Will You Recognize Works by Crossover Artists?

Louis Comfort Tiffany, the King of Glass, whose glass window works might fetch over $1,000,000 also made pottery and painted canvasses. Glass Master, Emile Galle, also painted, as did Charles Stewart Todd, one of Rookwood Pottery’s leading artists. So, why is this important for us to know? If we can connect a name with items that most people don’t usually associate with a particular artist, there can be some real money to be made.

An artist can be talented in more than one area. This can be a sculptor who occasionally painted or a painter who occasionally sculpted. An artist who works in glass might have loved to make furniture or loved to paint. Few people realize that Louis Comfort Tiffany was also a potter whose works are highly sought after, and his paintings can also bring a pretty penny. It might amaze you to know that in 2005, an 18x24 inch of Tiffany canvas board sold for $156,000. I didn’t even like it, but there was one buyer who was willing to pay that price to add it to his or her collection.

Emile Galle, one of my favorite glass artists, was also a crossover artist. While his glass vases are sought after by collectors all over the world and command prices right up there with Tiffany, he also painted. And these can be quite valuable as well.

You might not recognize the name Charles Stewart Todd unless you were familiar with the top artists who worked through Rookwood Pottery, but I recently discovered he also painted canvasses while I was checking out a painting at an auction house. It was signed CWT, and I wondered if it could be the same as the potter whose work I keep an eye out for. As most my readers know by now, I’m originally from Kentucky and I keep an eye out for works by Kentucky artists, and Charles Stewart Todd came from a town close to my hometown. All it took to get the answer to my question was to read the sales flyer and yes, it was the same artist. You can be assured I’ll be watching this auction with extra interest.

You might want to check out a few of the Rookwood artists to see if they worked in other areas. Most artists are better recognized for their work in one field rather than the other. Even so, when they have dabbled in another field and you’ve found an item of theirs in a category they aren’t usually known for, it can be gold for you.

Today's Photo is an example of a painting by Louis Comfort Tiffany.

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Look at Tiffany Pottery Photos Here

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Secrets to Identifying Value in Art Pottery

Louise E. Edwards Decorated Doulton Lambeth Vase offered at 31 Gallery & Marketplace



Many people mistakenly believe that an item’s size contributes greatly to its value, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Often times, size is only one contributing factor, and we'll take a look at others here.

Many companies, in addition to their more commercial lines, had talented artists decorating their items in their “artist lines.”

Regardless of which company’s pottery you come across, there will always be certain artists’ work that stands out, and their wares are the most sought after and will bring in top dollar. For example, Doulton had Noke, Barlow, Tinsworth, and Marshall as their premiere artists. In America’s Newcomb pottery, Bailey and Simpson lead their group of artists. Daley, Sax, Shirayamadani and Nourse are the leading names in Rookwood and are quite valuable.

Being able to recognize specific artists’ work for a particular company will set you ahead considerably, among other things.

The 31 Gallery & Marketplace has a Doulton Lambeth-Louise E. Edwards decorated vase. While Edwards wasn’t in Doulton’s top tier of artists like Hannah Barlow was, Edward’s works are more rare than Barlow’s and also quite desirable.

Any piece produced by top artists will bring big money, but this is, again, just one factor in evaluating a piece for price.

Next to which artist decorated the piece, I believe the most important factor in price evaluation is its GLAZE.

Many Doulton pieces will bring very little in this market regardless of their size, but if you add one of the top artist names to the piece, bingo! Now, to get the piece to the stratosphere in value, just add a very rare glaze to it. Double bingo!
Familiarize yourself with Doulton’s Chang, Chinese Jade, Sung, and Titaniam glazes so you’ll be able to spot these when you come across them.

Most dealers are familiar with Rookwood, but few can distinguish their different glazes. Knowledge of their glazes will give you a great advantage because this is where there can be huge price differentials. Rookwood glazes commanding top prices are Coromandel, Dip/Drip, Goldstone, Tiger Eye, Oxblood, and Rust. If you are fortune enough to find pieces of Rookwood in these glazes, you’ve found a true treasure.

Now, here comes the story: I walked into a high end antique store in Chicago and couldn't believe the prices they were asking for what I thought were quite common pieces. Still, I couldn't leave until I had looked at every item they had for sale. In the back of the store, I spotted a very small vase looking rather lonely, about 4” in height. I picked it up to examine who the artist was, but as I looked at it, I realized it was a very rare glaze by a very early artist.

The store was having a sale that day and priced the vase at $400. I quickly offered $200 and it became mine quite quickly. As I left the store, I’m sure the sales lady was shaking her head saying, “There goes a fool without his money.”

Little did she know that I consigned the vase to the Cincinnati Art Galleries and it brought in (drum roll) $2000 at auction.

My friend Cecil did the same thing recently. He bought a piece of Owens pottery for less than $100. But, because it had a special glaze he recognized it and knew it was a great buy. That piece was hammered at over $2400 at auction.

