VOLUME 23, NUMBER 2 MARCH-APRIL 2009

ST. LOUIS (Johnson Bros)

FLOW BLUE INTERNATIONAL COLLECTORS’ CLUB, INC.

The FBICC is organized to stimulate, educate, and maintain interest in the collection and study of Flow Blue, Mulberry, and related fields of china, and to promote the exchange of information regarding same between members worldwide. OFFICERS: Please send all news, notes, articles, photos, President - Jon Houserman (MI) suggestions, questions, comments, and 1st Vice President - Jerry Taylor (IN) Blueberry Market items to: 2nd Vice President - Dale Covey (KS) Editor Past President - Robert Ferriani (IN) CINDY NEFF - - - - 6843 Pebblebrook Ct. Treasurer - Ray Schomas (IL) Brownsburg, IN 46112 Recording Secretary - Margaret Taylor (IN) (317) 858-1158 Corresponding Secretary - Ginny Mueller (WI) E-mail Address: [email protected] Membership Chair - Jim Swan (KS) For change of address and membership Newsletter Editor - Cindy Neff (IN) information, please contact the Membership Chairperson: Legal Advisor - Joel Brosk (IL)

Education Chair - Helen Swan (KS) Jim Swan 2404 Westdale Road REGIONAL DIRECTORS: Lawrence, KS 66049 Region 1 - John Laudermilch (MD) (785) 842-1117 E-mail Address: [email protected] Region 2 - Marilyn Holm (MI) Region 3 - Katrina Franklin (GA) FBICC website: www.flowblue.org Region 4 - Brenda Meyer (MO) Region 5 - John Kirk (AR) Cover picture courtesy of Region 6 - Marsha Godwin (CA) Paul & Judy Boles ST. LOUIS (Johnson Bros) Blue Berry Notes is the official newsletter of the FBICC. Table of Contents Photographs submitted by members become the President & Editor Letters...... 3 property of the FBICC, Inc. and no article, The Grand Tour ...... 4 photograph or drawing may be reproduced Birthday in Blue ...... 5 without the express permission of the FBICC, Inc. Bluetique ...... 5 The Rare and Unusual Piece ...... 6 Use of photos in BBN does not imply that the 2008 Convention Tale ...... 9 item is either Flow Blue or Mulberry. Meet Me in St. Louis!! ...... 10 Editor - Cindy Neff It's Coming! It's Coming! ...... 11 Associate Editor - Josslyn Lucas A Perfect Match ...... 11 Martha Washington and CHAIN OF STATES12 Copy Editor - Agnes Holst Meet Region 2 Director Marilyn Holm ...... 16 Blueberry Market ...... 20 Condition Classification Guide ...... 21 DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT ISSUE - Club Bulletin Board ...... 22 May 15, 2009 The Thrill of Victory & the Agony of Defeat ... 23 Important Notices ...... 24

2

FROM THE EDITOR FROM THE PRESIDENT

Carleton and Mary Bankes were With the long-awaited arrival of some of the first club members Phil spring, Sue and I are looking for- and I met. Their big-hearted ward to setting up and doing a friendliness helped us feel few outdoor antique shows this completely at home. Mary sold me summer with our daughter. We my first LONSDALE berry bowl at (try to) sell a variety of antique a convention and I “encouraged” glassware and china, including her to buy an IVY bowl for a wash flow blue and mulberry, and en- pitcher in another convention auction. Carleton told courage our customers to join the stories and kidded around to make us laugh, all the while Club and participate in its many benefits of member- pretending that it was only Mary who was interested in ship. those dishes. It was with real sorrow that Phil and I learned of Carleton’s passing this past fall. Being a At the end of March the FBICC Board of Directors member of the club goes beyond reading a Blue Berry traveled to the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky, for Notes or two. It’s getting to know the people, the mid-year board meeting. The Galt House will be the developing a common history, and feeling deeply sad site of the Club’s 2010 annual convention from July 29 when they’re gone. Our love and sympathy goes to you, through August 1, 2010. Jerry and Margaret Taylor, as Mary. We will miss him, too. well as Bill and Pat Wetherton, will co-chair the conven- tion at this site and have already completed a good deal of the pre-planning needed to make it a success. At the mid-year board meeting, several belt-tightening changes to the 2009 Budget were enacted to bring it into balance The 2009 St. Louis convention registration packet should and strengthen the Club’s future financial position. have arrived in the envelope with this issue of Blue Berry Good progress was made on the Club’s regular business Notes. Your registration form and auction consignment as well as reviewing the final schedule of 2009 St. Louis form are two things to attend to quickly so that you don't convention events including the Cheese Keeps presenta- miss important deadlines. Downloading the auction tion. I very much appreciate the board members’ partici- form and emailing it back is an efficient way to speed up pation in the meeting, and the time and personal travel the process. expenses that they voluntarily contribute. We are truly fortunate to have this group of dedicated people serving the Club.

With the upcoming St. Louis convention fast approach- ing (July 30 through August 2, 2009), I again encourage you to mark it on your calendar and plan to attend. The convention committee has a great schedule of events and, as always, you’ll never find more flow blue and mulberry in any one place than at a Club international convention. See you there! FBICC 2008-2009 Calendar

April 17-18, 2009 - Reg. 1 Meeting 2009 Blue Berry Notes Publication Schedule Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania April 25-26, 2009 - Reg. 2 Meeting Issue Deadline Distributed South Bend, Indiana May/June/July May 15th Late June Aug/Sep Aug. 15th Late Sept. Oct/Nov/Dec Oct. 15th Late Nov. July 30-August 2, 2009 FBICC International Convention - St. Louis,

