"Art In Clay" – The Best of North Carolina Colonial Ceramics

St. Asaph's (Alamance County)  Sugar Bowls

If you like ceramics, have an interest in North Carolina history, or are interested in Moravian and Quaker ceramics, the “Art in Clay” exhibit at MESDA (Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts) is a must see exhibit. Even if you haven’t previously had an interest in North Carolina redware, this exhibit may pleasantly surprise you.

Moravian Owl Bottle

As the culmination of four years of work, research and study, the “Art in Clay” exhibit showcases early North Carolina pottery by presenting examples from some of the premier collections in the country. Ok, so you’ve seen North Carolina early pottery before, so, what’s the big deal about “Art in Clay”? It’s just mud, correct? Redware? Think again. What makes this project and exhibit unique is that the work and research culminating with the exhibit has literally re-written history. And then there’s the fact that this slip decorated redware North Carolina pottery is some of the most beautiful pottery every made! Plain redware it is not.

Due to the combined efforts between ceramic experts, potters, historians, archeologists, and chemists, this pottery from the Piedmont area has unquestionably been identified, dated and attributed, even reattributed in some instances. Moravian pottery has been appreciated for many years due to its originality, beauty and form, but now we know that some of this previously attributed Moravian pottery was actually made by German immigrants who lived and worked in other areas of North Carolina, particularly in the St. Asaph’s area of Alamance County. That’s what has changed history!

Moravian Aust Shop Sign

And now the WOW factor kicks in; we are talking about highly decorated slip pottery, dating to the 1770’s into the early 1800’s. And this is not plain, glazed pottery, but beautifully decorated and brightly colored pottery. There are not only plates and mugs, but these really cool lidded storage containers that we now know are sugar bowls, animal forms and flasks. Very little of this pottery is signed, and attributions have been made by researching potters’ kiln sites, inventory records and other early documented sources. By comparing signed or known pieces and using pottery sherds from the archeological digs, dating and geographic attribution of the pottery can be determined. And the Moravian Aust shop sign, a cornerstone piece of the exhibit, is a fabulous one of a kind ceramic bowl style sign that will dazzle you when you walk into the exhibit room.

Work by the early Moravian Potters of Aust and Christ are included in the exhibit…no surprise there. But, works by the German potters from the Loy family living and working in the St. Asaph’s area of Alamance County, and works by Quaker Potters, have also been identified and are included in the exhibit. And these Quaker made pieces are also highly decorated and beautiful. There are about 120 items included, many borrowed from private collectors (some being heirs of the original potters), the Henry Ford Museum, MESDA, Colonial Williamsburg and others. And the items from private collections will be returned to their owners at the end of the exhibit; this two year travelling exhibition is the only way to ever see these privately owned pieces.

Punch Bowl

I was fortunate to attend a symposium dedicated to this exhibit, and heard from some of the researchers who worked on this project. There were seminars by ceramics experts, potters, archeologists and historians, all of whom contributed to the research. I participated in special curator led tours of the exhibit, including a tour by Joanna Brown and one by Luke Beckerdite. According to Luke Beckerdite, this collection includes “the best slip decorated colonial ceramics in America.” And coming from a nationally renowned ceramics expert, that’s a pretty good endorsement for North Carolina redware!

And since I am an appraiser, people always ask me about value. Is this old North Carolina pottery valuable? You bet. In 2001, Sotheby’s sold a female figural flask, modeled as a girl standing with a small flower spray clasped before her with her long dress covered in a rich green glaze, and dated 1800 for $31,800 including the buyer’s premium. Now, this is really a one of a kind, very rare item; the other more common pieces are less expensive. In 2010, Brunk Auction sold a simple 7” brown squirrel bottle for $700.00 plus buyer’s premium. And the squirrel had some chips and cracks, and the date was not authenticated! But still, very impressive values!

But this is something you need to see for yourself! We are fortunate that this exhibit is currently at MESDA (Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts in Winston Salem) and will be there until August 14, 2011. This is a fabulous opportunity to see our North Carolina redware at its best, and to educate yourself about Moravian, St. Asaphs, and Quaker North Carolina pottery. More information on the exhibit can be found at http://www.oldsalem.org/artinclay.html. In a future blog post, we’ll talk a little more about how the slipware pottery was made, but don’t miss the opportunity to see the real stuff. As you walk through the exhibit cases, see if you can tell how the Moravian, St. Asaphs, and Quaker pottery differ from each other. And enjoy them for their beauty; they are truly works of art!

Vicky Nash Shaw,

ISA CAPP Certified Antique and Art Appraiser

919 475-6930

http://www.theauthenticappraisal.com/

Restoration: Do to or not to do?