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Antiques & Collectibles: What's in a Name?

Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica

One of the things I get to enjoy most is checking auction treasures sent to me by 31 Club Members. Stephen sends me a flier almost every week, and I think he's becoming very knowledgeable on what to look for when he attends auctions. I always email him back with a list of the items in that auction I'd be interested in if I were attending. However, Stephen learned a very important lesson last week. His eye told him that the three pieces of McCoy pottery were unusual, and he purchased them. But, he didn't check them carefully enough before he bid, because when he got them home, he discovered two had damage. Because he bought them right, and in fact, I think they may be rather rare, he still may salvage something.

Julie. sent me an auction flier where there were two pieces of Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica porcelain being offered. One was a platter and the other was a covered vegetable bowl. I told her if they sold for a hundred or two she should pick them up. Well, her report back to me wasn't what I wanted to hear, but my idea was great. If you ever see any Flora Danica be sure to give it the once over, and if it can be purchased right, take advantage of it. Most dealers would just consider it china. However, at this auction, there must have been some knowledgeable people in the crowd, because the platter brought $1500 while the covered vegetable bowl went to the highest bidder at $2000

Another item at the sale caught my attention and it was a Dale Chihuly bowl. Pieces by this glass artist can bring tens of thousands of dollars. Often his work is composed of a bowl and then three to five additional pieces inside of it. This was just a single bowl and nothing exciting, so I thought that it may have gone for $500 or so. Wrong. The final bid was $3300.

These are two names that I want you to add to your list of treasures to search for. No, Julie didn't buy at this sale but what about the next one she attends? Always remember, it doesn't matter how many pieces you miss, just the ones you buy. As long as you have money, I guarantee you that your number will come up, and that's when all the waiting will have been worthwhile.

Just a little refresher course: Don't spend your time researching common items, because every person on the street knows the value of them. Spend your time studying the rare, where the real money is. Most dealers want to talk about Roseville, Weller, McCoy or Haeger, but not me. I want to know more about Newcomb, Grueby, Rookwood or George Ohr. If you are talking about these pieces, I can assure you that my attention will be focused on that conversation. What's in a name? Everything, when it comes to Antiques, Collectibles and Fine Art.

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Collectible Bookends

These Scottie Dog Bookends sold on eBay yesterday for $361

I sat down at the computer knowing I needed to post today's blog, but found myself struggling a bit. You see, my mind was preoccupied. You see, yesterday was the last time I will see my Pastor at the church I attend. Even though I knew this day was coming, I guess I wasn't as prepared for it as I thought I was. So, with this in mind, I'm asking some of you to keep me, my family and my Pastor in your prayers.

While my mind was wrestling with myself and wondering what would be a good blog topic today, I went into my library and began looking through some of my books. It's usually very easy for me to have a topic at the forefront of my mind, but, today, I was having some difficulty. I left the library and returned several times, each time moving the bookends to take out a few selected books. Then, it came to me. Bookends.

Bookends Can Prove to be Great Finds, so Don’t Overlook the Opportunity to Cash in.

Many pairs of Rookwood bookends were represented this past weekend in the Cincinnati Art Galleries auction, including the wise old owl standing on a book and about six pairs that represented “The Rook”, which was a symbol for Rookwood pottery. There was even a Buddha pair I’d never seen before. Others were the horse heads, Kingfishers, elephants, water lilies, lions, the sphinx, and even dogs. I am sure this is just a short list of what the company produced, and these bookends can bring from a few hundred dollars to several thousands depending on their rarity and color. Each will be marked with the Rookwood mark, however, some have been reproduced. But, Rookwood should be just one type of bookend that should catch your eye.

Companies producing bookends from the Arts & Crafts movement can bring you serious money in the thousands of dollars. These are companies such as Jarvie, Heintz Koppercraft, Tiffany and Roycroft. All of the different companies marked their items, so be sure to watch for those marks. You can often find these at house sales, and garage sales marked for just a few dollars. Your local auction houses can even be a good place to find valuable bookends if you are knowledgeable.

There are 2,025 sets of bookends being offered on eBay today, with the most expensive ones being Lalique and Baccarat, both listing for well over a thousand dollars. Bookends are a much sought after collectible, and I haven’t even touched the variety of items in this are you’ll likely come across.

There was a period of time in my life when anything that had a dog on it, had to be mine. My house was over run with dogs, but I never had to walk these dogs or take them to the vet. It was during this time, I purchased a set of Scottie Dog bookends for about $2.50. I didn't know much about them and figured they might bring $25 if I listed them on eBay. I listed them. The first day, they were over $100. (Yes, there was a time when people on eBay bid on the first day.) By the end of the auction, those Scottie dogs brought in over $500.

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Boch Freres Pottery

Boch Freres Crackled Enamel vase, 10 1/4 inches, offered at Cincinnati Art Galleries' June 7, 2008 auction. Its estimate is $1,000-$1,500.