3 The Grand Tour

By Ed Hale The second tour will be of the Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion originally dating from 1848. The house was built as a farm house by Henri Chatillon, who was a guide Grand Tour of St. Louis and hunter for the American Fur Company before and settling permanently in St. Louis. He led caravans along Four of its Nicest the Oregon Trail. Dr. Nicolas DeMenil bought the Victorian Mansions house in 1856. He was a well-known physician and part owner of the first chain of drug stores. In 1861 he and his wife Emilie Chouteau DeMenil added extra rooms We will tour St. Louis and inspect in detail four of its and changed the house into the Greek Revival Mansion finest Victorian mansions. All the mansions are in the that it is today. inner city and the tour will include viewing many of the major inner city sites of St. is in the same block as the Chatillon- Louis. These sites include: DeMenil Mansion and was built in early 1860 with several the arch, the riverfront, later additions. It was Cherokee Street antique purchased by William J. district (the best antiquing Lemp for his home and in the city itself), Tower office. Mr. Lemp had the Grove Park (a Victorian largest brewery in St. park donated by Henry Louis, the Lemp Brewing Shaw who endowed the Co., whose remnants are in park with many interesting the heart of the brewery The pavilions, statuary, and district just across the Compliments of Google Images interstate from the Lemp Mansion plants), the convention Compliments of Google Images center, the football and new baseball stadia, Anheuser- Anheuser-Busch brewery. Busch brewing company, (which contains the We will take a self-guided zoo, science center, Jewel tour of the 33-room Lemp Mansion and the garden, and Box, art museum and then be served lunch in the fine rooms on the main floor. ) and several The final mansion to be toured is the Samuel Cupples other interesting places. House built in 1888 in the magnificent Romanesque Revival style. Its design is unusual and the house has 42 The mansions are rooms and 22 fireplaces. The many large airy rooms impressive, but contain many fine The Art Museum distinctly antiques, paintings, Forest Park different from each stained glass, and Compliments of Google Images other as the brief other treasures of St. descriptions below Louis University. indicate. A nice buffet lunch consisting of roast beef, There items will be pasta con broccoli, green beans almondine, new potatoes, discussed by the house salad, rolls, cookies, and tea, coffee, or soft drinks guides. The house is will be served in the Lemp Mansion. very near the center of the university The first house to be toured will be the Campbell House campus and is Cupples House surrounded by built in 1851. It was built as an inner city house, but it is Compliments Google Images now a museum. A $3 million restoration has recently beautiful fountains, been completed. Guides will lead a tour of the three gardens and grounds. story city house which is ornately furnished in high Victorian style with many original possessions owned by The Grand Tour of St. Louis will show you the breadth the Campbells. In addition, there will be on display a of the history and elegance of the structures in the city. variety of flow blue pieces. Please join us for this fabulous day.

4 Birthday in Blue

Long time member James Colvin sent this note to the editor on January 22, 2009. FBICC joins James in wishing Maryellen many more years to enjoy her family and her flow blue.

We celebrated Maryellen’s 85th birthday last week with a soup and salad luncheon.

Our daughters and daughters-in-law teamed up to serve. The enclosed pictures show how they mixed various patterns of “Blue” to set the table.

We had 30 people. In another dining area we had another table much like the one shown in the pictures.

Bluetique

Flow Blue & Mulberry Teapot Body Style Book (Only pages, no binders available): $20.00 2006, 2007, 2008 Early and Late Victorian supplement pages available FREE. (Contact Jim & Helen Swan at [email protected] or 785-842-1117.)

Flow Blue China–Additional Patterns & New Information by Norma Jean Hoener: $20.00

Available Pamphlets: The Johnson Bros., A Dynasty in Clay $10.00 William H. Grindley & His Flow Blue Dishes $ 5.00 William H. Grindley – Part II $ 5.00 The Meigh Potters $ 5.00

Send a check/money order made out to “FBICC” to Jerry and Margaret Taylor, 3026 Gus Emmett Trail, Sellersburg, IN 47172. E-mail at [email protected] or telephone at 812-246-4526, before 9:00 pm EST, please. We can not accept credit cards at this time. Soups in Blue - cookbook: $ 6.00 each book Petra Williams Books - Single books of Volume 1 or Volume 2: $ 5.00 each book

To inquire about sales of Soups in Blue cookbooks and Petra Williams books, along with the shipping details, please con- tact Jon Houserman at 509 W. Bridge St., Lyons, MI 48851, e-mail at [email protected], or telephone at 989-855- 2921, before 9:00 pm EST, please. We can not accept credit cards at this time.

5 The Rare and Unusual Piece

By Warren Macy She also shared a small individual veggie in the LORNE (numbered photos appear (Grindley) pattern which she collects. on pages 7 and 8) Len and Louise Mason collect CONWAY and, as you may recall, last year shared the Well, Editor Cindy is cracking the elusive CONWAY teapot whip again, thanks to my with us. CONWAY is procrastination, so it is time to usually found produced by reflect back on the rare and unusual New Wharf Pottery, but this items brought to last year’s year the Masons presented a international CONWAY plate made by convention. Editor Cindy may be a slave Wood & Sons Ltd., (6) driver but at least she is kind enough to together with a small placard Wood & Sons Ltd. placard always bring a piece for the R&U advertising the pottery. They for store display program. This year she brought a small also brought a piece of bulbous square bud vase in NANKIN Spanish flow blue which is automatically R&U because JAR by Ridgway & Morley. so few pieces were produced in Spain. The piece was a plate with what I would describe as a freehand brushstroke design Richard Wisner, also, can be counted on and gold highlights. (7) to bring a piece or two for R&U. This year he brought his monastery bowl. Gordon Rank always brings (See (1) on following page.) “What is a R&U items all the way from monastery bowl?” you ask. Why, it is a NANKIN JAR Canada, although this year he bowl with a building on it that looks like a (Ridgway & may have been closer to the monastery, of course. Morley) - Neff convention than I was traveling from Indiana. This year Gordon Heidi Woolf brought a Royal Doulton flow blue plate brought a tray with reticulated featuring a galloping horseman, possibly depicting the handles (8) and a rare salt in midnight ride of Paul Revere. (2) The design on the plate LINTON LINTON (Thomas Godwin). (9) was from a 1784 painting (Thomas Godwin) by George Morland. master salt - Rank

