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E-News ©
January 2006

Have a particular want?
Just let us know!

This is just one of the ways we strive to offer the finest service to our buyers and sellers. Our knowledgeable and dedicated staff is skilled in matching sellers' merchandise with buyers' wants. We'll keep your wants in mind, and call or e-mail you when those items you desire come in!

Feature stories this issue...

SOLD!!! Recent Impressive Sales at Showcase Antique Center!

Sold: $3,995.00! Platinum Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Sold: $1,200.00! Pair of French Brass Candlesticks
Sold: $1,900.00! 14k Carved Moonstone Ring
Sold: $ 745.00! Royal Bayreuth Rose Tapestry Vase
Sold: $ 850.00! Schoenhut Roly-Poly Santa
Sold: $ 525.00! Wave Crest Dresser Box
Sold: $ 540.00! Solid Gold Vinaigrette
Sold: $ 700.00! A Four-Bottle Cormandel Box
Sold: $ 600.00! Pair of Portrait Photos in Frames
Sold: $ 525.00! Nylund Ewer
Sold: $ 535.00! Royal Bayreuth Robin Pitcher
Sold: $ 630.00! Huntley and Palmers Literature Biscuit Tin

From the Attic

Six-Piece Silver Plate Coffee/Tea Service w/ Grape Décor and Serving Tray
Price: $495.00

Marx Colonial Dollhouse w/ Furniture and Additional Accessories
Price: $750.00

What's in your attic?

Read article Yard Sales, Schmard Sales.
CONSIGNMENT = $ALE$ below and learn how easy it is to consign with Showcase Antique Center.

Antiques and Vintage Collectibles Spotlight

Mercury Glass

In the early 1800s glass manufacturers tried to produce affordable silvered glassware by using tin, lead, and other compounds. Mercury amalgams, similar to methods used for silvering mirrors, were tried as well, but the results were unsatisfactory. Finally in 1849, Hale Thomson and Edward Varnish of England developed and patented a procedure for manufacturing silvered glassware, more commonly known as mercury glass.
Mercury glass is double-walled glassware with an interior silver coating. This unique glass was an inexpensive alternative to the silverware used by the wealthy, and gained fame as an affordable luxury of the middle class. As the demand for mercury glass blossomed, glass production extended beyond England to Germany, France, Belgium, and Bohemia. In 1855, Thomas Leighton of the New England Glass Company took out a patent in the United States.
To enhance the opulent appearance of the hollow silvered glassware, a gold wash coated the inside and copper-wheel engraving was used on more valuable pieces. Mercury glass was commonly decorated with hand-painted or etched foliage, vines, ferns, grapes, and bird motifs.
The first mercury glass products were silvered doorknobs. Later came religious items such as crucifixes, statuary, and candlesticks found primarily in poorer church communities. Mercury glass' affordability led to the production of plates, goblets, compotes, salts, figurines, match holders, globes, vases, and lamps.
Around the turn of the 20th century mercury glass was synonymous with bad taste and mass-produced kitsch. Production declined and mercury glass soon became obsolete. Although it was produced in enormous quantities, relatively few pieces survived due to the fragility of the double-walled, extremely light glass. Now, nearly a century later, collectors seek out this rare and beautiful glassware.
____________________
Reference: A Pictorial Guide to Silvered Mercury Glass by Diane Lytwyn

In Our Showcases & On Our Web Site
Mercury Glass Champagne Flute
w/leaves and gold wash interior. Price: $350.00

