Daryle Lambert: University City - Brouwer - F.M. Robertson - Grand Feu - Rhead - Valentien - UNKNOWN TO MANY

Do you recognize these names in pottery? If you don't, I hope my encouragement will persuade you to do a little research. You see, there is gold in those names.

I promised if you would stay with me, I would tell you where the real money is, and in these names, you can find a lot of it. Here is a suggestion. Go to the Kovels New Dictionary of Marks and copy all the marks for each one of these companies on a piece of paper and carry it with you at all times. Even better, buy the book and keep it close at hand.

You will find that several of these artists worked for more than one company, but when they worked for these companies, they produced some of their most collectible works. These companies have pieces selling on the low side for better pieces at $5,000, but the sky is the limit on exceptional pieces and their prices might range 10-20-50 thousand and these might even be too low.

Why don't most dealers spend their time researching for these real treasures. The answer might be that they don't come along every day, and if you are paying your mortgage with the sale of your daily finds these pieces may be too scarce to rely upon. But, the great advantage you have by following the 31 Club plan, is that it's okay to take up to six months to find that one special piece that will keep you on track to your million dollar account. Remember, we're making planned buys, using a strategic plan.

While University City Pottery had a short life span from 1901-1911 or perhaps 1914, its founder, Edward G. Lewis managed to attract some of the best in the industry including Frederick Rhead, Adelaide Robineau, and Serves- artist Taxile Doat.

In 1894, Theophilus A. Brouwer started Brower Pottery. It was a one man operation, and closed its doors in 1946, fourteen years after his death. There is a limited amount of his work that has survived and it is very valuable.


F. M. Robertson Pottery started in 1934 when Fred Robertson and his son, George, opened this company together. It was located in Los Angles California at a time when many of the better potters were moving west.

Grand Feu was another California pottery that had a short life span from 1912 to around 1916.

Frederick Rhead is one of the better known pottery artist of his day and I would suggest that you Google him for more information. If you recall from my earlier blog this week, Rhead was the leading artist for Roseville's extremely valuable line, Della Robbia, and he worked with many other pottery companies.

If you'll google Valentien, you'll discover his history and pottery and have his name and mark in your mind as well.

These pieces of valuable pottery could be right under your competition's nose and they wouldn't even know it. So my suggestion to you again is to READ - READ – READ.

Naturally, this reminds me of a story. Many of you know that I was in the oil business at one time, and as the story goes, there was a city slicker driving down a dirt road When he saw a farmer sitting on his porch rocking in a rocking chair. As he approached the old gentleman, he saw a oil pump in the field, and the farmer was rocking with every stroke of the pump. The city slicker couldn't resist asking the farmer what he was doing. The farmer told him, "I'm counting my money." The city slicker asked, "How's that?"

"Every time the pump goes up and down, I say one dollar, two dollars , three dollars. That's my part of the oil."

The reason I tell you this story is that every time you read about something in the Antique or Collectible field, you are just like that old farmer counting your money.

Today's Photo shows a piece of University City Pottery.

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.

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

Daryle Lambert - What a Treat! Lotton Glass Open House

Cindy, Joshua and I spent our Saturday visiting the Lotton Glass Gallery & Studio in Crete Illinois for their open house. When we stepped through the door to the gallery, it was hard to take in all the absolutely wonder glass that dazzling on display. WOW! Lotton Glass everywhere! We didn't know where to look first. What a delight to see all this fine glass in one place.

There weren't many people when we got there, so we pretty much had the place to ourselves. As I spoke with people that I knew, Cindy was able to meet the staff and take a look around. We spoke with Mary Lotton, Charles' wife, Studio Manager, Jacqueline, daughter Rachel, and Brenna - the Michigan Avenue Gallery Manager.

Going into the studio where the artists create this unique glass was our next order of business. Once we stepped into the studio, it was a whole new experience. All the furnaces were running full blast, and the heat they threw off was certainly welcomed on this icy, cold and windy, Illinois day. Then the crowds started arriving, many of whom, as we later found out, were collectors.

Joshua immediately took up with some of the children, and for the rest of Saturday, I saw very little of him. However, once Charles Lotton began to make a piece, Joshua climbed the steps in the studio to watch and sat there mesmerized until the piece was completed.

Cindy became like a roving reporter and took a lot of pictures. She spoke to all of the glass artists: Charles Lotton, son Daniel Lotton, Jerry Heer, who is Charles' nephew and Scott Bayless, a young artist who first started as assistant to Charles, and the only one who isn't a blood relation to the Lotton family. She noticed that Jeremiah Lotton, Charles' grandson wasn't there and promptly found out that he was home with the flu. David Lotton wasn't there, as he has his own studio, and John Lotton is no longer creating glass and is very successful in another profession.

