH 10-12 Waco, TX 32nd Annual Convention, Hilton - Waco, 113 South University Parks Drive, Dr Pepper 10-2-4 Collectors Club, sp. Sat., March 12 - Swap Meet Open To Public 10 am - 3 pm Call: Charles Brizius at 214-520-5777 MARCH 12 Dallas, TX Texana Auction, 3500 Maple Avenue, Heritage Auctions. MARCH 12-13 Grapevine, TX 78th Metroplex Show, Grapevine Convention Center, 1209 S Main Street, Looking Glass Productions. 972-672-6213 www.meyershows.com MARCH 17-APRIL 3 Warrenton, TX  Bar W Antiques & Collectibles Show, 4001 South Side Hwy. 237, Roy Wied, mgr. MARCH 18-20 Houston, TX Houston Antiques, Art + Design Show, George R. Brown Convention Center, Dolphin Promotions.

VIRGINIA MARCH 5-6 Chantilly, VA The DC Big Flea & Antiques Market, Dulles Expo Center, 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, D’Amore Promotions. www.thebigfleamarket.com

WISCONSIN MARCH 19 Tomah, WI Auction, Monroe County Fairgrounds, 1625 Butts Ave., Millers Antiques & Auction Company. MARCH 19-20 Green Bay, WI Antique Show, St. Norbert College, Hwy. 41, Exit 163, AR Promotions. 715-355-5144 www.antiqueshowsinwis.com

APRIL

COMING EVENTS CALIFORNIA

APRIL 29-MAY 1 San Mateo, CA Hillsborough Antiques + Art + Design Show, San Mateo County Event Center, Dolphin Promotions.

GEORGIA APRIL 7-10 Atlanta, GA Atlanta Antique Show, Atlanta Expo Centers, I-285 Exit 55 (Jonesboro Rd.), Scott Antique Markets.

ILLINOIS APRIL 2-3 Oregon, IL 66th Annual Oregon IL Antique Show, Blackhawk Center, 1101 W Jefferson Street, Oregon Woman’s Club, sp. ronbry1@frontier.com 815-732-2219 APRIL 2-3 St. Charles, IL Antiques, Collectibles, & Fancy Junque, Kane County Flea Market, Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Rd. between Rtes. 38 & 64, KCF Market, Inc. WE NEVER CANCEL - March thru December, Sat. 12 pm-5 pm & Sun. 7 am-4 pm, Adm.: $5 Daily (children under 12 free) 630-377-2252 www.kanecountyfleamarket.com APRIL 23-24 Belleville, IL  44th St. Louis Antique Festival, Belle-Clair Fairgrounds, 200 Southbelt East, Wade Hallett, mgr. 90+ Dealers in 30,000 sf with A/C and FREE PARKING, SAT. 10-5, SUN. 10-4, $6 Admission, wader8@yahoo.com, Dealer Space may be Available, Call 608-346-0975. See more info on FACEBOOK at St. Louis Antique Festival APRIL 30-MAY 1 St. Charles, IL Antiques, Collectibles, & Fancy Junque, Kane County Flea Market, Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Rd. between Rtes. 38 & 64, KCF Market, Inc. WE NEVER CANCEL - March thru December, Sat. 12 pm-5 pm & Sun. 7 am-4 pm, Adm.: $5 Daily (children under 12 free) 630-377-2252 www.kanecountyfleamarket.com

IOWA APRIL 3 Jewell, IA  Central Iowa Toy Show, South Hamilton High School Gymnasium, Jewell Lions Club, sp. APRIL 9-10 Iowa City, IA  Postcard, Stamp & Paper Show, Johnson Co. 4-H Fairgrounds, Bldg. C, Herb Staub, mgr.  APRIL 10 Dubuque, IA  Flea Market & Antique Show, Dubuque County Fairgrounds, JFK Promotions. APRIL 10 Mason City, IA North Iowa Farm Toy Show, North Iowa Fairgrounds, Hwy. 122/Business 18, Bill Neal, mgr. APRIL 24 Maquoketa, IA  Flea Market, Jackson County Fairgrounds, 1212 East Quarry St., Callahan Promotions.

for

MICHIGAN APRIL 30-MAY 1 Davisburg, MI Antiques & Collectibles Festival Springfield Oaks County Park, 12451 Andersonville Rd., Michigan Antique Festival. PSMA. Classic Car Show - Free Parking Adm.: $6.00, 11 & under Free, Sat. 8-6 - Sun. 9-4, Early Bird Friday 10-5, $15 Weekend Pass Dealers Welcome! Facebook.com/AntiqueFestival 989-687-9001 www.miantiquefestival.com

Cabin Fever Days February 12th–13th 10% OFF all Antiques

Spring Open House

Thurs.–Sat., March 3rd–5th 10 - 5:30 pm Daily

NEW YORK APRIL 30-MAY 1 Greenwich, NY Antiques, Collectibles, Crafts & Flea Market Washington County Fairgrounds 230 Dealers, Free Parking, Food Saturday: 8am-5pm, Sunday: 9am-4pm Friday (Early Buying April 29): 7am-4pm Admission: $4, Seniors 65+ $3, Child under 12 Free, Fairground Shows NY. 518-331-5004, fairgroundshows@aol.com www.fairgroundshows.com

Clinton

ANTIQUE MALL

Junctions 51 & 54 • CLINTON, IL 61727

SPRING SHOW

OREGON

March 5-6, 2016

APRIL 27-MAY 1 Portland, OR  International Perfume Bottle Association 28th Annual Convention, Perfume Bottle & Vanity Show, Marriott, Downtown Waterfront, Teri Wirth, VP.  Convention has many events open to the public. Flea Market of Vanity Items, Perfume Bottle Show & Sale, & Perfume Bottle Auction.  www.perfumebottles.org

Hours: Sat. 10-5 p.m. & Sun. 11-5 p.m. Marilyn North, Owner

(217) 935-8846

UTAH APRIL 15-17 Salt Lake City, UT Salt Lake Antiques Show, Utah State FairPark (Grand Pavilion), Nancy Johnson Events Mgmt. LLC. PSMA.

VIRGINIA APRIL 30-MAY 1 Chantilly, VA The DC Big Flea & Antiques Market, Dulles Expo Center, 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, D’Amore Promotions. www.thebigfleamarket.com

KANSAS APRIL 3 Hutchinson, KS Flea Market, Kansas State Fairgrounds, Mid America Markets. APRIL 17 Wichita, KS Flea Market, Kansas Pavilions, Mid America Markets.

