My Favorite Quotes

  1. "Whatever you do, do it well."



  2. "Of all the things I ever lost, I miss my mind the most."



  3. "The box says: 'Shut up Steve'."

About Me

My photo
Married with six children and 11 grandchildren. retired from USN in 1988 with 30 years of active service.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Poetry 101 - What is the Light?

Poetry 101

This poem was more of a fleeting thought that I had on the trolley coming home from a hard day at work. Looking at it again after 10 years, I can't even remember all the underlying events that caused me to put these thoughts to paper. I'll let the reader decide if it makes any sense in their lives.


What Is The Light?

The mind of the light is encased in a shield
so hardened and tough no secrets does it yield.

Looking in, no one knows what her thoughts really mean.
blurry shadows, drifting smoke, no reality seen.

Why this hiding of feelings that run deep and true
what harm to revealing the desires that accrue.

does the mind of the light search far and wide
or does it look for the answers down deep inside.

but this mystery of light is all good and right
the secrets of light should be hidden out of sight.

The strength of the light is in the knowing it's there
not in the laying on the table of all there is to bare.

When doubts arise and show their ugly faces
remember that the light is here and not in other places.


The Old Guy
12 Mar 2001

Friday, December 18, 2009

Pottery Sales: Frankoma, Mikasa, California Pottery, Royal (USA), Haeger, Metlox, Franciscan

Hopefully this will be the last major update that I am forced to do in pieces. The Holiday Sales period is drawing to an end and Google shopping seems to have stopped making changes that are very time consuming and don't seem to have much impact on us "little shops" in terms of sales.

RECENT SALES


Frankoma "Teenagers of the Bible" Wall Plate

Frankoma (Teenagers of the Bible) Wall Plate - click for full size view
Frankoma (Teenagers of the Bible Wall Plate (Back Mark) - click for full size viewFrankoma (Teenagers of the Bible)Wall Plate (Back Mark) - click for full size view

Description -- Jesus the Carpenter". 7 1/8" diameter, 1st in a series of ten plates. Clay body with raised design of Jesus with chisel. Signed on reverse. Issued for the benefit of Youth for Christ International in 1972. Excellent used condition with no chips, cracks or crazing.

Historical Data -- Frankoma Pottery was originally known as The Frank Potteries when John F. Frank opened shop in 1933 in Norman, Oklahoma. In 1938 they moved to Sapulpa. Early wares were made from a light cream-colored clay from Ada, Oklahoma, but in 1956 the company switched to a red burning clay from Sapulpa. John Frank died in 1973 and his daughter, Joniece, inherited the business. Frankoma went bankrupt in 1990. It was bought by Richard Bernstein in 1991 and is still operating.

More Frankoma at Quality Junk in the Atomic Mall

All Frankoma Postings in this Blog


Mikasa Amherst Dinner Plates

Mikasa Amherst Dinner Plate - Click for full size view
Mikasa Amherst Dinner Plate (Detail View) - click for full size viewMikasa Amherst Mark - click for full size view

Description --Pattern 5874, 10 3/8" diameter. Black circles, gold band, scrolls on red rim. Excellent used condition with no damage. Issue dates unknown. Current (05/09) replacement value $35.99 each.

Historical Data -- In the 1930's, Mikasa was established as an international trading company based in Secaucus, New Jersey. Named in honor of Prince Mikasa, the youngest brother of Emperor Hirohito, Mikasa soon became one of the most recognized Japanese brand names in the West. The company itself never attempted to "manufacture" any of its dinnerware. Rather, the Mikasa branded items were imported from Japan, Ireland, England, France, and Germany. By the 1950's customer requests were pouring in from all parts of the country, and department stores could not shelve enough stock to meet demand. By the early 1960's, Mikasa had established a reputation as "the pioneer of American casual." The 1970's brought new retail store locations. Showrooms and warehouses appeared in Canada, Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In an effort to stay as competitive as possible during the 1980's, Mikasa added crystal stemware, stainless steel flatware and other household accessories to its product offerings. Today, Mikasa continues to leverage the momentum it has built over the decades since its start.

