Summer 2021....

 I am sure we are all hoping that the summer of 2021 will get back to a more normal way of life.  I don't know about anyone else but I more than ready for an antique show and sale or a good old live auction with real people in the room.

In Saskatchewan we are hoping to start getting to live shows very soon!

I will share a couple new pieces we have added to the collection in the last few months.  It has been a while since I posted a new blog but our Facebook group has been quite active with sharing information and photos so there is often something new there every couple of days.

Information copied from the Bruce Douglas book of Medalta Lamps.

Lamp #43 is 8 1/8" tall. . The in-mould marks for these lamps are unusual, see

page 14. Lamp #43 is one of the miniatures, and it is valued because of this. Its

mark is M.17.a, and value is about $110 to $140 in spite of its small size. A pink

lamp #43 is found in the Eaton’s Catalogues of the thirties, and these, if found, may well

be unmarked.

This small lamp is #48. It was introduced in 1936 and produced until 1941. It

is included here as it incorporates a sphere in its design. The lamp is 197 mm (7

3/4") in height, but it is listed as being 7 1/4" high. The lamp shown is in a two

color glaze, dark yellow spots on medium brown.  Uncommon, it has a count of 8. 

Below are the two main variations of lamp #49. On the

top photos of this pair is the lamp that was introduced in 1936,

while the records indicate that the handled variation (lamp

#49h) was produced in 1940 and possibly in 1939. The original

non handled version was again produced in 1941. Versions of lamp #49h exist where

the handles appear to have been applied by hand. The handles on these lamps are

placed higher, and not always at the

same height.  The height of #49 is 198 mm

(7 13/16") and of #49h 195 mm (7 5/8"). Lamp #49 is uncommon, with a count of 7,

while the handled version is rare with a count of 3. 

Lamp #37 is the miniature version of lamp #39, the lamp shaped like the Egypto vase. Its

height is 6 5/8", and this example has a Satina cream glaze. This diminutive lamp was

introduced in 1935 and produced until 1940. Both the lamp and its glaze, a matt cream

glaze, are not commonly seen. The listed height for this lamp is 7 1/4", significantly taller

than this example. Very rare, its mark is M.18 and its count is 2.

This small lamp is based on the shape of the Egypto vase like the one below.

Here are a couple other new pieces we have added very recently......more to come later!

 

And the Search Continues...........

Summer of No Travel...

                                         

I think all of us have experienced a very different spring and early summer than we have experienced in our lifetime.  Vacation plans are cancelled, people are told not to gather in large groups, stay home, wash your hands and possibly even wear a mask.  I picked a great time to be off work for a few months and have gone back to work just in time to be told we must wear a mask the entire work day.  

We have had the pleasure of visiting the Medalta Museum in Medicine Hat several times and today's blog is compilation some photos of the visits.  On one of the visits we had a guided tour and recorded some of the conversation and stories, we look forward to doing it again soon.

I think most collectors have a mentor or someone they look to for some guidance and answers to questions when they are unable to find an answer anywhere else.  I like to think that over the years of collecting that these people have gone on to be our friends and we get together and share stories and laughter.

We have discovered things like virtual antiques shows and found hundreds of online auctions with new ones showing up every day.  I am sure the world of actually attending a live auction will be a thing of the past and everything will become electronic.  

We have used Facetime to stay in contact with family and the telephone is used for voice calls now more often that before.

The blog photos today are taken in Medicine Hat at the museum.  I am also including a link to a Facebook group that is having virtual antiques shows every couple of weeks and has been quite successful.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/942676159137439/

And the link to the Medalta Museum in Medicine Hat, be sure to check out the online data base of the collection they on the page.  https://medalta.org/visit/museum/    https://medalta.pastperfectonline.com/   

We are looking forward to the world returning some semblance of normal but until then we will scour the virtual world looking for new pieces to add to our collections.  

Until next time......The Search Continues...

Kitchen Things

I cannot imagine a world without Tupperware type dishes for food storage but in my grandparents time there was no such thing.  There were of course, pottery pieces that served the same purpose.  We have all seen the Pyrex fridge dishes and Medalta and Medicine Hat Potteries each made something to serve the same purpose.  Some of them I think are too pretty to actually use to store food stuff in but I am sure that is what they were used for many years go.  Earthenware itself would stay cool so it made sense that they made pieces to store food.  I remember my Grossmama having crocks of things in the cellar, some of which at the time I found to be very disgusting!  I can remember going to get a jar of pickles and peaking in some of the crocks which she used to preserve Hams, sausage and sauerkraut and other things.  There was always a crock full of drinking water from the well  with a "dipper" hanging on the side and I remember the coolness of the water from the crock even though there was no fridge to cool it.  Now we collect all these pieces and treat them like a prize and put them on a shelf to admire.

The photos today are Medalta and Medicine Hat Potteries (the blue fridge dishes).  All pieces are part of our collection.