Some pottery can bring in great prices at auction, and one of these is the collectible Belguim pottery, Boch Freres. Several pieces will go to auction June 7, 2008 at the Cincinnati Art Galleries as part of their summer offering. These vibrantly decorated pieces can be a real prize, and pre-1940’s pieces are sought after by collectors worldwide. The mark is a wolf or dog over the wording “Boch Freres Keramis made in Belguim.”

Their leading craftsman, Charles Catteau, was very active in the 1920’s and he produced some real beauties decorated with various animals, like birds, deer or antelope.

Many of this company’s pieces are still very affordable, and you’ll see prices at the Cincinnati Art Galleries auction estimated from a few hundred dollars to several thousands. These are great pieces for new collectors because of their affordability and beauty. When you find a great piece of Boch Freres, rest assured there will be a collector you can turn it to for a nice profit, if you buy it right. You shouldn’t have any problem finding a European collector for these pieces. The weak dollar has brought European buyers out in droves and they are very actively buying up our collectibles at bargain prices.

Don’t fail to take a look at Cincinnati Art Galleries’ Art Glass offerings, as well. Karen Singleton has assembled, perhaps, the best Art Glass collection I’ve seen them sell yet. Over 30 pieces of Lotton Art Glass are included in the offerings plus many other outstanding examples by the better Art Glass companies.
An excellent array of Rookwood pottery will be offered at this sale, and that’s why they currently hold almost every record price paid for Rookwood Pottery. If you want to truly get a good education, study the items on their site. Then, when there is an antiques show in your area, attend it and get a close up look at what high quality pottery and glass looks like.

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Cincinnati Art Galleries - Boch Freres Keramics offerings

Know Your Customer -- The Collector and The Advanced Collector

Pauline Pottery, 10" tall, sold at Craftsman's Auction March 2006 for $2,880.

Often the one thing that makes a collectible so valuable is that there was enough production by the company so that anyone can find pieces to start a collection Usually a budding collector starts with a less valuable item and then works his or her way up to the more expensive pieces.

Let’s take Rookwood for an example. If you're collecting, you might make your first purchase of Rookwood in the commercial wares area of their production. A simple vase might fit the bill. But, as you advance in the collection, the artist signed pieces will become more appealing to you. Yes, they will be far more expensive, but over time you will have become more knowledgeable and realize that this is where the true investment will be. This is true of Roseville, Weller, Van Briggle, Teco and many other pottery companies whose production was expansive, and is a great way for the novice to learn as their collections grow without making too many mistakes.

But why is this important to us? We want to buy and sell, right? Yes, but unless we can get into the mind of the collectors -- our customers -- our buying will be more about ourselves and not about the ones we want to sell our treasures to.

There is an exception to this type collecting. There are some collectors who buy the rare items from companies who had only a limited production. In the industry, we refer to this type of collector “the advanced collector.” Pauline Pottery, produced right here in Chicago and then later in Wisconsin, is an example of an item an advanced collector might look for.

The Pauline Company was in business for only 10 years from 1883 until 1893. This lets you know that the number of pieces they produced would be very limited, and I doubt you will find many people that have a large collection of their pottery. However, this is where the advanced collector steps in. He wants one of the better pieces from the Pauline kilns to show the diversity of his collection. The pitcher that sold on ebay brought over $500, and even though it did nothing for me personally, I can see why a collector would want it in their collection.

The main problem with purchasing this type of merchandise is that there will always be a limited market for the company’s wares unless the item is exceptional. Don't get stuck with common pieces by unknown companies because they will be yours forever. If you do see an exceptional item, but don't recognize the mark, this is a time to get very stingy with your money. This is also an excellent way to find a Treasure while taking very little risk.

In the case of Pauline, the mark is a very indistinct crown with no writing but perhaps the artist’s initials. Their second mark just says “Pauline Pottery.” I suggest you keep your eyes out for very large and decorative pieces by this company, but leave the lesser ones alone. If you find that special piece of Pauline, I think that you should be able to buy it very reasonably. Therefore, your profit should meet our goals of at least doubling our money on our purchases.

Remember to tune into the AuctionWally BlogTalk Radio program on Monday. I am Auctionwally's special guest and you can call in your questions. I hope I hear from you.

Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

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American Art Pottery - Walrath

Example of Walrath Pottery valued in the thousands of dollars.

This past weekend, I saw Rosville and Weller pottery well overpriced and wondered how anyone could turn a profit if they purchased these pieces at those prices. This seems to be the norm today, and the reason why so many dealers are having a hard time selling their inventory. At the Arlington Show I attended last month, it seemed to me that items such as Grueby, Newcomb and Rookwood were priced out of sight. I wonder if perhaps these pieces are being purchased by dealers at prices too inflated for today’s markets.

The secondary market should set the prices for us to use as a guide when we purchase, and if we find pieces priced even beyond that, where can we hope to go with them? Yes, the best are bringing record prices, but that isn't so when it comes to the medium or lower priced items.

