WASP Pilot Faye Wolfe Olney

I've been busy the last few weeks sorting, liquidating and preparing an estate sale for a client whose father was a WWII pilot. I've stumbled across several interesting items and treasures. Among my favorites in this current estate was a photograph of a smiling young woman in in a flight jacket and pilot's hat. The photograph was labeled Faye Wolfe Olney WASP Class 44-4.

I was intrigued by this woman. Who was she? What was the WASP Class 44-4? Well, I've had a lot of trouble identifying this woman but what I do know is that she became a pilot in WWII. She was part of a limited group of women (just 1,074). These women served their country by flying non-combat missions for the Army. These women had pilot's licenses and were trained "the Army Way". Over 25,000 women applied to the WASP program but ultimately only 1,074 earned their wings. WASP standing for Women's Airforce Service Pilot.

Most of the women in the WASP were white. There were two Chinese American women, one of whom died after a collision on a runway. There was a single Native American pilot and no black women were allowed to join. The WASP were considered civil service and did not receive military benefits.

For a time morale was low among these brave women who stepped forward to serve their country and shine as examples for young women of future generations. In order to boost the spirits of these brave young women a newsletter was started called the Fifnella Gazette. The name Fifinella came from a story about flying gremlins by Ronald Dahl and the logo for these women's uniform patches and decals was drawn by Walt Disney.

So, Miss Faye Wolf Olney still remains a research in progress. I've been able to locate her name several times as a graduate of the WASP program on websites and archives but I've yet to learn anything about Faye the woman. If anyone knows who she was contact me and tell me all about her. I believe these women should be remembered and honored not only for the service to their country but for pushing the envelope and opening doors for the young women to follow behind them.

Appraising Coach

Recently, we have been overwhelmed with people seeking appraisals on their "designer" handbags. I personally evaluate at least two a week. Why is this happening? Are people needing money and deciding to liquidate their valuables? That's possible. Are people still buying them at purse parties? I know eBay is cracking down on people selling "designer" items without proof. So, I suppose that's another reason people are having their bags, "appraised".

Coach seems to be the bag to copy these days. In the past month, I've personally evaluated and disappointed four "Coach" owners. So, as a public service let me post some information.

If you are considering buying a Coach bag from an online auction: Beware if the seller has only provided one photo of each of the purses. I would also suggest checking out their feedback. Another tip would be to contact the seller and ask if they can provide a store receipt for the handbags.

Tips for Buying Genuine Coach Bags:
*Coach does not sell to wholesalers or middle men. They only sell their bags through Coach, Coach Outlet, The Coach website and authorized high-end retailers.
*Coach does not sell blemished or seconds. If someone is selling the item as a "second" beware its a fake.
*Coach should be numbered and have a creed.
*Coach should come with a dustbag, usually a deep chocolate with red drawstring and white letters. (There are now newer dustbags, with the company colors)
*The Coach price tag is a bi-fold tag with the word COACH written in brown centered in the front. The interior is imprinted in black are the style number, colors, the SKU number & bar code, a brief abbreviated description, and the price.
*Coach only uses superior craftsmanship. Every detail should be perfect including the evenness and number of stitches on the leather.
*Coach only uses genuine leather.
*Coach CC's are centered and run horizontally never vertically.
*Coach uses heavy thread and double stitches seams.

The following information is directly from the Company Profile Page on Coach.com

Coach was founded in 1941 as a family-run workshop. In a Manhattan loft, six artisans handcrafted a collection of leather goods using skills handed down from generation to generation. Discerning consumers soon began to seek out the quality and unique nature of Coach craftsmanship.

Now greatly expanded, Coach continues to maintain the highest standards for materials and workmanship. Coach’s exceptional workforce remains committed to carefully upholding the principles of quality and integrity that define the company. We attribute the prominence of the Coach brand to the unique combination of our original American attitude and design, our heritage of fine leather goods and custom fabrics, our superior product quality and durability, and our commitment to customer service.
During the last decade, Coach has emerged as America's preeminent designer, producer, and marketer of fine accessories and gifts for women and men including handbags, women’s and men’s small leathergoods, business cases, weekend and travel accessories, outerwear, scarves, jewelry, fragrance and related accessories. Continued development of new categories has further established the signature style and distinctive identity of the Coach brand. Together with our licensing partners, we also offer watches, footwear, and sunwear bearing the Coach brand name.
Coach’s distribution strategy is multi-channel. There are currently over 400 Coach stores in the United States and Canada, with more slated to open this calendar year. In addition, Coach has built a strong presence in the United States through Coach boutiques located within select department stores and specialty retailer locations. In 1999, Coach launched its online store at www.coach.com and evolved it into an important sales channel in the United States, and an effective marketing and advertising vehicle for Coach both domestically and abroad.
While Coach continues to be one of the most recognized accessories brands in the United States, its long-term strategic plan is to increase international distribution and target international consumers. Through Coach Japan, wholly owned by Coach since 2005, the company leverages a large growth opportunity in this important market for imported handbags and accessories. Similarly, the Company acquired its retail businesses in Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China in 2009. As this emerging market rapidly grows, the Coach brand enjoys increased recognition. Intent on maintaining a consistent brand strategy domestically and abroad, this ownership structure provides Coach with complete control of its distribution in Japan and China. With a global vision in place, Coach is available at over 900 department store locations in the United States, 159 international department stores, retail stores and duty free shops in over 20 countries, 155 department store shop-in-shops and retail and factory stores operated by Coach Japan, and 28 company-operated locations in China.

