Chicago Antiques Guide Blog
Mario Spampinato - Sculptor in Bronze
Posted Sunday, September 23 by CAG • no comments
I was recently asked to help with the estate of a local artist, Mario Spampinato. The estate included a number of bronzes, created and cast by Mario Spampinato. His works include figure studies, florals, and abstract sculptures. Figures include action sports figures (golf and tennis), female dancers, and female figure studies. Some of his works will be included in the upcoming Fine Furniture and Decorative Arts Auction being conducted by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers on October 7, 8 & 9, 2012. The bust at left will not be included in the auction. It is a self portrait of the artist, and will be retained in the family.
The artist was born, raised and trained in Italy.
During one of his exhibits (at San Marcos in Rome) the Director of a New York Gallery asked him to come to New York to work for him. The American Consul, before issuing his visa, asked Spampinato to create a bust of him. In exchange, the Consul paid for his passage on the boat to New York. In New York, he worked with his brother Clemente Spampinato who is a well known sculptor as well.
After moving to Chicago in 1954, he discovered that there was no foundry in the Midwest that could cast his bronzes. So, he opened his own foundry called the Spampinato Art Foundry, casting in the lost wax process. He also started his own private school (Spampinato Art Workshop, Ltd) and did some teaching at the University of Chicago and conducted seminars at Lawrence University in Kansas.
Many of his own works are pictured and cataloged in
Volumes 2 & 3 of Bronzes: Sculptors and Founders, 1800-1930 by Harold Berman
Between 1959 and 1967, Spampinato recast a number of Charles M Russell's works on commission from the Findlay Galleries of Chicago. Spampinato Art Foundry records indicate that there were 16 different works done, all in editions of 30 or less. The recasts are well represented in the collection of the R. W. Norton Art Gallery, Shreveport, Louisiana. Many of these are published in a book titled
Charles M. Russell (1864-1926), paintings, drawings, and sculpture : in the collection of the R. W. Norton Art Gallery, Shreveport, Louisiana written and published by the staff of the art gallery.
Records in the estate indicate that Spampinato did works for Pabst Brewing Co., University of Notre Dame,, Indiana University, Encyclopedia Britannica, Webster College and others.
He attended the following institutions:
Liceo Artisticao
L'Accademia delle Belle Arte
Academy of Arts on Via Margutta in Rome
Scuola Internazionale del Nudo
Accademia di Francia
Member of:
International Society of Sculptors
Society of American Sculptors
The auction will include 7 original works by Mario Spampinato, and 4 of the Charles M Russell bronzes cast at the Spampinato Art Foundry. To find all of his lots in the auction, enter Spampinato in the SEARCH Forthcoming Sales box on the Online Catalog page.
Information about Mario Spampinato and his work was gleaned from papers in the estate.
Mayor Daley and Mario Spampinato at the re-dedication of the Police Memorial in Haymarket Square. Spampinato restored the bronze statue after it was blown off its base with dynamite at the end of the turbulent 1960's.
1940's Royal Arrow Typewriter
Posted Sunday, May 20 by CAG • no comments
I have a Royal Arrow Typewriter in good working condition. How much is it worth? How best do I sell it in the Chicagoland area?
I just ran a church rummage sale and kept the piece with several other items to try to sell as antiques and get more money for our missions' project than we would have at a rummage sale.
Can you advise please. Thanks - Stacy
Typewriters have been around since the 1870's. Typewriter collectors have traditionally focused on machines that looked as radically different from modern machines as possible. So, typewriters like yours were generally difficult to sell at any price. When personal computers came out making typewriters all but obsolete, it appeared to be the final nail in the coffin for typewriters in general.
Recently older, but not previously collectible machines started to move in antique shops and on eBay. Today some good usable typewriters bring pretty good money, $100 and up. I used to sell typewriters from the 1920's for $10 or $15.
People now buy typewriters for a variety of reasons. Many just like the nostalgic look, and use them as accent or decorator pieces. But, there are still people who buy typewriters to use them. So, clean machines in good working order and reasonable good cosmetic condition are selling pretty well.
