Tunbridge Ware

Tunbridge Ware refers to a process of inlaid wood decoration developed and made popular in the town of Tunbridge Wells in Kent, England. Although the process was developed earlier, Tunbridge Ware was most popular in the 19th century Victorian period.

The most famous makers of Tunbridge Ware were family owned businesses: Wise Family; Burrows Family; Fenner; Nye; Barton; Hollamby; Boyce, Brown & Kemp; and Tunbridge Wells Manufacturing Company.

The most popular item to be produced in this fashion was the box; e.g., tea, snuff, stamps, gloves, handkerchiefs, matches, among others. Many of the geometric patterned boxes are from the earlier part of the century while floral patterns were adapted later on.

(Sources: www.amherstantiques.co.uk and www.kintongrangeantiques.co.uk)

The following images are courtesy of Armherst Antiques.

Image 1 shows a dressing case with a view of Windsor Castle by George Wise, circa 1840

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Image 2 shows a writing slope/lap desk with a view of Battle Abbey Gatehouse by Henry Hollamby, circa 1870.

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DID YOU KNOW that the then young Princess (later Queen) Victoria was a frequent visitor to the town of Tunbridge Wells and used to buy articles of Tunbridge ware as gifts for her family? As gratitude to her, the town's people presented her with a specially made example: a kingwood work table (see image 3 below, courtesy of the Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery (www.tunbridgewellsmuseum.org).

According to the Museum, the principal manufacturers of the time had to draw lots for the privilege of making the table.

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Santa Candy Containers

Santa candy containers became popular in the 19th century and are still being made today.

Christmas trees in the early 19th century were adorned with, for example, cookies, fruits, nuts, and cones. Born in Germany, Santa candy containers were given as gifts but were often used as tree or table decorations after the candy was gone (source: Kovel's On Antiques And Collectibles).

Some of the more elaborate candy containers were very detailed figures that separated at the waist, concealing the cylinder that held the candy. Others separated at the neck, held candy in small attached baskets or on a covered attached sleigh (source: goldenglow.org).

Image 1 shows an 1890 German Belsnickel candy container with rabbit fur beard. He carries a brown basket on his back. Image courtesy of Grossmutters Christmas Past (http://www.christmas.li/)

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Image 2 shows a 1930 German Santa wearing a red felt coat. He has a fur beard and carries a feather tree branch. Image courtesy of Grossmutters Christmas Past (http://www.christmas.li/)

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Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition in the 16th century but, DID YOU KNOW that the first artificial Christmas tree was developed in Germany in the 19th century as a response to reduce German deforestation? These trees were first made of goose feathers that were dyed green.

SOTHEBY'S CEO DISCUSSES GLOBALIZATION OF THE ART MARKET

Very interesting discussion on October 18, 2011 at Yale's School of Management with Sotheby's CEO William Ruprecht.

See Yale's Dean Edward A. Snyder's interview with Ruprecht (link below).

http://mba.yale.edu/news_events/CMS/Articles/7485.shtml

Highlights

• In the last decade there has been major changes in the auction world, with China in the foreground. Given China's massive wealth generation, there "has been a total shift of where the demand and supply are".

• The United States and Europe have now become net sellers of art, while China - whose market has exploded - has become the largest art market in the world.

Rococo Revival Furniture

ROCOCO REVIVAL FURNITURE

Rococo (pronouned roh-cocoa) Revival was an effort during the early to mid-Victorian period (around 1845-1870) to revive the Rococo Louis XV style that had originated in France in the early 18^th century; however, the 19^th century Revival has much more exaggerated curves and intricate and realistic carved ornamentation.

One of the most famous makers of Rococo Revival for the luxury market was German-born John Henry Belter of New York City. Belter (1804-1863) created elaborate lacy pieces from laminated rosewood panels using a technique that he patented. Several layers of wood were glued together in alternating directions to give it strength, and the panels were then steamed under pressure in molds to produce curves. After that, the furniture components were carved in intricate patterns of scrolls, fruit, and flowers (source: Kovel’s On Antiques and Collecting). Belter was famous for his large and exuberant parlor room sofas, which are embellished with bouquets of naturalistic blooms.

