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Quimper Is a Folksy and Fun Collectible

Quimper is attractive to display, whether you own one piece or dozens. This charming, colorful pottery is an example of faience ware, which means hand-painted, tin enamel-glazed earthenware. Named after the Breton town in northwestern France where it has been made for over 300 years, it has a strong following in the world of antiques. Often the theme is peasant images, seashore or fishing scenes. Wooden shoes (sabots), bread making, roosters and cows are some of the other common images found on this pottery. Like all folk art, it is attractive to fans of Country French ...

Head Hunters Seek Fun Vases From the Past

Head vases always draw interest in the collectible world. Made in the mid-20th century, these charming oddities peaked in popularity in the 1950s and ‘60s, about the same time Barbie made her entrance onto the American pop culture stage. The pottery vases were often imported from Japan and used by florists for gift arrangements, though early examples might be made in the U.S.A. and the earliest examples date to the 1930s. Generally showing a woman from the shoulders up, head vases remain popular with collectors today. Even my grandchildren ask about the pretty lady vase in my ...

Spring Enters An Open Window

I awoke to what sounded like the repetitive ringing of a telephone from half a century ago. When fully awake, I realized the sound I heard was that of an ambitious woodpecker at work on a tree in the nearby woods. This sound was complimented by the voices of numerous spring gobblers making their morning trek through the yard to scrounge seed from beneath the bird feeders. They would have to share their feeding space with a brave squirrel that makes this location her personal buffet. A light breeze carried the sounds in through the window. These are the rewards on a warm spring ...

Easter’s Sweet Memories

Everyone has his or her favorite. Mine are the yellow ones. They are usually lemon flavored unless you purchase those that mimic other candies. I really don’t care for the black ones because they turn your teeth black, making it look as though you just ate a bag of potting soil. I’m talking about jelly beans, of course. It used to be you could predict the flavor of each of these candies based on their colors. But as in many things in life, you can’t judge something simply by the color of their candy shell. I don’t know why candy makers feel it necessary to mess with the ...

Basket Collecting Offers Many Choices

Today is Easter, and for many of us, that means searching for — or hiding a basket or two. Easter baskets are an important part of the spring tradition here in the United States, and most children enjoy the search as much as the enjoyment of the treats inside the grass filled-containers. Baskets of all kinds are collectible. For example, Native American baskets have avid fans in the world of antiques. Like most Native American art and tools, the well-made baskets created by tribal people out West are now treasures to collectors who also like beadwork, clothing, weapons and other ...

Cliff’s Last Alarm

Cliff Sligar was a firefighter long before he was old enough to join the Wheeling Fire Department. During his formative years, it was no secret that he could be found more often at a local firehouse than in a classroom. If there was a big fire in the city, Cliff was there no matter what time of the day or night. It was destiny that he would some day serve as fire chief for his beloved city. And that’s just what he did — from 1971 to 1995. Cliff died this week at home surrounded by family. While firefighters battle flames and rush to aid others, the dangers they face can take ...