A new name that might bring you great returns, should you find a piece is Frederick Walrath. Walrath was an exceptional potter and his work is coveted by the most serious collectors of American Art Pottery. Walreth died in 1920, and his better vases can easily command five figures and his less serious pieces will bring in the hundreds. The pieces I’ll be discussing are the ones he produced in Rochester, New York, however he did work at one time for the Newcomb Pottery Company of New Orleans.

His work is marked Walrath Pottery” with a mark that looks like a cross bow between the two words. This is the kind of item that most people will pass, or have very little knowledge of what its true value should be. When you find a special piece of Walrath, this is the time to be patient and check all your connections before pricing it on the market. Here is where you can really compound your investment. While others are struggling to break even on the more known pieces like Roseville, Weller and Van Briggle, you will have your money ready for those special pieces of Walrath when the opportunity presents itself. Patience will be your guide to success.

This weekend was a prefect example of what I am talking about. Thinking I was going to buy several items at a sale I attended, my plan wasn't fulfilled. I made a pass at several items that would have been good buys at the price I offered, but my offer wasn’t a deal maker. I only purchased one piece from this sale, keeping my other funds in my pocket for another day.

I knew the Rookwood lamp at this sale was exceptional, and I knew I had to own it. But, even as sure as I was that I’d found my treasure for the week, I called a good friend in Cincinnati to confirm my judgment. He assured me that the lamp was a fantastic buy. In my judgment, this piece is very special and should go to auction for the best results. Remember, we aren't in a hurry because the compounding of our funds will create wealth for us, not the quantity of pieces we buy and sell.
So add Walrath Pottery to your growing list of things to watch for. By now, if you have followed my blog, that list should contain several items that could change your prospective of this business.

Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

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Estate Sale Treasures – You Don’t Have to be First to Find Them

While I’ve enjoyed writing about the great treasures our readers have reported to us, today I’d like to share my experience yesterday. I think it well serve you well.

Yesterday was a time for catching up for me. There were emails to send, books to ship and general paper work to do. However, one of our 31 Club members asked if I’d be willing to join her at an estate sale. I agreed to meet her later in the afternoon. Now, knowing I’d need to be in home in time to watch the Kentucky Derby, I put my efforts at catching up in overdrive so I could pack everything into my time schedule.

I called our member about 1:30 and was surprised to hear she was already at the sale. I was thinking to myself (often a dangerous thing to do) that if there were treasure at this sale for me, it would probably be all gone by now, but I’d still go to help our member.

I met our member at the front door of the house, and once I got to the sale, I immediately recognized the person conducting the sale. I asked if she thought there was anything still here for me. To my surprise she said, “Yes, the Georg Jensen silver.” We headed immediately to the dining room to check it out. When I picked up a knife where the price tag was taped, my eyes almost dropped out of their sockets. Believe it or not, they wanted $10,500 for the set. I couldn’t get away from the table fast enough, but while my mind was spinning, I decided I’d offer $2,000 if I was going to make an offer.

But that was only the first room, so we preceded to the living room where it was hard to miss a Steinway Baby Grand -- with a price tag of $25,000. About this time I was asking myself what could possibly be here for me. But, I continued on. I knew very little about the modern artwork that decorated the walls, and these pieces had hefty price tags as well. Asian artifacts were intermingled through out the house, and again, I was at a loss without any of my books in this category. I sat down on the living room couch to collect my thoughts when my eyes landed on a very large lamp. My mind wouldn’t allow me to believe I was looking at a treasure that every other dealer and shopped had overlooked. After all, it was later in the afternoon and most people would have figured all the real treasures were gone by now.

I raised my self up from the sofa, as if I was in slow motion and walked toward the lamp. The closer I came the more difficult it was to breathe. Unbelievable! There on the end table was a Rookwood vellum scenic vase made into a lamp, and the vase itself was over fifteen inches tall.

My hands began to tremble as I turned the tag to examine the price. $1,800. I knew this had to be mine. My mind started racing as I figured out at what price this might become mine. I’ve bought from these people many times before, and usually at half the price, but I knew that with this lamp, I couldn’t take a chance. I stepped up to the plate and offered $1,200. She refused, and told me I could leave a bid. I informed her that I didn’t do that, because I was here to buy. She was firm about leaving a bid, so I returned home very quickly to do some research. (My house was only five minutes away.) Let me tell you, after a little research, I broke every speed zone getting back there, just hoping the lamp was still there.

I entered the house with my wife and son with me this time. My wife went to look at the items in the dining room, while I worked up the courage to peek into the living room to see if the lamp was still there. It was. But now, I had to see if there was one of those little red tags on it, showing it had been sold. No red tag, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

We finally settled on $1,500, which was a much higher percentage of the asking price than I usually pay, but for this piece, there was no question on what I was going to do. So, what’s the value? Between $4,500 and $5,000.