Coach’s corporate headquarters remain in midtown Manhattan on 34th Street, in the location of our former factory lofts. Coach is a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, traded under the symbol COH.

About Estate Sales and Liquidations

We serve individuals, families, estate trustees, executors and attorneys. We are committed to helping people with the arduous and emotional task of liquidating personal property. We are a staff of caring professionals. We conduct our sales in a speedy and efficient manner with the goal of obtaining for you, our client the highest possible prices.

Here’s What We Offer: • FREE appointment/consultation to discuss the best means of liquidating your personal property. There are a variety of ways to liquidate personal property, aside from the traditional on-site estate sale. Let us explore the options with you. • FREE appraisal/evaluation of items by a certified and experienced appraiser should you choose our firm to liquidate your property. (Written appraisals for tax/estate/donation purposes are available on a separate fee schedule.) • FREE advertising of your estate sale in a variety of venues. (Antique News Publications, Local Newspapers, and Online Ad Services such as Craigslist, Fogster and Ebay.) • FREE promotion, we promote your sale on our website in addition to advertising. We also prominently place signs guiding people to the sale. • FREE credit card processing. Sometimes, a sale would be lost if the customer couldn’t pay with a credit card. We never want our clients to lose a sale due to their inability to accept all types of payment. Our company absorbs the high cost of credit card processing and you benefit from increased sales. • Event hotline and email newsletter: We have a number where the public may call to ascertain information on our upcoming sales and we also regularly send out information in our online newsletter and daily blog. • We work on commission. It is in both our best interests to garner the maximum prices for your merchandise while still maintaining its salability. • We will sell everything possible from the muffin papers in the kitchen cabinet to the family car in the garage. • We conduct on-site or online estate sales. Sometimes due to inclement weather it would better serve our clients to have an online estate sale. (Ask us for our flyer detailing both.) • We give you a clear list letting you know which items sold and for how much and you’ll have your check by Certified Mail within 14 days of the close of the sale. • Items not sold, if salable will be picked up and donated to a local charity. • Broom-Clean, we will leave your home clean and free of debris generated from the sale. If you require additional removal or clean-out of non-salable items we offer clean-out services.

Jewish Bridal Belt

An interesting appraisal that came across my desk. It is estimated that a group of wealthy Jews immigrated to Yemen in approximately 629 BCE. There relationship with the Arab world, and their traditions are different then any other Jews in the rest of the world. The Yemenite Jews faced times of equality with the rulers of Yemen as well as times of oppression. There are still Yemenite Jews today although the populace is much smaller then it was prior to the formation of the State of Israel and the Jewish immigration of the 1950's. The Yemenite Jews passed along some of their arts and crafts to the Israeli Jews but many of the Yemenite traditions have been lost over time. The Yemenite Jews were unique in that they manufactured and crafted their jewelry and religious artifacts themselves and often times from raw materials they themselves made. The Yemenite Jews were the leaders in the arts and crafts industry. Almost all jewelry in Yemen was made by Jewish artisans. It was against several Muslim rules for the Jewish people to have better items then their Muslim counterparts. Therefore the Jewish people of Yemen adopted a look a faux poverty. The exception to this was in the elaborate jewelry worn by Jewish women. Since the Jewish people were the ones making the jewelry they made exceptional pieces for themselves particularly bridal jewelry.

The item being appraised was a Jewish bridal belt possibly from Yemen. Circa late 1800's. It was common for the Yemenite Jews to make jewelry out of silver with gilt accents. I would suspect this is made of silver with gilt accents, but it is difficult to tell without seeing the item in person. Yemenite Jews were plainly dressed with the exception of brides and new mothers. Both women were allowed to wear exceptional jewelry on those occasions. The Yemenite Jews were exceptional craftsmen as evidenced by the surviving 19th century jewelry. This belt is elaborate in both craftsmanship and design. The bridal belt is exchanged with the groom on the eve of the wedding signifying the bride and grooms lives being tied together. These belts were generally elaborate pieces of jewelry and were sometimes loaned out by synagogues to a bride who could not afford her own. I was able to locate only four other bridal belts in my research and could not find auction results for any comparable pieces. My price estimate is based on auction results for other Judaic artifacts. I would not be at all surprised to see auction results
* Current Fair Market Value: $1,500.00
* Replacement Cost: $3,000.00

