More September 2006 Hotlines

Rookwood Pottery is reopening in Cincinnati after an absence of 45 years. The name, trademarks, molds, glaze formulas, and other assets were purchased. The new owners plan to manufacture new pottery in the tradition of the old wares, some from original molds with original glazes. New modern pieces will also be made, and so will architectural tiles and trim pieces. New marks will be used.

A Quezal Jack-in-the-pulpit vase, 11 inches tall, sold for a world record price of $36,800 at a James Julia auction in Maine. The vase has a pulled-feather design on its body and a green and white King Tut-type design on its border.

A stoneware water cooler with a blue eagle and other decorations was spotted in the basement of a Maryland house whose owner was having an auction. The savvy auctioneer who spotted it was Scott Kilby of Allen T. Hill Associates. A photo on the auction’s website attracted serious collectors. They recognized it as the work of Henry Lowndes, who made stoneware in Virginia from 1811 into the 1850s. Price after heavy bidding: $74,800. The auctioneer and former owner were pleased. So was the new owner, Burt Long of Virginia, who said the cooler could be worth as much as $150,000.

Antique paste jewelry is made of glass cut and set like gemstones. It is now hard to find and going up in price among serious collectors in England. The paste jewelry is very “showy,” with large stones and gold or colored-metal mounts.

Vintage Teddy bears went up in price in the 1980s, then down. Now they’re going up again. (Financial Times, July 1-2)

Royal Doulton character jugs sell well in the Midwest, especially to men. They tend to collect the 3-inch size.