Tomorrow I am going back to the sale because there were several other item that I want to make offers on but at less than 50% of their asking price. There are Royal Doulton mugs, listed prints, figurines, and glass objects that could pay for the lamp, if I am able to purchase at my price. Not bad for a day when I wasn't even intending to go out. Better Late than never, and by the way, Big Brown may be the next Triple Crown Winner. What a great looking horse.

Today’s Photo shows a set of 1945-1951 Georg Jensen sterling silver designed by Johan Rhode, Jensen's most influential of all his designers. The pattern is the very popular "Acorn" pattern, and is offered at Leopard Antiques for $3,350. Photo from Leopardantiques.com

Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

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Daryle Lambert: Rookwood Tile was Sailing

We will continue yesterday's discussion of Art Tiles by looking at another great company - Rookwood.

Since I lived most of my life in Qwensboro, Kentucky, I was very unfamiliar with Cincinnati, the home of Rookwood. But the Bengals and Reds were there, and they were the closest pro teams from my home in Kentucky, so as I got older, Cincinnati became more familiar. I became acquainted with Rookwood very early. Rookwood was the first potteries that I became interested in to the extent of wanting to create a collection of their work for myself. In fact, did you know that if you visit Cincinnati, you can eat right in the kilns of the Rookwood factory?

Rookwood is known for its lovely vases, produced by many of the greatest pottery artists this country has ever known. At past World's Fairs, Rookwood designed pieces large enough for a grown man to climb into. But aside from wonderful pottery, Rookwood make great tiles and plaques, too.

Some of the outstanding artists that worked at the Rookwood factories over the years were Matthew Daily, Maria Nichols, Sara Sax, Kataro Shirayamadani and Artus Vanbriggle. This is just a short list from the many artist that passed through the doors of the wonderful company in Cincinnati Ohio.

This company posted its first catalog, which included tiles in 1907. These pieces were from 2 by 3 inches to 12 by 18 inches in size. Most were architectural tiles at that time, but later many of their artist also produced fantastic plaques.

The tiles were called faience while the plaques were named vellum. Today, I combine them when talking about pieces that are usually put in frames and hung on the wall. The tiles are usually carved and look like something that would be around the doorway or hearth. The plaques, on the other hand, look like paintings with scenes of landscapes or other scenes.

I once attended a house sale, and one of the dealers showed me a plaque he had just bought for $100. I looked at it and realized that it was a vellum Rookwood so I offered him $4000 on the spot. He told me that he had already sold it and wouldn't tell how much he got for it. I don't think he received anywhere near the $4000 that I offered. Later, I saw it come up for auction and I think it hit about $7000. Don't be afraid to make an offer to another dealer if you see something that would meet our goal of doubling the purchase price. This wouldn't have been a double, but I think you would agree it was close enough.

I once attended one of Cincinnati Pottery Auctions, where I had several pieces consigned. There was a wonderful larger plaque that I thought might look good on my wall so I circled it in the catalog. When its number came up, I started to get excited, but that didn't last long. The auctioneer yelled out, "Do I hear $5,000, yes, how about $10,000, how about $20,000, yes I have $50,000, thank you I have $75,000, let's make it an even $100,000," and it stopped there around $97,500. This plaque was of a steamship going out to sea. It showed the water breaks as it was leaving. If you ever see a Rookwood tile with a ship, buy it as fast as you can if the price is right.

“Rookwood Pottery- the Glazed Lines," by Anita Ellis is a great book I'd recommend taking a look at.

Discover how our book can be the tool that helps you become financially free simply buying and selling antiques, collectibles and fine art.

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If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us. Contact us here.

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Daryle Lambert: Out West Today. North Dakota School of Mines Pottery

UND is one of my favorite potteries. It was produced at the University of North Dakota starting in 1904, and had its first pottery display at the St. Louis Worlds Fair that year.

Years back, a very large deposit of natural clay was found in the area of the university, so it was natural that the school started art classes using this new found resource. Many teachers of potting joined the university, and their wares soon became the rage.

These pieces have a hand-made feel to them. They are heavy in weight, with thick walls, and typically have glazed muted colors of mostly earth tones, blues, and pinks.

All of the UND pieces are marked with a round cobalt blue seal, and most have the artist initials engraved in the wet clay.

There are four special ladies that came to the school to teach, and they are Margaret Kelly Cable, her sister Flora Cable Huckfield, Julia Edna Mattson and Hildegarde Fried. Any of these names on a piece will assure you that the price for it will be substantial. Margaret Cable my be the best known, but all their works are desirable.

The pieces of North Dakota pottery that I like best are the prairie motif pieces. This style might include a western theme with animals and western scenes. There are many pieces with cowboy decorations and some with stagecoaches. The first piece of UND pottery that I ever purchase was a plaque about four inches by 6 inches of a lady tennis player. This piece was given as a award for a tournament and the winners name was on the back of the plaque plus the artist initials. It had the proper stamped mark, so I knew it was going to be mine. I was able to purchase it for about $100. I sold it at auction it brought I think about $500.

