Category: Reader’s help!

READER’S HELP: that’s a friendly wall-crawling superhero…made from plaster?

On By wisdomlaneantiquesIn Advertising, Beginning to collect, Functional items, Reader's help!, Vintage, Vintage, Vintage!Leave a comment

When you start to dive into the world of antiques and collectibles, you quickly find out that you will find really cool things in unexpected places.

Not too long ago, this happened to me when I came upon a local garage sale.  And do you know what was there?  Just a bust of Spiderman himself!

Spiderman bank (1)

As you can see in the photo, the bust is made of plaster and it is also doubles as a bank (the coin slot is on the back of Spiderman’s head).  Not only that, it is extremely detailed—you can see and feel the ribbing in Spiderman’s mask, and it also feels like the head actually has cloth on it.

Spiderman bank (2)

Here’s the problem that I have with the bank—I know what it is, but I have no idea who made it.  I was told that it was made in Mexico, but there is no maker’s mark or even a country of origin mark on it.

Does anyone know who could have made this great bank?  Could it be a homemade piece that a fan of the character made?

Any information is greatly appreciated!

Reader’s Help: Who exactly made these framed vintage prints?

On By wisdomlaneantiquesIn Beginning to collect, Reader's help!Leave a comment

At a local estate sale, I recently came upon four framed vintage prints.  I looked at them and instantly fell in love with them.  The only problem was was that I have no idea who could have made them.

Picture help

They look to be famous Scotsmen, and they are professionally framed and matted.  To me, the illustrations themselves look like they could have come from a book.

They also appear to have a CURRIER AND IVES look to them.

I have not been able to track down any information about the artist and who could have printed them.

Does anyone know who could have done these great prints?  Any information is greatly appreciated!

Reader’s help on this great pottery vase

On By wisdomlaneantiquesIn Pottery, Reader's help!, Vintage, Vintage, Vintage!Leave a comment

Whenever you go out shopping, you will run across a wide variety of items.  It could be anything from furniture to enamel signs.  There will be times that you will run across something that is great—the only problem is is that you have no idea what the item is.

Not too long ago, this happened to me.  I picked this really cool vase up at a garage sale, and I instantly fell in love with it.

vase (1)

The problem that I have with it is that I have no idea who the artist is and what the pattern is called.  Is it a forest scene?  A forest scene at night time?  At the beach?  At a pond?  I really don’t know what this could be.

vase (2)

It’s also signed BR near the bottom of the vase.  The signature has really stumped me—could you possibly know who the artist is?

Do you know what this could be?  Any information on this beauty would be greatly appreciated!

Reader’s Help: What in the world is this Celluloid piece?

On By wisdomlaneantiquesIn Reader's help!, Vintage, Vintage, Vintage!, Wisdom Lane2 Comments

SONY DSC

Not too long ago, I ran into this great vintage celluloid piece at a local flea market.  I know that it’s some sort of holder, but what exactly was it used for?

SONY DSC

In one reference book that I have, the book shows it and does not mention what this is.  Another book stated that it was a tooth brush holder, and yet another states that this is a holder for eyeglasses.

SONY DSC

Needless to say, I got pretty baffled on what this could be.  So here’s my question–what is this piece really for?  Is what one of the books said right, or is this something completely different?

Any information is greatly appreciated.  What do you think it is?

I need some reader’s help with identifying this set!

On By wisdomlaneantiquesIn Pottery, Reader's help!Leave a comment

At an estate sale last month, I purchased this really cool pottery shaker and creamer set. The matching figural set looks like a lion to me.  I could be wrong–with their styling, they could be a number of items.

SONY DSC

What I need some help with is who and when the two pieces were made. They are not marked anywhere on the pieces.

SONY DSC
SONY DSC
SONY DSC

I have seen several pieces that have the same color combination that are from Japan, but never anything with this shape (I’ve even seen some Chinese pieces also with the same color combination).

The colors look to me like they could be by the OLD CASTLE Company, and their shape look makes me think that they are by SEISEI POTTERY Company.  As you can seem I am at a real loss on this set.

SONY DSC
SONY DSC
SONY DSC

SONY DSC

Any information is greatly appreciated on this.  Do you know what they are and who could have possibly made this?