MASSACHUSETTS APRIL 3 Dedham, MA Boston Toy Show, Holiday Inn, Blue Dog Promotions. Early Admission at 7 AM: $25 Adults $7, 9 AM - 3 PM $2 OFF with AD Before 12 Noon Find us on Facebook! 617-957-9296 www.BostonToyShow.com

2015

35th ANNUAL

NORTH IOWA FARM TOY SHOW North Iowa Fairgrounds

MASON CITY, IOWA

Highway 122 / Business 18 (5 miles East of I-35, at Exit 194, or 2 miles North from Hwy. 18/27, Exit 183, Eisenhower Ave.)

SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016 - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. MODEL AND DISPLAY CONTEST Best Display 1/64 & 1/16 Scale • Scratch Built • Customized (1/16” Scale) Call for details MUST BE PRE-ENTERED

DRAWINGS for DOOR PRIZES THROUGHOUT THE DAY UNTIL 3:30

EXHIBITORS: DEALER RESERVED TABLES……$50 EACH Limited to 230 tables. ALL TABLES………8 FOOT FLOOR RIGHTS……$10.00 DEALER SETUP available at 7a.m.

Send Show Inquiries to: BILL NEAL, 2451 Windfall Ave., Nashua, IA 50658 e-mail: billneal@fiai.net • Phone 641-435-4482 (after 6 p.m.)

February/March 2016

TREASURES

CALENDAR

MAY

ADVERTISER CALIFORNIA INDEX

MAY 13-15 Culver City, CA Los Angeles Modern Design Show, 3Labs Studio, Dolphin Promotions.

RETRO LOOKS

MAY 29 Clovis, CA Glorious Junk Days, Old Town along Pollasky Avenue Business Organization of Old Town Clovis 559-298-5774 oldtownclovis.org

VINTAGE STYLE

ADVERTISER INDEX MASSACHUSETTS MAY 10-15 Brimfield, MA  Antiques & Collectibles Show, Route 20, The Meadows Antiques Shows, Inc. MAY 11-15 Brimfield, MA  Antique Show, Corner Route 20 & Mill Lane Road, Hertan’s Antique Shows. MAY 11-15 Brimfield, MA  Antique Show, 30 Palmer Road, Route 20, New England Motel & Antique Market, Inc. MAY 12-14 Brimfield, MA  May’s Antique Market “Brimfield’s Best and Biggest Show” Opening Thursday 9AM $5 Adm. 413-245-9271, www.maysbrimfield.com MAY 13-14 Brimfield, MA  Antiques & Collectibles Shows, Route 20, GPS 35 Main St., J & J Promotions. PSMA.

RETRO LOOKS

VINTAGE STYLE

GEORGIA MAY 12-15 Atlanta, GA  Antique Show, Atlanta Expo Centers I-285 Exit 55 (Jonesboro Rd.), Scott Antique Markets.

WHY I LOVE IT

ILLINOIS

INTRODUCTION

MAY 28-29 Chicago, IL Randolph Street Market 1340 W. Washington St., Randolph Street Market. Top source for 1stDibs and professional sellers. 10–5 both days. Outside season May–September (300+ vendors) Indoor season Oct–April (125+ vendors). Tickets: $8 online, $10 at the gate. randolphstreetmarket.com

INDIANA MAY 1 Lawrenceburg, IN Tri-State Antique Market, Lawrenceburg Fairgrounds, U.S. 50 at Hollywood Blvd. For 30 years Indiana’s Largest Antiques & Vintage Market with over 200 Dealers each month. 7AM – 3PM (Earlybirds at 6AM) $3.00 Adult Admission. Queen City Shows. General info: 513-738-7256. Vendor info: 513-353-4135. info@queencityshows.com. www.lawrenceburgantiqueshow.com

KANSAS MAY 1 Hutchinson, KS Flea Market, Kansas State Fairgrounds, Mid America Markets. MAY 22 Wichita, KS Flea Market, Kansas Pavilions, Mid America Markets.

CALENDAR The Antique Market of Michigan City, Inc.INDEX ADVERTISER 140+ Dealers with Fine Antiques and Collectibles

RETRO LOOKS

at I-94 and U.S. 421 Michigan City, IN 46360

(access road South of Clarion Inn)

VINTAGE STYLE

VALENTINE'S JEWELRY SALE • FEB. 1-14 Kyra Niegos, Manager Mon. – Sat. 10-5, Sun. 12-5

www.theantiquemarketmc.com

WHY I LOVE IT

MICHIGAN

INTRODUCTION

MAY 7-8 Utica, MI  Huge all Outdoor Market in S.E. Michigan 11541-21 Mile Rd., Utica Antiques Market.  586-254-3495 www.uticaantiques.com

MINNESOTA MAY 13-15 Rochester, MN  Olmsted County Gold Rush, Antique Show & Flea Market, Olmsted County Fairgrounds, Hwy. 63 South, Townsend Promotions, Inc.

MISSOURI MAY 30 St. Charles, MO 44th Annual Antique, Craft & Flea Market The Family Arena, St. Louis Symphony Gypsy Caravan. www.stlsymphony.org/gypsycaravan 314-286-4452

PENNSYLVANIA MAY 21 Gettysburg, PA  Gettysburg Antique Show, on the Main Streets of Downtown, John Angstadt, mgr.

2015 final.indd 35t UAL LAWYER For ANTIQUE DEALERS And COLLECTORS Treasures March N

Business Lawyer and long-time antiques collector is available to help dealers and collectors in the indutry he loves. 33 Years of Legal Experience

Leases/Contracts Estate Planning/Gifting

Business Planning Fraud/Defamation

Russel G. Winick rwinick@winicklaw.com 1-630-548-5800

winicklaw.com

Choose an attorney who is passionate about your business or hobby! 38

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

Phone 219-879-4084 Phone/Fax 219-879-2082

2/4/15 3:09 PM

Sponsored by JEWELL LIONS CLUB

JEWELL, IOWA Sun., April 3 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SOUTH HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM Open to Dealer Set-Up at 6:00 a.m.

$25.00 Per Table ADMISSION – $5.00 For Table Reservations, call: Gene Willis 515-835-0608

Downtown Oronoco

GOLD RUSH DAYS AUGUST 19-21, 2016 Antique Show & Market 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. Oronoco Gold Rush is a non-profit organization. All proceeds go to benefit the community!

53rd Year

FORT WORTH SHOW of ANTIQUES & ART March 3,4,5 2016

(5 miles N. of Rochester, MN. on Hwy. 52) PO Box 266 Oronoco, MN. 55960 goldrush@bevcomm.net 507-367-2111

AMERICAN FRENCH ENGLISH ART VINTAGE INDUSTRIAL FASHION GARDEN MID-CENTURY MODERN

fortworthshow.com

www.goldrushmn.com GRAINRY ANTIQUES & Other Needful Things!

