Let's Play a Game......

Let's see what all of you armchair appraisers out there know about art, antiques and collectibles. We are going to play a game. I'll post a picture of an item and you post your best guess as to what it is. I'll post the answer after a bit. Good Luck!

Can you guess what these are?

Correct Answer: They are knitting needle covers. Used to cover the points in a decorative manner. Love those Victorians and their decorative flair.

Summer's Over

Well folks......summer's over and we are back to work. We spent the summer in NY and traveled across the United States in a compact Mercedes Benz jam packed with treasures we bought on our adventures. By the time we returned home this past weekend I wasn't sure there was enough room left in the car for people. We picked up treasures in the "World's Largest Antique Mall" in Ohio and bought dolls, vanity items and vintage purses all along the way. We'll be adding all of these treasures to the shop in the upcoming months along with vintage costume jewelry, antique coins and a huge amount of World War II memorabilia. Check back with us daily for interesting articles regarding the art, antiques and silver coin world. You never know what daily tidbit's we'll surprise you with.

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.

Spring Fever

Well, it is official I have Spring Fever. I can't focus on a single subject long enough to write a sentence let alone a blog article. I've started four in the past week....Kachina Dolls, Antique Jewelry, Historical tidbits and then.....I started another on Victorian handcrafts when I got that creative tingle where I must create but don't know what. (You know!) Well, I'd love to blame this lack of focus on the beautiful weather here on the California coast but the truth is...I'm a gemini and I'm always easily distracted (Oh Look something shiny!) but this past week has been even worse.

So, here's what's coming in the next few days. I am hereby in BLACK & WHITE committing to completing the aforementioned articles. Check in tomorrow as I will be telling you all about Kachina Dolls which aren't actually, just dolls.

A Letter To Our Appraiser

Dear Amanda,

I want to thank you for serving as our “celebrity guest” and liaison with the KMAX T.V. Crew during our 44th Annual Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair on Historic Sutter Street in Folsom on December 5th. Countless shoppers and collectors were made... aware of our event as a result of your live broadcast the day of the event. You were very gracious setting aside the time from your busy schedule and arriving at any early hour!

We certainly look forward to visits from you at future events.

cc: Jim Snook, President, Board of Directors, Folsom Historic District Association



Shannon Cheyne, Manager, Folsom Historic District Association

Sincerely,

Carole Berry, Event Coordinator
Folsom Historic District Association

A Tip About Antique Glass

Something I was just reminded of in an unpleasant way!!! Glass is fragile and does not handle extremes in temperature change very well. Many people store their fine china or crystal and pull it out for use around the holidays. Before unpacking glass or china that has been stored in a cold environment be sure to let it warm up before handling or washing it. The change between cold glass and warm wash water can lead to a disaster.

Pablo Picasso Still in High Demand

On February 8, 2011 a painting of Pablo Picasso’s mistress Marie-Therese Walter sold in London at Sotheby’s Auction House for a whopping 25.2 million pounds ($40.7 million USD). Amazingly, in this time of supposed financial hardship the bidding was heated for over six minutes. The final gavel price came in nearly 7 million over the pre-sale estimate.

The painting entitled La Lecture was purchased by an anonymous phone bidder. La Lecture features Marie-Therese asleep in a chair. Walter met Picasso when she was 17 and he 45. There love affair continued for over 13 years and she bore him a daughter Maya Widmaier-Picasso
born September 5, 1935. Picasso financially supported both Marie-Therese and their daughter but never married her as he continued to remain married to his wife Olga Khoklova.

(image courtesy of Sotheby's)

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