Ellen Hill shocked the Ellen King is another regular gathered R&U fans by presenter at the R&U starting off with a piece of program. This year she flow blue! She presented presented two very deep a gilded, polychromed cobalt blue brushstroke match box with an bowls. One was a large round incorporated striker. (3) serving bowl possibly from She then reverted to her Belgium (10) and the other a mulberry roots by offering small oval bowl was marked two desserts or under trays Luneville, France. In a in mulberry, one in completely different vein, she COREAN and one in Unknown brushstroke brought a flow blue ashtray bowl marked WASHINGTON VASE, with a cherub transfer both patterns by Podmore advertising the Sebring Pottery "Luneville, France" - Walker. Her final piece Co. of East Liverpool, Ohio. King was a beautiful mulberry (11) wall plaque in an unidentified pattern. (4) Marilyn Holm must have a lot of R&U flow blue as she brings three or four pieces every year. This year was no WASHINGTON VASE - top Angela Montpas joined in exception. She showed a polychromed covered breakfast COREAN - bottom cup in the “LYRE” pattern (Doulton) together with a (Podmore Walker) - Hill polychromed egg cup and mug. (12, 13, 14) She also brought a beautiful Doulton self-pouring teapot in a floral the spirit by bringing a small pattern. (15) child’s or toy cup in the NING PO pattern by Hall. (5) (Continued on page 9) LORNE (Grindley) - Montpas 6 The Rare and Unusual Piece

1 3 2 "Monastery Bowl" - Wisner Royal Doulton - The transfer is a possible depiction of Paul Revere's ride. - Woolf

Unknown matchbox with 4 incorporated striker decorated in polychrome and gilding - Hill

CONWAY (Wood & Sons) 5 - Mason Unknown mulberry wall plaque - NING PO (Hall) Hill toy or child's cup - Montpas 6

7 8 9 Unknown brushstroke plate produced in Spain - Unknown tray with reticulated handles - LINTON (Thomas Godwin) Mason Rank master salt - Rank

Unknown brushstroke bowl produced in Belgium - King

Cherub transfer ashtray advertising the Sebring Pottery Co. of East Liverpool, Ohio - 10 King 11 7 The Rare & Unusual Piece

13 14 12 "LYRE" (Doulton) covered breakfast cup, egg cup and mug - Holm

16 17

CASHMERE (Morley) CASHMERE (Morley) sponge dish 15 large mug - Hohl with elaborate gilding - Hohl

Self-pouring teapot by Doulton - Holm

19

Unknown small compote with a 18 triangular foot - Hohl HINDUSTAN (Maddock) teapot - Hohl 20

8 The Rare & Unusual Piece

Bonne and Bob Hohl brought five truly R&U items. This South Bend, Indiana. year they tantalized the CASHMERE (Morley) collectors It is time to start thinking about what with a very large CASHMERE mug you will bring for the Rare and (16) and a gorgeous gilded Unusual program this year. What? CASHMERE sponge dish. (17) You say you don’t have any R&U They also shared two HINDUSTAN items for the St. Louis convention in (Maddock) teapots (18) and a small July? No problem. Just come to the compote with a R&U foot. (19, 20) Hoosier Antiques Exposition at the Indiana State Fair grounds April 17- Well that is it for this issue. In the 19. Ron Gallo, Joann Woodall, and I next issue we will look at the will be selling there and will be happy polychrome presented at the to fix you up with a R&U piece or Rochester program, and possibly a two for the convention. See? If you piece or two from our Region 2 HINDUSTAN (Maddock) teapot - Hohl write an article for the BBN you regional to be held April 25 & 26 in can give yourself free advertising! 2008 Convention Tale

The Soup Tureen that Turned into tureen and I agreed. The an Umbrella Stand auction came along and we and Found Its Way Home all had lots of fun bidding “With A Little Help From My on the gorgeous blue that Friends” was offered. We had so much fun bidding that now

there was another problem! by Marilyn Holm There was no longer enough (with Apologies to The Beatles) room in the Houserman’s van for all my stuff along This tale from last year’s convention in Rochester with their purchases and my demonstrates what makes conventions so much fun and purchases. What to do? how great flow blue people are. When planning my trip to Well, David and Sandy Rochester I had a problem. I had a bunch of soup tureens Pomeroy live just a few that I wanted to display for the “Soup Tureen Parade” and miles from me and they I also wanted to sell some items at Table Sales. However, graciously offered to take I did not want to make the long drive to Rochester by my soup tureens home with myself. Jon and Sue Houserman, who also live in them. This problem was Michigan about an hour’s drive away from me, came to solved. Now there was GLOIRE DE DIJON the rescue and offered to transport my boxes of flow blue room in the Houserman van (Doulton) in their van, so that I could fly. That was wonderful! The for the other items. umbrella stand problem was solved. LaBelle Blue Diamond 3 pc soup tureen During the Table Sales I stopped by Ed and Bonnie At the convention the Jordan’s booth and Bonnie said, “I sold your soup LaBelle soup tureen that I tureen!” Turns out she sold it to the Pomeroy’s, so it took, with no intention of ended up going home with them as planned after all! selling it, caught the eye Now if I get lonesome for it, I just have to drive a few of fellow Michigander miles down the road to visit it. Actually, the umbrella Bonnie Jordan. She stand ended up not far from its original home with the offered to trade her Jordans. Both pieces could have stayed here in Michigan GLOIRE DE DIJON and not even made the trip to Rochester! But that would umbrella stand that I had have been too easy. It all worked out just fine because, “I been eyeing longingly for Get By With a Little Help From My Friends.” Flow Blue several years for the soup friends are the greatest!

