Archive for December, 2008
Art Pottery
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Bretby art pottery
Art Pottery has long been a favourite of mine, you can build up a good looking collection which can add colour and interest to you home . It has a fascinating history and each piece has been hand crafted and so retains individual character. Some of the individual art pottery makers are quite famous: Doulton. Ruskin, Pilkingtons, and Wedgwood are just a few names you will come across.
What is Art Pottery?
The heyday of British Art Pottery was the period between circa 1870’s and 1920’salthough manufacture continues to the present day.
Art Pottery tends to have been produced by the larger manufacturers, that produced by smaller potteries of just a few craftsmen is generally termed STUDIO POTTERY
Characteristics of Art Pottery:
Art Pottery is influenced by the prevalent ARTS MOVEMENT or STYLE of its time :
Art Pottery is made from a pottery body: EARTHENWARE, TERACOTTA or STONEWARE. You do not normally find British art pottery made from PORCELAIN.
Art Pottery has a degree of hand craftsmanship, the entire pot may be hand thrown or at least it will have been hand decorated
Manufacturers were proud of their Art Pottery and it frequently bears their manufacturers marks
AntiquesAvenue shop has a nice selection of art pottery for sale and I will be writing more about the individual potteries over the comming year. In the mean time here are a couple of nice pieces to look at:
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- Art pottery vase
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- Bretby art pottery
Charm School – guide to vintage charms
Posted by: | CommentsThis is AntiquesAvenue’s guide to charms where I will be collecting all my charm articles together.
Antique charms , vintage and contemporary designer charms. Silver, gold and costume jewellery charms including enamel travel shields- completely charming
Charms for sale
Vintage Charms:
- Chim Charms
- Vintage Charm Bracelets
- Gold Charms
- Nuvo Charms
- Enamel Travel Shields
- Costume Jewellery Charms
- Vintage Silver Charms
Charm School – about charms
Calling all antiques blog and website owners
Posted by: | CommentsDo you have a blog or website dedicated to antiques, collectables, vintage or Jewels? Have you got something interesting to say and would you like to contribute an article to antiquesavenue blog?
Whilst I am developing this site I am happy to add your article and photos on any antiques related subject. Can you provide a 300 to 450 word original article ( with .jpg photo if possible ) ? I am happy for this to contain 2 links back to your blog, website or even you ebay sales.
This is both a great opportunity to publicise your site for free and also to provide on-going web traffice through the links
Do get in touch
Anne
Antique and Vintage Brooches
Posted by: | CommentsAnitquesAvenue is partial to vintage and antique brooches . This post contains links to all my articles on these pretty collectable and wearable Jewels.
Buy Brooches:
Vintage Costume Jewellery Brooches
About Brooches:
The Victorian Nanny Pin Brooch
Posted by: | CommentsHere is a very strange and rare type of brooch – The Nanny pin.
Here is a rare brooch – its only the third one of these I’ve had in stock in the last 15 years. This is known as a Nanny pin brooch. It dates from the Edwardian era ( possibly late victorian) and is set with “Goldstone” which glitters wonderfully.
The reason it is know as a “Nanny pin ” is that one end unscrews Inside the Nanny would keep a needle and cotton ready for sewing up her little charges clothes if they got torn whilst they were out. How quaint.
This antique brooch measures 5 cms long
Goldstone is acutally a form of glass rather than a natural gemstone. It has been made with tiny copper inclusions which glitter and look like flecks of gold.
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- Nanny pin brooch
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- open Nanny pin
Lucite – Colourful vintage brooches
Posted by: | CommentsEvery now and then I notice a new trend in customers purchases, this year Lucite brooches have been much more popular than ever. Rather than being surprised how popular they are becoming I should wonder why they have not been so sought after previously.
Lucite Brooch
Lucite brooches are wonderfully colourful for of vintage costume jewellery brooches and there is a wide variety to collect.
Vintage Lucite Brooch
Lucite is a form of plastic, Wiki has a complex technical explanation of Lucites composition and history but it is probably best thought of as a plastic glass. Lucite brooches are formed from a piece of polished lucite with the design being drilled out from the back. The resulting spaces are then filled with plaster of Paris which can be dyed or painted in the final colours. All that is left is to add a brooch fitting to the reverse.
Most Lucite floral brooches date from circa 1930s to 1950s. Click on the pictures to see two examples available from AntiquesAvenue’s shop.
Antiques Auctions – The final bit
Posted by: | CommentsPart 10 , the last in my series of articles on buying antiques at auction. Here is one more thought you might like answered – do let me know if there are any more 
Can I take my purchase back for a refund?
The quick answer to this question is NO however there is an exception:
- if you notice that the item is not as described in the auction catalogue you might be able to get a refund in a day or two you will need to check the auctioneers terms and conditions. Take care here the auctioneers are pretty careful in describing things for example if they say “Victorian Style” you cannot expect to take it back if you find out it is brand new.
So what can I do about this?
Talk to the auctioneer, he might be willing to see if the under bidder still wants the item however you will not get your full purchase price.
Put it back into the next auction and hope for the best.
Which auctions do you attend Anne? And which are the most profitable?
Now that is something I’m not telling . You will need to put in many many hours ( Years?) of effort to answer that for yourself!
Antique Auctions part 9 – once you get your purchases home
Posted by: | CommentsSafely homewith your newly acquired treasure bought at auction? Here are a few of sugestions based on my experiences.
- - unpack these and examine them careful as soon as possible. If you have bought a large lot just to acquire one special piece this is particularly important as there may be other items of value in the lot which could be sold on.
- - Keep the receipt from the auciton house . This will help if ever you need to claim on your insurance following theft or damage to your antique.
- - Do not go mad on cleaning up you antique with modern day cleaning materials you can easily spoil it. Leave it until you find the correct way to clean your piece or get a specialist to do this.
- - Enjoy and go out and aquire even more!
The next part of my mini series on bidding at antiques auctions will be the conclusion and include a few special tips on specialist situations