Mercury Glass Large Compote Price: $450.00

Mercury Glass Rose Bowl
w/grapes. Price: $295.00

Mercury Glass Covered Sugar Bowl
w/grapes. Price: $395.00

Mercury Glass Footed Cup
w/birds and gold wash interior. Price: $310.00

Pair of Mercury Glass Candlesticks Price: $175.00

Mercury Glass Salt
w/grapes. Price: $125.00

Mercury Glass Vase
w/floral décor. Price: $295.00

Antique Bohemian Mercury Glass Small Compote Price: $175.00

Rare Tiny Mercury Glass Antique Vase Price: $ 65.00

Antique Mercury Glass Vase
Hand-painted; Victorian. Price: $ 95.00

Antique Bohemian Mercury Glass
Gold-washed, etched beaker. Price: $195.00

Mercury Glass Goblet American Flint Price: $180.00

Mercury Glass Antique American Silver Goblet
Mint. Price: $225.00

Bohemian Silver Mercury Glass Vase
Bohemian silver mercury glass vase; frosted exterior with hand-painted floral and leaf décor; plug intact; unmarked. Height=10 Price: $325.00

Bohemian Silver Mercury Glass Vase
Bohemian silver mercury glass vase; frosted exterior with hand-painted floral and butterfly décor; plug intact; unmarked. Height=9 Price: $300.00

Silver Mercury Glass Goblet
Silver mercury glass goblet with pink roman key design; plug intact; unmarked. Height=5.5 Price: $400.00

Silver Mercury Glass Goblet
Silver mercury glass goblet with frosted leaf décor; plug intact; unmarked. Height=6 Price: $350.00

Silver Mercury Glass Vase
Silver mercury glass vase with frosted body, blue banding and floral décor in tones of red, blue, green and gold; plug intact; unmarked. Height=7.75 Price: $475.00

Oyster Plates*

Fan-Shaped Five Well Oyster Plate
This lovely fan-shaped five well oyster plate is unmarked. Very good condition with no chips or cracks. Some wear to the gold accents. Width=10 Height=9 Price: $325.00

Five Well Oyster Plate
This dainty pink and white five well oyster plate is unmarked. Diameter=8.25 Price: $195.00

Five Well Oyster Plate
Five well oyster plate with underwater decor and coral branches; done in tones of pale blue, magenta, and pink; incised with the number "1676." Diameter=8.5 Price: $375.00

Half-Moon Five Well Oyster Plate
Half-moon five well oyster plate done in pastel tones of pink, aqua, and yellow; unmarked. Width=8.5 Price: $285.00

Haviland Limoges Five Well Oyster Plate
This delightful Limoges five well oyster plate is hand-painted with a sea life décor. The plate is marked "Haviland France" on the reverse. Diameter=9 Price: $295.00

Haviland Limoges Five Well Oyster Plate
This Haviland Limoges five well oyster plate is scalloped and has a white background that is decorated with floral sprays in tones of yellow & brown. Plate has gold trimmed edges. Double marked "CFH / GDM " and "CH. Field Haviland Limoges." Circa 1882-1890 Diameter=8.75 Price: $295.00

Haviland Limoges Turkey Oyster Plate
Haviland Limoges five well turkey oyster plate; done in tones of peach, brown, and mauve; marked "Haviland & Co." Diameter=8.5 Price: $385.00

R.W. Six Well Oyster Plate
This lovely six well oyster plate is marked "R. W." Within a blue diamond & crown emblem and is incised "143" and "37". This oyster plate is in very good condition overall with no chips or cracks. Diameter=9.5 Price: $195.00

Six Well Oyster Plate
This attractive six well oyster plate features a shell décor. The plate is incised with the numerals "765 0" on the reverse. Diameter=8.75 Price: $295.00

*To learn more about Oyster Plates read Stuart's Musings below.

Birthday · Wedding · Anniversary · Holiday
A Showcase Antique Center Gift Certificate is the Perfect Gift for the Discerning Collector!

