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Aunt Jan's Attic

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 4 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Ranked #6066 in Shopping, #65421 overall

Rated G. (Control what you see)

Small Town Antique Store with Big Time Dreams

 

This lens is for my Mom's antique store, named Aunt Jan's Attic in Belle Plaine, Iowa.  How a hobby and a passion have transformed into an online business, followed by a real brick and mortar store while the eBay store continues to thrive.  Please feel free to browse around and leave a comment.  If you find this lens helpful, please remember to rank this lens and leave positive feedback.  Thanks!

Fenton Glass: Shutting Down After 100 Beautiful Years 

Fenton Art Glass Company was the largest manufacturer of handmade colored glass in the United States. The Company announced in August of 2007 that it would be closing its doors after 102 years of manufacturing glass products. The Williamstown, West Virginia company stopped taking orders at the end of August and closed its doors at the end of October, 2007.

The Fenton Art Glass Company was founded in 1905 by Frank L. Fenton and his brother John W. Fenton in an old glass factory building in Martins Ferry, Ohio. They began by painting decorations on glass that was made by other glass manufacturers. Soon, being unable to get the glass they needed to fill all of their orders, they decided to produce their own glass. The first glass from the new Fenton factory in Williamstown, West Virginia, was made on January 2, 1907.

Fenton's desire to develop new and unusual colors helped to keep the company in the forefront of the handmade art glass industry. During the years from 1905 to the 1920's, Fenton design was heavily influenced by the artists at Tiffany and Steuben. In late 1907, Fenton introduced "Iridescent" glass. This glass, now known as "Carnival" glass, is extremely popular as a collectible today.

During the 1930's and 1940's, Fenton produced practical items, such as mixing bowls and tableware to get through the depression and WWII shortages. They continued working on developing a wide array of new colors. In the late 1940's, the top three members of the Fenton management team died, leaving Frank M. Fenton, age 33, and Wilmer C. (Bill) Fenton, age 25, to step in and take over as President and Vice President. In spite of other glass factories closing at a rapid rate, Frank and Bill led the Fenton factory through significant American growth for the next 30 years.

In 1986, the leadership of the company passed on to the third generation, with George W. Fenton, Frank M's son, taking over as President. Today nine Fenton family members work together along with over 150 employees to create handmade glass artistry that is loved by collectors around the world. Fenton is known for its beautiful colors and patterns colors as well as hand-painted decorations on pressed and blown glassware.

Each piece of glass is an artistic creation by skilled glassworkers and decorators, and they will likely remain collectible for as long as antique glass is popular.

Limoge Dish 

This is an example of a beautiful Limoge trinket or dresser dish. It was originally acquired at an estate auction in the Midwest.

The lidded dish is in excellent condition with no chips, nicks, or cracks that I can find. The bottom of the dish is scalloped and trimmed in gold with one gold band around the widest part of the base, against the deep blue coloring of this piece. This is a very nice contrast that gives this antique great personality.

The lid is gorgeous, with a deep blue band trimmed and scrolled in gold, next a dark gold band with a delightful lighter gold leaf-like scrolling. In addition to this, there is a romance scene against the white porcelain.

The inside of the dish and lid are white porcelain while the bottom is marked Limoges, France, and the trademark symbol. This is why it is definitely a Limoge piece.

Antique Glass Hens 

They come in all colors

Glass hens are popular collectibles among antique collectors and these glass hens come in a wide variety of shapes and colors.

This is a blue glass hen, they also come in white, amber, yellow, red, and about any color you can imagine. There are several in my mom's antique store, as they have long been one of her favorite collectibles.

Not Every Antique Book is What You Would Expect 

There are strong niches for a variety of different old books

When most people think of antique books they think of authors like John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, and Sinclair Lewis. While all of these authors certainly qualify, not all valuable antique books are from American literary giants. In fact, some of the most popular antique books are in niche markets.

For example, old books dating from the 1930s and earlier in the fields of physics, engineering, biology, or history are all extremely popular. There are several factors in what makes an old book collectible or not. Condition is an obvious one. Is the binding tight and pages clean, or are the page holding by a thread with mold growing on the cover?

Pictures and types of pictures tend to be a major factor. Old medical books full of hundreds of illustrations tend to be highly sought after, while a book on basic Latin still has its market, but not as strong of one.

History is especially interesting, since even the way writing and reporting history is done has changed dramatically over the past century. While I can see the advantage of a more "factual, scientific" approach and concentration, I personally prefer the old histories, since they give a better sense of the people and day to day life and feelings.

It's amazing how many niches there are for old books, from history to old physics lessons. Like books that used words such as "aeroplane" or "moving pictures show," the sense of the time is what makes me truly treasure these old antique books.

Elegant Antique Cookie Dish 

These types of antique dishes always interest me because you just don't see pieces like this made or manufactured any more. This has the elegance of fine glass with the sturdy respectability that comes from finely crafted metal work.

This combination is always neat, just because it is so different. Is it metal? Is it glass? It's a beautiful antique, and for people who love decorations around the house that are unique and have personality, this is the type of antique you look for.

Fenton Milk Glass 

Fenton glass is an extremely popular collectible antique glass because of its remarkable and easy to recognize patterns, as well as its beautiful milk white color.

Fenton pieces tend to be very unique and easy to recognize. Fenton glass is often highly prized, and a great pick up for any room in a house that needs a little something extra in character.

If you're interested in this piece of Fenton milk glass shown, or anything similar, click HERE, to see more.

