Pickard Collectors Club Newsletter

A r t i s t r y ~ H i s to ry ~ B e au t y ~ Q u a l i ty
Pickard Collectors Club Newsletter
Volume 20, Issue 3
February, 2012
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Looking forward to Convention and Praying for Spring
By President Betty Ford
PRESIDENT
Elizabeth E. Ford
2011-2012
PRESIDENT ELECT
Harry Poulos
2011-2012
PAST PRESIDENT
Matt Simek
2011-2012
SECRETARY
Rebecca Harkness
2009-2013
TREASURER
Cathy Poulos
2010-2012
MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR 2007-2013
Sherry Schellenbach
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Susan Speth
2010-2013
INTERNET WEBSITE MGR 2010-2013
Sue & Dan Phalen
DIRECTORS
Fred Brown
2008-2014
Tom Newman
2009-2012
James Henderson
2010-2013
Inside this issue:
2012 President’s Letter
1,2
2012 Pickard Auction
2
Encyclopedia Update
3-6
Classified Ads
Inclusions: Conv. Reg Form,
Auction Consign. Sheets,
Membership Updates
6
I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season. It's always hard to get
back to the "real world" after the holidays - at least, it is for me. I do so enjoy
seeing family and friends - so much more pleasant than all the mundane things
associated with keeping Hugh and me going. We just had our first snow, and it
is bitterly cold. I can't wait for warm weather!
I'm pulling together all the details to make your visit to Springfield easier and more enjoyable. Room reservations at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center must be
made by April 12th. The number to call is 1-217-544-8800. And, if you're planning to stay a bit
longer to visit more Lincoln sites, please make your reservations early as the legislature is in
session the week following our convention. Apparently, a fair number of legislators stay at the
hotel during session. The hotel will honor the $92.99 rate for up to four occupants for three
days before and three days after the convention on a space available basis. I would also ask
that you return your Convention Registration Forms by April 2nd so that I can finalize numbers
with the hotel and the various venues on our tour. Thank you in advance for your help with
these deadlines.
For those of you who will be flying into Springfield, you will have to come via Chicago's O'Hare
Airport. Once you reach Springfield's Capitol Airport, you can call the hotel at 1-217-544-8800
for complimentary shuttle service to the hotel. Believe it or not, Springfield does not have airline service to or from St. Louis. If you do elect to fly into St. Louis' Lambert Airport, you can
either rent a car - it's an easy 100 mile drive on Interstate 55 - or use BART Transportation
which provides van service between Lambert and Springfield. Reservations for BART can be
made by calling 1-800-284-2278 and need to be made five days in advance. The charge for a
one-way trip is $58.
For those of you who will be driving to Springfield, there is a parking ramp next door to the hotel. Valet parking through the hotel is available at $13.00 per day with in and out privileges. If
you prefer to park yourself, the charge is $.75 per hour; there are no in and out privileges.
On Thursday evening, you are all invited to see our collection of Pickard and other Chicago Studios. There will be a reception in the Lincoln Tower Party Room on the first floor of our apartment building. Because of the confines of apartment living, we will have to divide into groups
of 20 for easier access to our collection - you will understand after you've been here! Hugh and
I are pleased to share our "treasures" with all of you and hope that you will feel free to open
cases, ask questions, whatever. We're just delighted to have you all here.
We have to have buses for a part of the tour, so we'll be using them for all aspects of the
day. The buses arrive at 9 A.M. Friday morning for the one block trek to the Abraham Lincoln
Museum. The Museum is fabulous; it's a wonderful blend of modern day technology with the
history of a President and an era long since gone. Also, there is a gift shop with wonderful
books, jewelry, porcelain, toys - all things Lincoln.
