Comments for

Comment on April 2012 by David Macdonald

David Macdonald — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:17:56 +0000

With regard to the Iceland Poppy dish, the prices for this pattern are all over the place I have discovered recently. I purchased a 10″ dish at auction recently in good nick for £16 but I couldn’t sell a Moderne Jug in excellent condition in this pattern at Fieldings last auction with a reserve of £60. I am sure you have noticed that recently that Vanilla-Pods has been asking £550 for the diamond shape finned dish. Help!!! On another subject you will have no doubt noticed the Tiger Tree ginger jar currently being offered at a BIN of £1300, I was one of the underbidders on this at an auction a couple of weeks ago. It sold for £600 + costs. Seller being rather ambitious.!!

Regards,

David

Comment on April 2012 by ebay masterspy

ebay masterspy — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:09:26 +0000

Great suggestion, Charlie.
Thanks.
ebay masterspy

Comment on April 2012 by Charlie

Charlie — Sun, 13 May 2012 20:35:22 +0000

If you do decide to restore a piece and need to find a good”restorer”, then I would suggest that you contact a museum in your area and ask who they would recommend. Even if the museum does not have ceramics in their collection, they may still know of a good ceramic’s restorer. Or they will refer you to another museum that has ceramics.
The folks recommended by my local museum has worked out very nicely. (and it works for other services also…I now also use the same framer that the local museum does.

FYI

Comment on April 2012 by ebay masterspy

ebay masterspy — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 07:01:03 +0000

Hi Toni,
Your rural location clinches it really. 2 choices now…. shlep down to the post office and risk the post twice (out and back) or get into the old jalopy and emit some co2. Either option might push the cost beyond the level of the national debt of Peru (sorry Peru). Of course you can always go to Melbourne for another reason and kill 2 birds with one stone, but again, you have to have another reason to go a second time to collect the restored pot. Having said all of which if you happen to find a 10″ vase in Wagon Wheels and only pay a few quid because it is in 2 pieces it is a no brainer to have it restored. Thanks for the interesting exchange of posts and if you feel like contributing again further, now or on any other matter at any time in the future, your thoughts would be most welcome. Thanks also to Carole for your contribution. If anybody else wishes to continue this thread I am happy to discuss further, especially if you do restoring (as a hobby or as a profession).
Best wishes,
ebay masterspy

Comment on April 2012 by Toni

Toni — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:18:29 +0000

Thank you Carole and Masterspy for the considered and greatly appreciated responses. As I live in a rural area and would also have to add the cost of travelling to my nearest quality restorer in Melbourne, I will happily leave my vase with it’s slight imperfection.
Toni

Comment on April 2012 by carole moore

carole moore — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:21:31 +0000

Interesting conundrum restoration or not! my view is if you have a restorer with reputation e.g. seen quality of workmanship then restore if it makes you feel more contented with the piece. Once a piece is restored the value is nearly always reduced by at least a third or more unless the piece is extremely rare, which this vase is not. Another view is if the gilding has to be restored this will always show even with the best restorer one can find, therefore if this nick is so small I would not bother spending another £70 because you will not get this money back if you come to sell the piece. I have a Floral Comets Temple Jar which is damaged I was thinking about restoration however the longer I look at it I cannot see the damage and just enjoy the beauty of the piece, this pot may not now reach the restorers delicate hands because guilding has to be painted over which will show. Its your preference at the end of day.

Comment on April 2012 by ebay masterspy

ebay masterspy — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:37:03 +0000

Hello again Toni,
This is one of the most interesting aspects of collecting anything breakable which has had a long life. Very few pieces of CW from pre-1940 survive without a scratch, so what to do?
I think in this case I personally would leave it alone. I have just had another look at the pix on the listing and you are correct in saying that the damage is on the side of the pattern and not on top of the rim, so you should be able to display it without the chip showing (unless you place it below eye line of course). You certainly seem to be at ease with that course of action.
Although the restoration would be fairly simple to do (and reasonably inexpensive) as the affected area is not in a highly patterned part the gilding will need to be dealt with and it is problematical as to whether the colour and lustre of the original gilding can be matched and without looking “painted” as well.
It is easy to decide what to do if the chips, cracks or wear are significant, because you are likely to have paid much less than the same piece would have realised undamaged. The improvement made by the repair will be obvious and therefore worth it in those terms.
In respect of post restoration value the piece will never be worth the same as a perfect one and the resale price will depend on how “invisible” the work is and whether there is any other general wear not being touched.
That is my view, but I recognise that other readers may well feel very differently. Some might always restore, while others might never do so. I would be very interested in other readers’ views on this, so please comment further on this everybody. It would be especially interesting if a restorer could comment.
Best wishes,
ebay masterspy

Comment on April 2012 by Toni

Toni — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:10:41 +0000

Good Morning Masterspy,
I collect only what I find to be beautiful. I do tend to have a shape theme going on but that is accidental. Almost all of my pieces pre date 1940. My collection has proven very useful for introducing folks to the tremendous scope and variety of Carlton Ware and I often purchase to regift to others.
I don’t know what to do with my Geometrica vase. Would you recommend a repair? Do you feel that a repaired piece adds to the value over the piece retaining a minute fault.
The flaw is at the rear, is roughly half the size of a small match head and is at the side of the rim not the top. It does not diminish it’s beauty for me and as I am keeping it a repair may be irrelevant, although I would still be interested to learn of fellow collectors views on the merits of repairs and whether a repair improves the value of a damaged piece if done professionally.
Take care,
Toni

Comment on April 2012 by ebay masterspy

ebay masterspy — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:44:45 +0000

Hello Toni,
Very nice to hear from you. I always wonder when somebody buys a piece with a small flaw such as the nibble on your Geometrica vase whether the purchase is made with the intention of restoration or not. The pictures in the listing certainly seem to show a vase which doesn’t really need restoring, but I would be interested to know if it is to be left as is. The Tubelined Tree vase is in the same shape, of course. Are you a pattern collector, or a shape collector? One of your fellow countrymen has perhaps 6 to 8 trinket dishes in different patterns, for example, which make a spectacular display and I know several collectors whose main interest is coffee sets which are also stunning on display.
Best wishes,
ebay masterspy

Comment on April 2012 by Toni Purcell

Toni Purcell — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:44:36 +0000

Hello Masterspy,
The Geometrica vase made the trip from South Africa to Australia in great form. It sure has personality. Happily it has only 1 tiny rim nibble and is just over 5 inches in size.
The small Tubelined Tree Vase you refer to also now resides in Australia and is now keeping company with 2 Tubelined Flower big sister vases! It is a very clean and nurtured piece looking as new as the day it was made I imagine, feels lovely in the hand.
Toni