Fawn Planters

Small planters made in the shape of deer fawns are almost a genre in their own right.  There are dozens of different shapes and makers.  Here are a few of my own.

Shawnee fawn planter -- beige.  Also comes in yellow, green and pink, sometimes with red painted eyes and tongue.  Just over 7 inches high.  Value: ~$15-30.  Shawnee Pottery Company (1937-1961) was based in Ohio and is popular with collectors.

Royal Haeger fawn and stump planter -- Also comes in white, pink, lilac and green.  6.5 inches high. Value: ~$10-20

Its actually kind of hard to grown anything in these but succulents can do quite well.

Night Carousel -- Maureen Crowley

I came across this work by a local artist at a resale shop.  So of course it had to come home with me.

Centaur with Cornucopia

This metal statue of unknown origin is possibly intended to be a bookend or doorstop; the tendency for them to be found in pairs and the size suggests bookends to me.

It shows a rearing centaur holding a cornucopia.  Nine inches tall, cardboard and green felt base, unmarked.  Possibly originally gilt but maybe not--found painted various colors.  The material seems to be spelter (zinc alloy).

Identified by Galerie de l'Art Nouveau on Ruby Lane as circa 1869-1900, but I would guess it is more likely to be mid-century -- 1950's-ish.

Value: Maybe $25

Other examples

• RARE SET OF 2 VINTAGE CENTAUR BOOKENDS, STATUES
• Superb Antique Edwardian / Victorian Era Metal Statue of a Mythological Centaur
• Centaur half man half horse ANTIQUE -- unsold at $49
• SPELTER STATUE OF CENTAUR - HALF MAN HALF HORSE
• ANTIQUE GREEK GARDEN CENTAUR MAN GOTHIC ART MYSTICAL STATUE SCULPTURE BOOKENDS -- apparently sold at $595

Kazukiewicz Frolics Painting

I am just posting pictures here while I ask around to see if anyone has some ideas or insight about this 2 1/2 foot wide, rather soiled, oil painting.  Probably an amateur work, of indeterminate age and origin.

Van Ness Roses ?

My thrift store purchase of the day is this watercolor of a bunch of roses.

I think it may be by Beatrice Whitney Van Ness (1888-1981) , the signature has some consistencies as shown below.

Van Ness typically signed her full name and was known for figures and landscapes, however.  No other still life works are coming up online.

Ruffles + Dog Girl (Robia Ware)

Unlike many collectors I have a fascination with the common, not the rare.  Specifically things that are mass produced in a era where with was still done manually, producing a lot of small variation. Case in point is this one Robia Ware (Roman Art Company) mold that I think of at "Ruffles + Dog Girl".  She is so common that any day of the week you will find a dozen for sale on Ebay.

I have a Pinterest Board devoted just to examples of this one mold. Some show variations of original painting, others have been repainted in modern times as shown by their perfect condition and modern (e.g. pearlescent) paint finishes.

The dog is probably a borzoi (aka Russian Wolfhound), the style of the lady is often described as "Southern Belle".  She is designed to be easy to produce with the dog pressed close to her voluminous skirts. The overall effect is often cheap and cheerful but also (IMHO) charmingly exuberant. Robia Ware included a number of different designs showing elegant ladies with borzoi dogs, as statue and lamps--but this one is by far the most commonly found.

Confirmation that the "Ruffles + Dog Girl" design is Robia Ware is show from examples that retain the felt base and sticker. These examples are well painted and presented, suggesting studio production. The studio versions seem to have a green dress over a pink skirt,  auburn hair, and a white dog with black spots.

But it is clear that this same design was also produced, later on, extremely cheaply and haphazardly as a carnival prize. These copies come in pretty much every imaginable color combination and the quality of execution is highly variable. There is a long history of better forms of ceramic being reproduced in plaster--going back to the mid-1800s when door-to-door salesmen would sell American consumers reproductions of Staffordshire ware and other old English pottery.

My own collection (below) shows the original in the center and various carnival molds on either side--some closer to the original than others in shape, and variously decorated. The original is noticeably yellowed from the aging of the wax applied as a final step to protect the porous chalkware and paint.

Chalkware Rin Tin Tin Dog

Rin Tin Tin was a celebrity dog that has been immortalized with a range of chalkware molds for statuettes, ashtrays, and lamp-bases.

This is an example of a  lower end carnival prize from the 1930s, it has damage to the ear and tail.  While an older mold, it is not uncommon and value is going to depend on condition and how well it is painted (my zombie green dog not being a great example). The identification of this German Shepherd as Rin Tin Tin is based on some examples being inscribed with that name on the base, although most are not.

Value: $40 for a nice example, $20 if less attractive or significantly damaged

Examples:

• Antique 1930's Carnival Chalkware Rin Tin Tin- Home Decor- Collectibles- Antiques
• Vintage Chalkware Dog Figurine German Shepherd
• VINTAGE GERMAN SHEPHERD CHALKWARE STATUE
• Wonderful Vintage Chalkware German Shepherd Dog -- listed at $39
• Vintage 10 1/2" GERMAN SHEPHERD Chalkware Carnival Fair Circus Prize Dog Statue -- sold at $39.99
• Vintage Carnival Chalkware Regal German Shepherd Dog -- listed at $32

Most depictions of Rin Tin Tin use a similar pose, sometimes embellished with 'jeweled' eyes. Other Rin Tin Tin items include a lamp showing the dog leaping a fence made by Florentine Lamps. Many other items were also made such a plush tots by Ideal Toy Co.