Continued on Page 2
PAGE 2
P I C K A R D C O LLE C T O R S C LU B N E WS LE T T E R
President’s Letter, Continued
At noon, the buses will take us to lunch at the Governor's
Mansion. Lunch will be prepared by the Mansion's chef. Officially known as the Executive Mansion, this red brick Italianate mansion in downtown Springfield has been the home of
Illinois governors since 1855. Carefully restored in 1971, the
building houses many treasures. The State dining room has a
long antique table that seats up to 30 guests. Waterford crystal chandeliers
that are more
than 200 years
old hang above
the table. The
furniture in two of
the rooms on
the upper floor
was hand
carved by an Illinois farmer in
the 1800's. The
furniture was on
display at the Chicago World's
Fair in the
1890's. Queen
Victoria of England saw the
furniture and
offered
$1,000,000 for it
but was turned Illinois Governor’s Mansion down.
After lunch, we will tour the Susan Dana Thomas House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the Prairie Style. It has just re
-opened after a complete overhaul of the mechanicals and
the stained glass. Many of the furnishings are original to the
house. It is my favorite historical site in Springfield. It too has
a lovely gift shop.
Topping off the day will be the reception at the hotel Friday
evening. Put your thinking caps on for the "Is It Pickard"
quiz. I'm sure that Harry will have plenty of pieces to test us.
Don't forget about our expanded "Stump the Chumps" on
Saturday morning. It is your chance to share a piece of Pickard not included in Alan Reed's book. We're looking for new
patterns, new artists or new blanks. When you send in your
registration forms, please include a description of the item or
items you'll be bringing so that we have some idea of how
many pieces will be cataloged. Sue Speth and Fred Brown will
be photographing these pieces for a future publication on
Pickard China. And, of course, the Chumps will add the humor and expertise that makes this part of our program so
much fun and so informative.
Danny Grzesiak and Gary Adams are handling the auction this
year. Let's welcome them back by consigning lots of really
good pieces of Pickard for the auction!
I hope to see all of you here in just three short months.
Until we meet again . . . . . . Betty.
V O LU M E 2 0 , I S S U E 3
Going, Going, Going to the Pickard Auction in
Springfield! by Danny Grzesiak
A new year has begun and dreams of warm weather (for most
of us) and attending the Pickard convention in Springfield, Illinois is on collector’s minds. What will be in the auction? What
shall I bid on? Will I be able to pick up my bidding card fast
enough? These are just some of the questions that we ponder.
The success of the auction relies not only on our favorite auctioneer, Garrett Smith, but also on the consignors. So please
look around your home to see if there are pieces that can be
submitted for the auction. It may be a Deserted Garden plate
that does not look good next to the rose creamer and sugar, or
the 14 inch vase that does not fit on your 12 inch high shelf. If
you need help searching or have any questions, just call us, we
would be happy to assist you!
Please keep in mind that Pickard items will have priority to be
included in the live auction. As in the past, the silent auction will
take place during the auction preview. And yes, there will be an
intermission, so that you do not miss bidding on your favorite
item.
It will be great to see one another again. And as the time gets
closer, I too will be too excited to sleep.
If your travels to Springfield bring you through the Chicago Area, please give us a call to see our collection of Pickard. Palatine
is located approximately 20 minutes west of Chicago’s O’Hare
Airport. We would love to see you!
Danny and Gary
V O LU M E 2 0 , I S S U E 3
P I C K A R D C O LLE C T O R S C LU B N E WS LE T T E R
PAGE 3
ENCYCLOPEDIA UPDATE
This column has been established as a regular feature in honor of Alan B. Reed, author of the Collector’s Encyclopedia of Pickard
China. Alan, who died in 1998, was a charter member of the Club and was always eager to receive new information about Pickard.
You are invited to contribute articles that continue his exemplary scholarship. You are also invited to submit questions or information to any of the members of our Research Team: Donald Beilke, Tim Ingram, James Jenkins, Bill Neville, Harry Poulos, and
Garrett Smith.
