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Wikipedia

Chalkware

January 01, 1970

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.[1][2] They were primarily created during one of three periods: from the late 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century, during the Great Depression, and during the 'mid-century modern' era as decorative lamps, figurines and wall decor from the 1940s-1960s. Those created during the earlier period were intended as a more serious decorative art, often imitating the more expensive imported English Staffordshire potteries figurines such as Staffordshire dog figurines; those during the second period, by contrast, were more typically somewhat jocular. Early chalkware was often hollow and is difficult to find unblemished.

Two chalkware figurines

Heavy, and easy to break or chip, chalkware eventually lost favor to ceramic and plastic alternatives in the 1970s. Remaining pieces of MCM (and earlier) chalkware can be easily found today with more exotic or rare examples fetching hundreds or thousands of dollars by collectors on auction sites and other dealers.

Carnival chalk edit

"Carnival chalk" refers to chalkware figures given out as carnival game prizes during the first half of the 20th century, especially during World War II. They were later replaced by stuffed animals.

Mid-century modern (MCM) era edit

Chalkware flourished during the mid-century modern era (1945-1965) as an inexpensive and expressive medium for the home, serving many types of taste and types of decorative need with table lamps, figurines, wall decor and tourist memorabilia. Attracting fine, mundane and comic artists, chalkware reached a broad audience during the MCM era providing everything from representations of European sculpture, to kitsch images of exotic travel, cartoonish characters and potty humor.

Figurines edit

Early figurines made in the United Kingdom around 1955 were eggcups, for holding matches[3] or as ashtrays. The earliest designers being Paoli Brothers and Hermann Lohnberg. Fashions changed into 1956 with a move to animals.[4] By 1957, figurines and statues of african-style ladies and gentlemen were very dominant. A view of all the examples found at the National Archives records can be seen on the Chalkware Gallery site

Lamps edit

MCM chalkware lamps were often romantic and exotic with a focus on the idealized beauty of historic, natural, and abstract designs. Common motifs were dancers (often sold as a male and female pair), innocent or sensual figures, trees, flowers, animals, zig-zags, waves and modern abstract sculpture typical of the period. One of the most popular motifs were of romanticized, stereotyped Asian, African, Native American, Hawaiian people in exotic (at times inaccurate) settings or costume. Low lighting was sometimes included in the lamp design with small nightlight bulbs. TV lamps, based upon popular chalkware radio lamp designs, quickly became replaced by ceramic.

An attempt to thwart competitors from copying their highly successful male/female paired chalkware lamps and statuettes was taken all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court by Benjamin and Rena Stein of Reglor of California in 1953.[5] They won a technical victory that did not ultimately stop copying.[6]

Wall decor edit

Wall decor chalkware included bath motifs like fish or mermaids, kitchen motifs like fruit, and 'wall pockets' that often were faces with small areas in the back suitable for air plants or plastic flowers.

In the United Kingdom, during the 1950s and 1960s, wall plaques were made of ladies faces by a number of designers, including Salvatore Melani, the Lohnberg brothers (under the Duron brand name), Paoli Brothers and Bacci & Bacci

Memorabilia edit

Tourist memorabilia included ashtrays, figures, bobble-heads and destination-specific representations.

Advertising edit

Companies such as the Universal Statuary Corp of Chicago made point-of-sale chalkware figures as well.[7]

Production houses edit

Popular American MCM chalkware companies whose work can be found traded today include Continental Art Company (Chicago),[8][9] Alexander Baker Company or 'ABCO' (New York),[10] Fine Arts In Plastics or F.A.I.P (Brooklyn),[11] Jo Wallis Lamp Company, Miller Studios, [12][5] Reglor (Montebello, California) [13][6] Universal Statuary Corp.[7] (Chicago), and Vaillancourt Folk Art (Massachusetts).[14]

Several chalkware companies also existed in the United Kingdom, where they registered their designs at the National Archives[15] in Kew, London, England. The Board of Trade records[16] are set out in two main sections: The Board of Trade Records of the Patent Office Design Registers (records starting BT 53[17]) and the Non-Textile Designs Representations (records starting BT 52[18]).

