Surprises in Unlikely Locations...

Mr. Tullis' Painting

When one thinks of great art there are certain places in the world that instantly come to mind: Paris, New York, Rome. Well, it’s time to add another locale to the list. Hominy, Oklahoma. I spent some time visiting Oklahoma and was pleased to discover some magnificent art in the most unlikely of locations. Hominy, Oklahoma is much like any other small town these days, signs of businesses having closed down, cracked sidewalks, a somewhat abandoned appearance and a heaviness in the air, although the heaviness could have been the oppressive heat. My grandmother suggested we go for a drive to see the “Indians on the Hill”. She wanted me to take a picture and was certain it would be something I would be impressed with since I “like art stuff”. I must admit that I was not enthusiastic about the trip. I live in Bodega Bay, its 40 degrees cooler then the coolest day I experienced in Oklahoma and I have easy access to art here in the California coastal region. To be honest, I was feeling a bit peevish and my snobby side was showing, if not visibly at least mentally.

We drove into Hominy, Oklahoma and all around Hominy attempting to find just the right spot to photograph the “Indians on the Hill”. The hillside vegetation has grown considerably since my grandmother’s last visit and the sculpture while interesting was not easily photographed. I was hot, tired of jumping in and out of the truck to take pictures and as I mentioned earlier peevish. The battery in my camera was low, the media card was nearly full and I still did not have a satisfactory photograph of the darn Indians. In frustration, I suggested buying a post card and calling it a day. It was this mis-adventure in tourist photography that led to one of my greatest discoveries on the trip. We found City Hall and I hopped out of the truck yet again….Here I met a charming lady who wanted to know where I was from. Everywhere I stopped I was asked the same question so apparently, there is something distinctly not Oklahoman about me. After the niceties, I asked if they had any postcards for sale of the “Indians on the Hill”. This helpful woman informed me that if I just drove around the corner and down Main Street about a block or two I could find the artist’s gallery. My expectations were low, and did I mention I was hot, tired and cranky? Well, all of that changed after walking into Cha Tullis Gallery.(108 W. Main Street Hominy, OK).

The Gallery was magnificent first and foremost because it was air conditioned. The cool air and bell over the door were the first things that greeted us upon our entrance into this haven of Western Art. Almost instantly this cute little woman with a Southern accent came out and welcomed us and began turning on lights. As each light went on we wandered further into the gallery and were greeted by more and more surprises. Original oil paintings so breathtakingly realistic one was pulled into the eyes of the subject whether it be a beautiful horse or a Proud Indian Brave. Sculptures shared space with prints, paintings, Native American tomahawks and jewelry. My crankiness and snobbery began to transition into awe and wonder. Who was this magnificent artist?

He was and is Cha Tullis. Mr. Tullis knows his subjects well as he himself is Cherokee and Blackfoot Indian. He was not born in Hominy, but calls it home. Starting out as a silversmith Mr. Tullis eventually, bought the business where he was employed. He and his wife Teena, who happened to be the cute Southern accented woman we met, ran the gallery as a jewelry store until the oil bust of 1986. When the bust occurred Teena informed us that rather than buy more inventory the family used the money from their sales for basic necessities. This caused gaps in the stock and Cha began selling his artwork. The work speaks for itself and the Tullis eventually changed from a jewelry store to a Native American Gallery. This gallery and Mr. Tullis work is definitely worth the stop. And, I must say that while Hominy, Oklahoma is not Paris, Rome or New York it has something none of those cities can compete with, it has Cha Tullis.
To view Mr. Tullis work visit visit www.chatullis.com or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cha-Tullis-Gallery/149540509178

By the way, they sell postcards too....but I guarantee it won't be all you buy. -Amanda
New Territory but Cha Tullis, Hominy Ok.Murals throughout town by Mr. Tullis.