Image 1 below, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a superb example of Belter's high-end sofas.

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Another company, J. and J.W. Meeks, also of New York, made similarly ornate pieces. See image 2 of a pair of walnut chairs by Meeks, circa 1850 (image courtesy of Timeless Antiques, Laguna Beach, CA).

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Other notable markers of this style were Alexander Roux, Charles Baudouine, Leon Marcotte, and Ignatiius Lutz.

DID YOU KNOW that most of the Rococo Revival furniture were pieces designed for the parlor (rather than, say, for the dining area or library)? The curved, often pierced carved wood pieces appeared more "feminine" and therefore were more conducive to the parlor - the "domain" of the lady of the house.

American Coin Silver

Most silver articles made in the United States before around 1860, when the sterling silver standard was accepted, are referred to as "coin."

Coin silver has a slightly higher silver content than sterling silver. Pure silver is too soft for normal use and has to be alloyed, usually with copper and other trace elements. Sterling is 925 parts silver per 1000 parts, and American coin silver has a lower percentage: from 1792 to 1837, it was .892; thereafter, .900. Other countries may use the words “coin silver” to mean the purity used in their silver coins, which may be different from US coins.

In America’s colonial days, coin silver was literally made from melted-down coins. Between about 1830 and 1860 silver was often marked “Coin,” “Pure Coin” or “Dollar” to show that the piece was the same quality as coins. (Source: Kovels On Antiques and Collectibles).

Image 1 is of a coin silver ladle, with monogrammed fiddle-back handle by Anthony Rasch, circa 1855-1963, marked "A. Rasch" (image courtesy of www.replacements.com)

Image 2 is of a coin silver coffee pot by Eoff & Shepard of New York City, circa 1850, marked "E & S" (image courtesy of www.replacements.com)

DID YOU KNOW that besides being useful, coin silver items in the home helped secure the family's fortune? A thief would find it more difficult to dispose of the distinctly marked and engraved pieces than he would a sack of coins (source: Kovels On Antiques and Collectibles)

ROYAL COPENHAGEN BLUE FLUTED PATTERN

The Danish porcelain factory Royal Copenhagen has been producing the "Blue Fluted" pattern since 1775. This pattern, which depicts a fluted border with flowers, berries and vines, comes in three distinct configurations, depicted below:

BLUE FLUTED - FULL LACE, with perforated lace edges (see image 1)

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BLUE FLUTED - HALF LACE, with painted lace edges (image 2)

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BLUE FLUTED - PLAIN, with simple smooth edges (image 3)

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Images courtesy of www.replacements.com

DID YOU KNOW THAT because it is the first pattern Royal Copenhagen ever made, the company's mark on its Blue Fluted items will often include a number 1 above the item number? See for example the following mark with the numbers 1 over 1018. The number 1 stands for the pattern (Blue Fluted pattern), and the number 1018 refers to the specific item (Full Lace salad serving bowl).

MAJOLICA

Majolica is a type of earthenware (pottery, which is fired to a porous state) decorated in vibrant colors using a lead or tin glaze. This form of pottery was popularized in the second half of the 19th century.

Majolica was made in England, France, Spain, Italy, US, and other countries. Popular examples featured molded, raised decorations of flowers, fruits, vegetables, birds, fish, and other animals.

Not all majolica makers would mark their pieces, but popular artists were Minton, Wedgwood, Holdcroft, and George Jones in England; Griffin, Smith, and Hill in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania; and Chesapeake Pottery in Baltimore, Maryland.

See below amazing examples of majolica. First, a Wedgwood Punch & Toby cobalt blue punchbowl

Also, see below a Minton Mermaid Ewer

Both images courtesy of http://www.strawserauctions.com

DID YOU KNOW that Majolica's popularity took off in England in 1851, shortly after Minton displayed several vases at the Crystal Palace Exhibition in London? Minton called the designs Victorian Majolica (Victorian in reference to Queen Victoria who reigned from 1837 to 1901). In the US, Majolica became popular after the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876. Majolica was out of fashion from the 1920s to the 1960s until collectors began seeking these pieces for their own collections beginning in the 1980s (source: Kovel's Antiques and Collectibles newsletter).