Designs in Great Britain in the 1950s and 1960s were registered under the Registered Designs Act, 1949[19] (still current law as at November 2021). Each registered design is recorded in a lever arch folder with consecutive registration numbers and can be accessed at the National Archives in Kew, London. Each entry[20] contains a registered design number, the date when the design was registered, the date the certificate was issued, brief article description (typically "a mantel ornament") and the name & address of the proprietor. Some designers also included a separate service address.[21] Copyright typically expired on these pieces after 5 years, with some records showing an extension to 10 years.

A number of designers chose to include the registration number on the figurine, typically at the back, with a small number of designers also including an internal product number. The registration number can therefore be looked up in the Board of Trade BT 53 records and use the BT 52 design representation images to confirm the correct figurine has been identified.

With this knowledge it is possible to compile the following main list of designers;

  • Felice and Alfredo Bacci - 73, Camp Street, Salford 7, Lancashire
  • Bruno Besagni - Holborn, England
  • Elia and Milo Brunicardi (with Lino Maini) - 158 Copenhagen Street, Islington, London N1
  • Egisto Carli - Pancras area, London
  • Marcella Jackson, Renato Migliorini, Daniele Magi and Vasco Licci, trading as M. Jackson &amp Co - 66, Rigby Street, Salford, 7, Lancaster
  • Max (born 1880 - died 1958[22]) and Herbert Hermann Louis Lohnberg - 2, Ronalds Road, Holloway Road, London N5
  • Lorenzo and Leo Menesini - 21 Pickering Street, London N1
  • Diomede and Nicolao Nieri trading as D. N. Art Products - 26 and 28 Trafford Street, Hulme, Manchester 15, Lancashire
  • Leo Pagliai - Great Sutton Street, London
  • Alfredo and Giovanni Paoli - 125-127 East Road, London N1
  • Guido Quattromini, Umberto Berti and Gino Berti trading as F. and B. Sales - 127 Caledonian Road, London N1
  • Gino Manca - Italian designer who moved to Sweden

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "The Original Chalkware Studios in Sutton, Massachusetts".
  2. ^ Grove Dictionary of Art, "Chalkware"
  3. ^ Chalkware Gallery Research Site https://chalkware.gallery/2019/09/30/match-holder-by-lohnberg-reg-877847/
  4. ^ Example by Paoli taken from National Archives in London, https://chalkware.gallery/2019/10/16/squirrel-mirror-by-paoli-reg-880609/
  5. ^ a b "Mazer v. Stein, 347 U.S. 201, 74 S. Ct. 460, 98 L. Ed. 2d 630, 1954 U.S. LEXIS 2679 –". Courtlistener.com. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  6. ^ a b "Questions and Answers". www.harryrinker.com.
  7. ^ a b "eBay Buying Guides". www.ebay.com.
  8. ^ "Continental Art Company 1967 Floor Lamp - Collectors Weekly". www.collectorsweekly.com.
  9. ^ "Continental Art Lamps - Marfa Lights & Lamps". marfalightsandlamps.com.
  10. ^ site., Who made this. "Project Name". www.simplydecorous.com.
  11. ^ "F.A.I.P. Lamps - Marfa Lights & Lamps". marfalightsandlamps.com.
  12. ^ "MSI | Miller Studio Inc". www.miller-studio.com.
  13. ^ "Reglor Lamps - Marfa Lights & Lamps". marfalightsandlamps.com.
  14. ^ STAFF, Donna Boynton TELEGRAM & GAZETTE. "Reluctant honor looms for folk art shop". telegram.com.
  15. ^ The National Archives https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
  16. ^ National Archives search facility, https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C6117982
  17. ^ National Archives Discovery search for Patents, Designs and Trade Marks Office https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C3096
  18. ^ National Archives Discovery search for Patents, Designs and Trade Marks Office https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/h/C89347
  19. ^ "Registered Designs Act and Rules".
  20. ^ Board Of Trade record entry https://chalkware.gallery/2017/08/21/lady-figurine-by-paoli-reg-891802/
  21. ^ Wilson, Gunn & Ellis https://www.wilsongunn.com/history/timeline.html
  22. ^ Ancestry.com Electoral Register records https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/categories/cen_1950/?name=Max_Lohnberg&gender=m&name_x=_1