BRIMFIELD, MA

3 Dealer Pavilions! Over 400 Booths

Member: AADA, Inc. Buy with Confidence

415 East 4th Street, Huntingburg, IN www.grainryantiques.wordpress.com Email: grainryantiques@gmail.com 812-683-0234

30 Palmer Road • Route 20

www.antiques-brimfield.com

Antiques & Collectibles

nemotelbrimfield@gmail.com Marie or John Doldoorian www.facebook/nemotelbrimfield

Visit us for a trip down memory lane & take home a little piece of history! Hours: 10:00-4:30 Daily (Closed Wed) Sun 12:00-4:00

THE SHOPPING STARTS HERE… 2016 DATES: May 11-15, July 13-17, Sept. 7-11 (Wed. – Sun.) Opens Wednesday at 6 am

ADMISSION $5 OPENING DAY • PARKING CENTRAL TO ALL FIELDS • SHIPPING • ATM • CAMP SITES • Tel.: 508-347-2179 or Showtime: 413-245-3348

2016: May 13-14 ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES SHOWS

J & J Promotions P.O. Box 385 - Route 20

EMAIL: WEBSITE: (413) 245-3436 (978) 597-8155

A Gathering on the Prairie

Does the glitter of a vintage ornament...

agatheringontheprairie.com

BRIMFIELD’S PREMIER SHOW

Are you looking for some extra cash...

Do you feel faint...

Otto Center Authur, IL

Selling the finest of country primities/ Early Americana

8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Friday $5 Admission 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday Free Admission On-site parking $8 No pets, please • Rain or Shine

at the sight of a George Nelson clock?

March 5th, 2016 8-3pm

Save the date Nov. 12th, 2016 for the next show! (217) 620-8983

July 15-16 Sept. 9-10

stop you in your tracks?

COLLECTING

to allow you to add to your collection(s!)?

Give us a ring...

Treasures is looking for excited collectors who want to work with advertising sales for our publications. Call Polly Clark at (515) 246-0402, serious inquiries ONLY!

February/March 2016

TREASURES

House of 40

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

Lustron homes were available in several colors. Maize Yellow panels like these were common. The company also offered such colors as Surf Blue, Desert Tan, and Dove Gray.

Steel

Lustron homes built on hopes of prefab perfection BY NEIL STOFFREGEN February/March 2016

TREASURES

Homeowners benefited from roofing, siding and trim made from enameled steel, which kept maintenance costs low.

idcentury-modern American homes blend efficiency, beauty, and function. Exposed wood beams, elongated ribbon windows, flat or shallow roof lines, and carports are some of the characteristic design features. However, another type of home emerged at around the same time. Advertised as “the house America has been waiting for,” the marvelous metal Lustron home was born out of the housing shortage in postwar America, and it offered a homeowner all of the luxuries and conveniences of modern living at a discounted price. Lustrons were as space-age as they were utilitarian, and they were engineering marvels. Prefabricated and constructed from enameled-steel panels, these structures offered a seemingly endless list of benefits over a standard wood frame home, including the promise of maintenance-free living for decades. If you were a returning serviceman from World War II, your American dream would have revolved around marrying your sweetheart, starting a family, and buying a home. This last part would not have been easy. During the Great Depression of the 1930s and the war years of 194045, few homes were built. When the war ended, the United States faced a serious housing shortage. Enter Swedish-born engineer Carl Strandlund. The year was 1946, and Strandlund was in Washington, D.C., seeking an allocation of steel from the U.S. government. He had invented a type of porcelain-enameled-steel panel and was eager to start building gas stations and commercial buildings with these durable, easily mass-produced panels. At the time, Strandlund had already enjoyed a fruitful

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

career, registering 150 patents as a production engineer at the Minneapolis Moline Power Implement Co. He also served as president of Oliver Farm Equipment Co. and was vice president and general manager of Chicago Vitreous Enamel Product Co. during the war. The government eventually turned down Standlund’s plea for steel, since it was prioiritizing projects that provided housing for veterans. Strandlund, knowing that his enameledsteel panels could also be used to build houses quickly and economically, changed course and moved toward the residential market. With the government’s green light on steel, and with the help of Chicago architects Morris Beckman and Roy Burton Blass, Strandlund designed a prototype home: a 1,000-square-foot dwelling to be constructed on a concrete slab and built almost entirely of porcelain-enameled steel. Convinced of the potential for these new homes to help the housing effort, the Reconstruction Finance Corp. granted Strandlund the first of several large loans. The Lustron Corp. was born. The company set up shop in a former airplane factory in Columbus, Ohio. With more than a million square feet of space, the facility housed all the necessary equipment for manufacturing Lustron components. While neither the prefabricated house nor the process of enameling metal, was a new idea, the Lustron home itself was something entirely new. No other prefabricated home boasted the same craftsmanship, innovative design, and lasting durability and, at the same time, offered the homeowner so many cutting edge luxuries—all for less money than it would cost to build a regular home. “The Lustron house isn’t a cheap house by any means,” Strandlund said. “It isn’t a substitute for a house similar

The Lustron Corporation built the components in a factory in Columbus, Ohio. The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last home was built in 1950.

February/March 2016

TREASURES

to those we are used to now. What Lustron offers is a new way of life.” Strandlund took a significant pay cut when he left Chicago Vitreous to head Lustron, so he had confidence in his vision. Production began in 1948, with each home consisting of more than 3,000 pieces— all manufactured at the Ohio plant. Once a house’s components were complete, they were loaded onto trucks adorned with the Lustron logo and driven to their new destination, where crews took around two weeks to assemble them. Strategically placed demonstrator homes across the country captured America’s attention, as did magazine advertisements with such messages as “Perfect setting for your colors and your taste” and “No other house at any price has features like these… .” At the height of its success, the Lustron Corp. had around 230 dealers in 35 states. With Strandlund’s leadership and sales expertise, it certainly seemed that Lustron’s new way of life was picking up steam. One of the most recognizable features of a Lustron house is the grid of 2 x 2-foot colored porcelain-enameled steel panels that form exterior walls. Prospective homeowners could customize homes by choosing such exterior colors as Surf Blue, Desert Tan, Dove Gray, and 44

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

Maize Yellow. According to advertisements, these panels never needed painting. The home’s roof was also constructed from enameledmetal sheets, but these were stamped to look like standard shingles and designed to never need repair or maintenance. The gutters and downspouts were all part of the interlocking design. Window frames, most of them casement style, were made of aluminum. Bay windows were available on the Westchester Deluxe model. Storm windows were an option, too. The interior design is a case study in midcentury space-saving perfection. Depending on which model you purchased, your Lustron could include a bookcase, builtin vanities in both the bathroom and master bedroom, and a china cabinet with a pass-through between the kitchen and dining room. Pocket doors saved even more space. If desired, a buyer could opt for a futuristic “Thor Automagic” combination dishwasher and clothes washer installed below the kitchen sink. Interior walls and ceilings also were made from steel (which made it difficult to hang things on walls without magnets). Some advertisements boasted that a steel interior made the house easier to keep clean. One 1949