When one thinks of great art there are certain places in the world that instantly come to mind: Paris, New York, Rome. Well, it’s time to add another locale to the list. Hominy, Oklahoma. I spent some time visiting Oklahoma and was pleased to discover some magnificent art in the most unlikely of locations. Hominy, Oklahoma is much like any other small town these days, signs of businesses having closed down, cracked sidewalks, a somewhat abandoned appearance and a heaviness in the air, although the heaviness could have been the oppressive heat. My grandmother suggested we go for a drive to see the “Indians on the Hill”. She wanted me to take a picture and was certain it would be something I would be impressed with since I “like art stuff”. I must admit that I was not enthusiastic about the trip. I live in Bodega Bay, its 40 degrees cooler then the coolest day I experienced in Oklahoma and I have easy access to art here in the California coastal region. To be honest, I was feeling a bit peevish and my snobby side was showing, if not visibly at least mentally.

We drove into Hominy, Oklahoma and all around Hominy attempting to find just the right spot to photograph the “Indians on the Hill”. The hillside vegetation has grown considerably since my grandmother’s last visit and the sculpture while interesting was not easily photographed. I was hot, tired of jumping in and out of the truck to take pictures and as I mentioned earlier peevish. The battery in my camera was low, the media card was nearly full and I still did not have a satisfactory photograph of the darn Indians. In frustration, I suggested buying a post card and calling it a day. It was this mis-adventure in tourist photography that led to one of my greatest discoveries on the trip. We found City Hall and I hopped out of the truck yet again….Here I met a charming lady who wanted to know where I was from. Everywhere I stopped I was asked the same question so apparently, there is something distinctly not Oklahoman about me. After the niceties, I asked if they had any postcards for sale of the “Indians on the Hill”. This helpful woman informed me that if I just drove around the corner and down Main Street about a block or two I could find the artist’s gallery. My expectations were low, and did I mention I was hot, tired and cranky? Well, all of that changed after walking into Cha Tullis Gallery.(108 W. Main Street Hominy, OK).

The Gallery was magnificent first and foremost because it was air conditioned. The cool air and bell over the door were the first things that greeted us upon our entrance into this haven of Western Art. Almost instantly this cute little woman with a Southern accent came out and welcomed us and began turning on lights. As each light went on we wandered further into the gallery and were greeted by more and more surprises. Original oil paintings so breathtakingly realistic one was pulled into the eyes of the subject whether it be a beautiful horse or a Proud Indian Brave. Sculptures shared space with prints, paintings, Native American tomahawks and jewelry. My crankiness and snobbery began to transition into awe and wonder. Who was this magnificent artist?

He was and is Cha Tullis. Mr. Tullis knows his subjects well as he himself is Cherokee and Blackfoot Indian. He was not born in Hominy, but calls it home. Starting out as a silversmith Mr. Tullis eventually, bought the business where he was employed. He and his wife Teena, who happened to be the cute Southern accented woman we met, ran the gallery as a jewelry store until the oil bust of 1986. When the bust occurred Teena informed us that rather than buy more inventory the family used the money from their sales for basic necessities. This caused gaps in the stock and Cha began selling his artwork. The work speaks for itself and the Tullis eventually changed from a jewelry store to a Native American Gallery. This gallery and Mr. Tullis work is definitely worth the stop. And, I must say that while Hominy, Oklahoma is not Paris, Rome or New York it has something none of those cities can compete with, it has Cha Tullis.
To view Mr. Tullis work visit visit www.chatullis.com or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cha-Tullis-Gallery/149540509178

By the way, they sell postcards too....but I guarantee it won't be all you buy. -Amanda
New Territory but Cha Tullis, Hominy Ok.
Murals throughout town by Mr. Tullis.

