A brief history
Antique reproductions have been plentiful on the market for as many years as antiques. As early as the 1960s, reproductions of glass examples of antique patterns from the late 1800s began to appear in antique shops, markets, and shows. This early start of reproductions stimulated a niche market in the field of antiques and collectibles.
What happened in the 1960s led to incredible growth in reproductions not only in the glass markets, but in almost all markets for antiques and specialty collectibles, including cast iron and ceramics. In the early 1970s, the Merritt family, headed by Mary and Bob Merritt, started one of the oldest reproduction wholesalers in the US, Fred & Dottie’s, Inc.
Until the late 1970s, Merritts enjoyed a monopoly until Fred Burkholder (Mary Merritt’s son) and Dottie (Fred’s wife), both minority shareholders, parted ways with Merritt’s after a bitter family feud. Fred and Dottie Burkholder formed Fred & Dottie’s, Inc. and started their own reproduction wholesale business just a few miles away from their former business partners.
Within a few years, rivals were competing fiercely as more reproduction wholesalers began to spring up across the United States. Ralph Lussino and his brother John, friends and former clients of Burkholder’s and Merritts launched their ‘hat in the ring’ and formed Castle Antiques and Reproductions.
All three of these reproduction wholesalers are still in business as of this writing, although Castle is in the process of liquidating all of its inventory and closing at the end of 2008.
Reproduction glassware from the late 1800s was extremely popular in the 1960s and 1970s, but began to decline in popularity, giving way to Depression-era reproduction glassware in the 1980s. These trends were marked primarily by the demand of the public to decorate with the hottest trend of the time. While the 1980s and early 1990s saw a dramatic increase in demand for depression-era glassware, reproduction markets responded with hundreds of depression-era glassware patterns. As time passed, the late 1990s saw a trend toward 1950s art ceramics, spurring a growth in reproductions of Weller, McCoy, Roseville, and Majolica potters. The most popular of all these companies was the McCoy Pottery Company, primarily because it was the most recognizable, most affordable, and most diverse of all the potters of the 1950s.
In 1997, an American manufacturer set out to reproduce some of the most popular McCoy patterns and successfully produced a line of over 110 pieces, including cookie jars, vases, creamers, bowls, black keepsakes, and planters. Until then, the vast majority of reproductions were made in China, Mexico, India, Taiwan and England. This would be the only US manufacturer of ceramic reproduction and the only company allowed to use the US logo on all of their ceramics. (Foreign imports are not allowed by law to put USA on your items according to US Federal Customs law)
Why reproductions?
- Application
Designers and decorators want to enhance their clients’ homes and businesses, but can’t find an available supply of the types of antiques they need. Collectors looking to enhance their collection can search for years for that rare “missing piece” in their collection. There is a shortage of original antiques on the market, and that supply is shrinking every day as more people buy original antiques.
- affordability
Imagine buying an original tiffany lamp for $4500 or you can choose a reproduction that looks the same and most of the time better quality at a fraction of the cost ($300-$500). You could decorate a room with an original or your entire house with reproductions. Designers and decorators for the past decade have been using reproductions to decorate clients’ homes and businesses because it is more affordable and the insurance replacement cost premium is much lower. The only one who really knows that the beautiful ‘Antique’ is not original is you!
- The look’
When decorating, we all want to give our visitors, friends and clients the impression of wealth and a ‘we’re doing it right’ attitude. What better way to stretch your decorating budget than to display beautiful antique reproductions throughout your home or business? It just screams, “I’m doing great! Check out my beautiful collection!” We all want that LOOK, the look we keep up with the “Jones”, the look that exudes and exemplifies the epitome of wealth.
- Memories
Remember when…? A question you’ve probably asked yourself many times in your life, reflecting on the good old days or remembering that favorite vase Mom or Grandma always kept on the mantel, or the cookie jar she kept in the kitchen. It brings back the “good OLE days” when you see Grandma’s cookie jar, remember her baking your favorite chocolate chip cookies, and you can almost taste them all over again.
Our lives are full of memories that bring back the pleasant moments of our lives as we grew up. Having prints available and being able to purchase them easily brings a rush of memories, giving us a sense of euphoria and satisfaction.
When you combine demand, affordability, “look” and memorabilia, you can see why vintage reproductions are such an integral part of our lives. If you have been inspired by this article to remember, or if you want to decorate your home or business with beautiful reproductions of antique pottery, please take a moment and visit the links below.