Recently on eBay there have been about 10,000 listings with the words "typewriter" and either "antique" or "vintage". Nearly half, about 48%, actually sold. With antiques averaging $85 plus shipping and vintage averaging $48 plus shipping. Shipping ran mostly in the $20-$25 range. But some very rare models sold in the thousands of dollars.
For yours specifically I would recommend starting about $40 and try it on Craigs List. I think the cosmetic problem on the cover will hold yours back. In excellent working and cosmetic condition, Royal Arrow typewriters have sold for as much as $200 (including shipping), but most sold around $100 or less.
For more information on the history of typewriters, Click Here.
Antique Maps
Posted Friday, September 23 by CAG • no comments
Chicago Antiques Guide was recently asked to write some articles for WorthPoint.com . Our first article Charting the Art and History of Antique Maps has just been published. It is the first in what is expected to be a short series of articles on how to begin a collection of antique maps.
The article gives a brief overview of the printing techniques. It also introduces some of the reasons people collect antique maps.
Future articles will suggest some possible themes for putting together a collection, sources for antique maps, and strategies for building your collection.
To read the complete article, CLICK HERE
The map shown here was published by Anthony Finley in 1824, just 6 years after Illinois became a state. It shows, that unlike today, the population center was in Southern Illinois. Immigrants to Illinois typically arrived by river, either the Mississippi or more commonly the Ohio River. So, towns grew and counties formed closest to the rivers where immigrants first reached Illinois.
The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 and later the coming of railroads sped up travel and immigration to Northern Illinois.
1760's Miniature (Thumb) Bible at Auction
Posted Tuesday, August 02 by CAG • no comments
I am interested in the "ball park" value of my 1769 Thumb Bible 7th Edition with Amendments. Published in Philadelphia, by A. Steuart. Size is appx. 2" high, 1 1/2" across and 1" wide. I am not sure of the best way to proceed in order to get the best price for it. Please feel free to email me with any questions. Thank you! Judy
I know enough about books in general, and Bibles specifically, to know that age alone isn't enough to make this item valuable. Bibles especially, are not necessarily rare even from the 1700's. What made me suspect that this "thumb" Bible was special were two things. First it was printed in Philadelphia before the Revolutionary War. And, second that it was a miniature.
Knowing that this was beyond my expertise, I contacted Mary Williams, the Director of the Fine Books and Manuscripts Department at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. After further research and seeing the Bible in person to confirm its condition, she estimated the piece at $3,000 to $5,000. The Bible is part of their next Fine Book and Manuscript Auction being held on Tuesday, August 9, 2011.
To see the full description of this item, and another photo Click HERE
To see the entire catalog for this auction Click HERE and then click on the Fine Book and Manuscript link.
Roos Cedar Chests - History & Information
Posted Sunday, January 16 by CAG • 11 comments
It appears that I am doomed to become an expert on Roos cedar chests. After I answered the first inquiry about a Roos chest and posted the answer, I have received at least a hundred more inquiries about Roos cedar chests.
Before I go on and tell what I have learned about them, let me tell you what I don't know. I have no idea what a Roos cedar chest looks like from just the model number or serial number. I have probably received 50+ inquiries that just give a model number, serial number or both, and ask what their chest is worth. To the best of my knowledge, there is no publicly available reference that gives years of manufacture by model number or serial number. Neither is there any reference that would let me look up a photo of that model. So without a photo I can't tell anything. If you send a photo, I can narrow the time period down a little by style, and estimate a value.
After considerable searching, I learned several rather interesting facts.
The "Roos Manufacturing Co." of Chicago was established in 1871 by Edward Roos (born in Germany in December 1848), died in 1906. He had several children including Otto (born 1877) and Edward (born 1880). Otto took over the Roos Manufacturing Company when his father died in 1906. They did manufacture cedar chests, but it is unclear when they started. The business began making curtain rods and later wooden boxes. They used a rooster in several variations in some of their logos.
