 People
always ask me what kinds of items are selling in the antiques business. There
are various items selling to collectors, gift buyers, and the occasional antique
purchasers. One of the items I sell currently is George Washington memorabilia.
George is still the most popular president, ever. He is the father of our country,
leader of our first army, and our beloved first president. He did not, however,
chop down a cherry tree. This folklore myth helped teach young students to never
tell a lie.
Today,
George is selling better than ever. This includes not only real autograph signed
personal letters, that are very expensive but even more so - those much less expensive
treasures. These
items with his picture, name or likeness range from the 19th century to the early
20th century including lithographs and paintings of George with or without Martha,
military, police department, fire department, and political ribbons. Flags, banners,
quilts, and other textiles including re-election posters of other politicians
that include Washington’s face sterling or silver-plate utensils, silverware,
souvenir spoons, and jewelry are popular. Glass bottles, decanters, and tumblers;
ceramic mugs, figurines, souvenir plates, vases, andirons, metal urns, and clocks
are desirable.  Numismatists
have coveted the new Washington quarters with the flipside being all of the 50
states, five different quarters per year, dating from 1999 to 2008. These are
popular among coin collectors in proof sets, as well as, uncirculated editions.
Most
major ceramic manufacturers created merchandise with George Washington’s
picture but they vary in price. For example, a 1910 Rowland and Marsellus English
Staffordshire ten inch souvenir plate depicting Washington crossing the Delaware
will sell for $100. However, a 1920 Salem China company ten inch George Washington
souvenir plate will sell for $10. It’s not the ten year difference in age
that makes the price vary between the two, but rather the quality and beauty by
the earlier English company that makes it more superior. Differences
in art for example, a 19th century small framed silhouette of George Washington
can cost $300, while a much larger lithograph of George’s face, circa 1932,
may only cost $100. In this case, the difference in value is the rarity of the
silhouette. The
year 1932 was big for George because it was the 200th anniversary of his birth
year. Many companies made souvenir items in praise of George. It was also the
first year of the U.S. Washington quarter. True
collectors of George Washington items tend to gravitate to the much older items.
However, I have found that Interior Designers, who are employed by owners of country-style
homes, inns, or restaurants, could care less about age but rather the condition,
the size, and the color are the most important criteria for their project.
If George Washington
were alive today, I think he would be most flattered and humbled by this decorating
and collecting phenomena. Bill
D’Anjolell
Imagine Antiques and Appraisals
Newtown, PA
215-860-5211
Membership
Chair, Bucks County Antiques Dealers Association
www.BCADAPA.org
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Most
of us, I think, will agree the antiques business has changed in the past 10 years,
20 years or 40 years depending on your perspective. Many of us are trying different
things in an effort to keep business fluid.
Over
the next several months I intend to post articles which may be helpful to other
members who are also branching out, and to nonmembers (as in "potential customer")
readers alike.