9 Meet Me in St. Louis!!

By Dale Covey The St. Louis icon in 1904 was The St. Louis a huge ferris World’s Fair was wheel. Today’s held in 1904 with St. Louis icon is lots of the Gateway excitement Arch. Take pervading the some time to go city. This up into the Arch excitement is felt for a great view in the movie of the city just as “Meet Me In St. Louis,” starring Judy Garland. the Fair-goers People from all over the rode the ferris USA and other countries wheel to get their planned their trips to St. view of the city. Louis and the Fair. Now The Renaissance 1904 World's Fair ferris wheel here we are 105 years later Hotel offers Compliments Google Images with FBICC members from complimentary all over the USA and other tickets on the city countries planning their Metro train. The train stops right outside the trips to St. Louis and the hotel and goes to the Arch as well as many other FBICC convention. city sites.

Sure, our wonderful china is So, include a couple of days before or after the star of the show, but we convention to enjoy St. Louis, rent the movie, Compliments of Google Images also come to see our old and “Meet Me In St. Louis” in July. friends and make some new ones, too. Plan to come in time to attend this year’s wonderful Thursday tour. You will tour four of the best high Victorian mansions in St. Louis. These homes were built from 1848–1888, right when much of the flow blue and mulberry was produced. I am sure that the residents of these homes had a grand time at the Fair in ’04. There will be flow blue featured on the tour as well as views of many St. Louis landmarks including The Jewel Box, a Better than fairs and ferris wheels, marvelous all-glass three nesting platters in structure still remaining The Jewel Box ST. LOUIS by Johnson Bros. from the 1904 World’s Compliments of Google Images Compliments of Paul & Judy Boles Fair.

10 It's Coming! It's Coming!

by Helen Swan, Education Chairperson

It’s almost here! The FBICC pattern identification resource will be unveiled this year at the St. Louis Convention. Many people have been working diligently on this project and I promise it will “wow” you. Jim Swan, our computer programmer, has spent many hundreds of hours programming, and his “honey do” list is so large that he will need some volunteers to dig him out. Secretly, I think he loves to say to me, “I have to program for the club, not paint, clean, or work around the house.” Thanks to our volunteers, Betty Reid, Bob Ferriani, Kim Boyer, Ellen King, and Terry Aufox, the research is done on most of the plates. I’m entering all the data into the computer along with the information on the manufacturers. Since my eyes are nearly crossed, just look at the center of my face when visiting with me at the convention. After this, our club experts and membership will help us by finding our mistakes. At this time, we have about 100 patterns entered and hope to have the 400 plates that are already photographed onto the database by July 2009. We are counting on you all to bring more plates to the convention this year, including those from children’s sets. We are currently compiling a list of those plates which have been photographed, as well as those in which the mark pictures are particularly bad. You will receive the list of completed patterns before packing for the convention, so that you can check your collection and bring patterns that are missing.

A Perfect Match

Editor's Note: The following note arrived from club members Dan and Haya Sapira, Israel. Their international travels and ebay savvy combine to ferret out many flow blue treasures. I'm also convinced that they have a kiln in the backyard!

(The pieces) are not hybrid. Haya found the 12 1/2 inch drainer in London and I found the 17 inch platter on eBay. They fit perfectly. What a bargain hunting. Best wishes, Haya & Dan

CASHMERE (Morley) platter and pierced meat drainer

11 Martha Washington and CHAIN OF STATES

by Cindy Neff translators for two hundred years. Many believe it says, “A glory and the defense of it,” speaking to the strength A hot topic among antiques of the union, collectors is pesky reproductions that while others sometimes flood the market and say a more sometimes sneak in under the in-depth collector’s radar. Reproductions study meant to deceive depress the value of produces the authentic pieces by making each item translation, suspect. They leave collectors “Our Union Latin motto on each piece wondering if they have enough savvy to detect the real is our Glory and our Defense against Him.” The “Him” items from the fake. referred to King George III, whose name many citizens refused to utter aloud. Another type of reproduction salutes and honors an event. With our distaste for imitations, it seems ironic Some historians believe that Andreas Everaredue Van that there is an example in authentic flow blue of a Braam Houckgeest, a Dutch-American tradesman and pattern which was, in fact, a reproduction. Fortunately, it the director of Canton operations for the Dutch East was not manufactured to deceive, but to commemorate. India Company between 1790 and 1795, not only commissioned and purchased the lovely tea set, but also During the early years of our nation, presidential china had a hand in the actual design of the pattern often called was not something the First Lady and her decorator “States China.” A naturalized citizen of the United designed. Most of the time it was a gift from abroad States, his ambitions included becoming ambassador to intended to honor the woman and make her job as China, but it was not to be. Instead he came home and hostess to the world a pleasurable task. In 1796 Martha found his place in history defined by his unique gift. Custis Washington received one of these thoughtful gifts. Listed on the manifest of the Lady Louisa, a ship which In 1876, Haviland and Co. was commissioned to create docked in Philadelphia on April 24, 1796, after an perhaps the earliest reproduction of the china. Its release arduous trip from China, was “a box of china for Lady to the public coincided with the 1876 U.S. Centennial Washington.” celebration and proved to be very popular. Other European companies recognized a good niche for that Inside the box was a monogrammed tea set numbering moment in history and produced replicas, as well. approximately 45 pieces of Cantonese china. The creamy background held a golden sunburst around Martha’s Approximately 20 initials “MW” years later, at the and a chain 100th anniversary containing the of the names of the presentation of 15 states in the the tea set, union. another clever Encircling the marketing idea entire plate was burst on the a snake scene. Wood & swallowing its Son, Burslem, own tail. A England, began common reproducing the symbol in Martha many cultures, Washington CHAIN OF STATES the serpent pattern, (Wood & Son) saucer represents commonly Courtesy of ebay seller mainant. perpetuity, eternity or unending strength and unity. A called CHAIN OF Latin motto, “Decus et tutamen ab illo,” is beneath the STATES or LIBERTY CHAIN, in flow blue on 9-inch initials and on a red ribbon. The motto has stumped plates, cups and saucers. Their marketing plan involved