What's an Antique Apple Peeler? 

An old antique tool

Not everything has to be pretty glass or delicate brush strokes. There are many interesting antiques that are tools, and in fact can still be useful today.

For example, here's an antique cast iron apple peeler. This tool was used for taking the peels off of apples, leaving more of the fruit behind.

It's really neat (okay, like Mom, maybe I'm just easily amused) to be able to turn the handle and watch the cogs move and spin. Pieces like this are not only antiques, but they are useful and bring a great sense of living history to the user.

Glowing Glass! 

A Harmless Radioactive Antique

What if I told you there was a such thing as a radioactive antique? Would you think I was pulling your leg? Would you believe me?

Welcome to vaseline glass! Vaseline glass is a great antique glass that displays a very unique yellow or green color. The reason for this color is a result of using uranium to get that special tint. Yes, the same uranium that can be processed into plutonium.

While vaseline glass has enough radiation to register on a Geigher counter, it doesn't have enough to be harmful. No more than a regular microwave or cell phone. The only way this could hurt you is if you were grinding the glass to dust, and then breathing in the particles...which seems like a really silly thing to do!

Vaseline glass enjoys immense popularity among antique collectors because of its beauty and rarity. These are wonderful pieces that can help brighten up any house...no puns intended!

Great Stuff From Mom's Store 

Glass, and other antiques, as well.

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eBay

Swanky! 

Royal Staffordshire glass is a highly valued collectible collection of glass. Large complete sets are hard to find, and can fetch considerable money.

These wonderful collections often come with a large number of pieces, and the best way to find an affordable collection is to find it in a small town shop antique store, such as Aunt Jan's Attic, which tend to have much cheaper prices than their big city counter parts.

A good set like pictured is hard to find, and definitely conveys a sense of deep appreciation when given as a gift.

Great Antique Glass Links 

Some great items

Various items for sale from the store.
Aunt Jan's Attic
Mom's eBay antique store.
Royal Staffordshire set
Amazingly affordable considering how large this exquisite collection is!
Vaseline Glass
This talks about one person's experience discovering vaseline glass, as well as great information about vaseline glass itself.
Another lens on Mom's store
More developed right now, also more general articles.
Sinclair Lewis Books
Lens on Sinclair Lewis an his antique books.

Antique Roadshow 

A great PBS show on antiques.

Antiques Roadshow - Amazing prices

Prices

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Any other antique hounds out there?

Evelyn_Saenz

Fancy Nancy stopped by to tell you that she loves your Mom's store and the beautiful glassware there. She is sending you virtual Heart Shaped Waffles to eat off one of those fancy glass dishes.

Posted April 10, 2008

Graceonline

This was fun. I enjoyed looking at all the pieces, reminiscent of so many childhood dinners at great-aunties homes and the grandmothers and the neighborly church ladies. I have a few pieces myself, heirlooms from my mama and papa and their mamas and papas. It's fun to get them out for family get-togethers. Thanks for sparking the memories.

Posted February 27, 2008

tonyab

Hi there Monteath - I love this lens - beautiful antiques and what a great thing that you are helping your parents with their store. I'm also impressed with the number of lenses you have! (I'm going to have a contest between me and you - I have quite a few too.) Anyhow, 5*'s for this - definitely earned.

Posted February 10, 2008

poutine

great lens for your mom's store.

Posted December 26, 2007

flowergardener

Gotta give you a thumbs up for helping your mother's store out! Even if it wasn't your mother's, would still have to......I'm an Iowan!

Posted September 24, 2007

Becky

This is great. I don't have a Squidoo yet but I am going to. I love antiques and I didn't realize something like this could be done on Squidoo. Congratulations.

Posted September 19, 2007

Books on Glass Antiques 

A field that will only keep on growing

Duma Key: A Novel

Amazon Price: $18.48 (as of 08/21/2008)

500 Tiles: An Inspiring Collection of International Work (500 Series)

Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 08/21/2008)

Collector's Encyclopedia of Depression Glass

Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 08/21/2008)

AntiqueIinformation from Online Blogs 

How is the Value of Antique Determined?
An antique is prized for its rarity, artistry and age. Experienced antique collectors have grown accustomed to the basics of determining the value of an item. Moreover, they have the ability to distinguish an authentic item from a ...
Family Traditions And Antique Diamond Wedding Rings
One of the most popular relics that can be passed down from mother to daughter is an antique diamond wedding ring. Antique diamond wedding rings are personal effects and the handing over shows the passing of the torch from parent to ...
Collecting & Buying Antique Chinese Rose-medallion Porcelain
Another site with some amazing images of Chinese Porcelain is Guest & Grey, a website that specializes in Antique Chinese Porcelain & Japanese Porcelain. Some of the images are just stunning. Rich turquoise vases, ox-blood bowls and ...
Antique Mini Sewing Machines
Sewing machines used to be a common dowry as it was the main sewing tools in the past. But nowadays, most people prefer to buy ready-made clothes and they no longer sew with sewing machines, especially old models. read more.
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Monteath

About Monteath

Hey all.  Now living in Austin, Texas, as I was lucky enough to get a fantastic new job.  The picture is from Alaska, where I spent the last four years in graduate school earning my MFA in creative writing, and I hope to go back someday (Alaska, not grad school).  I'm here to show my passions, make some awesome lenses that hopefully help my parents' and their antique store out, and to learn about some marketing and making money on the side.


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