Left: “The Lustron Westchester Deluxe Three Bedroom Model” could be complemented with a single or double garage with an optional breezeway to connect it to the house. This home’s garage is not visible. (The garage shown goes with the house next door.) Right: Homeowners probably would have preferred plaster walls so they could hang framed art. Built-ins helped with decor placement, and the grooved wall panels at least added some texture.

advertisement goes so far as to say that the Lustron home “meets the health standards that a doctor defines” and pictures a stern-faced doctor next to pictures of children playing in and around their Lustron. The advertisement also mentions the home’s positive cross ventilation and draft-free construction and claims that “dirt can’t lodge on Lustron’s smooth porcelain enamel surfaces.” It even brags that the home is “decay-proof, termite-proof, and verminproof.” What about the cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom? You guessed it…all metal. Since most Lustrons didn’t have basements, a designed utility room housed the furnace and water heater. Removable panels allowed access to a home’s electrical and plumbing systems. A blue metal plate with the Lustron logo was usually located in the utility room, and stamped on it was the house’s serial number. Today’s Lustron owners can research the age of their homes using these numbers. Most Lustrons were equipped with a radiant convection heating system, which had an oil-burning furnace that forced hot air into a cavity above the metal ceilings. The company proudly touted the system as “the newest kind of heating for the newest kind of house.” Outfitting Lustrons

with this new heating idea was a bold move for the time, but the systems weren’t always effective. Since heat rises, the heated ceilings stayed warm while floors remained cold. Lustron offered buyers three styles of homes, each a different size and with different features. These included the Westchester (available in Standard or Deluxe), the Newport, and the Meadowbrook. Each could be constructed with two or three bedrooms. In addition to the selection of colors, models, and options, you could outfit your new home with a matching one- or two-car garage, referred to as models G-1 and G-2. While these garages made use of the characteristic 2 x 2 steel panels and steel roof, they were typically constructed with a wooden frame. Some homebuilders customized Lustrons. A select few homes were not constructed on the standard concrete slab and featured basements or even a basement garage. One prominent family in Des Moines, Iowa, created their own custom “mansion” by joining two Lustron homes together. This home featured an atrium and an indoor swimming pool. Despite all of the advertised benefits and the almost 3,000 Lustrons built, things were not going well for the company. The original government loan was not enough to February/March 2016

TREASURES

cover startup expenses, and overly optimistic production estimates caused the purchase price of a Lustron home to gradually rise. The factory couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t operate efficiently at its lower-than-projected production level. Soon the Lustron was no longer cheaper to build than a traditional wooden frame home. Political opposition also may have contributed to the demise of the Lustron Corp. According to Tom Fetters, author of The Lustron Home, labor unions were afraid of losing jobs and leaned on building inspectors to reject the structural systems of Lustrons. That led to a ban on their construction in Chicago. The U.S. government began to have doubts about the company and stopped loaning money to Strandlund. The Reconstruction Finance Corp. recalled existing loans, and Lustron production ceased in the spring of 1950 when the company declared bankruptcy. To that point, the company had built and distributed 2,680 homes in 36 states, leaving around 20,000 orders for new homes unfilled. So how have Lustrons stood the test of time? Surprisingly well. Many Lustron homes have lived up to their durable, low-maintenance reputations even after 65 years of harsh winters, beating sun, and rain storms. Still, owners constantly face challenges as they bring their homes up to 21st-century standards. Even a task as simple as installing a smoke detector can be a challenge when faced with a solid steel ceiling. Many owners have upgraded the original radiant-heat systems to traditional heating systems, which requires the installation of ductwork. Some residents have modified their Lustrons with new siding, wood kitchen cabinets, and new bathrooms. However, others are interested in keeping their Lustron homes true to their original forms. Dedicated Lustron owners and enthusiasts gather online to share information about parts, repairs, and other Lustron-specific news. Since original Lustron parts are very difficult to find, this network puts the word out if a Lustron is about to be parted out or demolished. Lustron fans also spread awareness about the metal homes and champion the need for preservation and restoration. With a limited number of homes actually built, Lustrons were an endangered species as soon as the company folded. Estimates on the number of Lustrons still standing range from 1,500 to 2,000. The remaining homes face a continuing uphill battle against demolition. In 2006, 57 Lustrons were demolished at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia. The unique double Lustron with the pool in Des Moines met its untimely end just a few years ago. There is hope, however, as the homes are now finding their way onto the National Register of Historic Places. Even though its place in the timeline of human dwellings was brief, the Lustron home represented a bright, hopeful period in postwar America. Bursting with new ideas about durability and efficiency, these homes proved that prefabricated homes were a viable option. And, as environmental concerns are shaping how every industry operates, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible Lustron-style homes may make their way to consumers again. And, instead of stamped metal shingles, you can expect solar panels on the roofs.

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

As you would expect in a prefabricated home, the seams on the wall panels and on the ceiling panels line up perfectly.

Lustron house components, such as these sliding door panels, are coveted by current Lustron owners, who have their own website for sharing information and selling parts.

The compact homes had many built-in storage spaces. In this room, they extend from floor to ceiling.

February/March 2016

TREASURES

Opposite: Where the magic begins: Singer Dressmaking Guide, 1947, $20-$25.

Sensational Sewing Collectibles STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY DONALD-BRIAN JOHNSON

t’s 1909, and the Smith family is going on a trip. Mr. Smith has just finished packing his new pride and joy: a hot-offthe-Detroit-assembly-line Model T. Won’t the relatives be amazed? No horse and buggy for the Smiths! The kids have finally quieted down after some excited, first-time squabbling about who will sit where. Even Rover has found a comfortable spot on the floorboards and settled in for the lengthy (40 miles, at least) journey. Mr. Smith helps Mrs. Smith in, cranks up the “T,” and off they go! But wait: Mrs. Smith has forgotten something, and it’s an essential. No, she simply cannot do without it, don’t even ask. Mr. Smith sighs, stops the auto, and heads back into the house. He emerges lugging Mrs. Smith’s portable sewing machine (this one’s the 1907 Singer Travel Model). Yes, the family is on holiday. And, yes, this “portable” is, by modern standards, pretty unwieldy. But, at the turn of the 20th century, a sewing machine is a must-have, even when on 48