Stuart's Musings

Oyster Plates

Oysters, a favorite choice among wealthy Victorians, were valued for their succulent flesh as well as their legendary aphrodisiac effect. Serving oysters was the height of pretentiousness and elegance. Proper service required special sterling utensils and ornately decorated plates designed specifically for serving oysters.
These unique plates ranged in size and design from delicate to massive and were made from a range of materials such as, porcelain, pewter, glass, silver, and earthenware.
Oysters were often served in the half shell on ice, and so deep-welled dishes were developed to hold the slippery shucked meats. There were also depressed areas for sauces, lemons, or crackers. An under plate was sometimes used to catch the overflow of melted ice.
Another style of oyster plate was designed for oysters on the half-shell without ice. These plates had larger, less-defined wells that accommodated the shell.
A third style of plate, often ornate in design with wells which look like oyster shells, had recesses for oysters served without the shell and without ice.
From the mid-nineteenth century until the early twentieth century, hundreds of different oyster plate designs were manufactured in Europe, Asia, and the United States.
____________________
Reference: Dick and Jan Wilson, www.willapabay.org

Yard Sales, Schmard Sales.

CONSIGNMENT = $ALE$

"If you have something old, bring it in - it could be a valuable antique or collectible. Having an expert look at it is the best way to find out."

-Stuart Brody, owner and appraiser, Showcase Antique Center

Do you have a valuable or family heirloom you'd like to sell? Our consignment arrangement is the prime outlet for getting the best possible price for your antiques and collectibles. Not sure what your item is worth? Our highly qualified appraisers will determine the value of your merchandise for you. This service is free of charge to our consignors.

Looking for Consignors with Quality Antiques
  • We are committed to carrying quality antiques and vintage collectibles 
  • We don't allow any reproductions
  • We adhere to specific time periods for vintage collectibles
  • We will appraise your items, ensuring the highest value possible
Our Marketing Strategy
  • A customized marketing program just for you to showcase your merchandise in its best light.
  • Telemarketing
    • We telephone customers with an interest in your type of merchandise
    • Over 20,000 customers in our database
Additional Services
  • If your merchandise sells through our ads or eBay, we handle the shipping and charge the customer.
  • We remit all the sales tax so you don't have to worry about it. 
Want to learn more about consigning with Showcase Antique Center? Contact Stuart Brody at sales@showcaseantiques.com. That extra money in your pocket is a click away!

Showcase Antique Center
located at the entrance to Old Sturbridge Village,
  Route 20, Sturbridge, MA 01566 
Tel: (508) 347-7190 Fax: (508) 347-5420
sales@showcaseantiques.com

 
Showcase Antique Center is conveniently located on Route 20 in Sturbridge, MA, just one mile from I-90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike) and I-84. We're minutes away from the world-renown outdoor Brimfield Antique Shows held annually each May, July and September.


Need to sell more than what's in your attic?
Need to sell your whole house?
Then it's time to call Stuart!

Stuart Brody, president of Showcase Antique Center, Inc., has added real estate auctioneer to his extensive and impressive list of credentials.
"Most people think real estate auctioneering has to do with distressed properties," said Stuart. "That is only one portion of the market. More and more people are turning to real estate auctions to sell their homes or commercial properties. Auction is ideal for inherited property, or when time is of the essence, such as in divorce settlements. Contents may be included in the auction as well."
And the benefits are numerous!
  • Auction reduces the time the property is on the market.
  • Auction eliminates numerous, unscheduled showings.
  • Auction creates competition among buyers - auction prices can exceed the price of a negotiated sale.
  • Auction takes the seller out of the negotiation process.
  • Seller sets the terms and conditions of the sale.
  • Seller knows exactly when the property will sell.
  • The buyer pays the commission when a 7% to 10% buyer's premium is used. The high bid plus the buyer's premium becomes the total selling price.
  • The seller pays no commission when a property is sold...only marketing costs are charged.
Affiliation: Northeast Realty
To provide more options for his clients, Stuart affiliated with Northeast Realty, Union, CT, as both a real estate agent and auctioneer. Now Stuart can conduct negotiated sales for both residential and commercial properties in Massachusetts and Connecticut, as well as auction property in Connecticut. Get the professional attention and advice YOU deserve for YOUR specific real estate needs. Call Stuart Brody at 617-899-8959.

Showcase Antique Center's E-News(c) is written by Rita Schiano. For more information http://www.ritaschiano.com/

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