January 01, 1970
chalkware, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, july, 2020, lear. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Chalkware news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2020 Learn how and when to remove this message 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 1 2 They were primarily created during one of three periods from the late 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century during the Great Depression and during the mid century modern era as decorative lamps figurines and wall decor from the 1940s 1960s Those created during the earlier period were intended as a more serious decorative art often imitating the more expensive imported English Staffordshire potteries figurines such as Staffordshire dog figurines those during the second period by contrast were more typically somewhat jocular Early chalkware was often hollow and is difficult to find unblemished Two chalkware figurines Heavy and easy to break or chip chalkware eventually lost favor to ceramic and plastic alternatives in the 1970s Remaining pieces of MCM and earlier chalkware can be easily found today with more exotic or rare examples fetching hundreds or thousands of dollars by collectors on auction sites and other dealers Contents 1 Carnival chalk 2 Mid century modern MCM era 2 1 Figurines 2 2 Lamps 2 3 Wall decor 2 4 Memorabilia 2 5 Advertising 2 6 Production houses 3 See also 4 ReferencesCarnival chalk edit Carnival chalk refers to chalkware figures given out as carnival game prizes during the first half of the 20th century especially during World War II They were later replaced by stuffed animals Mid century modern MCM era editChalkware flourished during the mid century modern era 1945 1965 as an inexpensive and expressive medium for the home serving many types of taste and types of decorative need with table lamps figurines wall decor and tourist memorabilia Attracting fine mundane and comic artists chalkware reached a broad audience during the MCM era providing everything from representations of European sculpture to kitsch images of exotic travel cartoonish characters and potty humor Figurines edit Early figurines made in the United Kingdom around 1955 were eggcups for holding matches 3 or as ashtrays The earliest designers being Paoli Brothers and Hermann Lohnberg Fashions changed into 1956 with a move to animals 4 By 1957 figurines and statues of african style ladies and gentlemen were very dominant A view of all the examples found at the National Archives records can be seen on the Chalkware Gallery site Lamps edit MCM chalkware lamps were often romantic and exotic with a focus on the idealized beauty of historic natural and abstract designs Common motifs were dancers often sold as a male and female pair innocent or sensual figures trees flowers animals zig zags waves and modern abstract sculpture typical of the period One of the most popular motifs were of romanticized stereotyped Asian African Native American Hawaiian people in exotic at times inaccurate settings or costume Low lighting was sometimes included in the lamp design with small nightlight bulbs TV lamps based upon popular chalkware radio lamp designs quickly became replaced by ceramic An attempt to thwart competitors from copying their highly successful male female paired chalkware lamps and statuettes was taken all the way to the U S Supreme Court by Benjamin and Rena Stein of Reglor of California in 1953 5 They won a technical victory that did not ultimately stop copying 6 Wall decor edit Wall decor chalkware included bath motifs like fish or mermaids kitchen motifs like fruit and wall pockets that often were faces with small areas in the back suitable for air plants or plastic flowers In the United Kingdom during the 1950s and 1960s wall plaques were made of ladies faces by a number of designers including Salvatore Melani the Lohnberg brothers under the Duron brand name Paoli Brothers and Bacci amp Bacci Memorabilia edit Tourist memorabilia included ashtrays figures bobble heads and destination specific representations Advertising edit Companies such as the Universal Statuary Corp of Chicago made point of sale chalkware figures as well 7 Production houses edit Popular American MCM chalkware companies whose work can be found traded today include Continental Art Company Chicago 8 9 Alexander Baker Company or ABCO New York 10 Fine Arts In Plastics or F A I P Brooklyn 11 Jo Wallis Lamp Company Miller Studios 12 5 