DrivingforDeco.com

Rago 6 on the 15th? Say what!? I’ll clear up your confusion later on but first tell you about our adventure to Rago Arts and Auctions.

: Welcome to Rago Arts and Auctions

Located in Lambertville, NJ, Rago Arts and Auctions is a leader in international public and private auction sales. They appraise, buy and sell estates. The team also offer insurance evaluations and appraisals of personal property and estates.

This is where we come in.

We have wanted to attend an auction preview (I went once by myself) or one of the appraisal events for some time now. Unfortunately, both are usually on a Monday. Not exactly convenient for those of us who work and/or live out of state.

Anthony saw them advertising “appraisal day’ on Monday, July 15, 2019. As it so happened, we were both on vacation that week. With a two piece per person limit, we picked two pieces of art on which we wanted more information. High Society is a very large lithograph. And the second is an oil painting by Langtved-Jensen, dated 1918.

I went to the website and found that art had to have pictures, measurements, etc., submitted prior to the event. AND you had to make an appointment to reserve a time. Eagerly, I went into the site calendar. AND… everything was booked.

Undaunted, we debated what we could bring. Although we only have a few thousand items to choose from, we ultimately picked a vase made in France and a painted wood, art deco box.

: Hello! What treasures do we have?

On the day of the appraisals we made it a point to arrive early. Apparently other people had the same idea and there was quite a line developing. After signing in, we took our place in line.

The staff was incredibly organized and nice. People with appointments were called quickly and as lines inside moved, so did we. After a relatively short wait, it was our turn to go inside. And wait on another line. Here again, organization reigned with each person directed to a specific queue to see the professionals. In theory, each person is given 10 minutes with the experts. In theory, you need an appointment for art work appraisals!

Our turn came. The French vase is from the Limoges region in the early part of the 20th century. Not made by THE Limoges, but in the general region. Value? $40.00. Not bad, I only paid $18.00.

We had more hope for the painted wood, art deco box. A pity buy from a woman who was just opening an “antique” store, we liked it and it was only $20.00. Online research by Anthony has it attributed to Paul Frankl. Anthony could not prove this connection and hoped to find out once and for all. A quick online search by the expert and she found the same information. In her opinion, she doubted the connection to Paul Frankl but thought it was a nice decorative piece. Accurate to the deco period, she valued it at $175.00-$200.00.

: Art Deco painted wood box

Now, as for making an appointment for an art appraisal, we watched several people walk in and easily accommodated by the excellent staff. The funniest was a couple stating they were “driving by” and had “no clue” it was appraisal day and “just happen” to have two Currier & Ives lithographs, perfectly wrapped, with them. Me thinks I smell a fish!

Anyway, as I live so close to Lambertville, we decided to drive back to my house and pick up the High Society lithograph and the Langtved-Jensen painting. And since there were two of us, we also brought a couple of recently acquired Trenton Potteries pieces.

Back at Rago Arts late, but with time to spare.

: High Society by Sané

: Close up of border signature

Purchased at a second hand / antique store, Treasures From The Attic in Southampton, NJ, for $95.00. High Society has a clouded history. Although signed Sané 28 in the border, there is no evidence of it designed or produced in that year. It’s actual production date is circa mid 1950’s. A popular and stylish image, 1980 reproductions are printed on high gloss paper with the outside border removed. Or, reproduced with the border but with the signature removed. I thought my poster was an earlier, more valuable, version and was thrilled to have the expert agree. She estimated the value at $600.00-$700.00. It garnered a lot of attention and admiration from other attendees.

: 1918 oil painting by Langtved-Jensen

I purchased my mystery painting at the GoodWill for $9.99. H.C. Langtved-Jensen is a (barely) known artist. The expert had difficulty finding anything on him. Based on the my research, she did find one of his paintings, Flower Garden, but was not able to give me more information.

