Collect the past and invest for your future. Now is the time, as prices are lower than they have been for a few years.
Did you get to the last Blackhead market? Were you able to make any finds at the Port Macquarie swap meet? Did you make it to Dungog’s Antiques & Collectables Fair? I hope you got to Taree Collector Club’s – Collectors Fair at the PCYC. All these activities have occurred in the last month around our area. If you want to find “goodies,” you have to get out there and then enjoy your finds.
The local markets, garage sales, auctions, second-hand shops and the Land Fill shop are all good finding areas. If you are looking for something more specific in the antique and collectable line, visit Isadora’s – Valley Fair Taree, Old Cinema Antiques – Pulteney St Taree, Olympia Antique Solutions – Olympia St Taree (across the road from Taree Railway Station), Delinquent Funk – Isabella St Wingham (next to the chemist), Wingham Antiques – Isabella St Wingham. If you get a chance visit these haunts on a regular basis, you never know what will turn up, as stock changes regularly.
I was able to help a few people out with questions about a variety of antiques this month. In this collecting game, you meet the most interesting people with wonderful stories. One lovely couple I met are off to the Gold Coast to live, and they were discarding a lot of vintage clothes from a Costume Shop they once owned. Great old stuff.
Another couple had travelled the world, with his job, and had purchased or been gifted with some lovely items. Great to see and talk about.
I was extremely pleased recently when a collector of Royal Doulton allowed me to purchase a piece from her collection, as she was downsizing (see picture).
The Royal Doulton company began as a partnership between John Doulton, Martha Jones, and John Watts, with a factory at Vauxhall Walk, Lambeth, London and trading as Jones, Watts & Doulton in 1815. The business specialised in making stoneware articles, including decorative bottles and salt glaze sewer pipes. The company took the name Doulton & Co. in 1853 after the retirement of John Watts.
By 1871, Henry Doulton, John’s son, launched a studio at the Lambeth pottery. By this time, Doulton was popular for stoneware and ceramics, under the artistic direction of John Slater, who worked with figurines, vases, character jugs, and decorative pieces. Quality Doulton products came to the attention of the Royal family. In 1901, King Edward VII sold the Burslem factory the Royal Warrant, allowing the business to adopt new markings and a new name, Royal Doulton.
The headquarters building and factory of the Royal Doulton ceramics firm were in Lambeth, on the south bank of the Thames and were closed in 1956 due to clean air regulations preventing urban production of salt glaze.
On 2 July 2015, the acquisition of Doulton Group by Fiskars Corporation was completed, including the brands Waterford, Wedgwood, Royal Doulton & Royal Albert.
The Doulton & Royal Doulton Companies produced wonderful and exquisite items over a 200 year period. There are many areas to collect in Doulton, including Kingsware, figurines, character jugs, series ware, Bunnykins, Slater ware, stoneware ………… and some people just search out their favourite designer or artist and buy pieces of their work.
I recommend collecting to all. Find the category that suits you, or take the plunge and collect a wide variety of unique and interesting treasures, or limit yourself to one area. It is always fun and can be profitable.
If you have items you are not sure of, I may be able to help with information, appraisals or sales. I love looking at old and interesting items. Ring Rex – 0427 880 546.