How Online Shopping Changed Collecting – For the Better!

Since the late 90’s, how we shop as well as the specter of places available to shop for antiques and collectibles has changed forever.  We have heard comments at shows about how “the Internet and in particular online auctions ruined everything,”  referring of course to the resulting reduced number of brick and mortar antique shops as well as a decrease in dealers at antiques shows.  Really?  Didn’t it make things better by ultimately broadening the audiences of buyers and sellers and in some cases connecting them socially?  While we agree there is nothing quite like touch and feel shopping, there are still plenty of quality shows were you can still do this. Our view - of course we still enjoy doing shows both as dealer and buyer, but there are many fabulous pieces we would never have had the opportunity to buy without the enormous selection now available via surfing rather than driving.  The Internet also provides us with a worldwide customer base.  It allows us increased freedom to purchase the niche specialty item, because we have a greater chance of someday finding a niche buyer.  The past 10 – 15 years has morphed collecting into a wonderful new world and you reading this blog is a perfect example of how we can all connect much more easily and we say “Thanks for that!” 

Porcelain figures we dispayed at the NY Pier Show in 2011
Galle, Goldscheider and Essevi
More porcelain from our collection

F r a n k a r t !

Off the collections we have accumulated, Frankart is probably our all-time favorite.  Frankart was sold in select venues mainly in New York in the 1920s and early 1930’s and continues to gain popularity with collectors as it inches closer to being 100 years old. So many lamps and figures, such variety yet similar look and feel.  At one point years ago we had about 175 different Frankart pieces in our home.  Oops. Got a little carried away.

From the 1930-31 Frankart catalog, “Particular emphasis has been stressed on the artistic conceptions of streamline designs expressing the modern vogue.  Inventive ingenuity has been happily combined with artistic ability to create objects d’art of practicality.” 

 “Frankart products are original works of art conceived and designed in the Frankart studio by Arthur von Frankenberg, President and Art Director of Frankart, Inc.  They are manufactured by skilled workmen in the Frankart Factory under the direct supervision of George Murad…” who was also a partner.

The Frankart studio was located in New York at 33 West 67^th St. in the heart of (then) “America’s exclusive studio colony.” The factory was located at 542-548 Casanova St., and the Frankart showroom was at 225 Fifth Ave.  where Henry Underberg was responsible for general sales and advertising as Vice-President and General Manger. We were delighted when Henry’s son Neil introduced himself to us at the New York Pier Show a couple of years ago and related many stories about Frankart Inc.  So very entertaining when history comes alive with first hand anecdotes. 

We continue to buy, sell and love Frankart and probably always will. 




Thom at New York Pier Show with Neil Underberg, son of Harry Underberg of Frankart, Inc. 

 


Frankart lamps along side other art deco objects