DONATH TRADEMARK FOUND
This article is a follow-up to the short article Harry Poulos wrote for the Encyclopedia Update column in the March 2002 issue-Volume 10, Issue 4. Harry included a photo of the only piece he had seen - a vase decorated by George Stahl - with the
Donath trademark discussed and illustrated below.
On page 256 in his Encyclopedia, Alan Reed points out “that there are just six [Donath] trademarks that have come to light thus
far.” We now have an eighth. Donald Beilke reports that he recently purchased a dainty demitasse cup, 1 7/8 inches high with
a 2 inch diameter at the top. In a display case in a shop in Sacramento (interesting how these pieces surface all over the country), the cup was paired with a clearly mismatched saucer, but the work on the cup even from a distance seemed to be clearly
that of a Chicago studio--and it is. On the underside is the heretofore unpublished trademark that Donath used during 19151917. The trademark does not-appear in the Encyclopedia, but Reed remarks on page 256: "The details are sketchy, but in 1915
he [Donath] appears to have made an attempt at retailing with the addition of a sales room on State Street in Chicago's Loop
under the name of the American Hand Painted China Company. The sales room only lasted for about a year, although he did
maintain the 'American' name at his North Avenue studio for another two years."
The pattern consists of orange and magenta carnations falling from a gold band at the lip, both blossoms and leaves outlined in
gold penwork against a cream-colored ground. The cup is signed either C. S. or G.S. in delicate gold pen possibly the signature of
George W. Stahl, who worked for Donath.
There is no manufacturer's trademark on the cup, but the Donath trademark is bright red with AMERlCAN HAND PAINTED
placed as a circle surrounding W CHlNA D CO., the latter placed in horizontal positions. It is interesting to note that the initial E
for Edward, which is included in all of the other Donath trademarks, is deliberately not included in this one. Why this is the case
is unknown.
IMPORTANT NOTE: In the Encyclopedia Update column of January 2005, Volume 13, Issue 3, Jim Jenkins reported on a new
Donath trademark similar to Marks 5 and 6, 1910-1915. This trademark should be listed on page 257 of the Encyclopedia as
Mark 7. 1910-1915, 13/16 x 7/16" rectangular red stamp.
Then also on page 257 after Mark 7 you may wish to add the circular trademark discussed above with the following identification: Mark 8. 1915-1917, 9/16" circular red stamp.
PAGE 4
P I C K A R D C O LLE C T O R S C LU B N E WS LE T T E R
V O LU M E 2 0 , I S S U E 3
Encyclopedia Update . . . Continued
Ziologe -- A Signature Variation? Probably
We know that sometimes artists varied their signatures for reasons often unknown. Moreover, many of the artists were European immigrants whose names were Anglicized, sometimes in strange ways.
Betty Ford reports that the signature on a set she has added to her collection is puzzling. The set, decorated in the ANTIQUE CHINESE ENAMEL pattern, consists of a pot, creamer, and sugar (see Plate 506, page 197). The set is also pictured on page 95, Item
47, one of the Pickard postcards. Betty's set carries the 1912-1918 Pickard trademark, the same years that Reed lists Ziologe as
working at Pickard (see page 69). The signature--clearly not Ziologe--appears to be something like Z u l o u g a followed by a
period and a paraph dropping from the last letter. The final letter, which is not clear, looks mostly like an a. Alan Reed notes that
the artist he identifies as Ziologe was "probably a short-term, sub-contract artist. A well-defined signature on an ANTIQUE CHINESE ENAMEL design is all that is known of this artist." While the signature on Betty's set is not totally "well-defined," it seems
highly unlikely that there would have been another Pickard artist with a name so similar beginning with Z and decorating in this
same pattern. For reasons unknown, the signature could have undergone several changes.
If you have pieces by this artist and can clarify the spelling of the name, please let us know. On page 69 you might wish to make
note of this signature variation as part of the information about Ziologe.