More Mikasa Amherst at Quality Junk in the Atomic Mall

All Mikasa Postings in this Blog


California Pottery Soup Tureen Set

California Pottery Soup Tureen Set - click for full size view
California Pottery Soup Tureen Set )Open Top View) - click for full size viewCalifornia Pottery Soup Tureen Set (Lid Bottom) - click for full size viewCalifornia Pottery Soup Tureen (Bottom Mark) - click for full size view

Description -- Complete with lid, ladle and underplate. All White body, swirl design, with raised grape and leaves design. Overall dimensions 13" x 10 1/2" x 9" tall. Very Good used condition with medium age crazing and a 1/4" rub on the edge of the underplate. "CALIF USA" "783" incised under glaze on bottom. Beautiful piece of California Pottery. I believe this to be circa 1950's.

Historical Data -- The pottery industry in California dates back to the days of the conquistadors. The term California Pottery is primarily used when referring to the many Southern California Potteries that were in operation from the late 1800's to present day. It is a collecting venue that is definitely on the rise and presents the prospect of worthwhile investment with an excellent potential for increased value.

More California Pottery at Quality Junk in the Atomic Mall


Royal Old Curiosity Shop Serving Bowl

OLd Curiosity Shop Large Serving Bowl - click for full size view
Royal China (USA) Old Curiosity Shop Large Serving Bowl (Detail View) - click for full size viewRoyal China Old Curiosity Shop (Center Detail) - click for full size view

Description -- Royal China (USA) - Old Curiosity Shop serving bowl. These are the hard to find 10" serving bowl. The more common 9 1/8" bowl has a lower replacement value, but this size has a replacement value (05/09) of $49.99. This bowl is unmarked but I have no doubt that it is Royal Old Curiosity Shop. Center design is a chest and jug. Excellent condition with no chips, cracks or crazing.

Historical Data -- Royal China operated in Ohio from 1934 to 1986. It was purchased by the Jeanette Glass Corp in 1969 but continued to operate under the Royal name. Operations ceased in 1986.

More Old Curiosity Shop at Quality Junk in the Atomic Mall

All Royal USA Postings in this Blog


Haeger Black Panther Figurine

Haegar Black Panther (side view) - click for full size view
Haegar Black Panther (top view) - click for full size viewHaegar Black Panther (Paper Label) - click for full size view

Description -- Shiny black glossy glaze except for the paw bottoms. 23 1/2" x 5 1/4" x 4". Excellent used condition except for bottom wear. Intact but worn paper labels. While the copywrite tag dates this item to 1996, I remember these from my high school days (long, long ago). I'm not sure about value, but I do see them on line occasionally for $50-$90.

Historical Data -- Haeger Potteries of Dundee, Illinois. Founded in 1871 as the Dundee Brickyard (made much of the brick used to rebuild Chicago after the Great Fire) and is still producing fine pottery today.

More Haeger at Quality Junk in the Atomic Mall

All Haeger Postings in this Blog


Metlox Red Rooster Salad Plates

Metlox Red Rooster Salad Plate - click for full size view
Metlox Red Rooster Salad Plate (Detail View) - click for full size viewMetlox Red Rooster Salad Plate (Bottom Mark - click for full size view
Description -- California Pottery, Poppytrail Division, Provincial Shape One. 7 1/2" diameter, brown rim, rooster center. Excellent used condition, no damage. First issued in 1955 and discontinued in 1979. Current (06/09) replacement value $9.99 each.

Vintage Advertising -- 1968 Metlox Brochure - "Early American with the exciting red coloring that lends style and life to Provincial Ware. The smokey effect on the edges and handles suggest age andenhance the antique feeling."

Historical Data -- The beginning of Metlox Manufacturing Company dates back to 1927 in Manhattan Beach, Ca when Willis and T. C. Prouty became interested in producing the ceramic portion of neon signs.Metlox Manufacturing Company was incorporated in the state of California in 1933. Metlox Manufacturing Company's incorporation was terminated on January 4, 1988.

More Metlox at Quality Junk in the Atomic Mall

All Metlox Postings in this Blog


Franciscan Hacienda Gold Soup Bowls & Dinner Plates

Franciscan Hacienda Gold Dinner Plate - click for full size view
Franciscan Hacienda Gold Cereal Bowl - click for full size viewFranciscan Hacienda Mark - click for full size view


Description -- California Pottery, Hacienda Line. 10 3/4" diameter dinner plates, 6 3/8" diameter cereal bowls. Gold and tan geometric band. First issued in 1965 and discontinued in 1983. Excellent used condition, no chips, cracks or crazing. In the 1960's, the "hand made" look was back in favor with consumers and the ringed grooves of the Hacienda line were a successful entry into the dinnerware market by Franciscan. US Backstamp. Current replacement value $13.99. These are heavy earthenware plates.