1914 painting by H.C. Langtved-Jensen (photo via www.artnet.com)

She noted my painting was an unusual subject and style and would be a hard sell. She asked why I purchased it.

I told her I like it. Although dated 1918, it stylistically reminds me of the WPA/FAP period. I asked if it could be a study for a larger work. She agreed that the style and subject did lend itself to that theory. If it is, and I can link it to some sort or mural or public work, the value would increase. As it stands, she estimated the value at $100.00-$200.00.

: Orbit Vase by Trenton Potteries Co.

: “TAC” back stamp – Trenton Potteries Co.

Anthony had a stroke of pure luck. Pulling out the two vases, the appraiser immediately recognized them. He told Anthony that their expert on Trenton Potteries Co. was here, and available. He called over Thomas Rago, cousin of David Rago, founder of Rago Arts and Auctions.

: Rhythm Vase – Trenton Potteries Co.

: “TAC” back stamp – Trenton Potteries Co,

Anthony explained we were having difficulty finding any information on the company. As it happens, Mr. Rago is not only an expert on their wares but literally wrote the book on them! He couldn’t have been nicer.

: Crossley Vase – Trenton Potteries Co.

The vases are part of the modernistic line. The Crossley Vase featured in our earlier post, Weekend Finds – Spring 2019, is part of this same line. He informed us that although all Trenton Potteries (and most pottery in general) values have declined, this line retained a better value than most. The first vase, Rhythm, glazed in Venetian Blue and the other, Orbit, in Gloss White appraised for a total value around $90.00. I paid $75.00 at the Golden Nugget Flea Market. He informed us that he had a small antique store, Lawrenceville Vintage Treasures, in Lawrenceville, NJ. His autographed book on Trenton Potteries Co. is available for sale at his store.

Ironically, we were in Lawrenceville a few days earlier and unknowingly went to his store. But it was closed. Guess where we went the next day, what we bought and who we met? Well, two out of three isn’t bad. Mr. Rago was not there but we did meet his lovely wife and co-owner, Donna Rago. She was as charming and nice as her husband.

In all, we have to say thank you, Rago for appraising our 6 pieces on the 15^th of July. Get the title now?

Happy Hunting! Chris & Anthony (The Freakin’ ‘tiquen Guys)

Fiestaware dancing lady logo from a 1937 price list. Image from the author’s collection.

After over three years looking at vintage Fiesta at Driving For Deco, we have come to the last installment of Fiestaware 101. This post will look at the famous dinner ware line up to its restyling in 1969.

Sales of Fiesta slowed in the 1950’s and that trend continued even more so in the 1960’s. Fiesta remained basically unchanged since the mid and late 1930’s which made the line seem dated by the 1960’s.

Late 1960 or Early 1961 Deletion

The Dessert Bowl

Until the entire Fiesta line was restyle in 1969, the dessert bowl was the only elimination of the decade. In production since the introduction of the line in 1936, Frederick Rhead’s original concept for this piece was as a fruit bowl. When the 5 1/2 inch oatmeal bowl became designated as a fruit bowl, this piece became the dessert bowl. It is very easily found in the first six colors and just a little harder to find in the colors of the 1950’s. Discontinued around the end of 1960, just a year and a half after the introduction of the medium green glaze, it is very rare in that color. And the value reflects its rarity.

Two Fiestaware Dessert Bowls one in chartreuse and one in gray.

Current prices vary greatly. Most dessert bowls on ebay seem to be in the $25.00 – $50.00 range in all colors except medium green. At flea markets some can be bought for as little as $10.00. A medium green bowl sold at auction on November 23, 2013 for $250.00. But some have sold for over $500.00.

Medium Green Fiestaware Dessert Bowl. Image from Strawser Auctions.

Teacup Changes

Sometime in the early 1960’s changes were made to the teacup for easier production. The hand turned foot and inside rings were eliminated. These later teacups are also slightly larger than earlier cups.