Victorian Floral Symbolism

A
• APPLE BLOSSOM - Preference, Better Things to Come, Good Fortune
• ARBUTUS - Thee Only Do I Love
• ARUM - Ardor
• ASPARAGUS FERN - Fascination
• ASPHODEL - My Regrets Follow You to the Grave
• ASTER - Symbol of Love, Daintiness, Talisman of Love
• ASTER (CHINA) - Fidelity, Variety, I Will Think of Thee
• AZALEA - Take Care, Temperance, Fragile, Passion, Chinese Symbols of Womanhood
B
• BABY'S BREATH - Innocence, Pure of Heart
• BACHELOR BUTTON - Single blessedness, Celibacy
• BALM - Sympathy
• BALSAM - Ardent Love
• BEGONIA - Beware, A Fanciful Nature
• BELLS OF IRELAND - Good luck
• BIRD OF PARADISE - Often given today from a woman to man as a symbol of faithfulness
• BITTERSWEET - Truth
• BLACK BRYONT/LADY'S SEAL - Be My Support
• BLUEBELL/BELL FLOWER - Humility, Constancy, Gratitude
• BROOM - Humility, Neatness
• BUCK BEAN - Calm repose
• BUTTERCUP - Childishness, Riches
C
• CACTUS - Endurance, My Heart Burns with Love
• CALYCANTHUS/CAROLINA ALLSPICE/SWEET SHRUB - Benevolence
• CALLA LILY - Magnificent Beauty
• CAMELLIA - Admiration, Perfection, Good Luck Gift for a Man, Gratitude
• CAMELLIA (PINK) - Longing
• CAMELLIA (RED) - You're a flame in my heart
• CAMELLIA (WHITE) - Adoration, Perfection, Loveliness
• CANDYTUFT - Indifference
• CANTERBURY BELLS/BELL FLOWER - Gratitude
• CARDINAL FLOWER/SCARLET LOBELIA - Distinction
• CARNATION (GENERAL) - Fascination, Devoted Love
• CARNATION (PINK) - I'll never forget you, Women's Love
• CARNATION (RED) - My heart aches for you, Admiration
• CARNATION (DEEP RED) - Alas! for my poor heart
• CARNATION (PURPLE) - Capriciousness
• CARNATION (SOLID COLOR) - Yes
• CARNATION (STRIPED) - No, Refusal, Sorry I can't be with you, Wish I could be with you
• CARNATION (WHITE) - Sweet & Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love, Woman's Good Luck Gift
• CARNATION (YELLOW) - Disapointment, Rejection
• CATCHFLY (RED) - Youthful Love, I Fall Victim
• CATTAIL - Peace, Prosperity
• CATTLEYA - Mature charms
• CEDAR - I live but for thee, Think of Me
• CELANDINE/PILEWORT/FIGWORT - Future Joy
• CHAMOMILE/GOLDEN MARGUERITE/ANTHEMIS - Energy in Action
• CHERRY BLOSSOM (SINGLE) - Education
• CHICKWEED - I Cling to Thee
• CHICORY - Frugality
• CHRISTMAS ROSE/HELLEBORUS - Relieve My Anxiety
• CHRYSANTHEMUM (GENERAL) - Abundance & Wealth,
• Cheerfulness, You're a wonderful friend
• CHRYSANTHEMUM (RED) - Love
• CHRYSANTHEMUM (WHITE) - Truth
• CHRYSANTHEMUM (YELLOW) - Slighted Love
• CINQUEFOIL - Beloved Child
• CLEMATIS - Artifice (ingenuity)
• CLOVER (FOUR-LEAF) - Be Mine
• CLOVER (WHITE) - Think of Me
• CLOVER (RED) - Industry
• COLCHICUM (MEADOW SAFFRON) - My Best Days Fled
• COLUMBINE (PURPLE) - Resolved to Win
• COLUMBINE (RED) - Anxious
• COMPASS FLOWER - Faith
• CONVOLVUS MINOR/BINDWEED - Uncertainty
• CORCHORUS - Impatience of Happiness
• COREOPSIOS - Always Cheerful
• CORNFLOWER - Delicacy, refinement,
• CORONILLA/CROWN VETCH - Success to You
• COWSLIP - Rusticity, Winning Grace, Healing, Youth, Pensiveness
• COXCOMB - Foppery, Unfading Love
• CROCUS - Cheerfulness, Abuse not, Gladness
• CROWN IMPERIAL/FRITILLARIA - Majesty
• CYCLAMEN - Resignation and Good-Bye
D
• DAFFODIL - Regard, Unrequited Love, Sunshine, Respect, The sun shines when I'm with you
• DAFFODIL (YELLOW ) - Chivalry
• DAHLIA - Dignity and Elegance, Forever Thine
• DAISY - Innocence, Loyal Love, I'll Never tell, Purity, Beauty
• DAISY OX-EYE - Patience
• DAISY (RED) - Beauty Unknown to Possessor
• DANDELION - Faithfulness, Happiness, Love's oracle
• DAPHANE CNEORUM/ROSE DAPHANE - I Desire to Please
• DAPHANE ODORA/WINTER DAPHANE - I Would Not Have You Otherwise
• DRACAENA/DRAGON'S BLOOD/DRAGON LILY - Inner Power
• DEAD LEAVES - Sadness
• DELPHINIUM - Big-Hearted, Fun
• DILL - Lust
• DIOSMA - Your Simple Elegance Charms Me
• DOG ROSE - Pleasure and Pain
• DOGWOOD (FLOWERING) - Am I Indifferent to You?
• DRAGON ROOT/GREEN DRAGON (Arum draconium) - Ardor