Historical Data -- Gladding, McBean and Company started in 1875. The company grew and acquired other potteries. They made sewer pipes, floor tiles, dinnerwares, and art pottery with a variety of trademarks. In 1934, dinnerware and art pottery were sold under the name Franciscan Ware. The company became Interpace Corporation and in 1979 was purchased by Josiah Wedgwood & Sons. The plant was closed in 1984 and all production was moved to England.


More Franciscan Hacienda at Quality Junk in the Atomic Mall

All Franciscan Postings in this Blog


Franciscan Duet Dinner Plates

Franciscan Duet Dinner Plate - click for full size view
Franciscan Duet Dinner Plate (Detail View) - click for full size viewFranciscan Duet Dinner Plate Mark - click for full size view

Description -- California Pottery. Eclipse Line. 10 7/8" diameter, 2 pink flowers & gray stems. Excellent used condition with no chips, cracks or crazing. Current replacement value on these plates is $13.99 each. Duet was first issued in 1956 and was discontinued in 1961..

Duet -- Duet came in 1956 and evokes images of large tail finned cars and the romance of teenage beach movies. Two romanticized red roses lie entwined to one side of the pieces, exaggerating the already irregular shape. With pink and black colors, it is the embodimentof a 1950's kitchen. This is period dinnerware on a family shape that showcases some of the finest of mid-century design. ("Franciscan - An American Dinnerware Tradition" by Bob Page and Dale Frederiksen)

Historical Data -- Gladding, McBean and Company started in 1875. The company grew and acquired other potteries. They made sewer pipes, floor tiles, dinnerwares, and art pottery with a variety of trademarks. In 1934, dinnerware and art pottery were sold under the name Franciscan Ware. The company became Interpace Corporation and in 1979 was purchased by Josiah Wedgwood & Sons. The plant was closed in 1984 and all production was moved to England.

More Franciscan at Quality Junk in the Atomic Mall

All Franciscan Postings in this Blog


Details to follow. Thanks for listening .... ☺☺☺☺

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Pottery Buys: Pacific Clay Products, Sango, Leigh Potters, Nasco, Mitterteich, Iroquois, Preston-Hopkinson, Noritake, Sone

This is a going to be a fairly large entry as I am still behind and just haven't been able to document my buys for a while. As always I will update details as time permits.

RECENT BUYS


Pacific Clay Products Leaf Dish
Pacific China Leaf Dish - click for full size viewDescription - Pastel Blue/Green leaf shape dish with 3 raised veins on the interior.10 1/2" x 8" 1 1/2". Small chip on tip of leaf. Underglaze depression (manufacturing defect) roughly 1/4" square on interior. 3 slightly raised feet and sagger marks on bottom. Pacific China Mark on bottom is badly faded and barely readable. Estimated (11/09) retail value $35.00.
Historical Data - Pacific Clay Products Company was the result of a consolidation of several Los Angeles area potteries in the early 1900's. In 1932 they issued Hostess Ware in competition with Bauer Potteries very successful colored dinnerware lines. The company continued to produce quality ware until 1942 when the plant was converted to defense work. The company is still in business, but only produces tile for construction purposes.

More Pacific Clay Products at Quality Junk in the Atomic Mall


Sango Maui Gravy Boat

Sango Maui Gravy Boat - click for full size view
Sango Maui Gravy (Top View) - click for full size viewSango Maui Mark - click for full size view

Description -- Larry Laslo Collection, Pattern 7001. Orange, gray & black tropical floral design on white body with attached underplate. Overall dimensions 7 1/2" diameter x 2" high. Excellent used condition with no damage. Made in Korea. First issued in 1986 and discontinued in 1992. Current (11/09) replacement value $39.99.

Historical Data -- Sango Ceramics Indonesia is the leading ceramics tableware distributer based in Indonesia. They have fine china, porcelain, and stoneware for home as well as for the hospitality industry manufactured in a number of countries. Their products are exported and sold everywhere.

