Joe Keller & David Ross authors of Delphite & Jadite: A Pocket Guide A Schiffer Book for Collectors have composed a purse or backpack appropriate sized edition offering attention directed to some of the good-looking home oriented glassware produced in the United States during the depression period of early to mid 1900s.
This detailed publication is completed with 160 pages embracing subject matter and photos depicting glassware pieces which continue to be regularly found at estates sales, yard sales, jumble and antique marketplaces and Depression Glass shows.
Antiques Dealers themselves, Writers Keller & Ross, concentrating attention in 20th century American Glassware and Dinnerware note that Jadite, green, and Delphite, blue, consist of some of the most highly sought after, and often collected Depression Era opaque kitchen glassware pieces.
The Table of Contents lists Delphite items starting on page 5 and continuing on to page 49. Included in this section are imageries via text and image depictions of Delphite Kitchenware; including AzureCharm, Azuirite Swirl, Turquoise Blue and Fire - King Kitchenware in addition to Miscellaneous blue, delphite, pieces.
I particularly appreciate being able to view replicas of original kitchenware catalog pages included in this edition, and found Jeanette, and several McKee pages included with photos of actual pieces. I collect Jeanette and McKee items.
The pages of photos in the Delphite section are filled with large, colored depictions of mixing bowl sets, canister sets, as well as refrigerator and kitchen use items such as, measuring cups and pitchers. Hand powered and electric batter bowl sets, along with lemon and orange reamers, novelty items, and vases are all included.
Jadite Kitchenware & Dinnerware is inaugurated on page 62 and wraps up the volume on page 160. I collect some Jadite when I find pieces in thrift stores, or jumble shops, as well as at estate or rural auctions.
Jadite pieces manufactured by both McKee and Jeanette Glass Companies have been gathered by enthusiasts from the introduction of the first pieces back in the 1930s and 40s even before I was born. The largest amount of dinnerware pieces in addition to kitchenware items was presented on market by Fire King and Anchor Hocking beginning in the mid-940s and continuing until late 1960s. I do have some Fire King and some Anchor Hocking.
As is found with other areas of Delphite & Jadite: A Pocket Guide; the Fire King and Anchor Hocking section includes good sized, photographic images of lovely canisters, kitchenware including lidded refrigerator pieces meant to protect leftovers; tableware, reamers some with and others without matching pitchers. Other items include refrigerator water servers with spouts for filling glass without removing the container itself from refrigerator, rolling pins, beautiful ball jugs, towel bars, vases, occasional dishes and candy dishes, gift pieces, and even an electric batter mixer intermingled with facsimiles of original catalog pages.
Tableware items embrace pictures of the striking Alice pattern, my personal favorite of the cups and saucers and dishware meant for table use. Also included in the dinnerware section are square Charm pattern, and Jane Ray, another handsome pattern, which combines well with Alice. I do have a few pieces of Alice as well as a few of Jane Ray.
While Alice is actually my hands down favorite pattern; I more often do find Jane Ray design pieces than those of Alice pattern during treks to yard and estate sales, jumble shop or antique shop forays.
McKee, Laurel design, is presented as both grill and dinner plates having both scalloped and plain edge. Other Laurel pieces include platter, table shakers, cup and saucer, candle sticks, children pieces, pitcher and creamer as well as an attractive cheese dish.
While I restrict my own collecting primarily to Alice and Jane Ray patterns; many collectors do like to get a piece or two of various patterns.
Fire King Restaurant Ware displayed in this Pocket Guide consists of both replica of a Fire King Restaurant brochure in addition to quite a few photographs of actual pieces including grill plates and luncheon, mugs, bread and dinner plates, cups and saucers, and platters.
Some patterns displayed are Sheaves of Wheat, Shell, in addition to Martha Stewart pattern footed cake plates, covered boxes, and novelty items including a covered, bee skep shaped honey pot.
I like the Fire King Philbe dinnerware pattern, and confine my own collecting of Fire King tableware pieces to Philbe.
While the information vis-à-vis when and where pieces were generated is not offered in detail; I found this Pocket Guide has great worth for novice as well as more experienced collectors. Detailed imageries of various pieces are distinct, sized large enough to permit the collector a good comprehension of what that pretty piece of green or blue glass on the shelf or table may be.
NOTE: While each item pictured is offered along with a dollar amount collectors may find attached to a particular piece; it is wise to remember for those who buy with an eye toward resale, a piece is only going to sell for what a potential buyer is ready to spend. There are no hard and fast rules regarding what a piece may cost or bring as a resale item.
The glowing attractiveness of pale blue to deeper shades of azure and turquoise chaline, delfite and delphite initially sold for comparable cost as did the pretty green jadite pieces.
Today Delphite is, in general, more expensive and harder to locate than is Jadite.
Most of us who collect to keep and use, or display on a shelf or glass front display case; tend to buy what we like, and have little intention to resale.
I like this particular book; I find Delphite & Jadite: A Pocket Guide to be well made. Pages are heavy enough to withstand multiple viewings and is small enough to allow tucking into purse to take along on shopping expeditions. As do many collectors; I relish simply taking one or other of my Depression Era books, large and small, out for a quiet afternoon of perusal on a rainy spring day.
Joe Keller & David Ross’ Delphite & Jadite: A Pocket Guide A Schiffer Book for Collectors is a fine book for gifting a collecting enthusiast, or for adding to the personal book collection.
Happy to recommend for the personal library, public library, and book offering at antique and jumble shops.
Delphite & Jadite: A Pocket Guide A Schiffer Book for Collectors by Joe Keller & David Ross, is offered on Amazon, and may even be offered at a lesser cost in local jumble shop stall as was my copy.
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Reviewed by Molly Reviews Books molly martin
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Internet search bio facts:
Massachusetts residents Joe Keller and David Ross are antiques dealers specializing in 20th century American dinnerware. They exhibit at major antique shows.