12 Martha Washington and CHAIN OF STATES

taking orders from stores in the U.S. for dishes to be  Drake and Hersey Co. House Furnishings, Boston, used as premiums or “giveaways” when customers Mass. purchased a certain item  Morse Furniture Co., Boston, Mass. or made a purchase totaling a certain amount  Pleasant Furniture Co., Boston, Mass. of money. Wood & Son  Shawmut Furniture Co., Boston, Mass. placed the name of the  W.G. Shaw Home Furnishers, Quincy, Mass. store or establishment on  Flagg & Willis House Furnishers, Brockton, Mass. the back of each piece so Flagg & Willis was recently featured on the that the grateful Wicked Local website. It reported: “ONE customers had a constant HUNDRED YEARS AGO: Flagg & Willis reminder of who had House Furnishers offered their annual Spring gifted them with the Club Sale. A new Standard Sewing Machine dishes. Most often the costing $19.75 could be had for $2.00 down and Rare Wood & Son mark - Wood & Son, Royal one dollar per week.” EnterpriseNews.com CHAIN OF STATES plate Semi-Porcelain mark does states: “ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO: not appear as a backstamp, Summer wicker rockers were on sale at Flagg & but when it is present it is printed in green. These pieces Willis House Furnishers for $4.50.” normally have, “Made in England,” although that Other stores whose business focus was not ascertained, is sometimes missing, but their names appear on backstamps are as follows:

 Brown & Willis, Fitchburg, Mass. Green stamped mark Courtesy of ebay seller  D.H. McIntosh, Portsmouth, New Hampshire Hartland Collecting  Hansel, Sloan & Co., Hartford, Conn.  Long, Boston, Mass.  Oran M. Shaw, Portsmouth, New Hampshire  P.T. Ives, Meriden, Conn.  W.E. Woodman Co., Boston, Mass. Blue stamped mark Courtesy of ebay seller The last list includes businesses with specified interests: cameome23  The Boston Dry Goods Co., Danielson, Conn. A common type of store specializing in textiles and related merchandise, distinct from hardware and “Compliments of ….” or "For…" with the name of and groceries. the store inserted, as either an underglaze green stamped  A.S. Burbank Pilgrim Book Store, Plymouth, Mass. mark or a blue transfer mark. Only one report found A.S. Burbank also wrote and published books. includes a registry mark impressed onto a plate, but it was His most famous was a guide to Plymouth, Mass. smudged and unreadable. drafted in 1917.  C.W. Wilcox, Milford, Mass. An investigation of the different store names found on Est. 1889 – The 1889 Milford Business Directory these pieces didn’t reveal any that are still in operation, lists for sale, “Finest quality sterling silver and but it did identify several types of establishments that silver plated ware” and “Latest Novelties in used these dishes as premiums. Located exclusively in Diamond, Gold and Silver Jewelry” also “Optical the Northeast, the following is a partial list of the Goods.” Owner Charles W. Wilcox was a furniture stores which appear on backstamps: watchmaker, jeweler and optician.

 Daniel Low & Co., Salem, Mass.  Cushman Furniture Co., Attleboro, Mass. Est. 1867 as a jewelry store. Later distributed  Dover Furniture Co., Dover, New Hampshire their jewelry and gifts by a national mail order

13 Martha Washington and CHAIN OF STATES

catalogue. Their 1901 catalogue proclaims, “W1131.” Many impressed “Daniel Low & Co., Jewelry and Sterling, Gold numbers and letters appear on and Silver Smiths.” these items. Most are numbers incised into the body of the piece Flow blue author and researcher Bill VanBuskirk affirms but some are stamped in green or that the Martha Washington or CHAIN OF STATES red. The variety may be pattern was reproduced by Wood & Son as a luncheon attributed to the whim of the establishment purchasing the Impressed numbers dishes or to the record keeping of from the pottery. the pottery which tried to keep all of these special orders and requests organized.

Just to keep the puzzles coming, many pieces appear to be without any gold gilding, while others have an excess of gilding. Some antiques CHAIN OF STATES (Wood & Son) dealers have concluded cup and saucer that only pieces Courtesy of ebay seller mainant produced after 1901 received the gold Heavy gold gilding on the set containing gilding. Pieces made MW initials only plates, prior to this date had (Best viewed on the website: cups and none. Also, some pieces www.flowblue.org) saucers. In contain a mistake in the fact, several transfer print. The state Courtesy of ebay seller years ago Bill of Virginia is spelled Times Past Antiques found one of VERGINIA on some of these plates the dishes, but the date for this error in quality control with “luncheon hasn’t been discovered. set” stamped on the back. Are you harboring a disfavored reproduction piece in your china cabinet? Surely not. A piece of Martha The variety of Washington CHAIN OF STATES is not just a markings on reproduction, but a bona fide antique with a fascinating CHAIN OF STATES the back of history and mystery enough for all. (Wood & Son) - plate each piece Courtesy of ebay seller remains a Times Past Antiques mystery. In 1891 the McKinley Tariff Act required that each piece have the country of origin and the maker’s mark printed on the back. These items, thought to be produced between 1896 and 1910, rarely contain both. The explanation Our thanks to ebay sellers cameone23 (Dave), remains undiscovered. Hartland Collecting, mainant (Jim Durgin), One extremely rare mark seen in an ebay listing read, and Times Past Antiques "Martha Washington Enoch 1764 Ralph 1750 Woods [email protected] (Carol Fanzosa) Burslem, England, Reproduction Plate from the Original for sharing photos Dinner Service," along with the impressed mark from their ebay item listings with all of us.