The Do's and Don'ts Before Downsizing or Liquidating an Estate

Do’s and Don’ts Before An Estate Sale

• DO NOT, DO NOT throw anything away. Even if you think that old Hershey’s chocolate box holding dad’s nails in the garage is nothing but rubbish, LEAVE IT BE!!! You would be surprised at how many times we’ve had a buyer come looking for a specific item only to be told by the owner that it had been thrown out. Please do not clean or throw out anything. We are professionals and know what buyers are looking for as well as how to best clean and present the items to potential buyers.
• Do NOT sell anything prior to the estate sale or have your own yard sale without first consulting with an appraiser. We are professionals and know which items are valuable and which are not. We can liquidate the entire contents of the home quickly and efficiently without the emotional strain placed on the owners/family.
• Do NOT sell piece-meal to dealers. When doing this it allows the best pieces to go before the sale opens leaving the less desirable objects behind. This will deter buyers from even looking.
• Do Cover the property with insurance.
• Do tell friends and family about the sale and the dates available for shopping. If two or more family members want the same item leave it in the sale. The family member that wants it the most will purchase it from the sale and eliminate all of the fighting.

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! ;-)

Psychometry and Antiques

A friend recently theorized to me that my love of antiques comes not from the value of an object but from the story I get from them. His statement instantly rang true for me although it was not something I had pondered before. Since that conversation I have given a lot of thought to how I select the antiques I keep and love.

Many of the antiques I own have found me, that is, to say that I have inherited quite a few. Most of these treasures are not monetarily valuable but are priceless to me. I have a chest of drawers from my great-grandmother Elsie that she kept dolls in at the top of her multi-colored carpeted stairs. I have some of her old costume jewelry and a couple blouses that I wear. She and I were kindred spirits and surrounding myself with her things makes me feel a connection to her. It stands to reason I’d love and value something given to me by someone I loved and valued.

How then do I explain the other random pieces I’ve ended up with? I’m always drawn to the most dilapidated objects, the older and more in need of TLC the better. I find things no one else would want and I take joy in bringing them back to life. I feel a sense of sadness when I come across something that has survived for a 100 or more years and looks neglected. I imagine the life of the person who once owned it and what they were like. I feel like loving those pieces gives a value to the item and the person who once owned the item.

There are also pieces that I am instantly repelled by, for no obvious reason. I was once in a little antique shop in Murphy’s, CA and I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. I was with a group and being the antique addict that I am you can imagine the shock of my companions by my necessity to leave the building. It was the oddest, hair on the back of your neck kind of feeling. It was made even odder to me by the fact that only one of my companions seemed to feel anything amiss.

So, what does all of this mean? It means that I believe objects can retain the energy of their previous owners whether it, be positive or negative. There has been much debate over this subject and lots of research.

Joseph R. Buchanan in 1842 came up with the word Psychometry. It comes from the Greek words psyche, meaning "soul," and metron, meaning "measure." He was an American physiologist and professor who conducted experiments on his students by handing them flasks with different liquids and having them blindly determine the contents by feel alone. The results were greater than random luck. To explain the phenomenon he’d observed he wrote a book, Journal of Man. In his writing Buchanan hypothesized, that all objects have "souls" that keep a memory.

Many researchers have continued with the studies of Buchanan. Science is stating that everything is made up of moving energy and even though it appears as a solid it is still a dense moving energy. That being said……I’m going to tune in and make sure that those items I bring home fill me with joy and delight, I’ll leave the creepy, dark, heebie-jeebie inspiring stuff for someone either braver or with less psychometric skills then myself.

So What's The Difference?

So What's The Difference?

Q. What is the difference between an antique evaluation and an antique appraisal?
A.

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An antique appraisal is a well researched, well documented and well written report that gives you information about your antiques and collectibles in an organized and functional manner. An appraisal report can be defended in court, and will be useful for insurance, IRS and estate purposes.
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An antique evaluation is a quick identification of an item and its approximate fair market value. The antique evaluation is valuable for a quick guide to what you have.

Are you interested in learning more about the differences between appraisals and evaluations? Do you have an item you would like to submit for evaluation? If so check us out at :www.eclecticamanda.com