One of the most common questions that I am asked has to do with the subject of restoration. Should a piece of furniture be refinished? Should a painting be touched up? Should silver be cleaned? What can I do with works on paper? Items age over time, and sometimes they age well and other times, not so well. Furniture is often nicked or scratched. Paintings often fade or get dirty. Silver and other metals tarnish. So, the answer to the question on restoration is always the same, “It depends!”

There are several factors to consider when making a restoration decision. The first situation often encountered is with unusable items; for example, furniture that is broken or porcelain that is chipped. Factors to consider include the value of the repaired piece, cost of repairs, and their sentimental value to you. If you love a piece and it is unusable in its current condition, then having it repaired is an easy decision.

But what about cosmetic repairs, like refinishing furniture or cleaning paintings? For period(original) hand crafted furniture, refinishing a piece of furniture can often negatively impact the value of the piece, especially if it is a signed piece. Often a varnished finish can be simply cleaned, and you avoid the risk of devaluing the piece by having it refinished. Newer machine made furniture presents another dilemma; if the finish is in less than desirable condition, refinishing it will probably add value. However, then you run into the issue of whether it is cost effective, i.e. will it cost more to refinish it than the item is worth?

Fine art should always be stabilized to prevent further damage. For example, a tear in the painting’s canvas should always be repaired. However, there are a lot of factors to consider before cleaning a painting. Is the painting merely dirty from age, or are their foreign substances on the canvas? Are you keeping the painting or are you planning to liquidate it? If you are planning to sell an original work of art, it is best to leave it un-cleaned and let the buyer make his or her own decisions. If you are keeping the painting and are unhappy with the dirt or the darkness of the painting, have it professionally cleaned. Never, never, never try to clean a work on canvas yourself. Leave that task to the experts, as it is easy to do more harm than good.

Paper conservators can do amazing things with works on paper; mold and mildew can be removed, and even tears can be repaired. Again, the question becomes an economics questions; is the item worth the cost of the repairs? For historically significant documents and for important photographs, restoration is always a good idea. But again, trust only an expert who specializes in paper restoration.

And before you go cleaning your silver, brass and copper items, make sure you know what you have and how cleaning impacts the value. I was working with a client a few years ago, and we were selling some of her sterling silver. She had the sterling silver pieces hand cleaned; afterwards they looked great and the value was enhanced with the light cleaning. However, she unknowingly had a silver and bronze Heinz art vase cleaned, destroying the bulk of the value. In a future blog post we will talk more about the care and cleaning of silver.

So, restore or not? It is a personal decision, but consider the above factors when making your decisions. Always use a professional unless you are trained on the type of repairs or restoration your item requires. If you are unsure about the impact of restoration on the value of an item, contact a qualified appraiser. Most credentialed appraisers will also have experts they can recommend for refinishing and/or for repairs. But most of all, make sure your antiques and collectibles are in a condition for you to use and live with. Antiques and art are meant to be used and loved!
Authentic Appraisal & Estate Services © 2010

Vicky Nash Shaw, ISA CAPP
Certified Antique and Art Appraiser

Durham Regent "roadshow" style appraisal fair was great success!

Following in the footsteps of the Raleigh Antiques Roadshow, the Durham Regent Retirement Community hosted an appraisal fair on August 4th. Open to both Regent residents and the local Durham community, the fair had a steady line of people for the three hour event. A wide array of items were valued; notable items included, a Springfield rifle, a Persian gold armor set, pair of period Windsor chairs, pair of mid-20th century Japanese presentation vases, German and English porcelain, and notable original oil paintings.

Becky Vollers, event coordinator reported "Our Durham Regent Retirement's) first appraisal fair was a wonderful and exciting experience. This event was filled with unforgettable memories.”

Antique and art appraiser Vicky Nash Shaw (blog author) was the featured appraiser. I provided valuations for about 40 customers and for about 150 items. Not only did I see some unusual treasures, but I heard some fabulous stories about the items. It was a fun appraisal event. Several individuals brought valuable treasures and collectibles which were unique and one of a kind…..many were items that need insurance appraisals for documentation in the event of a loss. Becky Vollers, event coordinator, also added “A special Thank You to Vicky Nash Shaw for her kindness and participation in this event.” The Durham Regent Community residents have a tradition of supporting the community, and proceeds from the appraisal fair benefited both school children and the local Ronald McDonald home. The retirement community is located on Pickett Road in Durham; the management office as well as Becky Vollers can be reached at 919 490-6224.

Local appraiser Vicky Nash Shaw can be reached at 919 474-6930 or through her website at www.TheAuthenticAppraisal.com.
©2009 Vicky Nash Shaw

Vicky Nash Shaw, ISA AM
Accredited Antique and Art Appraiser
Downsizing & Brokering Consultant

Art, Antiques and Hurriances!

