Vicki’s corner

I'd like to thank John Miller for being in charge while Bob & I were enjoying Ireland. I'd like to thank Dee & Tom for hosting the meeting and Michele for taking pictures during the meeting.

We're sorry to have missed a great gathering but we did get some new pictures of some new plates that are being hand painted with scenes of Northern Ireland.

Don't forget that our Auction will be in the Jan. meeting.

Bob & I would like to wish everyone a very "Merry

Christmas and a Happy New Year." See you on Jan.

16th at 12:00 PM.

The Fall Meeting of the Sunshine Chapter, BCIS, was held on Saturday, October 31, 2009 at the home of Dee and Tom Moran at Geneva, Florida. There were twelve members in attendance and two guests. Following a buffet luncheon, John Miller presided in the absence of President Vicki Pearce and gave the Treasurer’s Report. There is a balance of $506.46 in the treasury as on October 30, 2009. An announcement was also of the members whose dues are currently due. The chapter welcomed Forest and Pat DeHaan of the Portland, Chapter, as new

members of the Sunshine Chapter since they visit Florida annually for a period that overlaps with our Fall and Winter Meetings.

John also discussed the 2011 Convention in Chicago. Chicago is a very attractive city for a convention , and the Chicago chapter is actively planning a very active meeting. There was also some general discussion of the apparent decline in prices for mid-range black mark Belleek pieces. While the rare pieces still command high prices, the lesser pieces, including many first period pieces are now attractively priced for those desiring to add to their collections.

After the business portion of the meeting, John presented two small collections of Belleek patterns that are rarely seen outside of the conventions or museums. There were cups and saucers in the Belleek Limoges, New Shell, Institute, and Celtic patterns and bread plates in various patterns including Artichoke and Mask. The object of the presentation was to demonstrate that a collection need not be large but can be small and specialized. This type of collection is both attractive and interesting without being overwhelming. Most of the pieces were acquired at a reasonable price.

There was no new business, and the meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m.

Building a Collection: What Can You Buy for $1000

For some time now there appears to have been some softening in the prices of mid-level Belleek. Mid-level is an invented term for pieces that are of food quality, either because of their old marks or because of the unusual nature of their design. This observation certainly doesn’t apply to so-called high-end pieces such as old figures, centerpieces, or rare one-of-a-kind articles. For these items, dealers can and do set reasonably firm prices in the thousands of dollars. Similarly, if the budget is limited, it is possible to find any number of minor pieces such as fairly new cream and sugars, cups and saucers, heart dishes and some items issued after 2000 in shops and with a little effort strike a good bargain that doesn’t alienate the seller.

To illustrate the point, here is a random list of items from an E-Bay Shop web site during early November that would be welcome additions to most any collection but would not break the bank. In fact, these items would also make an excellent starter collection for a new collector because the list contains representative pieces from the early periods that provide a good sample of the high quality of Belleek products.

7” Institute Plate 1^st Period $95

4 Strand Heart Basket $150

6.5” Harp Jug with gilding 1^st Period $175

Rock Spill (size not spec.) 3d Period $125

Harp Shamrock Teapot 2d Period $95

4” Tumbler 2d Period $85

Earthenware Plate with Brown Transfer 1^st Period $150

These are all “Buy It Now” prices, and the total price comes to $875. This price leaves an ample allowance for shipping and insurance charges.

The point of this presentation is that it isn’t necessary to expend a fortune to have nice pieces in your collection.

Pictures from eBay.

7” Institute Plate

4 Strand Heart Basket

Harp Shamrock Teapot

Back in March of 2008, Belleek, through QVC, issued an Irish Cottage Series plate featuring a transfer of Keenaghan cottage painted by local artist Kevin Carty. Two Thousand numbered plates were issued. The plate can be seen on QVC but is no longer available for sale. Keenaghan cottage is kind of close to Vicki and me because we had the opportunity to stay at the cottage several times before we bought our house. Since 2008, Kevin Carty had moved on to a new medium, Hand painted Belleek plates to be exact. Now we can have these works of art straight from the pottery. There are three in total to date. Crom Castle, #9020, is painted on a nine inch plate and costs £275. The Giants Causeway, #9021, is painted on an eleven inch plate and costs £350. Carrick-A-Rede Bridge, #9022, is painted on an eight inch plate and costs £275.

Giants Causeway, #9021, is painted on an eleven inch plate.

At the pottery I was taken by two new displays. One featured traditional Belleek items for the autumn of the year including Halloween the other featuring spring items. I have included pictures of them here. As far as I know, these Belleek pieces are only available from the pottery or on their website. Also we saw the Belleek Nativity set and it is beautiful. A must for every Belleek collector.

Crom Castle, #9020, is painted on a nine inch plate.

Carrick-A-Rede Bridge, #9022, is painted on an eight inch plate.

Autumn and Halloween

Spring and Easter

Merry Christmas

and a

Happy New Year

to all

Happy Holidays!

Nativity

There is so much more on the Belleek Website.

http://www.Belleek.ie