Reglor Montebello California 13 6 Universal Statuary Corp 7 Chicago and Vaillancourt Folk Art Massachusetts 14 Several chalkware companies also existed in the United Kingdom where they registered their designs at the National Archives 15 in Kew London England The Board of Trade records 16 are set out in two main sections The Board of Trade Records of the Patent Office Design Registers records starting BT 53 17 and the Non Textile Designs Representations records starting BT 52 18 Designs in Great Britain in the 1950s and 1960s were registered under the Registered Designs Act 1949 19 still current law as at November 2021 Each registered design is recorded in a lever arch folder with consecutive registration numbers and can be accessed at the National Archives in Kew London Each entry 20 contains a registered design number the date when the design was registered the date the certificate was issued brief article description typically a mantel ornament and the name amp address of the proprietor Some designers also included a separate service address 21 Copyright typically expired on these pieces after 5 years with some records showing an extension to 10 years A number of designers chose to include the registration number on the figurine typically at the back with a small number of designers also including an internal product number The registration number can therefore be looked up in the Board of Trade BT 53 records and use the BT 52 design representation images to confirm the correct figurine has been identified With this knowledge it is possible to compile the following main list of designers Felice and Alfredo Bacci 73 Camp Street Salford 7 Lancashire Bruno Besagni Holborn England Elia and Milo Brunicardi with Lino Maini 158 Copenhagen Street Islington London N1 Egisto Carli Pancras area London Marcella Jackson Renato Migliorini Daniele Magi and Vasco Licci trading as M Jackson amp amp Co 66 Rigby Street Salford 7 Lancaster Max born 1880 died 1958 22 and Herbert Hermann Louis Lohnberg 2 Ronalds Road Holloway Road London N5 Lorenzo and Leo Menesini 21 Pickering Street London N1 Diomede and Nicolao Nieri trading as D N Art Products 26 and 28 Trafford Street Hulme Manchester 15 Lancashire Leo Pagliai Great Sutton Street London Alfredo and Giovanni Paoli 125 127 East Road London N1 Guido Quattromini Umberto Berti and Gino Berti trading as F and B Sales 127 Caledonian Road London N1 Gino Manca Italian designer who moved to SwedenSee also editCeramic forming techniques Kewpie doll Vaillancourt Chalkware Universal Statuary Corp References edit The Original Chalkware Studios in Sutton Massachusetts Grove Dictionary of Art Chalkware Chalkware Gallery Research Site https chalkware gallery 2019 09 30 match holder by lohnberg reg 877847 Example by Paoli taken from National Archives in London https chalkware gallery 2019 10 16 squirrel mirror by paoli reg 880609 a b Mazer v Stein 347 U S 201 74 S Ct 460 98 L Ed 2d 630 1954 U S LEXIS 2679 Courtlistener com Retrieved 2018 05 02 a b Questions and Answers www harryrinker com a b eBay Buying Guides www ebay com Continental Art Company 1967 Floor Lamp Collectors Weekly www collectorsweekly com Continental Art Lamps Marfa Lights amp Lamps marfalightsandlamps com site Who made this Project Name www simplydecorous com F A I P Lamps Marfa Lights amp Lamps marfalightsandlamps com MSI Miller Studio Inc www miller studio com Reglor Lamps Marfa Lights amp Lamps marfalightsandlamps com STAFF Donna Boynton TELEGRAM amp GAZETTE Reluctant honor looms for folk art shop telegram com The National Archives https www nationalarchives gov uk National Archives search facility https discovery nationalarchives gov uk details r C6117982 National Archives Discovery search for Patents Designs and Trade Marks Office https discovery nationalarchives gov uk details r C3096 National Archives Discovery search for Patents Designs and Trade Marks Office https discovery nationalarchives gov uk browse r h C89347 Registered Designs Act and Rules Board Of Trade record entry https chalkware gallery 2017 08 21 lady figurine by paoli reg 891802 Wilson Gunn amp Ellis https www wilsongunn com history timeline html Ancestry com Electoral Register records https www ancestry co uk search categories cen 1950 name Max Lohnberg amp gender m amp name x 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chalkware amp oldid 1176111497, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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