Page 29 - Dec Banner 2017_Neat

Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper December 2017 Page 29

Just in time for the holidays, I
inherited several hand-painted
Christmas tree plates.
T r nket The identifying mark on the back
of the plate read: “Blue Ridge,
Southern Potteries, Inc., Hand
Painted – Underglaze.” I was
Treas re surprised to learn that Southern
Potteries was the largest producer
of hand-painted china in the United
States until the mid-20 century.
th
by Lisa C. Cantwell The pottery establishment was
Owner of Coal Black Horse Antiques and a Maryland state- begun in 1916 in Erwin, Tennessee,
licensed antique dealer to establish commercial business
for the Carolina, Clinchfield &
Ohio railroad line. By 1920,
the company incorporated and
There were no reader questions this month, so I’d like to share three pieces thousands of “Blue Ridge” themed
that I either noticed in a home, inherited, or found in an antique market. patterns were produced to include flowers, landscapes, animals, and holiday
I hope you enjoyed learning about vintage items and antiques through this motifs. By WWII, production of the china reached seventeen million pieces per
column. Due to decreasing submissions of reader’s questions, this is the last year. There were eleven showrooms, from New York City to San Francisco.
Even though the factory closed by 1957 due to bankruptcy, the pottery is still
“Trinket or Treasure” article. Please look for a new column in January on in demand. In fact, there is a club devoted to fans of the pottery, and every year
fascinating travel destinations, some regional and some across the pond, but all during the town of Erwin’s apple festival, thousands converge to celebrate,
within the realm of possibility.
trade, and buy everything “Blue Ridge”! The Christmas tree plate ranges in
price from $18.95 to $62.00 on a popular online auction site. My plates are
The first item that caught not for sale, but for celebrating. In fact, Christmas dinner this year will be
served on the hand-painted surface of an American treasure!
my attention was a pretty,
decorated metal box,
perched on four legs by a Lastly, at an antique mall in
hearth at a historic home Frederick County, I noticed a
where I was a guest, recently. booth with shelves and shelves
Its light weight and handles of vases with beautiful glazes.
suggested that it was portable Being a southerner, the magnolia
and could be moved about the blossom vase with its burnished,
room. I first thought it was a teal, green glaze was of interest. It
space heater. Further inspection measured 7.5” tall and 8.5” high, and
revealed three shelves inside, the stamp on its base read: “Stangl,
giving away its purpose: this was USA, 3413.” Johann Martin Stangl,
a fireplace food warming oven. an artist and entrepreneur, began his
This tole-painted tin oven has career working in pottery in 1910.
aged well, as research dates it After working for several well-known
to the 1850s. The food could be houses of pottery, to include Fulper
placed directly on the shelves or and Haeger, he formed his own
in pans until ready to be plated. company in 1929. Vases, dinnerware,
The strong cast iron legs and and bird figurines were the prominent
feet could withstand hot coals, products of Stangl’s venture. He died in 1972, and the line was bought by
but not a roaring fire. The little Pfaltzgraff Pottery. This vase was made in 1941 and is from the “Terra Rose”
oven measures 26.5” high, 13” wide, and 10.5” deep. This example is in collection. It’s described by sellers as a rose, daisy, poppy, sunflower, cosmos,
excellent condition, as evidenced by the preserved design. A similar oven sold or magnolia blossom. Fairly common, but not always in the best of shape, this
on an auction website for $225 earlier this year. Look for similar treasures in glazed pottery vase also comes in a blue color. I found it priced at $24.00 to
historic homes—you may solve a mystery, too! $84.00 on internet antique sale sites.