Page 45 - 2019 August The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
P. 45
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles and Asheford Institute of Antiques have teamed up to present:
Asheford Institute of Antiques
www.asheford.com
APPRAISERS CORNER A Commitment to Excellence Since 1966
Certified Appraisal Training
Dear Appraiser, the general store along with Pepsi, Coca Cola and other products that used
porcelain enamel signs of that era.
I have a STAR Today porcelain enamel signs are mostly re-creations of the old signs. They
tobacco sign that is 24 are lighter in weight and are not the quality of the old signs. I stated this to be
inches x 12 inches. I a warning to new collectors of the old porcelain enamel signage. Beware
believe it is painted. It of reproductions! Reproductions have their place, but the unscrupulous or
was found in an antique ignorant often sell these as old! It will pay to do your homework and study the
shop. I remember seeing old signs you want to collect.
one of these in an East Your sign, I am happy to say, is an original porcelain enamel Star Tobacco
Tennessee general store sign circa around the turn of the 20th Century. It is the very desirable 24 x
that was used by moun- 12-inch version and has a few problems such as a bend that has caused the
tain folk. What can you porcelain enamel to flake off, but is not at all bad for a century old sign. The
tell me about it and is it old? Can you back is the base gray color and appears as it should. The sign has most of its
please give me a value? My husband brass grommets in the hanging holes
wants to pitch it and I want to keep and it appears to be original and
it. Please give me some good news! un-restored. If I were to see your
sign in an upper end auction,
Thank you very much antique shop, gallery or show, I
B.A. would expect to pay around $275-
$325 price range.
Thank you for your submission
Hello – and Please do not throw it away, but if you decide to pitch it, pitch it and please tell your husband to sit
my way! back and enjoy the history that now
has a place of honor on your wall.
What you have is a great old porcelain enamel sign that was used to
advertise Star Tobacco in a Country or General Store circa 1890 – 1920s. Hang it and enjoy it.
In the 1870s the tobacco manufacturing firm of Liggett and Myers started
manufacturing plug chewing tobacco under the name of STAR. The Star *information pulled from an interview article
“The Disappearing Art of Porcelain Signs”
tobacco manufacturing company was located in St. Louis Missouri, and I
Michael Bruner, porcelain sign expert and author.
believe the original building is still standing today.
Your sign is not painted but created using a very durable porcelain enamel
coloring process. Porcelain enamel signs started to be manufactured in the Another Vintage Star Tobacco product to
look for is an Advertising Envelope like
U.S. in the 1890s. Before this time, they were manufactured in Europe.* this one selling on eBay
Porcelain enamel is powdered glass that is fused onto an iron
backing. To get separate colors, they would fire a base coat of one color, then
the lettering, then apply other colors on the sign in layers and fuse them to the David Moore is part of the school’s “Ask The Experts” appraising
iron. This is why your sign is uncommonly heavy for its size. team, and is an honors graduate and “Certified” Asheford
Institute of Antiques Appraiser. Mr. Moore is the owner of
In the late 1800s through the mid-1960s, tobacco, flour, soda, and
hundreds of other companies would give general or country stores advertising Waterman’s Antiques, was President of the Indiana Archaeo -
logical Society, and is a published author, with over 50 years of
to sell their products. Since porcelain enamel signs were virtually waterproof or experience in the research and study of antiques and collectibles.
at least water resilient for a good long time, this sign probably hung outside
The Journal of Antiques & Collectibles and Asheford Institute of Antiques have teamed up to provide our readers with professional appraisers to help you learn more
about and value your finds. Do you have questions about something you have acquired? We welcome your questions and photos. Send your information to
editorial@journalofantiques.com or mail to Journal of Antiques & Collectibles, PO Box 950, Sturbridge, MA 01566 attn: Appraisers Corner. To learn more about becoming
a “certified” antiques appraiser, visit www.asheford.com or contact the Admissions Office toll free at 877-444-4508.
RESTORATION
• P t c e s o d t u o o r w o o d e n pro t c e j oj s f ro m h s r a h U V R s y a
P tro
• C o i t i ns w t i h a c o n i t a g o of f b s e e w a x a nd B a r a i l zi n c n r a a u b a w a x
C ndo
• H s p e v e r n t d n i y r g a nd d o i t a r o i r e t e n
H ple
H ple
of
• H s m i a t n i a n t h e n a tu a r l b e a t u y a nd d e t p h o f g n i a r
• PoP h e s o d t u o o r f i n r u tu r e t o a s f o t l u st r e
P islo
E sy ta
• E o ap pp l p y w t i h a g k i l - l e e c o ns ist e n y c
VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR
CALL TO A DEALER IN YOUR AREA
L T
O FIND A
August 2019 43
Asheford Institute of Antiques
www.asheford.com
APPRAISERS CORNER A Commitment to Excellence Since 1966
Certified Appraisal Training
Dear Appraiser, the general store along with Pepsi, Coca Cola and other products that used
porcelain enamel signs of that era.