Like most of you I am sure, we are ready to get out and start looking for some pieces of whatever it is that we collect.  In our province everything is starting to open slowly and in time we will all be back to a normal pace and able to explore again.  We did find a unique concept for a virtual Antique Show and it was delightful.  There were many amazing pieces for sale and we actually picked up a small jug to add to our collection. The next Virtual show is the first weekend in June and will have 30 vendors each posting 15 items for show and sale.  It has kept us entertained and allowed for many people to add to their collections without leaving their house.

Stay safe and healthy!

And the Search Continues....

Preserving our Past

I am of the age that I find myself saying "when I was a kid" and yet I remember how annoyed I was when my parents and grandparents said things like that.  As I get ready to start thinking about retirement I find myself looking back at how we did things when I was young and all the things I learned from grandparents and parents.  My Grossmama always made sauerkraut, a Mennonite lady that truly believed if you couldn't make it you didn't need to eat it, in a huge crock and sometimes had pickles in a crock in the cellar.  Although I don't do that I do remember pounding cabbage and waiting for it to ferment enough to can.  For most us now crocks are largely decorative and are not used for food processing.

It is interesting to research how and when things were made and where they were produced.  For us it is keeping the history alive that keeps us looking for the next piece of pottery.  It has been a fairly quiet summer on the collecting front, it is not that we were not looking just that we never saw anything.  For a change this year we traveled into eastern Canada and I was surprised to not see anything other than an odd crock or Gaylord piece in any of the dozens of antique/flea markets we went to.

The photos in the blog today are the main books I use for reference material and I have notes written in them and marks beside certain information...they are well used.  Ron Getty has several books that are sometimes available at the Museum in Medicine Hat and the book by Richard and Jean Symonds I think I actually found on an online auction site.  We don't collect lamps but there is also a book available that has lamp information.

There have been many people that have also been a great resource for us and we cannot thank them enough.  Although many collectors are helpful there are lots of collectors that are fairly silent and do not share information easily, it takes time to meet them and build a rapport. 

I have added a couple pieces that we picked up early in the summer.  As fall is upon us there is a whole new set of antique show and sales for us to check out and keep us out of trouble, once winter gets here and it gets cold I just may hibernate until spring. 

Here is a blog for everyone to check out:  http://www.editingluke.net/2019/09/clay-creativity-comeback-documentary.html

Until next time.....happy hunting!

And the Search Continues......

One Vase....Two Vase....Same Vase

The fun we have had so far this summer!!!!  In May we had a friend stop for a quick visit and drop off a couple of pieces of Medalta that he had for us and what beauties they are!

Then in June more friends stopped in for iced tea and a visit and had a couple more boxes of Medalta for us.  The people we have met along way have become friends and it is so enjoyable to sit and share stories and the history behind the pieces.  We did find a few very special pieces that we will share on another blog sometime in the future.          

In today's blog we have vase #61, Egypto according to "Know Your Medalta Vases" it was made around 1935-?.  There are 2 glazed vases in different colors and one that is cold painted.  Don't they look different?? The black painted Egypto is so dramatic and is a pleasure to look at.

The second vase is a #71 and again there are different finishes and in this vase there are a couple different sizes.  This vase, according to "Know Your Medalta Vases" was made about 1936-? and was made in 4, 6 and 8 inch sizes.  We have some with handles on and some without handles, some glazed and one cold painted.  Once again the black cold painted one is beautiful in every way.

When you have finished reading this blog, please leave us a little comment just so we have some idea who if anyone is reading the blog.  If there is something you have seen and would like more photos of in a blog post just let us know and we can certainly do that.

Once again the joy is in the people we meet along the way and the things we learn.  So many people have been so willing to share the wealth of information they have collected and for someone like us that have not been collecting for very many years it has been invaluable!

 











And the Search Continues....

Paint by Number...

                     

As a child I used to love doing paint by number pictures.  There were all kinds of pictures from animals, to nature scenes, to buildings and so many more.  Each one came with a pre-printed painting board and little pots of paints that were numbered.  The painting had a numbers in the spots that were to be painted the color in the corresponding paint pot.  Of course you didn't have to follow the instructions and could paint it any color you wanted. 

Medalta made vases that were embossed with different things, there are Storks, Dutch people, Indian Chief and Maiden and a dragon to name a few.  Some of the vases are just glazed but others are hand painted and each raised piece on the vase is painted.  On a quick look the painting on them looks to be the same but on closed inspection there are a variety of colors on some of the pieces.

The same theme or pattern can be found on several different vases, some painted and some just glazed.

When I look at the vases it reminds of the paint by number art I did as a child.  I wonder how the people painting the vases decided what colors to use......did they have a guide?  Did they choose what ever color they wanted? How many would be painted in a day at work?

Imagine sitting at a work station with a paint brush in hand and putting the finishing touches on a vase.  Not only is it a vase but it is now a piece of art.

Another amazing thing about the hand painted vases is that they are cold painted and not glazed after they are painted.  Over time the paint rubs off, wears off or can be damaged by use as a vase from the water for the flowers.

  

I love the colorful addition these vases make to our collection!

And the search continues.....