E
• EDELWEISS/ALPINE CUDWEED - Daring, Courage, Noble Purity
• EGLANTINE/SWEET-BRIAR/ROSA EGLANTARIA - Poetry, I Wound to Heal
• ELDER FLOWER - Zeal
• ENDINE - Frugality
• EPIGAEA, REPENS/MAYFLOWER/TRAILING ARBUTUS - Budding
• EUPATORIUM/HARDY AGERATUM - Delay
• EREMURUS - Endurance
• EUPHORBIA - Persistence
• EVERLASTING - Never Ceasing Memory
F
• FERN - Magic, Fascination, Confidence, Shelter
• FERN (MAIDENHAIR) - Secret bond of love, Discretion
• FERN (ROYAL) - Reverie
• FILBERT - Reconciliation
• FIR - Time
• FLAX - Domestic Symbol
• FLORA'S BELL - Without Pretension
• FLOWERING REED - Confide in Heaven
• FORGET ME NOT - True Love, Memories
• FORSYTHIA - Anticipation
• FOXGLOVE/FAIRY THIMBLES/DEAD MEN'S BELLS - Stateliness, Youth
• FOXTAIL GRASS - Sporting
• FRAXINELLA/CULTIVATED DITTANY/GAS PLANT - Fire
• FREESIA - Innocence, Trust
• FUCHSIA (SCARLET) - Confiding Love, Taste
• FURZE - Love for All Occasions
G
• GARDENIA - You're lovely, Secret love, Purity, Refinement
• GARLIC - Courage, Strength, Get well, Ward Off Evil & Illness
• GENETIAN (FRINGED) - Intrinsic Worth, I Look to Heaven, Autumn
• GENTIAN (CLOSED) - Sweet Be Thy Dreams
• GERANIUM - True Friend, Stupidity, Folly
• GERANIUM (APPLE) - Present Preference
• GERANIUM (IVY) - Your Hand for Next Dance
• GERANIUM (LEMON) - Unexpected Meeting
• GERANIUM (NUTMEG) - I Expect a Meeting
• GERANIUM (OAK-LEAVED) - True Friendship, Lady, Deign to Smile
• GERANIUM (PENCILED) - Ingenuity
• GERANIUM (ROSE) - Preference
• GERANIUM (SCARLET) - Consolation, Melancholy
• GERANIUM (SILVER-LEAF) - Recall
• GERBERA - Innocence
• GLADIOLI - Generosity, I'm sincere, Flower of the gladiators
• GLOBE AMARANTH - Unfading Love
• GLOXINIA - Love at first sight
• GINGER - Strength
• GOLDEN-ROD - Be cautious, Encouragement
• GOOSEBERRY - Anticipation
• GOOSEFOOT - Goodness
• GORSE - Endearing Affection
• GRASS - Submission
• GRASS/CITRONELLA/CAMEL GRASS/LEMON GRASS/GINGER
• GRASS - Homosexual Love
• GUELDER ROSE/SNOWBALL - Winter
H
• HAREBELL/CAMPANULA - Humility, Grief
• HEART'S EASR/PURPLE/JOHNNY JUMP UP - You Occupy My Thoughts
• HEPATICA (Anemone nobilis) - Confidence
• HEATHER (LAVENDER) - Admiration, Solitude
• HEATHER (WHITE) - Protection, Wishes will come true
• HELIOTROPE - Devotion
• HENBANE - For Males to Attract Love from Females
• HIBISCUS - Consumed by Love, Delicate Beauty
• HOLLY - Defense, Domestic Happiness, Am I forgotten
• HOLLYHOCK - Fruitfulness
• HOLLYHOCK (WHITE) - Female Ambition
• HONESTY/LUNARIA/DOLLAR PLANT/MONEY PLANT - Sincerity
• HONEYFLOWER - Sweet, Secret love, Generous Affection, Sweetness of Disposition
• HONEYSUCKLE - The Bond of Love
• HONEYSUCKLE (CORAL) - I Love You
• HOUSTONIA/BLUET/QUAKER LADIES - Content
• HOYA/WAX PLANT - Sculpture
• HUCKLEBERRY - Faith, Simple Pleasures
• HYACINTH (GENERAL) - Games & Sports, Rashness, Flower dedicated to Apollo
• HYACINTH (BLUE) - Consistency
• HYACINTH (PURPLE) - Sorry, Please forgive me, Sorrow
• HYACINTH (RED OR PINK) - Playful Joy
• HYACINTH (WHITE) - Unobtrusive Loveliness, I'll pray for you
• HYACINTH (YELLOW) - Jealousy
• HYDRANGEA - Thank you for understanding, frigidity, heartlessness
I
• IPOMACA - I Attach Myself to You
• INDIAN CRESS/NASTURTIUM - Resignation
• IRIS - Faith, Wisdom, Promise in Love, Hope, Wisdom & Valor
• IRIS (YELLOW) - Passion
• IRIS (GERMAN) - Flame
• IVY - Wedded Love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection
• IVY (SPRIG OF WHITE TENDRILS)- Anxious to please, Affection

