Tuesday, August 5, 2014

what i bought on my summer vacation...mid-century modern midwest

Now for the fun part. When we trekked back to the Midwest over the 4th of July, my patient and tolerant cousin indulged my love of the op shops.



I decided I would focus on mid-century modern Midwest pottery.

And Husky paintings.

husky oil painting from the 1960s


This oil was done in the sixties and is rather primitive. But I like it. And was willing to ship it home. Kudos to Olde Timer's Antique Centre in Sandwich, Illinois. They had a shop that went on for days. If you looked closely, mid-century modern could be found tucked into many nooks and crannies. But, to be fair, you really had to look.

You can kinda see the resemblance.


In the same very massive dealer mall, I found, for a very good price, a Russel Wright Chartreuse pitcher from Steubenville Ohio, in perfect condition. I have a soft spot in my heart for anything both pottery and chartreuse.

russel wright chartreuse pitcher


On another muggy afternoon, we drove over to Volo, Illinois and stopped in at Volo Antiques Mall. Also massive. They had a special section which contained a good portion of their mid-century modern neatly displayed together. And, the rest of the aisles, and floors, and aisles was devoted to country, Victorian antiques, and other whatnot.

I got a few of these Royal Haeger art pottery vases. I had never before bumped into Royal Haeger pottery. With a little in-store Googling, I figured that Haeger is an extremely local potter, in fact, first established in the late 1800's along the clay rich Fox River (which runs along the Farnsworth House as well). Their original product, bricks, was used extensively in rebuilding a burn-proof industrial Chicago after the Great Fire.

Royal Haegar Green Vase

Aren't they stunning?

Royal Haegar Green Vase

Royal Haegar Green Vase

Royal Haegar Green Vase


Royal Haegar Green Vase


And, I got this little fabric scrap. It was in a pile of sample pieces from a 50's drapery shop.

Colonial Drapery and Curtain Corp old fabric sample 1950s


Enough to make a pillow. It is marked Colonial Drapery & Curtain Corp, 79 Madison Ave., New York. The pattern is called Yuma 466. All I can find about this mid-fifties company is they had a couple of skirmishes with the IRS.

 Next up, orange!!!

I was attracted to this Vernon Kilns bright orange water pitcher. It is probably from the 40's. And, I can't find anything like this pitcher on eBay or the web. Frankly, most of their stuff looks like a bit of a Bauer/Fiestaware ripoff. I bought it, in spite of the fact it is California pottery.

Venon Kilns California Orange Art Pottery Jug Pitcher 1940s

I was very impressed that the lid survived all these years.

Venon Kilns California Orange Art Pottery Jug Pitcher 1940s

Venon Kilns California Orange Art Pottery Jug Pitcher 1940s


And the orange pitcher is sitting on a mosaic Georges Briard mosaic tray from the 60's. I happen to have another one of those, but smaller, so I picked it up for a song. A little wear, but perfect for holding stuff.

Georges Briard Mosaic Tray

Last purchase at Volo was this weird little blue vase.

mid-century modern art pottery vase midwest

I couldn't make out the label or the marks, but knew it would fit perfectly under my bathroom cabinet on the counter. I am always looking for stuff to tuck in there.

mid-century modern art pottery vase midwest

mid-century modern art pottery vase midwest

No idea. But it was cheap. And old. And caught my eye.

I think that about wraps it up for Volo. Yolo.

Our trip moved out of Illinois into Indiana to drop our son off at a soccer camp. My husband and I did a quick stop at Shipshewana Antique and Flea Market, down in  Amish country. Well, the Amish are famous lately.

Amish Shipshewana Antique and Flea Market

Amish Shipshewana Antique and Flea Market

I swear, I saw these bonny lasses texting on their cell phones.

Amish Shipshewana Antique and Flea Market

I do not get it at all.

The Shipshewana antique mall kind of sucked too (sorry, I try not to be negative). High prices and very commercial. Limited mid-century modern. I did manage to find a piece  glass, probably from the sixties, that looked interesting.

Hoop Vase 1950s Green


Unmarked and unlabeled. Looked like a knockoff of the Hooped Glass Vases which I have purchased before.

Hoop Vase 1950s Green

Cost next to nothing, so home it came. And the little vase will also fit under the bathroom counter and look nice next to the pottery turquoise vase.

1950s pottery Illinois


Cool, huh? I don't get to go picking through shops in the Midwest EVER, so I enjoyed myself. My cousins were impressed with which the speed I could spot something, and then buy it. Over the years, I have learned not to pass up a good thing at a reasonable price. You rarely get back down the same aisle twice.

I think that is it for our summer vacation. I could show you some Indiana farm pictures, but that would be just gratuitous, and not mid-century at all.

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8 comments:

  1. I love the pottery. It IS stunning. That fabric is pretty cool too! Have fun with it!

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  2. I think that pitcher is one of Russel Wright's best designs! I also love Royal Haeger pottery. When I first bought my house (the main one), I had my built-ins filled with nothing but Royal Haeger in oxblood. (I was into a monochromatic phase back in 2006.) My grandparents sold Haeger pottery in their drugstore when I was a kid, so I grew up with it. The Haeger vase you have with the interesting texture is part of their "earth-wrap" series. I have a piece in gold. That orange water pitcher is fabulous, and the Briard piece is beautiful with it. Love your blue and green pieces and fabric too. Can't wait to see your pillow. And I think your husky painting is the perfect tribute to your "baby."

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    1. Hey Dana! I went and searched your blog to see if you had posted on Haeger but I couldn't find anything. I am glad you know all about it. Validates the purchase... I am really happy with everything, including the super reasonable Midwest prices!

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  3. I like all of your purchases Rebecca - they work together beautifully too (last photo). We don't have malls filled with antiques (and that iincludes mid-century stuff) here - aisles of
    modernist pottery etc to choose from?! Now
    that would be nice! The orange pitcher is my favourite and your Russel Wright (I have come across a shop that sells it here - new pieces, not vintage, but it is very pricey) x
    p.s. nice one for using the term "op shop" You are a honourary Aussie now ;)

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    1. You caught the op shop, huh? I learned that 100% from you and all your buddies. I got the Russel Wright for a bit of a steal, you will be glad to know. That makes it even better. The fabric scrap was nothing too, and is solid gold to me. It was such a fun adventure!

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  4. Enjoying this and learning so much about details I lack in my line of work. You do have good finds.

    Though visiting one of my sisters in PA, I think I get the Amish, though without seeing into their culture much. The contrast seems intense to our world...the cell phone use, funny! Here, I see Menonites shopping in town or getting gas, on the way back to NW Chihuahua where they have some colonies or villages...those scrubbed blondes *here*, that's contrast!

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  5. Their original product, bricks, was used extensively in rebuilding a burn-proof industrial Chicago after the Great Fire.

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