....if there is such a description of a person.
My Mom was the ultimate collector of Americana and especially anything celebrating our American Flag or heroes. Has any of her traits rubbed off?---well yes, and no, because I have totes of plates, figurines, glassware, and coins---celebrating the bi-centennial, state centennials, presidents, wanna-be presidents, and pretty much anything commemorating our American Heritage.
I learned my history lessons from Staffordshire plates such as these from the dining room hutch of my childhood home.
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Spirit of 76, iconic portrait of the American revolution. Center piece for this plate is Spirit of ‘76 painting by Archibald Willard. This painting, which was originally known as Yankee Doodle, centers around America’s Revolutionary War victory and was among the featured works that were on display at the Centennial International Exhibition of 1876 in Philadelphia.
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Faneuil Hall, Hall is the center print of this historical plate, no.1 in the series of the Ye Olde Historical Plates.
This one is marked British Anchor Potteries with anchor mark in green as well as Staffordshire England R no. 553308. Anchor was the pottery mark for Rowland and Marcellus and used to export to America -R&M was in business from 1893-1937.
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Our Capitol building in Washington D.C. with Martha and George at Mt Vernon in one of the side pictures.
Plate in Flow-blue transfer printed on earthenware, this is a wonderful plate with the Capitol Building in the center. Side panels have the Executive Mansion(White House), Congressional Library and the old State War and Navy Department building on it.
Mom had over twenty of these flow-blue historical plates depicting scenes in history or places. I was probably the only student who knew that DeSoto discovered the Mississippi or at least claimed it for Spain before we even started our American history classes.
I have boxes of postcards, ephemera, and other memorabilia. My mom and dad had a 1853 farmhouse/cottage which my mom filled with red/white/blue Americana memorabilia. We had horns, eagles, muskets, and bunting everywhere-even drum light fixtures. When the 1976 Bi-Centennial came...she went into hyper-drive in buying, just about everything.
I think I have at least ten bicentennial plates by different makers.
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Spirit of 1776" Bicentennial plate by Indiana Glass in marigold iridescent carnival glass.
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A Bi-Centennial plate from Avon, I think.
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Mom had a special affinity for Presidential memorabilia. Campaign buttons, posters, stickers--plates!
You may remember those slant-eyed Presidential plates made overseas...I have totes of those. Mom was convinced generations in the future would be dying for a (Chinese) version of Reagan, Ford, Carter---etc., on a plate or two, or three, or four. She tried to corner the market and I have them all-in multiples---different views---with wives without...sigh.
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She treasured many items for Lincoln and JFK. A glass commenting JFK's death?or his presidential years.
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1965 plate commenting Lincoln's death? (100 years commemoration?)
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An etching from a 1901 calendar of Lincoln (probably in honor of 50 years after Lincoln's death.)
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How about Lincoln Douglas debates. This plate has a lot of color and energy. Issue number on back is 4059A. Third in the series, "Lincoln-Man of America Series" Made by the Knowles China Company, 1987.
Then there is war memorabilia.
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Allies of WWII flag plate possibly from the 1950's. Marked K.T. & K. , S---------V, China, VGK.
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Another unusual plate in a similar series of Commanders of our armed forces in WWII.
Large ceramic commerative plate for WWII with allies flags and Admiral Leahy in the center. Nice gold trim and plate in v.good to excellent condition. Back of the plate has Allied Nations Commerative Series, Exclusively by Salem China Co., Salem, Ohio, Made in U.S.A.
Some references indicate this series (there are many) was made during the war, 1943-5.
These are at least valid collector's items, though how many generals/admirals can you have scowling on your walls. Mom had four that I have found so far.
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Eagles and flags were also her favorites. This is a Royal Copenhagen or Bing and Grondahl Bi-Centennial plate for the USA.
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Then there were the inexpensive plates commemorating just about anything, here the Flag, Sesquicentennial (1964-150years)
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And of course Avon stinky stuff Liberty Bell commemoration jar with original box.
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I loved my mom and her ....collections...well er, some of them.
We basically have a real Old Glory on a flag pole. My porch for the season has a flag banner, all hand pieced and stitched, $5.99 from a thrift store.
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The shell pedestal, makes me think of "Sea to shining Sea."
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One of my mom's Striking Bi-Centennial plates on the table. Faux geraniums, as ours are just beginning to bloom.
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The flag banner background is washed out denim, the quilting on the edges is a rope design. Beautiful workmanship on this piece. I love it. My mom would be proud.
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How do you celebrate? After living with so much Americana, we are pretty low key here.
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I can always switch out the runner and add strawberries for a summer.
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This Avon one is quite pretty though and echoes the navy in the banner.
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I had wanted to cover some pillows in bandana material---but haven't found red or red material right now. So that will have to wait.
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I wonder if they would be pleased to have their faces on a mountain or a plate? Theodore Roosevelt would be saying...'deface a mountain, by Golly not on my watch!' (as founder of our National Park System.)