As the popularity of the University of Dakota Pottery increased, so did their prices. For example a plaque by Hildegarde Fried may bring $2500 today while candlesticks marked, Mattson, could command a price of $3000. I have been fortunate enough to own several Margaret Cable pieces, and each time I sold one, the values kept going up. A deer vase may bring $2500 today even though its height may be only four inches. the common pieces bring much less, so study the rarities.

Generally, larger pieces of decorated pottery, 12" and up, will be that rare piece many collectors look for.

There were many potteries in North Dakota, and a great book to learn more about them was written by Darlene Hurst Dommel. Some of the other North Dakota Potteries are Pine Ridge and Rosemeade. The more you learn about, the better your eyes will be skilled in spotting various pieces of UND pottery, as well as all the others we discuss.

You might find the average pottery dealer will not be as well versed on UND as they will be on Roseville, Weller or other more familiar works. Use this to your advantage.

When I find a great piece of North Dakota I have to admit it is hard for me to give it up. But my rule is that if someone wants something I own bad enough, it can be theirs.

Today's Photo is courtesy of Just Art Pottery. You can get an excellent overview of what many of the art pottery pieces we discuss look like, all at one place by visiting their site.

Discover how our book can be the tool that helps you become financially free simply buying and selling antiques, collectibles and fine art.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club Wealth Building and start your own race to your millions! Read more about The Million Dollar Challenge.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us. Contact us here.

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Daryle Lambert - Mission Accomplished. Antique Items delivered to Auction House.

Can you imagine getting up at 3:00 in the morning and leaving on a 24 hour trip? Well that is what Cindy and I did when we left for Evansville, Indiana yesterday morning.

Cindy arrived at my house at 4:00 am, and we took off under a a clear night sky, thankful for good weather. The van was already packed with the items we were bringing to Sohn's Auction House in Evansville, Indiana including the Harvey Joiner portrait we have. We immediately became immersed in conversation knowing it was going to be a very long trip. We talked and talked, until I finally realized the gas gauge indicator was blinking. Neither one of us knew how long it had been on. We prayed for a gas station to appear, quickly, and what a sigh of relief for both of us when one finally did.

31 Club Member, Cecil, was waiting for us at Sohn's Auction House in Evansville when we arrived there at 10:00 A.M. He's the tall guy in Today's Photos. We met with Don Sohn, and checked in our pieces for the January 2nd auction. After our paperwork was done, we browsed the current auction offerings that were on display, and what a great display it was. There was so many interesting pieces here of early farm life we could've spent hours going through it all. We also saw Teco, Rookwood, Roseville and Hull Pottery. "The auction houses in Chicago don't have these kinds of things," Cindy commented. She's right, because starting Thursday, Don is going to have one terrific auction.

I saw the best coin collection that I personally have ever seen being sold, I believe, on Saturday. Glassware and China was on every table plus great antique toys, advertising signs and furniture. If you are in the Evansville area you wouldn't want to miss this auction. What a great place for finding treasures.

I can hardly wait until our pieces sell on the second of January, and Don seems to think that he is going to have an even bigger sale that day. Yes, things are very different in the country, and our city girl now sees that very clearly.

We spent a good couple hours browsing at Sohn's until our stomachs began to rumble. My daughter, Dana joined Cindy, Cecil and me for a fine lunch of the most delicious sea bass both Cindy and I ever had. Treasure hunting with Cecil was next, and we set out to look through all the little shops and malls in the area. All the shop owners knew Cecil, and unfortunately, we didn't find much. Cindy and I are fairly certain Cecil picked the places clean days before, but it was a great deal of fun looking and spending time together.

We soon heard that the snow storm moving into the Chicago area was coming earlier than anticipated, and Cindy kept saying, "Don't you think we should head home soon?" Cecil and I sped up our search and headed to the front door. When we got there, Cindy had disappeared on us. We waited and waited. Cecil finally had to go back and find her. Yes, she was combing through some box in a corner that was pretty well hidden, thinking she just might find something. I didn't think we'd ever get her to come out of that store and head back for Chicago, but we finally did.

We hit snow about halfway home, and it wasn't pretty. Slowing down to forty miles an hour the rest of the way home, we finally got back to my house at midnight, but Cindy still had another 45 minutes in the storm to get back to her house.

This morning, the snow is piled up about six or more inches. Joshua, his friend Ben and I waded though the snow over to my truck so I could drive them to school. I finally realized my wife, Vickie, never gave me back my keys when we traded vehicles for the Evansville trip. And she was already long gone. Let me tell you, after having been awake close to 24 hours with little sleep inbetween, that twenty minute trek through the snow with the boys a real lesson in having stamina. It's good to be home now, and I just might even sneak in a cat nap.

Discover how our book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles can be the tool that helps you become financially free.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club Wealth Building and start your own race to your millions! Read more about The Million Dollar Challenge.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us. Contact us here.