The "Ed Roos Company of Forest Park" started in Chicago as the Roos Cedar Chest Company in 1916, and also manufactured cedar chests, but it is a different company. They used a tree (presumably a cedar tree) in a circle as their logo. There are also other logos without the tree, and one with a heart for their "Sweetheart" chests. They also used a variety of paper and cardboard labels.
It was started by Otto's brother, Edward. The company moved to Forest Park, IL in 1918 and changed its name to the Ed Roos Company of Forest Park
In the 1920 federal census, Otto Roos is listed as President of a wooden wares business. So it is clear that the original Roos Manufacturing Company was still at work in 1920, after Ed Roos opened up shop in 1918 in Forest Park. I have found no information yet that says whether the original company continued to make cedar chests or not, although one of their marks does say "Original" as part of the mark. This would imply at least some overlap when both companies were making cedar chests.
There are at least two possible explanations for why Edward left to start his own company. First, Edward disagreed with Otto about the business and split off to start his own company. Second, they agreed that to expand the cedar chest business, it should be split off and moved. There are of course other possibilities that I haven't considered. I lean toward the first as the most likely.
Lalique? (Not) Vase -Lamp Conversion
Posted Saturday, December 15 by Brian • 2 comments
I was given a few item's from my Great Aunt & Uncle The First is a glass lamp, I was told by a friend that it should be insured. I've searched on all my item's, only to come up with a whole lotta nothing! Can you tell me what kind of lamp this is? How much it might sell for & to whom I might sell it? Thank you for your time! Sincerely, Jamie
Although the glass part of the lamp appears to be a Cherry vase by Lalique from the 1930's, the piece is either a reproduction or a fake. It is called a reproduction in Warman's Lalique book by Mark F Moran.
But, commenter Craig Orkney states in his comment, "The vase was never produced by Lalique. It is a Czech piece produced by Barolac. It is pattern number 12111, and made from the 1930s to 1970s at Rudolfova hut. The moulds were then transferred to Rosice, and manufactured there until 1996. It is shown on the website Lalique.com as a fake Lalique item." I couldn't find any reference to fakes on their site, but it could be there and I missed it.
Taking all of this information into consideration, it would appear that the original vase is neither a fake nor a reproduction, but a vase made by Barolac that has falsely been attributed to Lalique. This has been done knowingly by some trying to pass it off as Lalique with a fake signature.
So, I will officially stand corrected by Craig, and will revise my original response below.
To make the vase into a lamp, a hole was drilled into it to allow for the electric cord. Fortunately, in this case a piece of Lalique was not sacrificed. I don't ever recommend making a vase into a lamp, but if you must, there are ways of making a vase into a lamp without drilling or otherwise damaging the piece, but none of them look quite right. If you must make a vase into a lamp, choose a method that will not affect the original piece's value, or realize that it will greatly reduce any future appreciation.
A lamp identical to yours sold on Ebay 4/22/06 for $62.
McCoy Jack-O-Lantern Cookie Jar
Posted Wednesday, April 04 by Brian • no comments
My wife bought this cookie jar at a garage sale 25 years ago. She always said it was valuable. Is it? Thanks Bill
Valuable is a relative term. But, I would say your wife was right. Your Jack-O-Lantern cookie jar was made by McCoy in the mid 1950's. I contacted Mercedes DiRenzo-Bolduc of Jazz'e Junque Inc., Chicago's first vintage cookie jar shop. She said that in 18 years of buying and selling cookie jars, she had only had this McCoy Jack O Lantern twice. In the past she has sold them in the $600-$700 range.
In today's market you would likely find one in an antique store for $500 and up depending on condition. It is definitely one of the harder cookie jars to find, especially in good condition.
Slag Glass Lamp with Metal Overlay by N.W. ART SHADE CO.
Posted Friday, February 16 by Brian • 1 comment
Dear AntiquesGuide,
I'm delighted to find a Chicago group who can look at my lamp. This lamp was in grandma's house in the 1940's and I was lucky enough to acquire it. It is marked - N.W. ART SHADE CO. / CHICAGO,ILL. / N 40
Any info you would care to provide would be sincerely appreciated. Thank you. John
Lamps made with so called "slag glass" and decorative metal overlays were popular in the 1920's and early 30's. Lamps with bent glass are more labor intensive to make as well as being more attractive. They were more expensive when new, and still are. The lighted base is also a sign of a more expensive lamp.