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

vacation. So, room is found in the Model T for Mrs. Smith’s Singer, and the happy family is finally on its way. In our ready-to-wear world, sewing is often regarded as a quaint curiosity, a nearly forgotten homemaking art. Many middle and high school “home-ec” veterans equate sewing with painful memories of creating something drab, baggy, and only passably grade-worthy. When class was over, needle-and-thread disappeared (thankfully) into oblivion. But sewing was once, and for a very long time, a necessity, a mainstay of the harried housewife’s daily “to do” list. As the 1947 edition of the Singer Dressmaking Guide noted, “Since time immemorial, sewing has been the special field of expression for woman. Down through the ages, the advance of sewing has marked the progress of the world, as definitely as rings mark the age of the tree.” Of course, Singer had a vested interest in championing this “special field of expression.” The company’s 1851 introduction of the first sewing machine for practical home use helped alleviate centuries of hand-sewing tedium. How long have there been sewing accessories? Well, how long have folks been wearing clothes? Bodkins (stone “needles”), discovered in French cave dwellings, have been reliably dated to the 15th century B.C.! Bronze thimbles have been traced back to 3,000 B.C. The real glory days of sewing accessories, however, had to wait until the 19th century, when mass production made them readily available to all classes. 50

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

Although the purpose of sewing paraphernalia was always a practical one—these were, after all, items intended for use—the degree of decoration was dependent on who was doing the actual sewing. Ordinary folk, sewing only for their own families, hiring out mending services, or providing piecework for sale, had the plainest tools. A wealthy household might indulge in more elaborate sewing accessories for use by ladies’ maids, keeping their ladies (as well as the household linens) looking their best. The most elaborate sewing equipment was reserved for use by those ladies themselves—those for whom sewing was a genteel art, rather than a requirement of everyday life. A prized gift in these circles, often presented to an accomplished young seamstress, was an etui, a decorative box filled with exquisitely realized sewing accessories. (An example of sewing’s downward tumble in today’s public awareness: A well-stocked etui was recently offered for sale as

Above: “Mrs. Smith” relied on this 1907 “Singer Travel Machine,” 6½ inches tall, $250-$275. Opposite Page, Clockwise from Top Left: “Shirley Patterson of Columbia Pictures” liked this one, “Hollywood Pattern” from the early 1940s, $3-$5. For active girls: Simplicity costume patterns, 1968, $3-$5. Could you make these on a toy machine? Doll clothes patterns for Barbie and friends from Simplicity, 1964, $3-5. Sewing was affordable with Beauti-sealed Cottons, just 19 cents a yard. Fall-Winter Sears-Roebuck Catalog (complete), 1940-1941, $20-$25.

Above: Battery-operated or hand-driven: a “Sew-Ette” child’s sewing machine from the 1960s, 5½ inches tall, $35-$50. Opposite: No guessing where this comes from: child’s sewing machine, U.S.S.R., 1980s, 8½ inches tall, $125-$150.

“Aunt Ida’s manicure box”. Aunt Ida evidently liked her manicures on the rough side.) What constitutes a collectible sewing accessory? Well, for starters, thimbles and thimble holders. You’ve seen brass ones, you’ve seen pewter ones, you may even have seen a silver one, but thimbles weren’t always fashioned of metal. Literally any substance that could adequately perform this tool’s main purpose—pushing a needle through material— could be fashioned into a thimble. There have been wood thimbles, plastic thimbles, and china or porcelain thimbles, as well as less practical options, such as glass and mother-ofpearl thimbles. Among the most durable: the Dorcas thimble, dating from 1884. Its silvery surface concealed a steel core, the reason the Dorcas was “guaranteed for a lifetime.” Naturally, all those thimbles called for thimble holders, and here imagination ran rampant. Some portrayed classical or pastoral figures, while others were issued as souvenirs of specific occasions: A thimble holder from the 1898 Omaha 52

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

Exposition, created from shell, depicts a boy in a sailboat. The only requirement for a thimble holder: It had to have a spot to hang (or place) a thimble. Among the most soughtafter and pricey: thimble holders made of “vegetable ivory” (corozo nut), a sturdy, wood-like material that could be carved into myriad shapes. If the thimble was an expensive one, its holder invariably followed suit. Also ubiquitous in the sewing realm: pincushions. As with thimble holders, so long as the primary function was achieved—holding pins reliably in place when pushed into fabric-covered stuffing—any form was fair game. There are pincushions held by winsome ceramic children, metal and wood pincushion shoes, beadwork pincushions, and fashionable ladies boasting pincushion skirts. Designed as they were for a humdrum task, there’s little variation in pins themselves, other than those with ornamental heads, intended for exterior decoration. However, advertising “pinwheels” stocked with a full

complement of pins can be quite valuable. Never intended for longevity, nowadays they’re in short supply. A 2¼inch pinwheel of the 1920s, heralding the “Burpee Manure Spreader” and given to the lucky housewife whose husband purchased one, now commands more than $300. Also issued in abundance: needlekeepers (a velvet-covered Victorian version came complete with an interior pin-up), measuring tapes, and “thread boxes.” The last held mostoften-used spools. Holes were drilled in the front of the box, through which desired threads were, well, threaded. Sewing boxes, kits, and chests are among the most varied sewing collectibles. A wooden shoe serves as a memento of the 1933-34 Chicago World’s Fair, a plastic box announces its purpose as a repository for “Pins ’n Things,” and a particularly elegant red-velvet-fitted sewing box from 1860 comes complete with a porcelain cameo accent piece on its cover. Inside: a velvet-lined interior, an oval mirror, and metal sewing accessories with finely carved handles. Such a beautifully

rendered box was probably not intended for everyday use. The 20th century saw the advent of a new batch of sewing collectibles, including catalog advertisements, instructional booklets, and sewing patterns. Judging by the colorful illustrations on the packet exteriors of patterns sold by Butterick, McCall’s, Simplicity, and others, sewing perfection was just a needle-and-thread away. Judging by the number of unopened vintage patterns available at today’s yard sales, the path to actually sewing up that perfection, although laced with good intentions, was perhaps more challenging than anticipated. Less often seen, but collectible for their rareness: finger guards (think “cut-away thimble”), “peeps” (think early Viewmaster—an ivory or vegetable ivory needle case, with a scenic visual seen through a tiny peephole at one end), and “nanny brooches” (tops on Mary Poppins’ wish list). Concealed beneath its ornamental exterior, the nanny brooch held a variety of remedies for life’s little-one

February/March 2016

TREASURES

Clockwise from Top Left: Ceramic bonnet girl with pincushion skirt. 2Â˝ inches tall, $100-$125. Little girl ceramic pincushion, 3Â˝ inches tall, $25-$35. Two ceramic child pincushions, Japan, 1920s, 3 inches tall, $75-$100 each. Wooden boot pincushions, tallest 5 inches, $50-$75 each. Pincushion ladies from the 1920s, tallest 5 inches, $100-$125 each. 54

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

Clockwise from Left: “Kewpie” pincushion, 1920s, 3 inches tall, $25-$35. Shell sailboat thimble holder celebrating the 1898 Omaha Exposition, 5 inches tall, $175-$200. Pewter thimble holders, tallest figure 3½ inches tall, $175-$200 each. Vegetable ivory thimble holders, tallest 4 inches, $150-$200 each.