14 Martha Washington and CHAIN OF STATES

A sampling of the impressed and stamped marks found on plates, cups and saucers in the Martha Washington CHAIN OF STATES (Wood & Son) pattern.

15 Meet Region 2 Director Marilyn Holm

By Marilyn Holm tern by Johnson Brothers that came from my mother. It was my first piece of flow blue and I didn’t even realize I My interest in flow blue began in 1996 had it! After seeing it, I vaguely remember seeing it used after I retired from being a cell biologist occasionally long before I knew what it was. Naturally I for the Upjohn pharmaceutical company wondered if there had been a set of it in the family at in Kalamazoo, Michigan. My husband some time, and asked relatives about it. But no one re- Jim, an electronics engineer at Upjohn, membered any dishes like that. retired at the same time I did. Pfizer has since bought the company and our daughter now works My best find came at a local auction, where I picked up a for Pfizer in Sandwich, United Kingdom. About the SLOE BLOSSOM desk set with gold trim for only $200! same time that I retired and had more time to go antiqu- ing, I inherited a number of antiques from my mother. So I set out to see what I had.

My interest in old dishes began when I spotted Fiesta in an antique shop and recalled the Fiesta that my aunt and uncle used in their cabin on a lake in northern Michigan where I spent many happy childhood summer vacations. So I began collecting the original Fiesta. A little while later I spotted Blue Willow and another collection was begun. It reminded me of the blue and white dishes that both my mother and my mother-in-law used many years What a thrill that was! It had damage, but I didn’t care. It ago. Then the most beautiful plate I had ever seen was absolutely gorgeous! That started a love of early caught my eye! It was blue and white with gold trim pieces with gold trim. If they have polychrome or col- (CAMBRIDGE), and FLOW BLUE began to call to me! ored ground, that’s even better. My green ground pieces that match my green carpet are my favorites. Another Not being able to favorite is a 4-piece sauce tureen in ORIENTAL by Al- stop with just one cock with a rosebud finial and gold trim that I put to- pattern, my flow gether piece by piece. The undertray was purchased at blue collection last year’s convention auction with a sauce tureen in a now includes different shape. Fortunately, I knew it really matched my ARGYLE by tureen! Ah! The thrill of the hunt! Grindley, CAMBRIDGE by It seems incongruous to some that one could like both Meakin, Fiesta, which was made relatively recently (1930-1970), MANILLA by and Gaudy Ironstone, which is 100 years older, and even Podmore Walker, display them together. It is their similarities that I see. NANKIN and Both are heavy, utilitarian pieces and they share the same GLOIRE DE colors: cobalt blue, orange- DIJON by red, light green, yellow and Doulton, pink. LaBelle BLUE DIAMOND, Gaudy Ironstone, polychrome flow blue Most of my pieces are dis- and some early pieces with gold trim. It has been found played in china cabinets and in all the usual places: antique shows and shops, auc- on shelves, mostly in one tions, the FBICC conventions and, of course, ebay! One room in the basement – the other place it was found is, strangely enough, my own “Blue Room”. I also enjoy kitchen cupboard! About a year after I started collecting using it for special occa- flow blue, I was looking through a kitchen cabinet of sel- sions. It seems that the dom-used items and noticed a bit of blue way in the back. more flow blue I see, the It was a flow blue vegetable bowl in the STERLING pat- more I want! Patterns and

16 Meet Region 2 Director Marilyn Holm

Marilyn's display of Fiesta and Gaudy Flow Blue at the 2006 convention.

17 Meet Region 2 Director Marilyn Holm

18 Meet Region 2 Director Marilyn Holm

styles that didn’t interest me at first now seem more ap- see more, buy more and even sell a few pieces as my in- pealing. And, in order to make room for new acquisi- terests change. Best of all, I’ve met lots of new friends tions, I find I must part with some pieces that I now find who share the same passion for these old dishes. Since less interesting. So, as often happens, the collector be- becoming the Region 2 director in 2006, I’ve come to comes a part-time seller. I have a booth in a local antique know the other board members better and appreciate mall and occasionally sell at local antique shows and con- their tremendous dedication to this club and the amount vention table sales. But it is still difficult to part with any of work they do to maintain and increase its value to the members.

Marilyn's booth of Fiesta, Blue Willow, flow blue, etc. of it. Last year I sold my GLOIRE DE DIJON The desk in the Blue Room which holds the (Doulton) cham- SLOE BLOSSOM desk set among other things. ber pot to some- one who was look- ing for one as a Christmas gift for his wife. Now I wish I had it back! My wash set is missing it. If any- one has one, please let me know. The hunt goes on!

