Trip Down Memory Lane At Grandma’s House

BOOK REVIEW

Hot Kitchen and Home Collectibles of the ’30s, ’40s, ’50s, by C. Diane Zweig, is a recent release of Collector Books. The author writes, “Let me extend an invitation to you to take a fantasy stroll... and open the doors of our favorite five and dime and walk up and down the aisles looking at the housewares, kitchen accessories, textiles, appliances, sundries, vanity items, and toys...” And most of the items pictured in this colorful book could be purchased at your local dime store. For the homemakers of the period, this was discount shopping at its best.

Each of the three decades had its special look. The 1930s was the era of the streamlined Depression-Era “Modern Kitchen.”  The all-electric kitchen was promoted, with an enormous variety of new electrical appliances, both large and small. Rounded corners were part of the streamlined look. Color entered the kitchen, also, with green the first arrival.

In the 1940s, families gathered around kitchen tables with chrome bases and enamel, linoleum or plastic tops. Primary colors were dominant, with combinations of red, green and yellow showing up as tablecloths, textiles and curtains. Shelf paper, wallpaper trim and decals had colorful flowers and fruits - and Dutch designs, too.

The 1950s showed a change in color scheme, with pastel colors predominating. If you see an item in aqua or pink, it was almost certainly from this decade. Formica was used for kitchen table tops, although still on a chrome base. Plastic also came into everyday use, and most kitchens had some Melmac and/or Tupperware. Poodles, roosters, Southwestern and Mexican designs were all popular.

With the basic outlines of each decade, the collector can have a great time decorating for a certain period - or, of course, enjoy a mix of all of them.

You’ll find as big a mix of items in this book as you were apt to find at the old dime store. Plastic tablecloths, salt and pepper shakers, cookbooks, tea tins, canning jars, cottage cheese cartons, S.O.S. scouring pads, pot holders, Ivory Snow boxes, whisk brooms, wedding cake toppers, and hair dryers are just a few of the things included. If you were a homemaker during that period, it will bring back lots of memories. If you’re younger, you probably still saw many of these things at the homes of grandparents or elderly friends.

Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles (ISBN 13: 978-1-57432-518-8) is priced at $24.95. It contains a price guide. Con tact Collector Books at P.O. Box 3009, Paducah, KY or online at www.collectorbooks.com.

Donna Miller

Return to Index

New Books On Indian Jewelry Available From Schiffer

An updated edition of Indian Jewelry of the American Southwest, by William A. Turnbaugh and Sarah Peabody Turnbaugh has recently been released by Schiffer Publishing. With over 125 photographs,  portraying jewelry from the prehistoric Anasazi culture to contemporary pieces, the book gives a comprehensive look at the craftsmanship that has gone into this jewelry for over a thousand years.

Most of this jewelry is made of silver and/or turquoise. It is worn with everything, from the most casual clothing to the most elegant; and it is worn by everyone, from babies with tiny turquoise earrings to men with their big silver belt buckles. It’s sold everywhere, too - from supermarkets and roadside stands to upscale shops in Santa Fe and Scottsdale.

The book includes special sections on the jewelry of the Navajo, Zuni, Hope and Rio Grande Puebloans. One section describes the new ideas and techniques that are being used by contemporary craftsmen. Other chapters give a quite extensive history of Indian jewelry and information on the buying and caring for this jewelry.

Indian Jewelry of the American Southwest is priced at $12.95. It includes a price guide.

***

Turquoise Jewelry, by Nancy N. Schiffer, is also available in a revised and expanded 3rd edition.

It displays the many different colors and types of turquoise, and the mines in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico are discussed, with the characteristics of the turquoise that is found in each.

Hundreds of examples of Southwest Indian jewelry are shown, from pieces over 100 years old to the present. Both men’s and women’s pieces are included.

Turquoise Jewelry is priced at $9.95. It also includes a price guide.

***

Both books are available from Schiffer Publishing, 4880 Lower Valley Rd., Atglen, PA 19310 or online at www.schifferbooks.com.

For additional information, contact Schiffer Publishing at (610) 593-1777.

Donna Miller

Return to Index

New Book On Fenton Features Ten Decades Of Glass

BOOK REVIEW

Fenton Art Glass, A Centennial of Glass Making 1907-2007, is the latest book written by authors Debbie and Randy Coe. The Fenton Art Glass Company was formed in 1905 as a decorating company and began producing its own glass in 1907. Through the years, thousands of different shapes in hundreds of different colors have been produced and examples of each decade are shown in the more than 600 color photos of this book.

The first piece of glass produced in the Fenton factory was a crystal cream pitcher in the pattern called Water Lily and Cattails, and it was produced on January 2 of 1907. Within a couple of years, the company had produced a beautiful iridescent style of glass that had a rainbow sheen, made by spraying metallic salts on to the glass while it was still hot. It was called Iridill then; today, collectors call it Carnival glass

Through the years, the items in production changed, to meet both the desires of the public and the availability of supplies. The years of World War II presented both difficulties and opportunities. Some of the chemicals needed in some of the glass formulas became unavailable, so it was impossible to produce certain colors of glass. On the other hand, several decorating and importing companies could no longer buy glass from overseas, and turned to Fenton to provide them with the glass they needed for their businesses. It was also during the 1940s that pieces with a crest - that edging of a different colored glass that is so typically Fenton - became a best seller.

Collectors become familiar with Fenton’s colors and shapes as they have changed through the decades. This book organizes them in such a way that any lover of Fenton glass can easily determine when each piece in his collection was probably made. Detailed captions include pattern number and name, size, color, production dates and current market values.

Also included in the book is a brief history of the Fenton family, decorators and glass workers,  along with introductory material for each decade.

The book is priced at $35. Autographed copies are available from the authors (see the ad in this issue of Old Stuff) or contact Schiffer Publishing, online at www.schifferbooks.com.

***

The 3rd edition of the Coes’ Elegant Glass book is also now available. It covers over 100 patterns of glass in 1,000 color photos. All listings have been updated to reflect current market values, and several patterns have additional listings, based on information gained since the previous edition.

The major companies of Cambridge, Fenton, Fostoria, Heisey, Imperial, Morgantown, New Martinsville and Paden City are represented with their most popular patterns.  Elegant Glass, Early, Depression and Beyond, is priced at $29.95.

Donna Miller

Return to Index