February/March 2016

TREASURES

Left: Souvenir “pinwheel,” courtesy of Burpee’s Success manure spreader, dating from the early 1920s, 2½-inch diameter, $300-$325 Below Left: Pinwheel reverse.

Opposite Top: Needle books from the World War II era, $5-$10 each. Opposite Bottom: “Dutch Shoe” sewing kit, a souvenir of the 1933-34 Chicago World’s Fair, 5 inches long, $40-$50.

sewing emergencies: needles, pins, and thread. And, oh yes, the machines. While few collectors have enough space available to host hordes of full-scale sewing machines, there are plenty of travel and toy versions available to augment a collection. Although “Mrs. Smith’s” 1907 Singer was specifically intended as a travel aid, “easily packed in a lady’s traveling bag,” other “junior” machines were marketed as teaching tools for youngsters, their

bright case colors supplanting the traditional black. While the box clearly stated that a Singer miniature was “not a toy,” company promos proudly boasted that “every little girl over four years of age can set one up and sew in a jiffy.” Why would she want to? Well. “Imagine the fun in having for your very own a sewing machine with which you can actually make new clothes for dolly! You need not play ‘make believe’ with this little Singer because it really and truly sews with a perfectly even stitch…just like mother’s big machine. You’ll have lots of happy and joyful hours if mother buys you a Singer, and if you ask her, she probably will, because every mother is glad to have her little girl learn to sew.” No doubt, mom got the hint. According to one collector, finding just the right vintage sewing accessory is “like finding just the right acorn.” Designed for daily use, many sewing implements are now showing their age, the result of a hard-knock life. Since these were common household items, good sources for finding them include garage and estate sales. Hundreds of pieces, in conditions ranging from mint to forget-aboutit, also appear daily on eBay and other websites. Higherend sewing accessories are generally the province of antique dealers, and prices will reflect their condition. Sewing accessories also are cross-collectibles. Some collectors are only interested in specific items (thimbles, pincushions) or eras (Victorian, Civil War, ’50s modern). Others want sewing items marked as souvenirs of notable events, such as a world’s fair, or representing a specific craft style, such as American Shaker. Those who cast their nets wider are continually on the prowl for sewing accessories from abroad (toy sewing machines marked “Germany” or “U.S.S.R.” are always in demand). Competition can be fierce, but keep up the search. Sooner or later, “just the right acorn” will cross your path. Homemakers once spent countless hours on household chores like sewing and mending. Imaginative renditions of the necessary tools lightened their daily drudgery. Nowadays, these basics of yesteryear’s everyday life have become cherished collectibles. In many cases, they’re even put to their intended uses once again, as the art of sewing is rediscovered by a new generation. As the Spool Cotton Company put it, in its 1941 booklet Learn How, sewing “gives color and meaning to modern life.” Mrs. Smith would most definitely agree. Photo Associate: Hank Kuhlmann. Sewing collectibles courtesy of Suzanne Earnest. Donald-Brian Johnson is the co-author of numerous books on design and collectibles, including Postwar Pop, a collection of his columns, and an upcoming second volume. He can’t sew at all.

February/March 2016

TREASURES

Hawaiiana Bringing the islands to the mainland, one collectible at a time BY DONALD-BRIAN JOHNSON

Pineapple-rum concoctions in Tiki-head mugs, ukuleles in full strum, Don Ho and “Tiny Bubbles”… When the weather’s wintry, thoughts turn to warmer climes like, Hawaii. And when thoughts turn to Hawaii, the next stop is invariably Hawaiiana, that idiosyncratic array of souvenirs now a mainstay on the mainland. Whether authentic island wares, or made-in-Japan kitsch, Hawaiian collectibles are guaranteed to send spirits soaring (especially when temperatures outside are plummeting). 58

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

Travelers from Tonga and Samoa were the first to settle the islands, arriving between the years 500 and 750. The first “tourists” (broadly speaking) were English explorer Captain James Cook and his seagoing entourage, who reached Hawaii in 1778 as they headed toward North America in search of a “Northwest Passage” from the Pacific to Europe. Cook and crew found a peaceful people living in isolation. For the islanders, the visitors meant an impending invasion by disease, firearms, and alcohol. With the first onslaught of determined missionaries reaching Hawaii in the 1820s, “westernization” of the islands was underway. The hula (a dance combining elements of legend, history, and religious practice) was dismissed as

Above: Hula dancer figurines surround the time-honored Hawaiian greeting: “Aloha!”

“too sensual.” And, as for those bare-breasted hula dancers, once the missionaries got a horrified look, the dancers were quickly covered. Fortunately, eradication of traditional Hawaiian culture proved impossible. By the late 1800s, with ocean liners making a visit to the islands within reach (for the adventurous and deep-pocketed, at least), the “otherness” of Hawaii became something to celebrate rather than (like those hula dancers) something to cover up. Among the early tourists was the world’s unlikeliest surfer, Mark Twain, who chronicled his 1870s Hawaiian jaunt in the book Roughing It. “I tried surf-bathing once, but made a failure of it,” he wrote. “I got the board placed right, and at the right moment too, but missed the connection myself. The board struck the shore in three-quarters of a second, without any cargo, and I struck the bottom about the same time, with a couple of barrels of water in me.” Hawaiian surfing memorabilia, by the way, is a prime niche collectible, especially items relating to such star surfers as Duke Kahanamoku, who was also a gold-medalwinning Olympic swimmer. In 1888, King David Kalakaua, a champion of Hawaiian heritage, published what was essentially the first tourism magazine of the Islands, Paradise of the Pacific (it’s still being

published, though its name changed to Honolulu in 1966). Following the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy and the country’s 1898 annexation as a United States territory, tourism was in full swing. In 1903, a group of local business owners formed the Hawaii Promotion Committee. Its goal: to lure tourists (preferably cash-flush ones) by touting all that the islands had to offer. This was accomplished through often florid prose: “Once fashion’s flames are cast aside, and the penitent is decked in simple island garb, with a necklace of fragrant flowers, he shall enter where life’s nectar drops.” Well, what penitent could resist? And, once ready to bid Hawaii a final “aloha” (yes, that’s both a greeting and a farewell), who could resist tucking a bit of island bounty into an already-bulging suitcase? What a way to wow the neighbors! Captain Cook’s version of “island bounty”—feather capes, poi pounders, dog’s-tooth anklets and the like— differed vastly from the type of items that later became commercially available. These “souvenirs” collected by Cook and his fellow explorers were actually cultural artifacts and today are found only in museum collections. From the early 20th century onward, tourists have treated themselves to more accessible Hawaiian collectibles, ranging from the sublime (ceramic figurines by Julene Mechler)

