ANTIQUES – Americana is as Diverse as America Itself

Americana is the hottest collecting field on the antiques market today, not only in this country but across the world. It is most commonly defined this way: “Materials relating to the history, folklore, or geography of the United States of America which are considered typical of American culture.”
Usually you define something to narrow it down, but defining Americana just makes it as broad and varied as America itself. Yes, it’s hot dogs, apple pie and Coca Cola, but it’s a whole lot more than that, too.
People collect American for a variety of reasons, from decorating to scholarship, and on various levels, from old milk bottles to early clocks and furniture valued in the hundreds of thousand of dollars. We’ll start our exploration with some items that might be moderately prices, but have big appeal.
The spinning wheel is certainly not unique to America. These devices for turning wool or flax fiber into year go all the way back to China over a thousand years ago. What’s endearing about them to Americans is that they represent an early form of colonial American rebellion.
Colonists were expected to by their clothing and fabrics from England. Huge tariffs were imposed on importing spinning wheels or looms. American colonists made their own devices, and some women set up little cottage industries. But it was still technically illegal to sell American made cloth.
The sampler gets its name because it was a sample of a young lady’s sewing talent. Girls didn’t study with the boys. Instead they learned home crafts, and no home had sheets, pillow cases or table linen unless some woman made it.
The first skill a young girl learns is marking, sewing numbers and letters. Examples of this ability are called alphabet samplers. Samplers with sayings on them are called motto samplers. Samplers made before 1830 are considered more valuable because they come before the so-called Berlin samplers made from pre-printed patterns.
Old crockery, ceramic ware made for commercial or household use, is always sought-after by Americana collectors. Especially desirable are stoneware pieces that have been decorated in cobalt. Like spinning wheels, these also represent a bit of American rebelliousness.
Although the colonists were allowed to make this utilitarian ware, all their fancy ceramics had to be purchased from the mother country. So, potters fancied up their crockery with imaginative paintings of birds and flowers. One of the names to look for, especially in this area, is Remmey from New York, Philadelphia and, briefly, Baltimore. They’re the family that became the most respected stoneware producers in the country.
Collectors also look for early yellow ware, red ware, two-tone Bristol glaze and the chocolate-colored Albany slip, but this is a field that needs a couple of columns of its own.
Anything to do with America’s politics or military is collectible. Most of these items will be collected by scholars or amateur scholars who are fascinated by history. Some pieces will have decorative value, however, especially if they depict American historical figures or the flag, like home front posters and prints of historical places and events.
Lastly, we have banks. All banks are collectible. They were teaching toys in America, and just about every young man had one at some time. You may familiar with the pricey cast iron mechanical banks, but there are some real interesting bargains in what are called “still” banks these days.
One bank that falls somewhere in the middle is the register bank that looks like a cash register. These are usually not antique, but early-mid 20th Century vintage toys that are reasonably valued between $50 and $100.
The most famous of these is the “Uncle Sam” register bank first made by Durable Toy and Novelty in 1906 with updated patents through the 1930s and mid-1950s.
Arthur Schwerdt, a certified appraiser, is the author of “The Antique Story Book: Finding the Real Value of Old Things,” and co-owner of The August Farmhouse Antiques on Route 9 in Swainton. Send your comments, questions and appraisal requests to aschwerdt@cmcherald.com.
1. (SPINNING WHEEL): While Ma spun yarn by the fireplace, Pa spun yarns of his own from the wing back chair on the other side of the hooked rug. Today, those hand carved spinning wheels evoke some of that charm as decorative sculptures. They are bargains, too, like this compact Pennsylvania example at about $100 or the larger, showier pieces at around $400.
2. (SAMPLER): Collectors like samplers made before 1830, when printed patterns called Berlin samplers started to appear. The patterns on the earlier samplers, like this one from 1828, will have come entirely out of the imagination of the young ladies who created them. This Christian motto sampler (about $1,200) is adorned with stylized insects, flowering vines and bowls of fruit.
3. (REMMEY STONEWARE): American collectors love all sorts of old crockery, but Remmey stoneware from Philadelphia is among the most sought-after. The pieces that are brush-decorated in cobalt can run into the thousands of dollars. This large crock is a commercial piece, but no one seems to know what it was for. The top curves up to a narrow opening. Pickles, maybe? Email me with any ideas. Without knowing anything else, I’d appraise it at about $1,500 – $1,800. It would make a great vase or cane stand.
4. (ARMY ROSTER): This World War I U. S. Army roster is a collectible piece of American on several levels. Not only does it relate to our war-time military, it includes a depiction of the American flag and an American president. These usually appraise at around $100-150, but this one might be a bit more. The elder H. Norman Schwarzkopf is listed as a captain in the ranks.
5. (BANK): All banks are collectible. This one in perfect condition (about $85) was made in 1937 by the Durable Toy and Novelty Corporation of Cleveland Ohio. It’s called an Uncle Sam Register Bank, and it taught young Americans to be thrifty.