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New Books for Collectors
—
July 2007
Star Spangled
Jewelry
by Sandra J. Whitson and Nancy N. Schiffer
Reviewed by Robert Reed
(Antique & Collectible News Service)
 |
A grand array of patriotic jewelry is presented in all of its red, white and blue color in the newly released Star Spangled Jewelry. America’s passion for flag waving symbols is unfurled from the early 1900s through the 1970s.
The volume briefly traces the history of America’s patriotic jewelry, starting on a wide scale with World War I. Again in the 1940s when patriotism was running at a fever pitch such jewelry soared in popularity once more. There still other influxes of such items in the 1950s and once more in the American Bicentennial-related 1970s.
Now rhinestone jewelry is back in vogue according to this book. It is a regular practice for politicians and spouses of politicians to wear rhinestone American flag pins proudly. Meanwhile, the older pieces have become a much sought-after collectible.
More than 600 full color photographs are incorporated in the volume in hooray-for-the-USA style. Sections include flags, shields, stars, ribbons, eagles, wildlife and dated events. There are also Christmas-related patriotic pins, those featuring the Statue of Liberty, Uncle Sam, military insignia, hearts and V-for-Victory.
One particular section even centers on patriotic jewelry with a particular assortment of words or phrases. Included are slogans like “Keep ‘em Flying,” “God Bless America” and “Liberty U.S.A.”
The books co-authors are Sandra Whitson and Nancy Schiffer. Whitson has collected patriotic jewelry for more than 30 years. Schiffer is a noted author of a number of books about vintage jewelry.
For the collector and the patriot this is a quality book with an abundance of fine color photographs and accompanying captions. However, unfortunately, it comes without current values on any of the hundreds of collectible items.
Star Spangled Jewelry, 160 pages, index, is $29.95 plus shipping from Schiffer Publishing, 4880 Lower Valley Rd., Atglen, PA 19310.
Warman’s
Weller Pottery — Identification and Price Guide
by Denise Rago and David Rago
Reviewed by Robert Reed
(Antique & Collectible News Service)
 |
A father-daughter team has combined efforts to showcase one of Ohio s best pottery producers in the new book Warman’s Weller Pottery.
David Rago, a specialist in American and European 20th century arts joins with daughter Denise Rago as specialist in decorative ceramics. Together they revisit one of the quality makers in the Ohio heartland of America’s art pottery.
It looked like Samuel Weller’s time has finally come notes the books introduction. His famous pottery slugged it out with several important Zanesville, Ohio potteries for decades. Cross-town rivals such as Roseville , Owens, La Moro and McCoy were all serious fish in a fairly small and well-stocked lake.
Later in the volume David Rago observes, the closer you look at Weller’s output after 1920, the more obvious the fact that it was the only Zanesville company still producing both quality art ware and quality production ware.
Pleasantly enough the book is of high quality as well. One reason is the more than 1,000 excellent full-color photographs.
The book includes listings for more than 100 Weller pottery lines of art ware and commercial ware including Coppertone, Dickensware, Glendale and Woodcraft. Coverage of early Weller art ware ranges from Aurelian and Auroro to Turada and Weller Matt Ware. The middle Weller period and late art ware and commercial ware section extends from Ansonia and Ardsley to Xenia and Zona.
Additionally there are sections on tiles and hand-decorated wares, other Weller pottery lines, Chelsea Utility Ware, Kitchen Gem and more.
Warman’s Weller Pottery by Denise Rago and David Rago, softcover, 254 pages, with color photos and current values is $24.99 plus shipping from Krause Publications, 1-800-258-0929.
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