Venus de Milo

The Venus de Milo is basically a cliche, it is has evolved from classical to kitsch, emblematic to taste or indicative to a lack of taste.  There are so many molds of it that, in the absence of a mark or label, good luck working out who made the one you happen to have,

The most obvious variations are in the base in terms of shape and whether the corner is shown broken off as in the original.

After that the best way to start breaking it down is probably height.  Marwal made a 20" version, Burwood a 12 inch version, Alexander Backer makes both 19 and 10 inches.

This one is 15 inches (38cm) high and your guess is as good as mine.

Value: $20 with a good tail wind.

Examples

• Venus De Milo Goddess Aphrodite Statue ITALY Chalkware? Composite 15” -- listed at $41
• Vintage 1960's Atlantic Mold Venus de Milo Ivory Ceramic Figurine Statue -- lasted at $55

Lion of Lucerne

There are several different molds for the Lion of Lucerne. They are models after a statue that commemorates an event in 1972 during the French Revolution when Swiss guards were massacred defending the Tulleries Palace in Paris. This is symbolized by a mortally wounded lion. The Swiss shield is behind the Lions head and the Fleur de Lis of France under its paw.

This little replica is very common because they were sold as souvenirs.  Some Are a little more intricate with an extended base and the engraving HELVETIORUM FIDEI AC VIRTUTI which translates as "To the loyalty and bravery of the Swiss".  Lion Monument souvenirs also come in much larger sizes and a variety of finishes. You can still buy this mold brand new and cast in resin from Amazon for $48.

The small while version I have is the most common in chalkware, and sometimes sold in pairs as bookends or as a doorstop although honestly it doesn't work very well in either role because they are quite fragile.  I think that is mainly just people trying to think of a use for a chunk of plaster that they are trying to sell to you for a heft mark-up.

I have not managed to find which manufacturers actually produced this, or any of the other, vintage chalkware lion monument models.

Value:  In retail you will see people list this at $20-$60, but because of how common they are and average quality $10 is more realistic. Larger or better quality versions can go for much more.

Examples

• Antique Vtg Lion of Lucerne Doorstop Bookend Plaster/Chalkware Switzerland -- listed for $69 
• Vintage Plaster Chalkware Lion Bookends/Vintage Bookends/Lion Bookends/Traditional Home Decor/Lion Of Lucerne/Office Decor/Lions -- listed for $40 for a pair (gold)
• Awesome chalkware lion vintage -- listed for $26

Roman Art Company (1907-1974)

Based in St Louis, Missouri and known mainly for porcelain with a focus on Christian religious figures.  Their Robia Ware trademark was in use from 1909.  The also produced lower quality "Street Fair and Park Concessionaire Novelties" including Kewpie dolls.

The registered agent for the company was Vincent Borghesi (1889-1958) at the address of 2700 Locust Blvd., St. Louis, MO. Vincent was in business with his brother Vincenzo and his brother-in-law Ulisse Barsanti.

See also
ROMAN ART COMPANY ROBIA WARE
Roman Art Company Collectibles

Chalkware Statues of Women in Classical Style.

These are two recent acquisitions from that fine antique emporium known as Goodwill. Certainly the place to go if you are a frugal collector.

On the right is a Roman style statue in the form of a bathing woman.  Many variations of this exist.  I think this one may be by Roman Art Company Incorporated, probably "Robia Ware". A similar design is made by Forte Originals.

The lady on the left I can't find anywhere, but based on family similarity I am guessing the same manufacturer.  Both statues have the felt protector on the bottom that Roman Art Company normally used.

Examples

• ROMAN ROBIA WARE BATHING NUDE WOMAN STATUETTE 16" -- listed at $124
• VINTAGE 16" ROMAN ROBIA WARE BATHING NUDE WOMAN STATUETTE -- listed at $105

I also have this smaller figure, no idea about the age of manufacturer.  It looks like a copy of a classical statue.

Large Chalkware Statue of Women with Jug

I have what is clearly a widely use mold but with variable paintwork. The style could be described as art nouveau but production is likely to be mid-century.

New Art Wares produced chalkware in the 1940s which is a reasonable estimate of age.  Some sellers are dating it to the nouveau era (ending prior to 1920) but this would be incorrect.

Priced on Etsy at $70. Elsewhere $21-$106

Examples 

• Vintage Art Noveau Chalkware Figurine of a Woman with Water Jug 2015 sold at $21 -- marked 1032
• ANTIQUE LARGE NEW ART WARES CHALKWARE ART NOUVEAU LADY STATUE advertised at $106 -- marked New Art Wares
• Large Art Nouveau Chalkware Statue. Woman at the Well. 16 1/2" Tall --  marked 1032

Black and Gold Horses tumbler

A tall glass with a mid-century design.  No one seems to know this maker or pattern.  Found in Goodwill.

I feel like this is probably made by Libbey glassware which is an American company still trading today (1818--)

Transferware plate

Thrift Shop Chalkware Woes

The "Divorced"

It is always sad to see a chalkware figure that would have been one of a pair, there on their own.

Chalkware Lamp Figure

This figure would have topped lamp with a light in the skirt and another light over the head. These are generally refereed to as boudoir or "doll" lamps. I am hoping to restore it, but hoping to first find a picture of how this model would have originally appeared.