Apple Blossoms, not Gladiolus
For Plate 712, page 252, please change the flower name on the Brauer hatpin holder from
gladiolus to apple blossoms.
See Plate 724, page 258, for a Donath variation of the apple blossom design.
P I C K A R D C O LLE C T O R S C LU B N E WS LE T T E R
V O LU M E 2 0 , I S S U E 3
PAGE 5
Encyclopedia Update . . . Continued
Pickard Trademark in Green
This footed strawberry bowl and underplate each carry the Pickard 1905-1910 trademark, but the trademark on the bowl, while
exactly the same size as the mark on the underplate, appears in bright green. The mark on the bowl is placed over the manufacturer's trademark, T & V Limoges
France Depose. Both marks are clearly
visible. The Pickard trademark on
the underplate appears in the customary
brown decal. The use of a green
decal is very unusual for Pickard. Why
this occurred, when a brown decal
would seemingly have worked just as
well, is anyone's guess. If you have
pieces in this green mark, please let us
know.
The strawberry set is decorated in
both pieces are signed by John
6 3/4 inches wide at the top; the
pieces carry the T & V manufactur-
the Orchids and Gold Paste pattern, and
Fuchs. The bowl is 3 5/8 inches high and
underplate is 8 inches in diameter. Both
er's trademark.
On page 71 after the information about Mark 5, you may which to add: Infrequently found in bright green.
New Artist: Burgeon — at Brauer and Donath
Work by an artist named Burgeon has surfaced, one piece done for the Brauer Studio and one produced for the Donath Studio.
The Donath work consists of a seven-piece fish set with different sea creatures on each plate. The set carries the 1910-1915
Donath trademark. If you know anything more about this artist, please let the Research Team know.
On page 246 you may wish to add the name Burgeon to the list of Artists associated with the Brauer Studio, and on page 256
you may wish to add the name to the list of Artists associated with the Donath Studio.
George P. Leach Signature Variation
The plate pictured here carries the initials G. P. L., which are written in faint gold pen
and placed next to the center medallion. George P. Leach usually signed pieces with
his last name, but in this case he used only initials in capital letters, each followed by
a period.
The 8 1/2 inch diameter plate carries the 1903-1905 Pickard trademark and the
T & V Limoges France blank manufacturer’s trademark. The colors are quite intense
and are highlighted by a wide gold border at the edge.
On page 61 after Leach’s name you may wish to add the initials as the second signature variation: (Leach, G. P. L.).
PICKARD COLLECTORS C LUB NEWSLETTER
EDITOR: SUSAN K. SPETH
Published four times yearly by the
Pickard Collectors Club, Ltd.
PO Box 317, Glencoe, IL 60022
Classified Advertisements
The Pickard Collectors Club Newsletter accepts classified advertising for items being bought or items to sell.
Cost of ads are 25 cents per word for non-members
and free to Club members. All ads should be limited to
40 words. Include full name, address, phone number,
and email address. Send to Newsletter Editor.
WANTED
Looking for blackberry decorated
pieces by Goess or Yeschek, lemons
by Schoner, or raspberries by Coufall.
All pieces considered. Please send
photos and description to:
One of the photos under consideration by the Kenosha Public Museum,
Kenosha WI, for their promotion of our new year-long exhibit beginning
on April 30, 2012. Article to follow in our next newsletter.
ENCYCLOPEDIA UPDATE . . . . continued
NEW DONATH ARTIST: RONER
Ande Croll reports that the name of a hitherto unknown artist-working for Donath has surfaced. Ande recently purchased on
eBay this 6 1/4 inch diameter plate, which has pale pinkish-white flowers set against a pale yellow ground. The plate carries the
1906-1928 Donath trademark and is signed only Roner, probably a last name. The name Roner is not mentioned in the Encyclopedia. If you know anything about this artist, please let us know. On page 256 in the Encyclopedia, you may wish to add the
name Roner (without an asterisk) to the list of Artists associated with the Donath studio.