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It's a question asked every day in shops, galleries, shows, malls and auction houses across the country, for as you well know, a shopmark is the key that unlocks the value of any Arts & Crafts antique.
Know the mark, know the maker.
But who can recognize, let alone memorize, more than 1,300 shopmarks, from that of Artus Van Briggle himself to noted metalsmith Marie Zimmerman?
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In 1987 I published a little red
booklet entitled “The Collector’s Guide to Arts & Crafts Shopmarks.” It was
24 pages long and contained 38 shopmarks. Ever since then I have been
collecting shopmarks as avidly as I have collected Gustav Stickley furniture,
Grove Park Inn memorabilia, and William Dodge silver.
I decided it would be appropriate to
publish and release in time for the 25th anniversary Grove Park Inn Arts &
Crafts Conference in February a new softcover book entitled Arts & Crafts Shopmarks: 1895-1940 (Knock On
Wood Publications, 328 pages, $24.95).
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I sent an advance copy of the manuscript to David Rudd, founder of Dalton's American Decorative Arts in Syracuse, as well as a respected columnist and Arts & Crafts antiques dealer for more than thirty years. David wrote back:
"I've been waiting for a book like this for decades. It will be a must-have reference for all collectors and a valuable addition to even the most advanced collector's library. It even reaches beyond the Arts and Crafts period, encompassing artists and companies up to now we knew little about."
Arts & Crafts Shopmarks is divided into five sections: Pottery and Tiles, Furniture, Leatherwork, Lighting, and Metalware. Here is a sample entry from the furniture section:
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| Lifetime Furniture Paper Label |
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| Grand Rapids Bookcase and Chair Co. (Lifetime), Hastings and Grand Rapids, MI. Active 1911-1956. Formed by merger in 1911 by A.A. Barber of G. R. Bookcase Co. and Barber Brothers Chair Co.; both made A&C furniture since 1903; called new line “Lifetime Furniture.” Produced Cloister (1911), Jacobean (1913) and Puritan (1917); high quality A&C line, often with Stickley influence, but featuring unique design details. Shopmark appeared as paper label, decal or brand. * * * *
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Imagine another 1,300 entries like this....
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This book could easily become a best-selling book among Arts & Crafts collectors, from the many novices to the experienced veterans. In addition to containing critical information on more than 1,300 companies, craftsmen and decorators, it contains a Five Star rating scale. Collectors will be able to tell immediately if the firm in question typically produced work that was mediocre, or whether it is consider rare and valuable. The handy 6" x 9" size in a softcover binding, along with the affordable price of $24.95 (when hardcover Arts & Crafts book typically sell for $69 or more!) will enable collectors to buy two: one for home and one for their car.
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| If you are an Arts & Crafts collector and want a copy of the special Grove Park Inn First Edition, your best option would be to buy one at the Arts & Crafts Conference in February.
However, if you will not be able to attend, but want to reserve a signed and numbered copy, you can do so today by clicking the 'Buy Now' PayPal button to the right. You do NOT have to have a PayPal account. Once inside you can choose to use your own Visa or MasterCard. Books will be shipped in February.
If you are interested in purchasing multiple copies of Arts & Crafts Shopmarks to sell at your own place of business, give us a call in the office at 828.628.1915
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