COLLECTORS’ MYTHS, THE WHITE HOUSE BATHTUB AND
MORE...
There are a surprising number of myths, hoaxes, and misinformed
"experts" in the world of collecting. Research and modern methods are
changing the way we look at some of the things we collect. Myths
are the result of collectors guessing what might have been, usually
based on wishes more than fact. Most don't affect price.
Myth 1
Recent studies have shown that
tramp art (usually objects made of chip carved cigar boxes) was probably
not made by tramps but by home-based craftsmen who had other jobs. Guess
this is a type of folk art that needs a new name.
Myth 2
We got caught early in our writing career with the most famous myth of
all, the first White House bathtub. H.L. Menken, a famous columnist, had
nothing to write about one day in 1917 so he made up the story of the
first tub. He said it was installed by Millard Fillmore in 1851, even
though bathing was considered unhealthy at the time. The tub was made of
mahogany and sheet lead. In 1926 Mencken confessed that it was a myth
but the information was considered valid as late as the 1960s and could
be found in encyclopedias.
More myths next week...
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DICKENS WARE VASES
Q: My two Royal Doulton vases are in the Charles Dickens
series. One is Old Peggotty and the other Barnaby Rudge. I'd appreciate
any information on them.
A: Royal Doulton's series ware was the idea of Charles J.
Noke, a talented designer who joined Doulton in 1889 and later became
its art director. Charles Dickens was one of Noke's favorite authors,
and Royal Doulton's Dickens ware featured many Dickens characters,
including Old Peggotty from David Copperfield and Barnaby Rudge
from the book of that name. Many of the Dickens ware designs were based
on characters drawn by Joseph Clayton Clark, the illustrator of Dicken's
novels. Your vases are each worth about $200.
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ORBED R MARK
If you find this mark on Arts & Crafts style furniture, metalware,
leatherwork or jewelry, you have something of value. Hammered copper
bookends, lamps and vases with this mark sell for hundreds and even
thousands of dollars. Tables, chairs, stands, bookcases and other
furniture with this mark usually bring several thousand dollars at
auction. This is the Roycroft mark used on products made by the Roycroft
community of East Aurora, New York, in the late nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries. The community was founded about 1895 by Elbert
Hubbard, a famous philosopher, writer and artist. Elbert and his wife,
Alice, died onboard the Lusitania when it was torpedoed by the Germans
in 1915, and his son took over leadership of the community. Roycroft
closed in 1938.
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ARE YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S BEADS REAL AMBER?
Try the following: rub amber beads on a wool carpet, then hold the
beads over a small scrap of paper. The amber will collect static
electricity and pick up the paper. Glass will not. Sometimes when amber
is rubbed, it smells a bit like pine resin.
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What’s the A
A A at the top right
corner on
Kovels.com?
From MBH: Just want to thank you for the option of bigger print. I can
read your default size, but can’t in many places. Those interested
in making any $ ought to learn from you. I’m a 1st year boomer
& many aren’t ready for us, but you are! Thanks.
We appreciate the email, MBH, and hope others realize the
A A A at the top right of the page on Kovels.com enlarges the print to make
it easier to read.
Disaster updates
Several insurance adjusters wrote that you should call your insurance
agent first after a disaster. We still say collectors should save what
they can quickly, then before you clean up call the agent for help. You
will get suggestions of companies that can help. Then take pictures of
everything before you clean.
The
Heritage Emergency National Task Force is a partnership of 41
national service organizations and federal agencies created to protect
cultural heritage from the damaging effects of natural disasters and
other emergencies.
More suggestions for removing sticky labels
Goo Gone is the most popular thing to use to remove sticky labels.
Another product suggested is Un-du Adhesive Remover used by
scrapbookers. We haven’t tried it yet. Several readers suggested
warming the sticker with a hair dryer, then gently pulling it off. The
remaining glue can be heated with the dryer and rolled off with your
fingers. A different method for glass or metal is to put a piece of
package tape on the glue, pat it and then pull off the tape and the
glue.
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