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Daryle Lambert - Has His Eye on Van Briggle Pottery

One of my first loves is American Art Pottery. It was easy to fall in love with the beauty of Rookwood Pottery, because these fantastic pieces were made in Cincinnati Ohio, only about two hours from my Kentucky Home. The same can be said for Roseville Pottery, because it, too, was made in Ohio. But how I got interested in Van Briggle Pottery, made in Colorado, makes for a good story. This will show you that studying and researching one thing might just lead you down a very different path from the one you thought you were traveling upon.

I was quickly becoming a serious Rookwood collector a few years back, studying everything I could get my hands on that mentioned Rookwood. One day, I came across the name of Artus Van Briggle listed as an artist for the Rookwood Pottery Company. I decided I should add a couple of his pieces to my collection. So, off I went like a old bird dog trying to track that special piece I had decided was waiting for me to discover.

Having very little luck finding a Van Briggle piece over the next several months, I went back to my books. I wanted to figure out why I was having so little success in my search. I soon found that Van Briggle started with Rookwood in 1887 but stayed there for a very short time before moving on to several other companies. For reasons of poor health, he returned to Cincinnati in 1897 and worked for Rookwood another three years before starting his own company in 1901. Because he was actually only at Roodwood for a few years, his production there was limited. Now I had my answer for why it was so difficult to find pieces of his work at Rookwood.

He never fully recovered his health, so instead of beginning his new business in Ohio, he traveled to Colorado where he set up shop. Within four years, Artus Van Briggle died. After I found out more of his history, I made the decision to see if I could find some of his earlier pieces for my collection rather than his Rookwood pots. You see what I mean? You can never guess where this business is going to lead you.

I was much more successful in finding the Van Briggle pieces than I was the Rookwood. I soon realized that if I was going to collect Van Briggle, it had to be pieces that were made while he was living.

The difference in price for pieces made in the three years he actually worked at his factory and the later pieces was astonishing to me. I'll give you some examples. A piece made by the Van Briggle Pottery Co. after 1930 may bring less than one hundred dollars. But a piece made from 1910 to 1930 can fetch up to seven or eight thousand dollars. This was the period of time his wife, Ann, continued running the factory. But are you ready for this? A piece made by his factory while he was living, from 1901-1904, could bring $30,000 to $50,000! In fact, the piece shown in today's photo sold at auction in March of 2007 for $42,000 through Craftsman Auctions.

The mark on most Van Briggle is two capital A’s side by side. There is a wonderful book printed on Van Briggle called, Colorado Pottery by Carol and Jim Carlton. If you find it, be sure to add one to your library. You can check for used books through our Amazon Link right from our recommended reading list page.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got an Erte Bronze, Lotton Glass, and many many more high quality items priced reasonably with no buyer's premiums. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your piece to us. No high fees selling with us.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club Wealth Building and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!"The Guy in the Red Tie" --- Daryle Lambert

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ANOTHER KEPT PROMISE - Treasures Still Out There. Art Pottery

I will always do my best when it comes to satisfying a promise that I have made to you. Just a few days ago, I got a report about the great find one of our members made and his surprise when it sold at Cincinnati Art Galleries auction.

Here's the great report: Cecil R bought a piece of pottery just from his experience of looking at quality pieces. It was totally unmarked, but there was something about it that said, "You be sure to buy me," which he did.

This goes back to lessons that I have shared with you in the past. The more items you visually examine, the better your eye will become at detecting quality even if the piece isn’t marked. I am going to let Cecil's words speak for themselves. Here is a E-mail I received from Cecil yesterday.

"Daryle: Perfect timing on the article about knowing quality. I recently bought a vase at auction that was not signed and I thought it may be a rare piece of Camark Pottery (which was made in Arkansas). However, when I got home I found that it was similar, but not Camark. After a few days of it sitting there, I had to put my "research cap" on and find out who made the piece. To my amazement, I found out it was made by Owens Pottery of Zanesville, Ohio and that it is one of the rarest patterns made by Owens! The pattern is called "Opalescent Inlaid" and was only made in the last year and one-half that Owens was in business, which was from 1896 to 1907.

The vase was not marked in any way, but I knew it to be a quality piece when I saw it at auction, just by examining the craftsmanship of the vase. I bid the piece to $25.00 and the auctioneer almost said the magic word "Sold!", when another bidder decided he like it too. I won the bidding at $80.00. Even though I did not know at the time who made it, I was certain that I would make a reasonable profit. Last week, the vase sold at auction in Cincinnati. The price: $2,400.00! Not bad for a piece that was unmarked and unsigned! CECIL"

Quite a story, wouldn’t you say? With in a year, I know we will be publishing several stories a week like this from our members. I am sure that your name will be among the ones we list. I would like for the ones writing the obituary for this business to tell Cecil that these aren’t the greatest times in history to be selling Antiques and Collectibles.

It won’t take long before you will begin to develop the eye necessary to spot these unmarked treasures. You see, Cecil didn't have any idea who made that vase. He only knew that it might have looked like a piece that he had seen previously by another company and was a piece of quality craftsmanship. It turned out to be even better than he thought.