A lamp nearly identical to yours sold last December at Skinner in Massachusetts for $3,250. You can see a photo and description of that lamp on the Live Auctioneers site.
You should notice a few differences. The most obvious is the color of the blue/turquoise glass in their lamp. Although I see some blue/turqoise in your lamp, it is not nearly as vibrant. I don't know if it is the glass itself or the lighting in your photo. A second difference is the finial. I believe yours is original, but the other is certainly more eyecatching.
I also found your lamp in Electric Lighting of the 20's -30's Vol. 1. The book reproduces pages from old catalogues. I don't consider it a particularly good reference book for two reasons. First, they did not even identify the company that the catalogue page was from.
Secondly, the prices in the back of the book said that all lamps on the page were $750+. Clearly some of the lamps were worth much more and some might not be worth the $750. The only really useful information was the picture of your lamp which confirmed that the finial on you lamp is original.
Finally the finish in the metal overlay on your lamp appears to be a dull gray, almost like it is the bare pot metal with no finish at all. The one at auction was said to have a gold finish and the catalogue listed the lamp with a polychrome (multi color) finish. Antique gold was mentioned on the catalogue page as a finish on other lamps.
Variations in glass color and metal finishes were not uncommon. Given all the minor variations, it is very hard to tell if yours would sell for the same price. But clearly, it is "a very high grade number", as the catalogue entry described it.
A True Silverplated Whatzit?
Posted Wednesday, January 31 by Brian • no comments
Last October, I sent you a picture of an item and you were able to tell me what I had. I have come across this latest thing. I thought it was pretty cool. I think it’s a toothpick holder. There is no stamp on the bottom, but on the underside of the handle, there is a stamp. I’ll try to describe it.
There is a little, what looks like it could be maybe a 3 leaf shamrock, or possibly a plus sign, I’m not sure. Then there is a name that says Wm. Rogers, then a 5 point star. Then it says “sectional”, not in quotations. After that, there are two numbers, maybe a letter and a number. The first one is either 1 or I, then stamped in separately looks like either a 5 or an S. The base is obviously made from a flattened spoon, I don’t know what the holder part is from.
If you have any information, I would be interested to know. Thanks, Becky
I am certain this is a "home made" piece, made from (as you said) a silverplated spoon (the base), and a handle from a dinner knife. Old silver knives had hollow handles filled with plaster. If left to soak, the plaster can become soft and the blade can be removed. Both pieces were silverplated.
The mark you gave is from the spoon. It is [an eagle], Wm. Rogers, [then a 5 point star]. I don't know what sectional means. The rest is IS for International Silver, which bought the company. I don't know the pattern of the spoon, since I can't see the handle, but much of it appears to be cut off anyway.
The knife handle is the "Heraldic" pattern by 1847 Rogers Bros. That is the name of the company, not when it was made. The pattern was introduced in 1916 and continued in production for some time, probably through the 20's and maybe early thirties, when styles started to change.
What the maker intended for it's use is a mystery. The opening is small for a toothpick holder. The handle gives it the form of an old candle holder, but again it is pretty small for that.
The value I think would be just as a curiosity, probably less than $25.
Chicago Antiques Guide will be on WGN Radio's Extension 720 with Milt Rosenberg
Posted Tuesday, January 02 by Brian • no comments
Tune in to WGN radio (720 AM) this Thursday evening from 9PM to 11PM to listen to a discussion of The World of Antiques with Milt Rosenberg, host of Extension 720 since 1973, Brian Meyer of the Chicago Antiques Guide and Gene Douglas of Douglas Rosin Decorative Arts.
WGN can be heard at 720 AM in about 38 states. If you can't get WGN on your radio, you can listen on-line here.
For more information about Milt Rosenberg and Extension 720, click here.