J
• JAPONICA - Sincerity, Symbol of Love
• JASMINE (INDIAN) - Attachment
• JASMINE (SPANISH) - Sensuality
• JASMINE (YELLOW) - Modesty, Grace, Elegance
• JASMINE (WHITE) - Amiability
• JERUSALEM OAK - Your Love is Reciprocated
• JONQUIL - Love Me, Affection Returned, Desire, Sympathy
K
• KENNEDIA - Intellectual Beauty
L
• LADY'S SLIPPER - Win me, Capricious Beauty
LANTANA - Rigor
• LARKSPUR - Levity, An Open Heart, Lightness
• LAURISTINUS - Cheerful in Adversity
• LAVENDER - Love, Devotion,
• LEMON BLOSSOM - Fidelity in Love; I Promise to be True
• LILAC (GENERAL) - Beauty, Pride
• LILAC (PURPLE) - First emotions of love
• LILAC (WHITE) - Youthful Innocence
• LILY (GENERAL) - Majesty & Honor, Purity of Heart
• LILY (ORANGE) - Hatred, Dislike
• LILY (WHITE) - Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It's Heavenly to be with You, Youth
• LILY (YELLOW) - I'm Walking On Air, False, Gay, Gratitude
• LILY (CALLA) - Beauty
• LILY (DAY) - Coquetry, Chinese Emblem For Mother
• LILY (EUCHARIS) - Maiden Charms
• LILY (TIGER) - Wealth, Pride, Prosperity
• LILY OF THE VALLEY - Sweetness, Tears Of The Virgin Mary, Happiness, Humility
• LIVERWORT - Confidence
• LOVE IN A MIST - You Puzzle Me
• LOVE-LIES-BLEEDING/AMARANTHUS - Hopeless, Not Heartless, Desertion
• LOTUS - Estranged love, Forgetful of the Past
• LUCERNE - Life
• LUNGWORT - Thou Art My Life
• LUPINE - Imagination
• LYCHNIS/CAMPION/MALTESE CROSS - Religious Enthusiasm
M
• MAGNOLIA - Nobility, Perseverance, Nobility
• MAGNOLIA (CHINESE) - Love of Nature
• MALLOW - Delicate Beauty, Sweetness
• MARIGOLD (COMMON) - Pretty Love, Sacred,Affection, Caress, Sorrow
• MARJORAM - Joy, Happiness
• MARVEL OF PERU/FOUR O' CLOCK - Timidity
• MEADOW SAFFRON - My Best Days Are Gone
• MIGNONETTE - Your qualities Surpass your Charms, Health
• MEZEREON - Desire to Please
• MILK VETCH - Your presence softens my pain
• MIMOSA - Secret Love
• MINT - Virtue
• MISTLETOE - Kiss me, Affection, Difficulties, Sacred plant of India,
• MONKSHOOD - Beware, Danger is near
• MOUSE-EAR CHICKWEED - Simplicity
• MORNING GLORY - Affection
• MOSS - Maternal Love, Charity
• MOTHERWORT - Secret Love
• MOONWORT/HONESTY - Forgetfulness
• MUGWORT/WORMWOOD - Tranquility, Happiness
• MULLEIN - Good Nature
• MYRTLE - Love, Joy, Hebrew Emblem of marriage
• MYRTLE (WAX) - Discipline, Instruction
N
• NARCISSUS - Formality, Stay As Sweet As You Are
• NASTURTIUM - Conquest, Victory In Battle
• NUTS - Stupidity
O
• OAK LEAVES - Bravery
• OLEANDER - Caution
• OLIVE BRANCH - Peace
• ORANGE BLOSSOM - Innocence, Eternal Love, Marriage, Fruitfulness
• ORANGE, MOCK - Deceit
• ORCHID - Love, Beauty, Refinement, Chinese Symbol for Many Children, Thoughtfulness
• ORCHID (CATTLEYA) - Mature Charm
P
• PALM LEAVES - Victory & Success
• PANSY - Merriment, Thoughts (You Occupy My Thoughts)
• PARSLEY - Useful Knowledge
• PASSION FLOWER - Faith, Religious Fervor
• PASQUE FLOWER - Unpretentious, You Have No Claims
• PEAR - Affection
• PEACH BLOSSOM - I am your Captive
• PEONY - Shame, Happy Marriage, Compassion, Bashfulness
• PEPPERMINT - Cordiality
• PERIWINKLE/VINCA/MYRTLE - Early Recollections, Pleasures of Memories, Sweet Memories
• PETUNIA - Your Presence Soothes Me
• PHEASANT'S EYE/ADONIS - Sorrowful Memories
• PHLOX - Our souls are united, Unanimity
• PIMPERNEL/POOR MAN'S WEATHER GLASS - Change
• PINE - Hope, Pity
• PINK- Pure Affection
• PINK (MOUNTAIN) - You Are Aspiring
• POPPY (GENERAL) - Eternal Sleep, Oblivion, Imagination
• POPPY (RED) - Pleasure
• POPPY (WHITE) - Consolation
• POPPY (YELLOW ) - Wealth, Success
• POMEGRANATE FLOWER - Elegance
• PRIDE OF CHINA - Dissension
• PRIMROSE - I Can't Live Without You, Woman
• PRIMROSE (EVENING) - Inconstancy
• PRIMROSE (RED) - Unpatronized Merit
• PRINCE'S FEATHER - Unfading Love
• PUSSY WILLOW - Motherhood
Q
• QUAKING GRASS - Agitation
R
• RAGGED-ROBIN - Wit
• RANUNCULUS - I am Dazzled by your Charms
• REEDS - Music
• RHUBARB - Advice
• RHODODENDRON - Danger, Beware, I am Dangerous
• ROSE (BRIDAL) - Happiness
