ON THE COVER -
July Issue 2006
Who Was Toby Fillpot?.....by Maureen Timm
There are many theories in regard to how Toby Fillpot was brought into the world as a character. The name "Toby" was used originally to describe jugs which were made in the form of a seated male figure in a tri-cornered hat.

Buying Vintage Jewelry: How To Separate The Old From The New....by Tara Nash, Germologist, G.I.A
If you’re like most vintage jewelry collectors, you value antiques, not for the precious metals or gemstones they contain, but the small piece of history they represent.  But how can you be sure you are actually buying an antique?

THE ANTIQUE DETECTIVE
Colorful, Early Steuben Glass Can Be Affordable
Steuben glass, like other early 20th century crystal keeps going up in price. But, surprisingly many items attributed to founder Frederick Carder offer possibilities for a beginning collector. This is especially true when the items are examples of his varied techniques using color. At auction small pieces can range in price from $300 to $1,000.

Excite Your Mind With Antiques.....by Marc Washicheck
The Antique and Collectible market is as vast as the sky. There are thousands of different categories, manufacturers, patterns, colors, names, uses of antiques. It is impossible to  know everything, even in one category.

 Q. Two of the pieces of my dining room set, the table and the china cabinet, which I bought at a garage sale many years ago are marked with the words "Haywood-Wakefield"  stamped over the profile of an eagle. I have been told the company was a mass producer of utilitarian furniture and was like Thomasville or Sears today. Where can I find more information about this company?

THE ANTIQUE DETECTIVE
Early Redware Came In Many Forms, Decorations
When you think of the American earthenware known as Redware, chances are what comes to mind are plates to serve food and bake pies in. Simple and utilitarian would be apt descriptions for it's many humble uses. However it was also used in 18th and 19th century America for a diverse group of decorative objects. The rust color was often replaced with green, red or yellow when the objects were pipes, figurines or even coin banks.

To Collect: The Art of Gathering Things and Bringing Them Together.....by Lani Czyzewski
A discreet plaque on the side of the sprawling, red-roofed, Mediterranean Revival-style building proclaims "The Thomas Center." The citizens of Gainesville, Florida take justifiable pride in the handsome building, home to the City of Gainesville Department of Cultural Affairs. To look at the cream-colored structure set in the midst of a lush, tree-shaded, six-acre expanse of manicured gardens, the visitor would never guess that little more than two decades ago this architectural gem was slated for the wrecker's ball.

Enduring and Charming Murano Glass....by Robert Reed
If you believe an elephant can fly, a mouse can talk, and a cricket can croon "When You Wish Upon a Star," you're obviously a Walt Disney fan and a prime candidate to become a collector of memorabilia from the Magic Kingdom. Areas of interest inspired by Walt Disney and his famous Hollywood studio are almost limitless. Just a partial list of collecting categories would have to include toys, dolls, movie posters, paper dolls, comic strips, board games, wrist watches, and premiums of every kind. But by far, the most collected Disney treasures are the books - books in every shape, color and size, books for every purpose, books almost without end.