When homeowners prepare for hurricanes, often their art and antiques get overlooked. The Miami CBS4 Affiliate ran an informative and public service article last week; the article was authored by their reporter Jorges Estavez. Here’s a portion of his report:

“When you are preparing for a hurricane, most of us have the basics, like boarding up the house, putting up shutters and stockpiling items like water, batteries, and canned food, down to a science. But there's still the issue of protecting your valuables, the ones you can't lock up like expensive furniture or antiques? Porcelain figurines, ornate chairs, priceless decorations, these are the items on a new kind of hurricane check list.

One woman, who asked to remain anonymous, told CBS4's Jorge Estevez she doesn't want you to make the same mistake she did with her stuff which got ruined after Hurricane Andrew. "My feeling was I really wanted to make sure that I knew what the appraisal value was, God forbid something should happen again," she said. Ever since, she has had everything appraised and thinks everyone else should too.

So make sure and ask yourself before a storm actually begins to head for South Florida, are my antiques checked? An appraisal can cost a couple of hundred dollars, but it could help you save thousands in the future.”To see the entire article, see: www.cbs4.com/local.valuables.antiques.appraisal.2.1109336.html.

Here in North Carolina, we are exposed to potential hurricane and wind damage, even in the areas of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. It is important to remember that although your homeowners’ insurance may be adequate, it is the responsibility of the homeowner to provide proof of existence and valuation of all art, antiques and collectibles. Insurance companies’ claim policies have different provisions. Without an insurance appraisal, many homeowners have limited options after their loss, and some insurance companies only allow for decorative replacement valuation for art and antiques unless adequate proof of real valuation exists prior to the damage or loss. Investment in an insurance appraisal for your original art, high end collectibles, and period furniture is always a wise choice, especially after you spend a lifetime acquiring your collection.

I provide my clients with two signed original copies of their appraisal: one to retain in their home and one to be retained either by an insurance agent or to be stored outside the home in a secure location. In addition, I retain copies of the appraisal and my notes for five years. So, if a loss occurs, clients will always have access to copies of their appraisal document which not only provides value, but also has detailed item descriptions and photographs. If items have significant historical provenance, I include that information within the appraisal, as provenance can greatly impact value. And, because I have viewed the items included in the appraisal, I am a valuable resource for homeowners who need to prove that items actually existed within their home! For more information on insurance appraisals, see the insurance appraisal section of my website: www.TheAuthenticAppraisal.com/appraisals.php#insurance.

Another good altnernative to insurance appraisals are home inventories, especially when prepared by a professional. Again, you not only have the inventory in a formal document, but your appraiser is your best advocate in the event of a loss.

Vicky Nash Shaw, ISA AM
Accredited Antique and Art Appraiser

Raleigh Antiques Roadshow

The arrival of Antiques Roadshow to any city is always exciting and Raleigh was no exception. Not only was the show a resounding success, but records were set! The highest valuation ever presented during an Antiques Roadshow session occurred last weekend in Raleigh, NC. A four piece set of Chinese jade, from the 18th century, was valued between $700k and $1.07 million. The previous highest record was a 2008 valuation of $500,000 for a Clyfford Still abstract painting.

The carved celadon jade collection included a large bowl crafted for the Chinese emperor. The bowl was identified by markings which translated as "By Imperial Order." The owner of the jade inherited them from her father, who purchased them in China during the 1930's and 40's.

The Raleigh event also shattered another record.According to an Associated Press report, Antiques Roadshow received over 34000 ticket requests, setting another record as the highest level previously requested had been 29,000 requests. Over 5,000 people actually attended the event, bringing everything from furniture to art to arrowheads to jewelery. According to Antiques Roadshow, three segments will be developed from the filming of the Raleigh event, and they will air in 2010.

So, what does this mean for the Triangle area? From my perspective, it indicates that there is not only a huge interest in art, antiques and collectibles in central North Carolina, but it also highlighted the quality of the collections which exist in North Carolina. Other states are often cited as havens for collectors, but we now know that there are a large number of quality collections and serious collectors in North Carolina. Many residents across the state, not only in Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Durham, collect "stuff" and I believe the upcoming episodes will illustrate just how good these collections are. When you watch the show, I think you will see a varied assortment of fabulous items...most from homes across North Carolina. So, whether you collect Chinese export porcelain, silver, art glass, pottery or postcards, you are in the company of other serious collectors across North Carolina!

If you missed Antiques Roadshow, there are other ways to have your items valued. So, check back for my next blog which will talk about having YOUR items appraised. Also, see my website at http://www.theauthenticappraisal.com/ for appriasal information.


(c)2009 Vicky Nash Shaw
Authentic Appraisal & Estate Services, LLC
http://www.theauthenticappraisal.com/