• ROSE (BURGANDY) - Unconscious Beauty
• ROSE (CHRISTMAS)- Relieve my anxiety
• ROSE (CORAL) - Desire
• ROSE (DAMASK) - Freshness, Persian Ambassador of Love
• ROSE (DARK CRIMSON) - Mourning
• ROSE (DOG) - Pleasure & Pain
• ROSE (GREEN) - I am from Mars
• ROSE (HIBISCUS) - Delicate, Beauty
• ROSE (LEAF) - You may Hope
• ROSE (LAVENDER) - Enchantment
• ROSE (ORANGE) - Fascination
• ROSE (PINK) - Perfect Happiness, Secret Love, Grace & Sweetness, Indecision
• ROSE (DARK PINK) - Thankfulness
• ROSE (PALE PINK) - Grace, Joy
• ROSE (PEACH) - Immortality, Modesty
• ROSE (RED) - Love, I love you, Respect, Beauty
• ROSE (DEEP RED) - Bashful, Shame
• ROSE (TEA) - I'll Remember - Always
• ROSE (THORNLESS) - Love at first sight, Early Attachment
• ROSE (WHITE) - Innocence, Purity, Humility, I am Worthy of You, Secrecy, Silence
• ROSE (WHITE & RED TOGETHER) - Unity, Flower Emblem of England
• ROSE (WHITE-DRIED) - Death is Preferable to Loss of Virtue
• ROSE (YELLOW) - Joy, Jealousy, Friendship (one yellow rose with 11 red ones means love & passion)
• ROSEBUD - Beauty & Youth, A Heart Innocent of Love
• ROSEBUD (RED) - Pure & Lovely
• ROSEBUD (WHITE) - Girlhood, Heart Ignorant of Love
• ROSEBUD (MOSS) - Confessions of Love
• ROSES (Bouquet of full bloom) - Gratitude
• ROSES (Single full bloom) - I truly love you, Simplicity.
• ROSES (GARLAND or CROWN OF) - Beware of Virtue, Reward of Merit, Symbol of Superior Merit
• ROSE (MUSK CLUSTER) - Charming
• ROSE-OF-SHARON - Consumed by Love
• ROSEMARY - Remembrance
• RUSH/HORSE-TAIL - Docility
S
• SAGE - Wisdom, Great Respect, Speedwell Female Fidelity
• SATIN-FLOWER - Sincerity
• SENSITIVE PLANT - Timidity
• SHAMROCK - Lightheartedness
• SLOE - Difficulty, AusteritySMILAX - Loveliness
• SNAPDRAGON - Gracious Lady, Strength
• SNOWBALL - Thoughts of Heaven
• SNOWDROP - Hope, Consolation
• SPEARMINT - Warm Sentiment
• SPIDER FLOWER - Elope with me
• SOLIDAGO - Success
• STAR OF BETHLEHEM - Atonement, Reconciliation
• STARWORT - Welcome to a Stranger
• STEPHANOTIS - Marital Happiness, Desire to Travel
• STOCK- Bonds of Affection, Promptness, You'll Always Be Beautiful to Me
• STONECROP - Tranquility
• STRAW FLOWER - Agreement
• STRAW (BROKEN) - Broken agreement
• SYTINGIA/MOCK ORANGE/LILAC - Memory
• SUNFLOWER (TALL) - False riches, Pride
• SUNFLOWER ( DWARF) - Adoration
• SWEETPEA - Good-by, Departure, Blissful Pleasure, Thank You for a Lovely Time
• SWEET-SULTAN - Felicity, Happiness
• SWEET-WILLIAM - Grant me one smile, Gallantry
T
• TEASEL (Dipscaus) - Misanthropy
• THORNAPPLE - I dreamed of thee
• THRIFT (ARMERIA) - Sympathy
• TRAVELER'S JOY - Rest, Safety
• TRUMPET FLOWER/ANGEL'S TRUMPET/DATURA - Separation
• TULIP (GENERAL) - Perfect Lover, Fame, Flower Emblem of Holland
• TULIP (RED) -Believe me, Declaration of Love
• TULIP (VARIEGATED) - Beautiful eyes
• TULIP (YELLOW) - There's Sunshine In Your Smile
• TURNIP - Charity
V
• VALERIAN - Accommodating Disposition
• VENUS FLYTRAP - Caught at Last
• VENUS' LOOKING GLASS - Flattery
• VERBENA - Pray for me, Sensibility
• VERONICA SPEEDWELL - Fidelity
• VERVAIN - Enchantment
• VINE - Intoxicating
• VIOLET - Modesty, Virtue, Affection
• VIOLET (BLUE) - Watchfulness, Faithfulness, Love
• VIOLET (WHITE) - Let's Take A Chance On Happiness
• VIRGIN'S BOWER/CLEMATIS - Filial Love (Filial: referring to a son or daughter)
• VISCARIA - Will You Dance With Me?
W
• WALL FLOWER/GILLY FLOWER - Faithful in Adversity, Fidelity, Lasting Beauty
• WINDFLOWER - Sincerity, Symbol of Love
• WINTERGREENS - Harmony
• WISTERIA - Welcome
• WITCH HAZEL - A spell
• WOLFBANE/ACONITE/TURK'S CAP/FRIAR'S CAP/BEAR'S FOOT - Misanthropy, Chivalry, Knight
• WOODBINE - Fraternal Love
• WORMWOOD/ARTEMISIA - Absence, Do not be discouraged
Y
• YARROW - Cure for heartache
Z
• ZEPHYR FLOWER- Sincerity, Symbol of Love
• ZINNIA (MAGENTA) - Lasting Affection
• ZINNIA (MIXED) - Thinking (or in memory) of an Absent Friend
• ZINNIA (SCARLET) - Constancy
• ZINNIA (WHITE) - Goodness
• ZINNIA (YELLOW) - Daily Remembrance

