A hobby that lasts a lifetime and gives much joy and pleasure. Those memorable finds, the great people you meet, the new places you explore when you are out searching. It is a truly engrossing pastime. Find an area, of collecting, that interests you and get out there and enjoy your finds.
A lesson I have learned over many years is that when you see something you love – grab it quick, you may never see another. You never regret those quality interesting purchases.
Sorry to hear of MP, Steve Bromhead’s passing. Although not fully agreeing with his political party he always, to me, came across as a person who cared about our area and tried to do his best for the Myall Lakes electorate. Our thoughts go to his family through this difficult time.
In hard times small business needs your support. They are the heart of local communities and can only survive if we support them. Are the big supermarkets and franchises looking after you in hard times? The butchers, bakers, fruit and veggies, newsagents, cafes, restaurants and even antique shops…… all those shops in our local CBD’s need your continued patronage. Share yourself and your finances around so that these local hard working owners and families survive. They are at the heart of a thriving community.
A reminder of our local antique and collectable shops that you may wish to visit & support. In Taree, Clancy’s near the Hospital, Barry at Isadora’s Antiques in Victoria Street who always has a great variety, Col in Commerce Street near Taree West Newsagency. In Wingham Sue at Delinquent Funk, Isabella Street right next to the chemist and Rex at Antiques and Old Wares right next to the Newsagents in Isabella Street, in the old McCullough’s Produce store.
A very popular, collectable glassware is the Mary Gregory (1856–1908) style. She was an American artist known for her decoration of glass products at the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Gregory worked for Boston and Sandwich from 1880 to 1884. She painted lamps and plaques of landscape scenes during her years in Boston. Mary Gregory was born in Providence, Rhode Island to John Gregory and Hannah A. Gregory. Her mother was a school teacher in Sandwich, Massachusetts and Mary worked as a teacher as well from 1876 to 1879, but soon abandoned teaching to work for the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company as a glass decorator, beginning in January 1880. She was particularly well known for her paintings of Victorian-era children, and such artwork has been referred to as Mary Gregory since the 1920s.
This art glass style most likely originated from Bohemia, England, or Italy. Despite this, many glass art enthusiasts continue to refer to such pieces as Mary Gregory. Glassware in the style of Mary Gregory continued after her tenure at the Boston and Sandwich glass factory from 1880 to 1884.
The distinguishing features of Mary Gregory glass are “stylised white enamel painting usually of a child in an outdoor setting, playing with such things as butterfly nets, bubbles, fishing rods, or hoops. The trees and foliage often have a typical “feathered” style, the figure is oddly old-fashioned in its proportions, and the enamel is fired onto the glass.
The Westmoreland Glass Company of Grapeville, Pennsylvania began marketing their glasswork as Mary Gregory in the 1920s. They would create glass paintings of Victorian Era children in profile, and say it was done in the style of Mary Gregory. Many pieces of Mary Gregory show up as Cranberry plates, tumbler sets, goblets, glasses and so on.
Gregory’s sister, and possibly others she had trained, used a white enamel paint with ground glass as a paint mixture. To bind the paint to the glass, they fired it after application. It was fused with the piece in this manner so the painting became part of the glass. Similar artwork was made by literally dozens of glass houses, and some, such as Fenton, continue to this day.
The most valuable of the Mary Gregory pieces are those dating to the 1880’s.
Drop in and say hello at Antiques and Old Wares in Wingham. I am happy to help, if I can, answering questions on antiques and old wares. If you have items that you are not sure of, I may be able to help with information, appraisals and/or sales. I love the history and stories of old and interesting treasures. Phone Rex – 0427 880 546.
Take care and stay safe!