Ottawa Citizen

PRINT PAYS TRIBUTE TO APOLLO 11

Astronauts’ signatures would send value of this piece into orbit

- JOHN D. SEWELL

Q This is the 50th anniversar­y of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. I was 13 in July of 1969 when I found this reproducti­on done by Alton Tobey at Woolco. It measures 30 x 41 centimetre­s (12 x 16 inches) and is behind glass in a plastic frame with back stamp “United Products, 150 Norfinch Drive, Downsview, Ontario.” I’ve kept it in new condition. Apparently thousands of these were produced. Is there anything else you can tell me about this reproducti­on? Thanks.

Bob, Kitchener

A Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin, Jr., Michael Collins and Neil Armstrong were the astronauts of the American space flight Apollo 11. From start to finish the trip spanned eight days, July 16 to July 24 with the mid-trip landing on the moon July 20. Collins manned the Columbia (the main ship) while Armstrong and Aldrin departed from it in the lunar module called Eagle, which then landed on the moon, enabling them to set foot on the moon. American Artist Alton Tobey (1914-2005) did historical illustrati­ons for Life magazine and other publicatio­ns, including portraits of American presidents and Albert Einstein, and founded the Curvilinea­r school of painting in his Modernist work. The print was produced by the Donald Art Company, founded by Donald Bonnist in 1940, which made their mark by making and selling large print runs of paintings with famous images, which the owner had chosen. It sells for about $45. A signature by the astronauts would launch this to $2,000.

Q My great-great-grandmothe­r left her farm just east of London, Ont., to walk to London in about 1868, leaving my 10-yearold grandmothe­r to look after the other children on the farm. Upon her return she presented this 13-centimetre-high jug (five inches) to my grandmothe­r as a gift for minding the children. I have found similar jugs on the internet, but none have the projection­s on the handle like mine. There’s no company ID on it. Can you can help to identify it and what it might be worth? Cheers.

Donald, Ottawa

A This general body form became popular around 1840 with many slight variations. The granular decoration, appearing like coarse applied sand, is seen less often than many other decorative techniques and it has been applied to a white background. The moulded handles can offer clues to dating and makers.

Yours dates from 1850 into the 1860s. Potters of Wales, Scotland and primarily the Staffordsh­ire region of England are all possible makers. It is very reasonable to buy at present. Yours is worth $40 to sell but invaluable as a well-storied heirloom.

Q I’m reaching out about a couple of panels I just acquired from family members. When my great-grandparen­ts emigrated from England to Canada in 1947 they befriended their family doctor, who was very involved with the Hull Baptist Church at the time. He acquired a four-panel wardrobe screen at an auction and gave it to my great-grandmothe­r. Two of the four panels were quite damaged but my aunt had this one and one other profession­ally framed. They are 91 x 61 centimetre­s (36 x 24 inches) with intricate silk stitching on silk. Have you any idea where they would have originated or how much they’re worth? I have no intention of parting with them. Sentimenta­l value means the most. All the best.

Pat, Ottawa

A Reinventio­n is the operative word these days, whether it be buildings, pump organs converted to desks or folding screens morphing into wall art, it all serves to preserve. The crane, a symbol of longevity, has been portrayed on products of porcelain, pottery and embroidery of Asian countries such as Japan, China and Korea. The fine work is amazing and they were likely done between 1900 and 1940, when trade was opening up with North America to satisfy the demand for Asian art forms. The figures are striking, set on a plain black background, which helps date this to the 1920s when Art Deco tastes were also very popular. Two of these, hung in the piers of a windowed room, will set the stage handsomely. They are each worth $375.

John Sewell is an antiques and fine art appraiser. To submit an item to his column, go to the “Contact John” page at www.johnsewell­antiques.ca. Please measure your piece, say when and how you got it, what you paid and list any identifyin­g marks. A high-resolution jpeg photo must also be included. (Only email submission­s accepted.) * Appraisal values are estimates only.*

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