Louise Harper Column: Collectors collect collectables: From cameos ...

Tag : glass & crystal vases
There is a little bit of a collector in most of us. Years back Iread somewhere if we have more than three of one item we have acollection. I say "bah-humbug" to that exaggeration.

Most collections start with a gift or an inherited item from an oldauntie or grandparent; a piece of Carnival or Depression glass,doll, clock, spoon, Santa, coin, book, vase, stamp, jewelry, plateand on and on.

Those with a passion for collecting are eager, aggressive and, attimes, reckless with their so-called budget when it comes to "justone more thing to add to my great treasure trove."

Three "Cs" could describe a collector: "clutter" -- you figure thatone out; "chance" -- an unplanned visit to an estate or garage saleand just by chance or luck find a rare goodie priced low; and, ifthat happens, the third "C" is "Cloud Nine." Today's column will focus on my collection of cameos and TiffanyBarnes' collection of milk glass.

My small collection of cameos started back in June 1970 on athree-week tour of seven European countries led by Wendell and MaryTom Tooley. Walking and gawking down one of the ancient andhistorical streets in Rome, Italy, several tourists stopped toadmire a jewelry window display of cameo pins, necklaces and rings.Sort of in the middle of the display was a pink cameo ring. I'dnever seen a pink cameo. Walking inside the store, the Italian maleclerk understood my Texas accent and answered my question with"five dollars American money." I bought it and often wear it.

Somehow over the past 30 years, I've collected several necklacecameo watches and pins. I use a part of my collection to decorate abust in my living room and at times wear three coordinating colorcameo pins of different sizes on a dress or suit lapel. I hardlyever fail to hear the comment, "Oh, I have a cameo my grandmothergave me."

A brief history lesson about cameos tells us that ancient Greeksfirst carved them to represent their gods and goddesses. Italianartisans carved shells for cameos starting about 1805. Around theearly 19th century, wealthy Americans touring Europe discoveredItalian cameos and they became popular jewelry in the 1920s to1930s, and nearly everyone's grandmother had one. They are knowntoday in the antique jewelry trade as "Grandma's Cameos." (From anarticle "Vintages," torn from an unknown magazine.)

Tiffany Offield Barnes

Tiffany was born in 1971 to Joe and Judy Offield of Plainview. Herhusband is Doug Barnes and his occupation is "Two-Way" satellitecommunications. Tiffany owns and operates "Petals," a unique fullservice florist, also selling plants and candles.

Tiffany tells her story in her words: "Growing up in the '70s and'80s was not the time to find a love for milk glass. It was justwhite kitchen stuff that my maternal grandmother (Bernice CruseGregg) had. White kitchenware was not 'the thing' to decorate within those years. My mother has a fun milk glass lamp that has thedouble bubble (I call it). It has a round base and a round topwhere the light bulb goes, all covered with the traditional whiteraised dots. In the middle, the switch was shaped like a key.Growing up I thought it was so old fashioned. Why didn't she want anew lamp? Oh, how we change!

"Granny did not have many pieces but she did have my favorite -- acompote -- on her dining table that held plastic fruit. This pieceis a favorite as well as a ceramic cookie jar shaped like a redstrawberry with a green lid shaped like a leaf that she always hadcookies in! The handle had a cracked 'stem' that Granny glued backtogether after some greedy cookie snatcher broke it.

"When she passed away in 2001, I received the milk glass compote,as well as the plastic fruit and cookie jar. Thank heavens mymother and aunts knew I loved both pieces, especially the milkglass compote.

"Previous to receiving my Granny's milk glass, I came across a fewsmaller candy dishes, saucers and such. Over the last few years Ihave kept my eye out for new treasures. I normally do not go outsearching for milk glass. When people hear that I like it, theystarted calling. In the past two years I have had several callsasking me to take their pieces. They either have too much due to acollection getting out of hand or inheriting several pieces fromfamily.

"I predict storage will soon become my issue. With the pieces Ialready have, they are beginning to overflow my space. Some aredisplayed but most are tucked away for future display. Milk glassis my favorite, but to tell the truth I love most any glass: whiteceramic pieces, crystal, cut glass -- any and all."

(Louise Harper summary: Milk glass has often been treated as thestepchild of glass ware. Not with me. I decorate an entire darkmaple hutch with stark white milk glass. One special piece is agift from Juanita Taegel: a compote with an angel base holding aplate embossed inside with grape pattern. Also, I have my mother'smilk glass punch bowl with a metal base and 24 matching cups in thegrape pattern. Very rare! Readers, make good use decorating withyour milk glass this Christmas. It is stunning against red and darkgreen fabric!)

(Louise Hooper Harper is a Plainview freelance writer.)