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Thanks always for stopping by, and I will be happy to answer any comments, and questions if I can.
All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own unless indicated. I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions or posts. Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog. Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi Magle
I'll be sharing at these fine parties:
Sandi
OMG! I love all your mom's historical plates, especially the flow blue ones.....Christine
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Sandi. I have been letting the historicals go...but they are going to collectors...my kids, just aren't interested. Thanks, Sandi
DeleteLove seeing all of this! I'm an American-phile myself. '-) I focus on the flag, Uncle Sam, and Lady Liberty. I started acquiring things when I first began teaching elementary school in the late 60s, and let's just say the spirit of Americana took hold. I need to create a new post, but if you visit my blog look in the index on the sidebar for US Flag, Uncle Sam, patriotic colors. ;-)
ReplyDeleteLOL, do you have a spot for bushels of presidential plates? But some of the others are quite interesting. I know we are the same generation---and I will take a peek. Thanks for stopping by, Sandi
DeleteI feel I have just had a brief of your American history. Love those historical blue plates. Such a wonderful collection.
ReplyDeleteMany of the plates were instructional. Many depict places important in history others (flow blue) were souvenir plates from the early 1900's. thanks for your interest, Sandi
DeleteOh what a great Patriotic Legacy you inherited! My Mom, being European, had a great affinity for the various cultured Eras of European Design so she could make the most Modest places we were living in seem positively Palatial! *smiles* I inherited very little of her things since my Brother prefers that Style more than I so we decided it should end up in the Home of his Family where they would love and appreciate it all as much as Mom did. It was indeed beautiful but too formal for my quirky and very Bohemian aesthetic. *winks* But my Parents always knew if they had anything weird and wonderful, well, it would be MY preferred inheritance! *Ha ha ha* Dawn... The Bohemian
ReplyDeleteLOL, yea well.... other than doing a mosaic statue ---I have no idea what to do with all these plates of the presidents, they are ugly, cheap and well she bought as many as 10 of some of them. But we are where we come from...lol, and its fun now to blog about it...makes the boxes of 'crapola' a good laugh. Other stuff is wonderful...and I have sold many of the blue---to true collectors---which is great and my Mom would understand, I can't keep it all...4-5 generations of collectors(hoarders) is too much for one person to deal with. Thanks for stopping, Sandi
DeleteI like your Mom's collection of Avon plates. My Mom sold Avon for a while and they had such great pieces that was so collectible for such a long time.
ReplyDeleteI sold most of all my avon pieces except for a little tall white Grandfathers clock.
Is that a porch where you have all this displayed. when I move again I want a glassed in side porch so I can set out there everyday.
Janice
One thing about the Avon pieces is the quality is so high. Almost too high for the subject matter. Hopefully someone will want them eventually. Thanks for stopping by, the porch is just open on the front of the house with a overhang and faces south so it's hot. Thanks, Sandi
DeleteI like your Mom's collection of Avon plates. My Mom sold Avon for a while and they had such great pieces that was so collectible for such a long time.
ReplyDeleteI sold most of all my avon pieces except for a little tall white Grandfathers clock.
Is that a porch where you have all this displayed. when I move again I want a glassed in side porch so I can set out there everyday.
Janice
Hi Sandi, I'm fond of Americana too, and when I see all the red, white and blue decor my heart beats a little faster! I have some of the same plates, Fanueil Hall and the Capitol, and several much older. I really enjoyed seeing your collection. Linda
ReplyDeletethanks so much Linda....yes they are quite unique. Thanks for stopping by, Sandi.
DeleteThis is such a great look at history through your pottery and memorabilia! Thanks for sharing! Happy 4th
ReplyDeleteThanks Lynn, I'm sure you come across the Americana items all the time, Sandi
DeleteHi Sandi, what a wonderful post filled with beauty and history. I love all your teaching presentations. Thank you for sharing. Have a nice weekend. Thanks for stopping by too. xo
ReplyDeleteLOL, once a teacher always a teacher. Hopefully I don't bore everyone to death. Just little bits...but I can't help but think of my mom with all the red, white and blue. Thanks for stopping by, Sandi
DeleteOh, I love it all Sandi! I am a bit of an American-phile myself. Although, I don't have anything as amazing as this. That flag is a fabulous find! I had not heard of flow blue until a friend showed me her collection. Since then I've been seeing pieces and it is pricey.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
Hi Jann. The flow blue plates have been the hardest to let go, but I have limited space, and I know my kids will not be interested in them. With the internet now---their value hasn't really gone up in the last 30 years because of more availability...so I hope they are just filling out others' collections. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I still am looking for some Erie Canal pieces that I have tried to find for myself. Sandi
DeleteLots of interesting pieces you have there. Thanks so much for linking up with me at A Themed Linkup 62 for All Things American and Patriotic. Pinned!
ReplyDelete