Great guns! Just four more steps in Cecil's race to his millions from this sell. You bet I am sure that Cecil has read my book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques and Collectibles. The only worry I have is that he might beat me to the finish line! I am looking back every day to see which one of you is gaining on me and the 31 Gang.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!"The Guy in the Red Tie" --- Daryle Lambert

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Pass The Word - This Business Just Got Easier

The first 90 days in the life of our company have been exciting and encouraging, and we’re off to a great start. Now is the time to start thinking about giving a 31 Club Membership to your friends and family for Christmas. There would be no better gift than the gift of membership to this unique club. We will be keeping the Charter Membership Program open through December 31, 2007. All charter members will have no future fees to stay active with us. So, for about the price of a really good pizza, your friends and family can have access to us, plus a copy of our book, “31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles” for your help in getting us started.

Those of you who keep in contact with us truly know that I am dedicated to helping you succeed in ascending the 31 Steps and reaching the financial goal you have set for yourself. With that said, the staff and I have voted to extend another great benefit: The Associate Program. You can use this program should you come upon an item that is a good buy, but you might not be in a position to purchase just yet. The company can buy this piece, provide for it being sold, and give the member a generous percentage of the net profit for finding it. Call or E-mail us for the details.

We are in this together, and we will not leave any stone unturned to assure your financial success. Your club is providing you opportunities to get you moving forward by blazing a new trail. PASS THE WORD!

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!"The Guy in the Red Tie" --- Daryle Lambert

If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don't have to sign in to leave your message.

MIX and MATCH - This Can Prove Profitable in Antiques & Collectibles

How often have you seen something for sale, but it wasn’t complete and passed it by? You may have found a pedestal but not the jardinière, or a mechanical bank missing a part and thought that these had no value. But you would have been wrong. If it is rare, it will still have value if the condition of the piece is good.

Let me give you some examples. I spoke to Cecil this week, and his story gave me the blog for today. Cecil found a Weller Flemish pedestal and bought it for $179. Knowing the pattern, and seeing that the piece had a heavily carved surface like Newcomb pottery, there was no doubt that he was going to buy it and put the piece into inventory. After returning home to search the Weller book, to his amazement the piece listed for $750 - $1,000. If he can find the matching jardinière, this combination might well bring over $2,500 in today’s market.

I went to an auction and found a Daum Nancy lamp that was missing the wiring and shade, so very few people were interested in it. I was able to buy it for a small amount of its valve, which I think would’ve been somewhere around $5,000 today. You see, the value in Daum Nancy is in the glass, not the lamp base. The base can be replaced but not the acid etched glass.

The Tarzan book that brought $18,000.00 was bought for $2.00. However it was without the cover, so the buyer had to pay $1,000 or more for a matching cover, but look at the results.

The best thing that I will ever teach you is rarity is where it’s at. I may repeat this until you are sick of hearing it, but I still won’t stop saying it over and over again. This is the area of the market we will need to be working toward as we climb our 31 Steps. When we focus here, money will be made. This is the goal. To be working the steps through the beginning stages so we can be dealing in the rare and valuable items soon enough. It won't take too many steps to get there, either. By Step 4, you can already be making a $1,600 purchase (on an item that can sell for at least $3,200) My experience tells me that once you're into making a $1,000 and up buys, there's not quite as many people to compete with. How many pieces do you think you'll have to buy and sell if you're working with the rare? Not too many. You can now take your time doing your reasearch and homework before you decide to buy.

Remember, always look at what a piece could be -- not what it is when you find it. Common things can’t be improved much to bring higher value. But the finer items, if they can be brought back to whole, can still bring top valve.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!"The Guy in the Red Tie" --- Daryle Lambert

If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don't have to sign in to leave your message.

"EXCITEMENT ABOUNDS" - The Chicago Antique Market.

Can you believe that another month has come and gone? The 31 Club is approaching its three month anniversary and the excitement within the club is amazing. It is hard to get on the internet today and not come across something about our club and the new vision for the Antique and Collectible industry that it is presenting to the world.

Our members are making money and learning at the same time. Their input is so important to our future, that we ask every day if they know of ways that we can improve the club on behalf of its members. Your staff of Cindy, Chris and Clarke are tireless workers that will stop at nothing to provide the members with the best.

This weekend you will be represented at the Chicago Antique Market by Cindy, Joshua and myself, and we will be getting the message out about the 31 Club to all that attend. We will be sharing the new vision with as many people that will listen, and there will be a table where people can sign up. Come and visit with us either Saturday or Sunday.

There will be qualified buyers present if you have something to sell. Also, I will be appraising items that guests bring to me. This will be a wonderful time spent shopping, looking, eating, or listening to fabulous music.

A new feature this month will be the exclusive area where only the finest will be shown , on stage. This will be conducted by Boris Yovanovich. His twenty plus years in this business will provide a wealth of information for all that enter his space. There will