Alphabetical Listing Courtesy of Victorian Bazaar

Johan Viktor Aarne

Johan Viktor Aarne was born in Tampere, Finland in 1863. He was an acclaimed gold-silversmith who worked both in Finland and for Faberge in Russia. He did his apprenticeship with Johan Erik Hellsten. Hellsten was a gold-silversmith in Tampere Finland. Aarne became a journeyman in Hameenlinne in 1880. Aarne worked in August Wilhelm Holmström's Faberge studio for ten years between 1880-1890. He returned to Tampere in 1890 to obtain the title of Master and stayed there in his own studio for a year before returning to Russia. Between 1891 and 1904 he worked for Faberge in St. Petersburg. During this time period he used his Cyrillic signature, BA. In 1904 he sold his workshop to Karl Gustaf Hjalmar Armfeldt. Aarne returned to Finland and opened a successful workshop which he ran for over 30 years. During this time period he used the signature of J.V.A. He passed away in Vyborg, Finland in 1934. Johan Viktor Aarne is most renowned for his enameled and bejeweled photo frames.

Vintage Hats

Social forces most influence the value of hats. Hats and their value have fluctuated over the years. In the early part of the 20th century women never went out of the house without a hat. In the 1940's women began working outside the home due to WWII . Since women were taking over men's jobs during the war wearing hats became difficult. The popularity of hats declined over the next several decades as it became more and more common for women to continue working outside the home. This is not to say that the popularity of hats immediately declined as we are all aware of women once again embracing the role of homemaker in the 1950's when they were occupied raising the post-war babies. It is however, important to note that WWII played a large role in the change of women's fashions due to functionality and scarcity of resources. There was a brief upward swing in hat interest in the 1980's when Princess Diana brought them back into fashion. Hats are currently popular with particular social groups such as the Red Hat Society and with tea rooms.

Tatting...A Nearly Lost Art

Tatting is a technique to make lace. It is a beautiful handmade product that can be used on anything that you would normally use lace on. It can also be used by itself for doilies. Beautiful and sadly a nearly lost art.