February/March 2016

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

to the much less so (black velvet paintings of erupting volcanoes). Almost any item imaginable seems to have eventually been refashioned and released as a “souvenir of Hawaii.” Included on the lengthy roster: barware, neckties, men’s shirts, swimsuits, perfumes, lamps, fabrics, compacts, trunks, pins, pens, cigarette lighters, ashtrays, salt-and-peppers, wall thermometers, sheet music, spoons, hand fans, head vases, playing cards, planters, dresser scarves, and dish sets. And that’s just for starters. Many “Hawaiian” souvenirs also show the influence of islands throughout the South Seas, resulting in a sort of generic “Polynesian Pop.” For example, “Aloha” shirts adorned with images of pineapples and swaying palm trees comfortably run the oceanic gamut. One icon, however, has always had her feet planted firmly in Hawaiian sands: the hula dancer. With a lei ’round her neck, a haku (floral wreath) in her hair, and uli uli (shakers) in each hand, the hula girl is seemingly omnipresent, both as a visual theme for Hawaiian collectibles and as a universal touchstone for all things Hawaiian. Minnie Mouse once cavorted as a hula dancer. So did Gidget. Elvis had his eye on the hula girls in Blue Hawaii (and in Girls! Girls! Girls! and Paradise, Hawaiian Style, too). In Surfing in Hawaii, so did Mr. Magoo. And, lissome Hawaiian maidens were never far from the thoughts of the swinging bachelors in such must-sees of midcentury TV as Adventures in Paradise and Hawaiian Eye. It’s no wonder that, when a returning traveler trotted out his souvenirs of the islands, there was sure to be at least one hula dancer memento among them. The most ubiquitous was the “windshield wahine,” dancing her way across dashboards in the 1950s and ’60s. Like many hula dancer souvenirs, this auto version was a “nodder.” Here, however, the springbased nodding action took place at the waist. When the car surged into motion, so did the magnet-affixed Left: Shawnee island woman ceramic head vase, 6 inches tall, $40-$50. February/March 2016

TREASURES

Right: Marwal flower girl plaster head, 9½ inches tall, $40-$50. Below: “Poi & Koi” Hawaiian children ceramics, Josef Originals California, 4½ and 4¼ inches tall, $30-$40 for the pair.

dancer, bobbing her way through a hip-swinging hula. According to one manufacturer, nodders were “the newest, hottest car decoration since fox tails and hanging dice.” Hula dancers came in a variety of other incarnations, from table lamps (also equipped with hypnotic hips) to ceramic figurines, cloth dolls, and even fishing lures. Sometimes, a hula figurine was accompanied by her partner. Hula boys, however, were generally relegated to the sidelines, watching admiringly, banging a tall drum, or strumming a ukulele (that’s Hawaiian for “jumping flea”). The “uke,” popularized stateside by such practitioners as Ukulele Ike, Arthur Godfrey, and, of course, Tiny Tim, isn’t a native Hawaiian instrument. Rather, it was the brainchild of immigrant Augusto Dias, who adapted the Portuguese braguinha to suit the unique rhythms of Hawaiian music. For the world outside Hawaii, the hula dancer was the take-home “look” of the islands, just as the ukulele was its sound. Even at a far remove from her cultural underpinnings, the commercial image of the hula dancer magnificently served its intended purpose: attracting 62

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

tourists by the droves. The popularity of Hawaiiana has remained constant through changing times. Visitors in the 1920s and ’30s enjoyed leisurely journeys to the islands on luxury ocean liners, and getting there was half the fun. With the advent of commercial flights to Hawaii in the 1930s, the trip itself became secondary to the destination, which was popularized stateside by radio programs such as Hawaii Calls, movies such as Waikiki Wedding, and even islandthemed carnival “girlie shows”. While the bombing of Pearl Harbor brought a temporary halt to Hawaiian tourism, World War II also served to recruit a brand-new batch of postwar fans: the servicemen stationed there. They found the island culture exotically appealing. Stateside sweethearts were soon inundated with grass skirts, carved coconuts, and scarves adorned with images of beguiling “hula honeys.” After the war, veterans wanting to recapture their halcyon days were drawn to such niteries as Trader Vic’s and Don the Beachcomber, where every imaginable bit of

Above: Haeger ceramic boy with spear figurine, and a Van Briggle plantervase. 10 inches tall, $125-$150. Right: “The Fairest Flower,” a 1920s souvenir painting of a decidedly nonHawaiian looking “island girl.” The more authentic kneeling clay maiden looks somewhat askance. Painting, 16 x 20 inches, $75-$100. February/March 2016

TREASURES

island imagery was lumped together to create an alluring tropical atmosphere, a triumph of marketing over reality. Surrounded by artificial palm trees, sipping Zombies and Mai Tais under fishing nets studded with conch shells, it was easy to imagine that Honolulu was just a hop-skipand-a-jump away. The passion for all things Polynesian continued throughout the 1950s, enjoying a significant surge when Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959. The swinging ’60s ushered in the home “Tiki bar,” which played mix-andmatch with island decor. Hawaiian hula-girl figurines performed their graceful shimmies alongside scowling busts of South Seas Tiki gods. Authentic? Well, no—but plenty of fun to experience, particularly when accompanied by a lip-smackingly potent fruit-and-rum drink, served up in a souvenir island mug, with a tiny paper umbrella as the final touch. In the classic anthem by Hawaii’s last monarch, Queen Liliuokalani, Aloha Oe was translated as “farewell to thee”—but no one’s bidding a farewell to Hawaiiana. Over 64

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

Above: Wired fabric hula dancers with actual grass skirts, $75-$100 for the pair. Opposite: “Ukulele Lady,” a Hawaiian-themed novelty tune of 1925, popularized by May Singhi Breen, $5-$10.

