Chalkware pieces are heavy on the bottom. All chalkware is hollow, but old pieces are lighter because they lack the heavy plaster base that chalkware artists began to incorporate to keep the figurines from tipping over. Reproductions are heavier than old pieces.
Full Answer
What is chalkware made of?
Some chalkware pieces were formed in molds taken from Staffordshire and other popular figurines. Others were carved. In either case, the chalkware was just about always painted, usually with a water-based pigment.
How much is my chalkware worth?
Value is higher for those pieces that have intricate designs and strong painted decoration. Values for Chalkware pieces from the late 19th/early 20th Centuries can range from $10 to $500 depending on form, decoration, condition, age, rarity, and other factors.
Why does chalkware chipped so easily?
Because chalkware chipped easily and its fragile colors sat exposed on the surface of the pieces rather than being fired like a glaze (their beeswax or varnish coatings gave them little protection), very few pieces from the early 19th to mid-20th centuries, the heyday of the material, have survived without dings and scratches.
What can you do with chalkware?
Chalkware was also a good material for lightly used household tools such as string holders, as well as disposable advertising pieces such as three-dimensional signs. And small wall plaques of chalkware chefs made them popular decorations in kitchens .
Is plaster the same as chalkware?
Chalkware is an American term for popular figurines either made of moulded plaster of Paris (usually) or sculpted gypsum, and painted, typically with oils or watercolors.
How can you tell if its chalkware?
With most pieces of Chalkware, look for completely molded pieces with no loss areas. Value is higher for those pieces that have intricate designs and strong painted decoration.
Is chalkware valuable?
The prices of chalkware figurines range between $10-$500 depending on varying factors such as age, condition, rarity, and mold.
What is the difference between chalkware and ceramic?
During the 1800s and early 1900s, decorative objects for the home rose in popularity, but many were made of ceramic and too expensive for the average individual. Chalkware was a much more affordable alternative since it was made of less expensive gypsum plaster, and was easier and faster to make than ceramic.
Can chalkware get wet?
Do not wash your chalkware; it's made of an unglazed material and is not impervious to liquid and moisture.
Is chalkware fragile?
Answer: Because chalkware pieces can be fragile, condition seems to count for a lot, and a piece that is chipped could seriously reduce the value of chalkware figurines.
Can you repair chalkware?
We can only repair breaks, not repairs: If your piece has been broken, do not make an attempt to repair it. Because we use wet plaster to adhere pieces, we are unable to fix the break if there is any glue present.
When was chalkware invented?
Although chalkware was first made in America as early as 1768, it has come to be associated with Italian immigrants who peddled it in American cities in the mid-19th century. When unpainted, the surface resembled chalk. The hollow figures were made in a mold of gypsum, the main ingredient in plaster of paris.
Where was chalkware made?
The first known chalkware made in the 19th century in the U.S. was produced by German immigrants, many of whom settled in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Dutch created a variety of folksy chalkware figures, often with a seasonal or animal theme, sometimes in unexpected colors.
What does appraisal mean?
The appraisal assumes that there are no hidden conditions and the appraiser assumes no responsibility for the same. Information, estimates, and opinions furnished to the appraiser and contained in the report were obtained from sources considered reliable and believed to be true and correct.
What is chalkware made of?
Read More. Once called poor man’s porcelain, Chalkware is a collectible molded ceramic likened to plaster. Decorated with watercolor pigment and other media, Chalkware was largely produced in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century.
What is the opinion of an appraiser?
All information provided is the opinion of the appraiser at the time the information is given to the client. Judgments and decisions made by subscribers are the responsibility of each subscriber. Information provided is used at the subscriber’s own risk.
Is an appraisal subject to satisfactory completion of repairs or restoration?
If applicable, appraisals are subject to satisfactory completion of repairs or restoration and value conclusions are contingent upon completion of the improvements in a workmanlike manner. The appraiser has no interest in the item appraised and the appraiser has not made any offer to buy the item appraised.
What is Santa's green chair?
Notice Santa’s costume and his green chair, both are typical of the early decades of the 1900s. The fact that Santa is sleeping is another clue to its origin and value. Santa is more commonly shown sleeping in European depictions of Santa rather than in American versions.
Where was Santa's bank made?
Found at carnivals and fairs, this chalkware Santa bank was made in Germany and exported to the United States.
Does appraisal guarantee price?
The appraisal value does not guarantee a selling price for item appraised. The value is based on research and expertise and remains the opinion of the appraiser. The Online Appraisal, additional sales records, and other opinions provided do not constitute a guarantee of sale.