Early in my flow blue collecting hobby, I noticed a MANILLA (Podmore Walker) WAGON WHEEL plate at a local antique show GLOIRE DE DIJON (Doulton) and thought how wash set along with various other modern it looked pieces and patterns and how it reminded me of the American Southwest, as does Fiesta. This dealer told me about the FBICC and handed me a mem- bership application form. Then my love of collecting flow blue really took off! Since joining the FBICC family I’ve found the Blue Berry Notes to be a tremendous source of information about flow blue. The conventions "SCROLL" candlesticks and razor box have been a very enjoyable way to learn more about it,

19 Blueberry Market

Each member may send in three “Wanted” items per issue at Wanted: 1. DOREEN (Grindley) chamber pot or no charge. For Sale ads are available at the rate of $5 for one slop jar. or two items and $10 for three or four items in one issue. 2. LANCASTER (New Wharf Pottery) teapot Each ad may also include one picture. Make checks payable to Denise Warfel, 413 Buck Road, Quarryville, FBICC and send to the editor. PA 17566 or 717-786-2460 Wanted: 1. CASSINA (Davenport) child's pieces. Wanted: SCINDE (Alcock) undertray for rose bud 2. AMOY (Davenport) Gothic-shaped cream finial shaped sauce tureen. Near mint condition. pitcher, undertray to chestnut basket and under John C. Dorris, 5700 N Cypress, Newburgh, IN plate for round gravy. 47630, 812-858-2691. 3. SCINDE (Alcock) rose-bud finial shaped undertray to soup tureen and pagoda-shaped Wanted: AMHERST JAPAN polychrome child's undertray to soup tureen. creamer. Terry Aufox 2665 Marl Oak Drive, GOAT flow blue child's teapot with lid. Highland Park, IL 60035 or 847-432-1927 PEKING flow blue six-paneled underplate with dark cobalt handles for large soup tureen. Wanted: LUGANO teapot, pitchers, soup tureen with Contact Judy Mead, 214 522 2914 undertray and ladle, double salts or any rare or [email protected]. pieces. I’m also looking for any double salts in Flow Blue. Contact: JoAnn Woodall, Wanted: One or two saucers for chocolate cups in [email protected] the PANSY pattern by Warwick China Co. or 847-772-0952. Get in touch with Warren Macy at 765-653-9341 or [email protected] Wanted: 1830 and earlier, (any) pieces of Flow Blue, mint to excellent condition. Let’s shake the tree Wanted: Child's creamer SCINDE by Alcock and see what falls out. Please contact Mary Mikolaitis, Contact Chris Hagan, 270-692-6040 or P.O. Box 120414, Clermont, FL 34712 [email protected]. 352-394-1060 Or email: [email protected] Wanted: 1. HADDON pattern flow blue by Grindley. Especially cups/saucers, fruit Wanted: Queen Victoria Jubilee plate in flow blue. dishes, and butter dish. Call or send picture with price to: 2. OXFORD pattern flow blue with gold, by A. Hinds, 14567 Rosemont, Johnson Brothers, bottom to the butter dish. Detroit, MI 48223-2338 or 313-273-7539 3. LORNE pattern flow blue, Grindley, top to butter dish. Wanted: PERSIAN SPRAY by Doulton cheese dome Contact: Toby Mattingly at base (underplate). The dome measures [email protected] or 301-948-1612. 8-3/8 inches across at the bottom. Contact Bob Ferriani at: Wanted: 1. RHONE SCENERY (T.J. & J. Mayer) [email protected] mulberry. Need bowl to a pitcher and bowl set. Wanted: 1. Child's creamer DALIAH pattern by 2. PANAMA mulberry. Ladle for a soup E. Challinor. tureen. 2. Child's creamer CHINESE SPORTS 3. AMOY (Wm. Davenport & Co.) flow blue. pattern by T.Furnival. Ewer or water pitcher. Please contact Dan Sapira at Call Dick Kropp at 610-933-9328. [email protected] or 00-972-544523695 Wanted: CASHMERE ladle for soup tureen. Just reward for same. Contact Lenny Sturmak at Wanted: Pieces of mulberry polychrome pattern 570-242-3639 or [email protected] ITALIAN (unknown). Has several center scenes, but same border on all pieces. Wanted: VIRGINIA (John Maddock) creamer and Contact Phil & Cindy Neff, 317-858-1158 or pitcher. Jan Kobach at 785-478-4881 or [email protected] [email protected].

20 Blueberry Market

Wanted: One W.H. Grindley MARIE cream Wanted: SCINDE by Alcock. Mint or excellent quality pitcher. One La Belle teapot. and condition. Various paneled forms, including Mary Merriwether, 530 Racquet Club Circle, 7 inch plates, cup plates, sauce dishes. Contact Rohnert Park, CA 94928. Jim Northup, 609-924-2711. (707) 588-9818 or [email protected] Wanted: SHELL by E. Challinor dinner plate and Wanted: BLUEBELL or ROYAL LILY pattern cheese serving pieces. Bob O’Neill dome base or 11" - 12" charger. Also, poly- 560 Ocean Road, Narragansett, RI 02882 or chrome turkey platter in the LINCOLN pattern call 401-783-3797 by Bishop & Stonier. Backstamp will read Lin- coln by Bisto. Contact Jerry & Margaret Taylor Wanted: (2) lids for TOURAINE sugars and a lid [email protected] or 812-246-4526. for a SCINDE sugar. George L. Cook 2924 St Paul Blvd, Rochester, NY 14617 or Wanted: Brushstroke pattern in flow blue, TULIP call 585-339-9477 DESPERATE!!! AND SPRIG by T. Walker. Any pieces but [email protected] especially 9 inch plates. (excellent condition) Contact Jan Kobach, [email protected] or 785-478-4881. For Sale: Collection of Johnson Brothers Wanted: Brushstroke pattern BLUEBELL NORMANDY pattern. Have decided to sell my & GRAPE WITH CHERRY BORDER twelve (12) place settings and many serving Marilyn Sharko [email protected] or pieces. Contact Tom Glenn (904) 388-3182. at [email protected] for the latest list with prices.

Condition Classification Guide

The FBICC 2009 St. Louis International Convention will host one of the finest flow blue and mulberry auctions found anywhere in the U.S. The following guide helps consignors accurately describe their auction lots to preserve the integrity of the event. It also gives buyers a standard for the pieces they wish to purchase. Please carefully consider the guide below when submitting lots for the convention auction.