Yellow Fiestaware teacups in early and later varieties. The one earlier variation is on the left with the hand turned foot. The cup on the right is the 1960’s style. Image taken by the author.

Yellow Fiestaware teacups showing the rings on the inside of the early style as compared to the ringless 1960’s cup. Image taken by the author.

1962 – 1965

Fiesta Casuals

Salad plates, Fiesta Casual Hawaiian 12-Point Daisy

Four Fiesta Casual Hawaiian 12-Point Daisy salad plates. From the collection of the author.

In what was probably an effort to increase flagging sales, Homer Laughlin produced an interesting variant, Fiesta Casuals. This line used white glazed dinner and salad plates, saucers and platters trimmed in either yellow or turquoise decorated with stylized, stencil flowers. Fiesta Casuals came in two different designs, Hawaiian 12-Point Daisy and Yellow Carnation.

Fiesta Casuals Yellow Carnation. Image from Strawser Auction Group.

This Fiesta variant must not have been popular as it is not that easy to find today. Prices for pieces of Fiesta Casuals are all over the place, ranging from less than $10.00 to over $150.00.

1967

Amberstone

The Amberstone version of the iconic Disc Pitcher. This piece does not have the impressed Fiesta mark on the bottom. Photo by the author.

Another variation on Fiesta in the 1960’s is Amberstone. Marketed by Sheffield as a supermarket premium in 1967 it utilized Fiesta shapes (with the impressed Fiesta marks removed). Some pieces were modernized and all were dipped in a brown glaze. Plates and platters had a black Mediterranean style medallion under the glaze. Tea cups handles changed from a ring to a “c” shape, the sugar bowl lost its handles and mugs became straight sided. Finials were modified from flared to rounded knobs.

Amberstone dinner plate showing the underglazed black decal. Image from ebay.

: Modified Amberstone mug. Image from ebay.

: Amberstone coffee cup and saucer, showing the “C” style handle. Image from ebay.

: Amberstone sugar bowl minus side handles and with knob finial and creamer with “C” style handle. Image from ebay.

Advertisement for Amberstone from the Lawton Constitution, August 14, 1967, Lawton, Oklahoma. From Newspapers.com.

Ambestone teapot. Image from ebay.

During this time, with Fiesta still in production some mistakes happened. Cups with “C” handles exist in yellow, turquoise and medium green. And some Amberstone pieces have the impressed Fiesta mark. The casserole underwent a complete revision and fruit bowls sides changed from straight sided to sloped. The retired coffee pot and marmalade were made available in the line.

The Amberstone casserole. Image from ebay.

Sloped sided Amberstone fruit bowls. Image from ebay.

: Amberstone coffee pot. Image from ebay.

: Amberstone marmalade jar. Image from ebay.

Values for Amberstone pieces vary. Plates can be found for $1.00 – $5.00. Cups and saucers have a value of between $5.00 – $10.00. Harder to find pieces like the disc pitcher, coffee pot and casserole have sold recently for about $50.00 (or sometimes even less).

1969

Finally, after 33 years in production, the bright colors and Art Deco style had become old fashioned. Homer Laughlin decided to revise the line one last time. Yellow, turquoise, red and medium green, along with the original shapes were retired in July, 1969. At the same time, Fiesta Ironstone debuted. Utilizing the shapes from Amberstone, Fiesta Ironstone only came in three colors, Antique Gold, Turf Green and Mango Red (the same red of the vintage Fiesta line).

1969 brochure for Fiesta Ironstone. Image from laurelhollowpark.com.

Fiesta Ironstone limped along for three years. On January 1, 1973 Homer Laughlin decided to drop the line and retire the Fiesta name forever.

Well that didn’t exactly happen, but that’s another story.

This concludes the series Fiesta 101. More is still to come with Fiesta 201, in which we will look at other Fiesta related china and comparisons between vintage Fiesta and the currently produced Fiesta.