More Sango at Quality Junk in the Atomic Mall


Leigh Potters Mayfair Cream Soup Set

Leigh Potters Mayfair Cream Soup Set - click for full size view
Leigh Potters Mayfair Cream Soup Underplate - click for full size viewLeigh Potters Mayfair Bottom Mark - click for full size view

Description -- Mayfair is part of the Leigh Ware line issued by Leigh Potters in the late 1920's. The Cream color of the body is a result of the Umbertone Body rather than a glaze treatment. The platinum trim is heavily worn on the underplate but essentially intact on the bowl and handles. The underplate is 7 1/8" in diameter, the bowl opening diameter 5" x foot 3 1/4" diameter x 2" deep. Both pieces have an orange flower decoration with black leaves, Very good used condition with age related glaze crazing on the body, but no chips or cracks. This is a another beautiful example of depression era Ohio River Pottery. I am estimating replacement value at around $35.00

Historical Data -- Leigh Potters first appears in Alliance, Ohio records in the late 1920's after purchasing the Crescent Pottery. It was another of the many Sebring amily potteries in the area. Operations ceased in the early 1930'a, another victim of the Great Depression.

More Leigh Potters at Quality Junk in the Atomic Mall




Mitterteich Alpine Vegetable Bowl

Mitterteich Alpine Round Serving Bowl - click for full size view
Mitterteich Alpine Round Serving Bowl - click for full size viewMitterteich Alpine Bottom Mark - click for full size view

Description -- Bavarian China. All white body with with raised vertical ribs extending down the interior well sides. 9 7/8" opening x 4 1/2" foot x 2 7/8" deep. Excellent used condition with no damage. Current (12/09) replacement value $39.99.

Historical Data -- Mitterteich has been producing household porcelain, hotel porcelain and ovenware dishes for highest requirements in product and design quality under original german hard porcelain production standards for 120 years. Image, competence, elegance, harmony, credibility, quality, design and lifestyle are the defining characteristics of porzellan mitterteich. (Source - Company profile)

More Mitterteich at Quality Junk in the Atomic Mall

All Mitterteich Postings in this Blog


Iroquois Garland Salad Plate

Iroquois Garland Salad Plate - click for full size view
Iroquois Garland Salad Plate - click for full size viewIroquois Improptu Mark - click for full size view
Description -- White body with a blue circle around blue & pink stylized flowers, design by Ben Seibel. 8" diameter. Impromptu Line. Excellent used condition with minor usage scratchs. Issue dates unknown. Current replacement value is $7.99.

Historical Data -- Iroquois China was located in Syracuse, N.Y. from 1905-1969. 1946 introduced "Casual China" designed by Russel Wright. 1959/60 stopped production of hotel ware, except for Casual, Impromptu, and Informal all Ben Seibel designs. 1969 ceased operations.

Ben Seibel -- Ben Seibel set up his own studio in the late 1940's where he worked with a small staff until his death in 1985 at age 67. His output, prolific and varied, included dinnerware, glassware, stainless steel flatware, metal and wood tabletop accessories, furniture and lamps.

More Iroquois at Quality Junk in the Atomic Mall


Preston-Hopkinson Church Plate

Preston Hopkins Lutheran Church Wall Plate - click for full size view
Preston Hopkinson Lutheran Church Wall Plate (Detail View) - click for full size viewPreston Hopkinson Mark
Description -- Preston Hopkinson Commemorative Plate Immanuel Lutheran Church Darling, Minnesota. 10 1/8" diameter, smooth rim, gold trim & verge line. Church decal in black. Church history 1893 - 1967. Very Good used condition with no chips, cracks or crazing, but several suface scratches that can only be seen close up.

Historical Data -- Preston-Hopkinson was established in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1949, pioneering the art of developing photographic images onto porcelain plates. Their Commemorative Plates are known the world over and are still being produced. Their art files date back to the founding of the company and undoubtedly contain the photographs of many historic buildings and sacred churches that are now but a memory.

More Church Plates At Quality Junk in the Atomic Mall




Sone Pattern 1964 Gravy Boat & Serving Bowl

Sone Pattern 1964 Gravy Boat-click for full size view

Sone Pattern 1964 Oval Bowl - click for full size viewSone Pattern 1964 mark - click for full size view

Description -- Aqua Bamboo design with platinum trim on white body, smooth edge. Gravy Boat - overall dimensions 8 3/4" x 5 3/4" x 3 3/8". Excellent used condition with no damage. Current (11/09) replacement value is $19.99. Serving Bowl - overall dimensions 10" x 7 3/4" x 1 7/8". Good used condition with fairly heavy trim wear. Current (11/09) replacement value is $31.99.

Historical Data -- Sone is one of the many Japanese Potteries known worldwide for their fine ware.

More Sone at Quality Junk in the Atomic Mall


Details to follow. Thanks for listening .... ☺☺☺☺