Saturday Spotlight: Antique Needlecases

Welcome to the first in a series of informational articles we are calling Saturday Spotlight! Those of you who are fans of the Elsie C. Historical Company on Facebook are familiar with our Item of the Day game which has inspired us to create the Saturday Spotlight. While trying to come up with items to stump our armchair appraisers we decided some of the items we've stumbled across are just too rare, too unique, too special or downright too strange not to investigate further. So, here it goes a semi-weekly, but always on Saturday, special treat to our readers. We hope to inform, entertain and engage you. Without further ado and fan fare.........(drum roll please....) Here is the....

Saturday Spotlight! Volume 1:

Antique Needle Cases
What are antique needle cases and why might they be different from those little plastic things that are glued to cardboard and have twisty spinny sides out of which you can dump a sewing needle? Well, thank you for asking. (You didn't ask?? Well, if you are still reading it was an implied request for more information. ) Needlecases have been around since the Viking times....maybe longer but we'll start there. Needles were and are still an important domestic tool. To protect this magical little item and keep from having them strewn about willy nilly....cause that could be dangerous (imagine a big ole Viking with a needle stuck in the bottom of his foot cause his wife didn't put them away properly) needle cases were invented. Needle cases come in the most basic forms from a simple small canister with a lid, to a piece of cardboard and foil holder to elaborately carved bone and ivory cases to delicate porcelain cases, cases made from precious metals and even whimsical cases. Today the our needle cases are plastic and easily disposable but in days gone bye needle cases much like many other household tools were a work of art. We'd like to share some of our favorites with you and welcome your own posts sharing your favorites. So here we go.....

Pictured to the left is a sample of a Viking needle case which would have been worn attached to a woman's clothing. Needles during that time period would have been an expensive household item so all joking aside about the Viking with a needle in his foot, needle cases were meant to protect needles. Today needle cases range in value from $5-$1000 depending on their rarity and materials.

Some of our favorite needle cases are the whimsical cases pictured below.

The cases can all be found on RubyLane.Com Keyword: Needle Case

These cases are works of art

These cases are called figural cases some of these can be elaborate as well as whimsical

Vintage Lingerie.....A Collector's Passion

Well folks it's almost time for V-day. A day either loved or dreaded. In honor of this day and the romance it inspires I thought we'd discuss something that couldn't be considered anything other than romantic. It inspires Passion....both in the collector and the male viewer. What is this passion inspiring collectible? That's right! Vintage Lingerie.

Lingerie in general is either practical and sturdy or meant to be visually appealing. To those of you unfamiliar with vintage lingerie you may wonder what could be so special about old undies? Well,......here's my opinion, vintage lingerie especially that of the mid 20th C. is the ultimate in frilly and feminine attire. It can be slept in, worn during the day or at night. I personally own, collect and wear vintage lingerie. Vintage camisoles are a staple in my everyday wardrobe. (Yes, MOM I know you don't think your undies should be seen in public). Worn under a cardigan or other sweater with just a bit of the lace peeping out makes me feel special and girly. Plus, my peeping cami still shows a LOT less skin then some of the current fashions. Vintage slips worn under a dress or business suit remind me not to take the day too seriously, to remember that I am both capable of taking on the business world while being unashamedly female. And nothing feels better after a long day then climbing into a pair of vintage satin pajamas. They are comfortable like sweats but have none of the blocky masculine looks.I have a favorite pair that once belonged to a great aunt. They are a pale peach satin with lace covered slits up the side, a slit down the center front that ties with an itty bitty satin ribbon, closing the top but leaving little to the imagination. Another favorite of mine are peignoirs and baby doll outfits of the 1950's and 60's. I love the flowing chiffon, the ribbons, lace and flowers. These may not be sexy in the modern sense of the word but I think there is something to be said about the sexiness of something so purely feminine. Sometimes in the busy, fast paced world we live in, where women are trying to be both bread winner and bread baker, its helpful to take a step back in time and reconnect with our inner woman, the woman who is strong enough to appreciate her femininity.

I have personally been a collector and wearer of vintage lingerie for all of my adult life. I like the fabrics and how they feel on my skin. I love the dainty details, the tiny bow here, the little embroidered flower there and the lace everywhere. I love that it is becoming more and more admired and collected every day. Check out your local antique store, ebay and other online venues. The good stuff is is getting harder and harder to find and the prices keep going up. Undies are not something we consider as collectible and as such much of it has been tossed in the garbage pile. The fact that so many people have failed to take notice of the beauty of vintage lingerie only adds to its value. It is rare to find a perfect peignoir, or slinky slip in mint condition. These pieces command high prices both for their beauty and scarcity.

So here's to you vintage lingerie and the ladies who wear you and the men who appreciate that you do. And for goodness sakes......Don't bid against me! ;-)