Cindy had the chance to watch Jerry Heer create a piece early in the morning before most of the crowd arrived. Jerry enjoyed talking while he worked and took special time to share not only what he was doing, but to also answer her questions -- and believe me, she had a zillion questions.

We watched and learned how the their beautiful vases and lamps are made, watched their trademark flowers being formed totally out of molten glass, layer upon layer upon layer, and watched Charles create an amazing piece of irridescent color.

This gracious and hospitable family even had prepared a fabulous home-cooked meal for their guests that was served right there in the studio. We all shared some terrific conversation over lunch before the glass masters resumed their studio work. Charles was so gracious to all his visitors, and spent extra time with Joshua. I will never forget peeking around a corner looking for Joshua and finding him right there beside Charles in heavy conversation with one another.

We watched as Charles created a lamp shade. He would put the piece into the fire, then take it to the table to shape the piece, and immediately back in the furnace it would go. He must have completed this cycle fifty or more times to create his layered designs. Each step in the process requires a close inspection and careful handling with special trade tools to be sure that all the diminutions are perfect. As a last and final step, the hot glass was laid on a wooden mold where the shape of the shade is achieved. Then into the cooler where the temperature is slowly lowered until it can be taken out to be assembled into a beautiful lamp. When Charles finished, the crowd broke out in a thunderous applause.

As we were headed home, fighting our way through an ice storm, Cindy said to me, "I am at a loss for words to adequately describe each artist's mastery of this process. How can you really find the right words to describe taking a lump of molten glass, adding color and form to it and ending up with a piece so magnificent?" She went on to say, "The strength, stamina, and rhythmic pace it requires just to produce one single piece is something to be seen. Daryle, we need to go back and make a video." I think she might be right.

The more I am around this family, the more I am sure that there has never been anyone that has produced Art Glass that can compare with Charles Lotton and his family of artists.


Be certain to make this glass one of your top items to search for in your hunt for Treasure. If you are fortunate enough to buy more than one piece at a time, you might be wise to keep a piece for your own collection.

Wondering who's who in Today's Photos? The first photo is of Charles at work. Next is Charles and Cindy, Joshua and Daniel Lotton, and last is Jerry Heer and Cindy.

Joshua and Cindy took many photos this day, so stay tuned. We'll be running some of them on the website.
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.

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

Daryle Lambert - Is The Sky Still Falling in the Art and Antique Markets?

I just received an email from a friend along with an article written by an art market analyst in Austrailia who states that the art market has been manipulated and that prices are years ahead of where they should be. Even the Kovel's are starting to quote the Chicken Littles of the world about the state of our industry markets. I really must say that if they truly understood the world economic considerations that are coming into play in these markets, they wouldn't be thinking like this. And, if the dollar doesn't strengthen, we haven't seen anything yet.

For this very reason, I recommend that my club members only buy the best for resale. Why? With the dollar so cheap, the world is just waiting to buy the best of everything in the American Markets.

When the dollar was king, I was buying everything I could get my hands on overseas. I couldn't spend a dollar at home, but my dollar was worth two dollars overseas. Overseas, everything they had for sale was a bargain to me. I bought Doulton, Daum Nancy, Meissen, Ruskin and many other things. I bought until my storage space ran out. But now, the tide is running the other direction.

I am telling my members that now is the time to buy the better items. There are more than enough customers waiting in the wings to purchase whatever we have for sale in this country. Yes, there will be a time that this will change, but it isn't changing now. But we can still make a lot of money.

Now is the time to be bold and to go where others fear to tread. You can't become a millionaire by following the crowd. You have to think for yourself. People like the Kovel's have made their money on prices going up and telling others what to buy, so, why now are they getting frightened? We operate in these markets today -- not ten years from now. So judge for yourself. Are these great markets or what? Let's make our money now, and let tomorrow take care of itself.

I wish I could buy some great Chinese, Korean, German, Russian or British Antiques, Collectibles or Fine Art Paintings. And if you know of any that you are scared to buy, let me know, will you please? These countries are buying back their history from American collectors now, at fire sale prices when you consider the difference in currency values. If the crowd is going one way, make sure you go the other way. You'll win big time.

On a Side Bar: Saturday at 10:00 A.M., Cindy & I will be at the Lotton Glass Studio Open House. 24760 Country Lane, Crete, Illinois 60417. Come on down, meet us, and see this fabulous glass being made right there in front of your eyes by the Lotton family of first class artists.

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.

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