The Condition Classification Guide used by the Flow Blue International Collectors’ Club is below. When consigning items to the club convention auction, please adhere strictly to these guidelines which were developed to help you accurately rate your pieces. Items that are described correctly help the auction process to run more smoothly.

Class Crazing Chip(s) Crack(s) Discoloration Restoration Superior None None None None None Excellent May Have None None None None Very Good May Have Small Indistinct Slight Professional Good May Have Moderate Small Mild Professional Fair May Have Large Moderate Pronounced Amateur Poor May Have Large Large Pronounced Amateur

21 Club Bulletin Board

Remember to save the dates of July 30 - August 2, 2009, to be in St. Louis, Missouri, for the FBICC annual inter- national convention as we "Look at the Shape of Things to Come." Attention all dealers: If you would like some Membership Brochures to take to shows or put in your booths, please email Katrina Franklin at [email protected]. We want to get the good news out about the benefits of membership in FBICC. Ms. Mulberry is tending the Curiosity Shoppe. Please send any flow blue or mulberry wonderments or inquiries to ST. LOUIS (Johnson Bros.), c.1900 [email protected] or Ellen Hill, 655 10th Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Take advantage of the club website at www.flowblue.org. Convention news, articles, links to other collectors’ clubs, a message board and Blue Berry Notes in bright, digital color are available for you to enjoy. Photo Request for 2009 Convention

The 2009 St. Louis Convention Committee eagerly anticipates your help with a presentation being researched on the Trenton, New Jersey, Potteries. Please send clear photographs against a plain background of flow blue items made by Burgess & Campbell, Mercer Pottery, Maddock’s Lamberton Works or any pieces marked “Royal Blue.” Proper credit will be given to those who send photographs of examples from their collections.

Agnes Holst is happy to receive your pictures at 1488 Old Skippack Pike, Harleysville, PA 19438 or email to [email protected].

2009 Convention Raffle Prizes Tickets available in your convention registration packet.

Condolences

The Flow Blue International Collectors' Club members extend our sympathy to wife Mary and the family of Charter Member Carleton Bankes of Malta, Ohio, on his passing. The twinkle in Carleton's eye and the ready laugh will be greatly missed.

22 The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat

The 2008 convention Tops & Bottoms event provoked a lot of laughter as club members found those lids and bases that had eluded them for so long.

Convention chair Dave Crumb deserved a great find after all the work he put into planning and producing the Rochester convention. About two months before the event, Dave found a SYRIAN (Grindley) chamber pot base in a Syracuse, New York, antique mall. Being busy with a thousand details, he forgot about the base until he overheard another club member comment that it was too bad no one had the base for the pretty SYRIAN lid. Living close by has its advantages, so Dave brought the chamber pot to the hotel and discovered the thrill of victory. The lid fit the base perfectly.

Cindy Neff walked through Tops & Bottoms toward the end of the session and spotted a mulberry lid. Closer inspection showed that the pattern was PERUVIAN (J. Wedg Wood). Feeling a little giddy, she grabbed it up. Sixteen years earlier she purchased a PERUVIAN vegetable base in a little antique mall in lower Delaware. After transporting the lid back to Indiana, she experienced the thrill of victory as well. The lid was a perfect match.

Newly crowned club President Jon Houserman made the fateful walk through Tops & Bottoms, also. Jon happily paid for a TEMPLE (Podmore Walker) lid to a vegetable base. He had purchased the bowl three years before at a northern Indiana estate auction. Arriving home in Michigan, poor Jon absorbed the agony of defeat when the lid turned out to be just ¼ -½ inch too narrow for the bowl.

What story will be yours to tell? What fabulous find waits for you? Bring your list of unmatched tops and lonely bases (and their measurements!) to St. Louis. Hopefully the thrill of victory will be yours.

PERUVIAN (J. Wedg Wood) TEMPLE (Podmore Walker) Standing in a "hard hat" area, Jon Houserman, Dave Crumb, Cindy Neff

23 Important Notices

FBICC Convention-goers: Circle These Dates!!!

Getting your registration packet is great. Thinking about all the fun at convention is wonderful. Forgetting some important dates - pricey. Sometimes it can also mean being left out of an event you really wanted to participate in, like consigning items for the auction.

June 3, 2009: Auction consignments must be received by this date. This allows the necessary time for compiling and printing the auction brochure.

June 6, 2009: Cut-off date for $119 registration fee. After that, prices go up.

July 8, 2009: Cut-off date for guaranteed FBICC hotel rate. St. Louis is a big vacation/event city. The hotel cannot promise our lower rate past this date.

We're getting close now. Circle those dates and see you there!

LAST CHANCE TO BUY

THE PETRA WILLIAMS COLLECTION OF BOOKS

~STAFFORDSHRE ROMANTIC TRANSFER PATTERNS~

AT DISCOUNTED PRICES

FLOW BLUE COLLECTORS MAY ALREADY HAVE PETRA WILLIAMS FIRST THREE VOLUMES ON FLOW BLUE. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE LAST THREE VOLUMES OF HER BOOKS ON STAFFORDSHIRE WARE AND OWN HER COMPLETE WORKS. LIBRARY QUALITY, HARD COVER, ORIGINIALLY SOLD AT $40 EACH. WE ARE NOW OFFERING THESE BOOKS AT THE FOLLOWING PRICE TO LIQUIDATE THE REMAINING INVENTORY OF THE ESTATE.

STAFFORDSHIRE ROMANTIC TRANSFER PATTERNS Vol. 1-$10+$2 S&H Vol. 2-$10+$2 S&H Vol. 3-$12+$2 S&H

SEND CHECK TO: Marguerite Weber, PO Box 99253, Jeffersontown, KY 40269 Order shipped same day.

Information: 502-644-2537 E-mail: [email protected]

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