the years, Hawaiiana objects have remained a top collectible category, enjoying renewed popularity with the recent resurgence of interest in Tiki culture. It’s also in demand as a crosscollectible. For instance, those whose interests run to World War II memorabilia will search out Hawaiiana of the Pearl Harbor era. Collectors of postcards and menus will make a beeline for those stacks, and when cross-collectors cross swords, the competition can be fierce. Hawaiiana items were originally mass-marketed as inexpensive travel souvenirs, but today’s pricing depends on where you’re buying. Lucky you, if you stumble across a hula girl figurine amongst a jumble of keepsakes at a garage sale. You’re less lucky (pricewise, that is) if you purchase your vintage island keepsake online, or from a shop in Hawaii that specializes in such items (often brought back from mainland collections). These dealers know what they have and what it’s worth; their pricing reflects this. You can also expect to pay more for the less-

common “made in Hawaii” souvenirs, versus those marked “made in Japan.” But, since eBay remains chock-full of Hawaiian hula maidens twirling their grass skirts, with a bit of diligent searching you’re sure to find just the right twirler for your Tiki bar. When it’s below freezing where you live, just remember that back in Honolulu, the sky’s a brilliant blue. So’s the water. The vegetation’s a lush green, the gentle winds are always balmy, and the hula girls are waiting. Aloha! Hawaiiana courtesy of Patty and Barney Deden. Photos by Patty Deden and the author. Photo Associate: Hank Kuhlmann. Donald-Brian Johnson is the co-author of numerous books on design and collectibles, including Postwar Pop, a collection of his columns, and an upcoming second volume. He’s planning his first-ever visit to Hawaii.

Above Right: Tiki musthaves: Bartender’s Guide by Trader Vic and a ceramic souvenir mug depicting an idyllic island scene. Guide, $40-$50; mug, $25-$30. Right: Ukulele-strumming “windshield wahine” chalk nodder, with a magnet base ideal for steel dashboards. The original box (and a note from the gift-giver) add to the figurine’s value, 5½ inches tall, $150-$175. 66

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

ADVERTISER INDEX

RETRO LOOKS RETRO LOOKS 20th Century Cincinnati...........................................................25

International Perfume Bottle Association �� 11

The Antique Market of Michigan City.........................................38

VINTAGE STYLE

JFK Promotions Flea Market & Antiques Show...............................36

The Antique Shoppe...............................................................25

J & J Promotions Antiques & Collectibles Shows............................39

Iowa........................................................................16 WHYAntiques I LOVE IT WHY I LOVE IT

J-Display Case.......................................................................35

Asheford Institute of Antiques ....................................................16

Kane County Antique Flea Market.............................................25

INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION Atomic Mobiles .................................................Inside Front Cover

Maquoketa, Iowa, Flea Market Antique and Collectible Show........36

Auntie’s Antique Mall .............................................................35

Melting Pot Productions...........................................................16

Bags Unlimited ........................................................................3

Mental Health America of Porter County, Indiana.........................16

Bar W Antiques & Collectibles Show.........................................16

Miami Beach Antique Show.......................................................1

Beaverdale Vintage.................................................... Back Cover

Michigan Antique Festivals.........................................................3

Bill Egleston ......................................................Inside Front Cover

Mid America Markets.............................................................35

Bustamante’s Antique Show & Sale............................................39

Millers Antiques & Auction Co..................................................11

Calico Hen House..................................................................37

Mini Museum................................................... Inside Back Cover

Central Iowa Toy Show by Jewell Lions Club................................38

New England Motel & Antiques Market......................................39

Clinton Antique Mall...............................................................37

North Iowa Farm Toy Show......................................................37

Collectamania.......................................................................37

Portland, Oregon, Antique & Collectible Show..............................3

Country Side Antique Mall.......................................................35

Replacements Ltd....................................................................38

Dave’s Flea-4-All ....................................................................36

Roller Mills Antique Co............................................................25

Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush Days.........................................39

Team Antiques.......................................................................25

Fort Worth Show of Antiques & Art............................................39

Third Sunday Market...............................................................11

Fostoria Glass Society of America ............................................25

Tomah Antique Mall & Cranberry Country Mall............................25

A Gathering on the Prairie.......................................................39

Tulsa Flea Market...................................................................38

Grainry Antiques & Other Needful Things...................................39

Volo Antique Malls and Mercantile Mall.......................................3

Heartland Antique Mall...........................................................36

Warner’s Blue Ribbon Book......................................................11

Hillsborough & Houston Antiques+Art+Design Shows.... Inside Front Cover

Webb’s Antique Malls ............................................................11

Howard Products Restor-A-Finish............................Inside Front Cover

Winick, Russel G. - Lawyer for Antique Dealers and Collectors........38

VINTAGE STYLE

RETRO LOOKS

VINTAGE STYLE WHY I LOVE IT INTRODUCTION

February/March 2016

TREASURES

WHY I LOVE IT

WHYBYI ERICH LOVE IT INTERVIEW GAUKEL

WHY I LOVE IT

INTRODUCTION

Wendy Schultz Wubbels uses surgical scissors to cut shapes.

Drawn to Modern Silhouette artist Wendy Schultz Wubbles recently began

incorporating midcentury-modern designs into her work. She’ll be showing at the 20th Century Cincinnati show in February. How do you describe the works you create?

I use surgical scissors and German silhouette paper to cut images by hand. I then mount them on other art papers and wood veneers and frame them. From my beginnings in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, I’ve practiced the art of scherenschnitte (Pennsylvania-German scissors cuttings) and traditional early American silhouettes, which I’ve sold to museum shops, at shows, and in my current home of Williamsburg, Virginia. It’s been in the last two years that I’ve moved the craft into the 20th century.

What drew you to midcentury-modern design?

My brother is a midcentury furniture dealer. His friends were admiring a grouping of Windsor chairs that I had cut out. They asked, “Well, if she can cut Windsor chairs, could she also do Bertoia and Eames?” I began to look at these midcentury designs closely and realized that this was an amazing source of wonderful new shapes for me to explore. The wire chairs, specifically, were intricate enough to provide very challenging cutting, and I realized that I could bring bold midcentury color to my work. 68

TREASURES

treasuresmagazine.com

What are some of your other inspirations?

In addition to the furniture and furnishings of the 20th century, I’m having fun playing with men’s and women’s fashion silhouettes from that era. I have always loved the paper cutouts that Matisse did at the end of his career in the late 1940s and ’50s. As I began to create midcentury room scenes, I thought it would be great fun to include an homage to Matisse on the wall.

Do you have a favorite piece of midcenturymodern furniture, or maybe a favorite modern designer?

For me, it is all about the shape. I love Isamu Noguchi’s cyclone table and his coffee table and use them often in my room scenes. Bertoia’s Diamond Chair is probably the most amazingly perfect shape I’ve ever cut out. Anything Eames adds a sophisticated look to my work. I even get excited by Gerald Thurston and Serge Mouille lamps. Oh, and George Nelson clocks! All are wonderful shapes.