I have a STAR Today porcelain enamel signs are mostly re-creations of the old signs. They
tobacco sign that is 24 are lighter in weight and are not the quality of the old signs. I stated this to be
inches x 12 inches. I a warning to new collectors of the old porcelain enamel signage. Beware
believe it is painted. It of reproductions! Reproductions have their place, but the unscrupulous or
was found in an antique ignorant often sell these as old! It will pay to do your homework and study the
shop. I remember seeing old signs you want to collect.
one of these in an East Your sign, I am happy to say, is an original porcelain enamel Star Tobacco
Tennessee general store sign circa around the turn of the 20th Century. It is the very desirable 24 x
that was used by moun- 12-inch version and has a few problems such as a bend that has caused the
tain folk. What can you porcelain enamel to flake off, but is not at all bad for a century old sign. The
tell me about it and is it old? Can you back is the base gray color and appears as it should. The sign has most of its
please give me a value? My husband brass grommets in the hanging holes
wants to pitch it and I want to keep and it appears to be original and
it. Please give me some good news! un-restored. If I were to see your
sign in an upper end auction,
Thank you very much antique shop, gallery or show, I
B.A. would expect to pay around $275-
$325 price range.
Thank you for your submission
Hello – and Please do not throw it away, but if you decide to pitch it, pitch it and please tell your husband to sit
my way! back and enjoy the history that now
has a place of honor on your wall.
What you have is a great old porcelain enamel sign that was used to
advertise Star Tobacco in a Country or General Store circa 1890 – 1920s. Hang it and enjoy it.
In the 1870s the tobacco manufacturing firm of Liggett and Myers started
manufacturing plug chewing tobacco under the name of STAR. The Star *information pulled from an interview article
“The Disappearing Art of Porcelain Signs”
tobacco manufacturing company was located in St. Louis Missouri, and I
Michael Bruner, porcelain sign expert and author.
believe the original building is still standing today.
Your sign is not painted but created using a very durable porcelain enamel
coloring process. Porcelain enamel signs started to be manufactured in the Another Vintage Star Tobacco product to
look for is an Advertising Envelope like
U.S. in the 1890s. Before this time, they were manufactured in Europe.* this one selling on eBay
Porcelain enamel is powdered glass that is fused onto an iron
backing. To get separate colors, they would fire a base coat of one color, then
the lettering, then apply other colors on the sign in layers and fuse them to the David Moore is part of the school’s “Ask The Experts” appraising
iron. This is why your sign is uncommonly heavy for its size. team, and is an honors graduate and “Certified” Asheford
Institute of Antiques Appraiser. Mr. Moore is the owner of
In the late 1800s through the mid-1960s, tobacco, flour, soda, and
hundreds of other companies would give general or country stores advertising Waterman’s Antiques, was President of the Indiana Archaeo -
logical Society, and is a published author, with over 50 years of
to sell their products. Since porcelain enamel signs were virtually waterproof or experience in the research and study of antiques and collectibles.
at least water resilient for a good long time, this sign probably hung outside
The Journal of Antiques & Collectibles and Asheford Institute of Antiques have teamed up to provide our readers with professional appraisers to help you learn more
about and value your finds. Do you have questions about something you have acquired? We welcome your questions and photos. Send your information to
editorial@journalofantiques.com or mail to Journal of Antiques & Collectibles, PO Box 950, Sturbridge, MA 01566 attn: Appraisers Corner. To learn more about becoming
a “certified” antiques appraiser, visit www.asheford.com or contact the Admissions Office toll free at 877-444-4508.
RESTORATION
• P t c e s o d t u o o r w o o d e n pro t c e j oj s f ro m h s r a h U V R s y a
P tro
• C o i t i ns w t i h a c o n i t a g o of f b s e e w a x a nd B a r a i l zi n c n r a a u b a w a x
C ndo
• H s p e v e r n t d n i y r g a nd d o i t a r o i r e t e n
H ple
H ple
of
• H s m i a t n i a n t h e n a tu a r l b e a t u y a nd d e t p h o f g n i a r
• PoP h e s o d t u o o r f i n r u tu r e t o a s f o t l u st r e
P islo
E sy ta
• E o ap pp l p y w t i h a g k i l - l e e c o ns ist e n y c
VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR
CALL TO A DEALER IN YOUR AREA
L T
O FIND A
August 2019 43
