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Publisher’s Corner

A Salute to Americana Publisher

Maxine Carter-Lome
he best definition of Americana that I have come How we identify and assign maxine@journalofantiques.com
across is, “material ephemera of the distant items to the Americana umbrella Business Manager
TAmerican past.” Many kinds of cultural artifacts has a lot to do with nostalgia and Jeffrey Lome
fall within the definition of Americana. The things marketing. While historians and Maxine Carter-Lome jeffrey@journalofantiques.com
involved need not be ‘antique’ old or ‘primitive,’ but are academics seek to define the word Managing Editor
usually associated with some quintessential element of the and aesthetic for the purposes of scholarship, show Judy Gonyeau
American experience. promoters, dealers, and auction houses are appropriating editorial@journalofantiques.com
In the antiques world, Americana is often used the word as a way to broaden the appeal and market for
synonymously with American-made antique objects, American-made objects celebrating our cultural Contributing Writer
which extends to folk art, primitives, the Arts & Crafts heritage, authentic and contemporary. And it is paying Erica P. Lome
movement, textiles, art, ephemera, and advertising, off, with new attention and respect being paid to Sales Representatives
among other categories. Folk art and handcraft; tools design simplicity, regional makers, patina, history, Pat Rainka
and weathervanes; serving ware and utensils; symbolism, ingenuity, authenticity, rarity/uniqueness, journalofantiques@gmail.com
hand-built furniture; portraits, maps, and paper and of course, condition. Judy Gonyeau
paraphernalia; mechanical devices, whether handmade Americana collectors and buyers are turning to the editorial@journalofantiques.com
or manufactured … anything that touched a deep corners of 19th/early-20th century barns, country Art Director
chord of nostalgia or meaning can legitimately be auctions, and flea markets for the objects of everyday Lynn Cotterman
considered Americana, and are valued for their use that define our past, and to “Americana” shows, ads@journalofantiques.com
authenticity, craftsmanship, ingenuity, and simplicity. dealers, and auction houses for rare and best examples
According to oldhouseonline.com, the word with historic significance. Production
“Americana” was already in use by 1820. As early as the In this issue we look at some of the more common Jill Montague
1880s, collections of related items were auctioned examples of Americana for collectors such as crocks and Administrative Assistant
under the title of Americana, a trend that continues at pottery, flags and bunting, duck decoys, weathervanes, Susan French
auction today. Its use has been common in some eras hooked rugs, and more. We also take a look at the great info@journalofantiques.com
and rarer in others, and can also be applied to regional Americana collector Albert. B. Wells, whose extensive 508-347-1960
objects and the vernacular landscape. A tracking collection of ‘primitives’ and vision of how to share
program (Ngram), charted by Google Books, shows them for the appreciation and education of future Toll free:
that usage of this term first peaked between 1840 and generations, seeded Old Sturbridge Village, today one 888-698-0734
1860, dipped down with a small bump just after the of the Country’s leading living history museums and
American centennial in 1876, then soared again research centers for Colonial New England life Fax: 508-347-0911
between 1920 and 1940. The first wave coincided with and times. Mailing:
an era when America was just finding its identity as a As we struggle to define who we are as a country in P. O. Box 950
nation. The second matches the peak popularity of the these divisive times, it is in our nature to look nostalgi- Sturbridge, MA 01566
Colonial Revival in the 20th century. cally to the symbols, objects, and ways of life that E-mail:
The popularity of Americana at auction today and define past eras; a simpler time that we all connect with info@journalofantiques.com
the rebranding of antique shows to represent a broader the best of American life. The term Americana offers us
understanding and appreciation for distinctively a framework and context for keeping and placing a UPS and FedEx
American antiques, are all signs that Americana is now value on our cultural heritage, but it is how an object Shipping Address:
poised for a comeback in the second decade of the 21st makes us feel and connects us with our past that 46 Hall Road
century, two hundred years after the word first came reenforces and reawakens our interest in keeping the Sturbridge, MA 01566

into use to identify and brand artifacts of our uniquely best of America alive and well in the objects we Journal of
American cultural heritage. preserve and carry forward. Antiques and Collectibles
The revival of interest in folkways and handmade is published monthly,
crafts in the last few decades has also ushered in a 12 times per year, by
market for reproductions of Americana, in much the Weathervane Enterprises, Inc.
same way as the Colonial Revival Era in the first half of 46 Hall Road
the 20th century created a cottage industry for Maxine Carter-Lome, Publisher Sturbridge MA 01566.
American-made reproductions of furniture and decora- Periodicals postage paid at
tive pieces with European undertones but completed Sturbridge MA.
with an American interpretation of the design. Many
of the fine reproduction pieces made by craftsmen Coming Next Month … POSTMASTER:
during the Colonial Revival Era for a rising middle Special 20th Anniversary Issue! Send address changes to
class of immigrants to put their assimilation and To Preserve and Protect The Journal of Antiques
refinement on display in their home are now and Collectibles
turning 100 in this second decade of the 21st century, Issue Ad Deadline Mailing Date ISSN: (1539-5618)
leading scholars and the market to view and value P.O. Box 950
reproductions as “antiques” in their own right. March February 5 February 14 Sturbridge, MA 01566
Many of the objects made—hand-crafted and by April March 4 March 13
machine—during the Colonial Revival Era were works May April 8 April 17 The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
reserves the right to reject any advertising that
of art, not unlike the current Americana reproductions June May 6 May 15 does not comply with our standards. The
market. Many of these Americana-inspired objects and July June 10 June 19 Journal will not be liable for any errors or
omissions but will print a correction in the
furnishings recreate or reinterpret rare or expensive August July 8 July 17 following issue if notification of such error is
forms that pre-date the Civil War: trade signs, painted sent by the appropriate deadline. Original
manuscripts are welcomed by qualified writ-
furniture, game boards, miniature quilts, and many September August 5 August 14 ers. We assume no responsibility for loss of
unsolicited material.
styles of pottery and basketry. October September 2 September 11
Copyright 2020
All rights reserved
2 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles