2013 Queensland State Bottle & Collectables Show (Part 2) - Johnnyfive Collectable's Perspective

Saturday the 21st of September saw The Queensland Historical Bottle & Collectables Cub host the Queensland State Show at the Morayfield Leisure Centre. This was the third year at this venue. The club was very fortunate to receive good local newspaper coverage, both before and after the show. Unfortunately, the numbers through the doors were still down on the previous year which means a change of venue is most likely for next year's show. Apparently, it is not unusual for the numbers to drop off after three years in the one place. I only hope that next year's venue isn't too far away as I have really enjoyed having the show so close to home.

Photo of me taken by "The Caboolture News" photographer to promote the show in our local newspaper.

For me personally, this year's show was as good as, if not better than, last years. Three of my four displays won first places and my swap and sell table did well. Last year almost half of my profits came from two baby feeders whose sale had been prearranged before the show, so I actually sold a lot more this year. I only bought three small items and would have come home with a healthy profit except for a last minute purchase by my wife, Karen. In her defence, Karen did buy a really nice item, an art deco travel clock with its original case. Overall, we just about broke even, managed to move some old stock and also picked up a few more nice pieces for our own collections.

Rob (my son) and Karen looking after my swap and sell table

 The following photos are of the four competitive displays I entered in the show. I seriously thought of only entering two or three displays due to the tight time frame to pack up at the end of the show. So glad I entered four as display numbers were down a little on previous years.

My Baby Feeder Display (1st Place in it's category). It is almost expected that I enter this category as I seem to have become known as one of those strange baby feeder collectors. I decided to put on as many feeders as I could as there was no limit to the number of bottles displayed this year.

I decided to enter the General Australiana category for the first time this year and was rewarded with another 1st Place. The Australian flag and a collection of gumnuts were used to compliment the display.

My Movie Memorabilia Display (1st Place). I have shown this display before (four years ago) at the first show that I ever exhibited at. I did, however change most of the foreground items this time.

My Depression Era Tool Box Display (2nd Place in the Single Collectable with a Written History category).
This tool box will be featured in more depth in a future post.

The following photos are of some of the other displays that interested me. You may have been able to sense a preference towards collectables rather than bottles in most of my posts. I believe this is because of my love of social history and of the everyday items that people used in their everyday lives. I have, however, included a number of bottle displays below as well.

Dairy Collectables display. Love the stool and the Australia rolling pin. Also love the cream separator as well.

Colourful display of Glass Fly Traps. I could easily find room for some of these in my collection. And just look at the huge one on the bottom.

Fantastic display of tinplate Money Boxes. Many unusual and colourful designs.

Some bottles! Display of Lamonts. I particularly liked the way these were displayed in their cute little timber and tin display stand. Very Australian.

Hard to beat a good display of inks. Here are two displays, side by side. The first of Inkwells and the second of Ink Bottles. Very nicely presented displays.

More bottles! Displays of Coloured Glass Bottles always look stunning.

Possibly one of my favourite items on display at the show. The large size "Mecca" Foot Warmer. I have the medium size in my collection of foot warmers but not with the great graphics that this one has. I had to admit to the owner that I was rather jealous of this fine foot warmer.

 And finally my three purchases of the day.

Another buggy spanner for my collection and a very nice twist handle Acme wrench. I bought these two tools from Phillip Hill who had the swap and sell table next to mine. I really enjoyed getting to know him and chatting with him throughout the day.

A diamond frog convict brick for my brick collection. This brick was bought at the end of the day which enabled me to negotiate a reasonable price.

I have often found that I don't spend much at a show if I am exhibiting and selling items myself. Not sure if it's a psychological thing of not wanting to eat into any profits or if I am just too busy. Either way it's probably a good thing. Let's see what happens at next year's show. And where it will be held for that matter.

More Australian Pokerwork

My collection of Australian pokerwork items grew last weekend with the addition of two more vases.

The two vases in the centre of the photo above were found at last Sunday's Aladdin's Fair.

My two latest pieces of pokerwork

It was the large vase that caught my eye first rather than the small one. I ended up taking them both as it really made very little difference to the overall price whether I only bought one or both of them. I figured that I could always try to resell the small vase if I wanted to or I could use it as an experimental restoration candidate sometime. Always better to try things out first on the minor pieces in your collection just incase things end in disaster. The small vase does however still have some naive charm about it. It is simply decorated with some gum nuts and gum leaves.

Detail of the gum blossom decoration on the large vase (flash was used to help bring out the rich colours)

The large vase is decorated with gum blossoms and gum leaves. It's the depth and richness of the decoration on this vase that I love. This type of decoration utilises tinting and shading rather than the deep burnt lines used on the small vase.

There is however some deterioration to the varnish finish on this vase, especially around the top. Not sure if this can be successfully corrected without damaging the original decoration. I will have to pick the brain of a friend of mine who collects and restores pokerwork to see what can be done. Until then I will refer to this deterioration as being the vases "patina" or "acceptable age related character".

And so my Australiana collection continues to grow. Seems to be my main focus at the moment. What will be next?

Australian Mulga Wood

Mulga wood has been used extensively for Australian souvenir and gift ware throughout the middle of the 20th century.  Its height of popularity probably began in the Interwar Years and continued through to the 1960s and 70s.  Mulga or true mulga is a shrub or small tree, native to arid outback areas of Australia.  Its scientific name is acacia aneura. The aboriginal people have long used mulga for digging sticks and woomeras due to its strength.  Following are just three examples of mulga wood ware.

The first two items are recent acquisitions from Collectorama at Nambour last weekend.  Both are desk accessories with perpetual calendars.  The first one also has two inkwells as well as pen rests.

Mulga wood desk set

Each ink well should have a bakelite liner however one is missing.  Don't know if they ever had lids.  Maybe someone knows if these originally came with lids and has a photo that shows this?  This set is in reasonably good condition for its age, just a few marks and one inkwell sitting a bit crooked.  Still looks pretty good though.  At least all the date cards are complete.  No specific souvenir markings on this piece (only the koala underneath).

Nice AUSTRALIA with koala transfer underneath

The smaller piece is actually a souvenir from Coffs Harbour.  "Greetings from Coffs Harbour" is engraved between the Kangaroo transfer and the perpetual calendar.

Mulga wood calendar

This piece is not in the best condition (part of the kangaroo transfer is missing) but might be a good one to have a go at restoring.  Unfortunately one date card is also missing.  Thankfully it is the 31 so at least 5 months will be complete.  It has a simple wire stand attached to the back for support.

"GENUINE AUSTRALIAN MULGA" on map of Australia transfer on back 

My last example of mulga wood is a pair of bookends.  These have great sentimental value to me as they were one of my Father's 21st birthday presents.  This would mean that they date from around 1948.

Dad's mulga wood bookends

These bookends are quite heavy as they are solid wood.  Just two simple but very effective shapes.  I have often used these bookends myself over the years.

No two bookends (or any pieces of mulga wood) are ever the same - always different grain

"THE DESERT MANNA TREE" on map of Australia with manna tree transfer  underneath each bookend

I have not been able to find out anything about the brand of these bookends.  Not even sure if it's "THE DESERT MANNA TREE" or "THE MANNA DESERT TREE" however I think the first sounds more likely.  Still a very interesting label.  There seems to be quite a number of different manufacturers of mulga wood items.  A South Australian company in the 1930s was even producing mulga wood items under the brand name "ABO BRAND".  Not politically correct these days.  It would make an interesting exercise to document and collect examples from each manufacturer.

Though not to everybody's taste, a collection of mulga wood can make an interesting display of Australiana.

Handmade Wooden Jewellery Boxes

Small handmade boxes have a charm all of their own.  They were often made as a labour of love to be given as a special gift to a loved one.  This is most certainly the case for at least two of these boxes and in some way for one of the others as well.  I will share their stories as best I can as I know the history of three of these boxes but can only speculate as to the origin of the last one.

The first two boxes were made by my father well over 60 years ago.  I have already featured the first box in a previous post about Mum's Treasure as it was my mother's jewellery box.  Dad gave it to her before they were married.  The second box box was made for Dad's sister, my Auntie Joan, and was probably intended to be handkerchief box.  Both these boxes are fully veneered, inside and out, with different types of wood.

Mum's jewellery box

Mum's jewellery box showing hinged lid

Auntie Joan's handkerchief box with lift off lid

Not sure what different veneers Dad used on these boxes except for the silky oak in the centre of the handkerchief box.  The dark veneers are probably some type of walnut and I expect some of the other lighter ones to be maple (maybe even Queensland maple).



The next box is not quite as old.  It is actually one that I made in high school in woodwork class about 45 years ago.  My Mum used it as a jewellery box as well.

My high school woodwork project - a silky oak jewellery box

I made this jewellery box from silky oak (not that I had any choice of material - just used what the teacher gave me).  Silky oak is not really a favourite timber of mine though I have really come to appreciate it more and more over the years.  We probably have more pieces of furniture in our home made from this timber than any other, except for pine.   The desk I sit at each day for work is made from silky oak as is the set of pigeon holes that sit on it.  My favourite Australian native timber, however, is still red cedar.

I think this box was still unfinished when I gave it to my Mum all those years ago and I believe that it was my Dad who polished it up using Danish Oil or some other similar product.  It remained in an unadorned state for about half of its life when my Mum asked me to folk art it for her.  I had been taking folk art classes and so took it home to paint.  The box sat around home for quite a while before I finally got the courage up to have a go.  I chose a violet pattern to adorn this jewellery box as it was my Mums favourite flower.  In the end I was rather pleased with the result and so was Mum.

Violet folk art detail on top of silky oak jewellery box

The last of the four boxes is probably the most unusual in shape, construction and origin but certainly is an interesting piece of Australiana.  I acquired it from a friends stall at my Bottle and Collectables Club Christmas Breakup Show.  I was told that it was found at a flea market many years ago by his father-in-law.  It was now time to move it on and I was happy to oblige by taking it of his hands.

Silky oak and red cedar jewellery box

It is made from both silky oak and red cedar, quite an unusual combination of woods.  The lid is silky oak while the base and body of the box are made from red cedar.  Both the lid and the body are made of two pieces skilfully joined down the middle whereas the base is one single piece.  The base almost looks to me as though it has been put on upside down as the chamfered edge runs under the box.

Top of jewellery box showing faded decoration

The lid is also decorated with what looks like the initials "a w",  some small bunches of cherries (?) in each corner as well as some other decoration.  This looks as though it may have been drawn on in pen as there doesn't seem to be any evidence of engraving from pokerwork.

Jewellery box interior showing hinged lid and red velvet lining

The interior of the box also clearly shows the unusually thick cedar walls.  Each side would have been cut from a single solid block of wood.  This would have then been cut into two pieces that were mirror images of each other and then rejoined to create this fancy shape.  Rather quite a lot of work for a little box.


Who made this piece?  Why was it made?  How old is it?  Was this an apprentice piece or maybe a school exercise like my silky oak jewellery box?  Why did they use silky oak for the lid and not more red cedar?  Why put the base on as they did?  And who is "a. w."?  All questions that most likely will never be answered but are fun to ponder.

Australian Pokerwork

Found a few interesting items at the Dayboro Day Antiques & Collectables Fair on the weekend.  At least I think they are interesting.  I managed to pick up these three pieces of pokerwork from the one stall.  These are the first pieces of pokerwork that I have ever owned so I was very happy with the purchase.  I was only going to buy the vase but the stall holder kept bringing the prices down until the asking price for all three pieces was too good to pass up.

The waratah vase measures 15.5cm high and 10cm in diameter

The vase is a real piece of Australiana with its nicely worked waratah flower design.  I have seen a number of different Australian designs on this exact same shape and size vase.  Very happy to have this as my first item in my Australian Pokerwork collection.

Uh Oh!  Does this mean I have started a new collection?  Maybe I'll be satisfied with just three pieces (and pigs might fly as well!).  At least Karen likes these pieces as well.

Love the rich colour

The comport (or at least that was what the dealer said it was) doesn't have a specific Australian design on it but does have a lovely deep brown colour (actually a lot deeper than shown in the photos).  Also, the decoration is not as high a standard as that on the vase but still very pleasing in a naive sort of folk art way.

The comport measures 24.5cm across and 13cm high. 

Looks like a crack in the edge but is only a part of deep engraving 

I like the line decoration on the edge

The cutting board has an even more naive design but lovely rich colours.  It must have taken someone quite some time to do all the stippled decoration around the bunches of cherries (if that's what they are).

The cutting board measures 25cm across

I like the way the centre of the board comes out for cleaning and also to protect the decorative work

Alan Carter has an interesting article about pokerwork on his ABC Treasure Hunt website.

Australian Gumnut & Gum Leaf Vases

Here are some more of my treasure finds from the Caloundra Show.  I had been looking for a vase like this for sometime now and was surprised to find three all together on one stall.  My intention was to only buy one of the small ones but the persuasive stall holder (also a friend of mine) offered me the three at a price I couldn't resist (aided by some prompting from his good wife).


These handmade, pottery vases were most likely made by one of the Sydney potteries in the 1940s - 50s.  Not sure I will ever be able to find out which one as none of them have any identifying marks.  Each of them have some applied branches, gum leaves and gumnuts on a sponged background.  The large vase is also modelled as a large branch with strongly impressed graining.

Large vase (note the nice blue/green interior)

Detail of large vase

Large vase showing actual size

The large vase has a few small chips to some of the leaf edges and a small chip to the rim.  This is not surprising as this type of decoration on pottery is extremely vulnerable to damage.  Thankfully the damage is not too obvious due partly to the intricacies of the decoration.

Back of large vase

Detail of one end of the large vase

The smaller vases below are moulded differently to the large vase but still include very similar applied decoration.  The decoration on the vase with the yellow interior is very similar to the large vase's decoration whereas the other small vase has the same blue/green colour interior but slightly differently modelled leaves.  I suppose it just depends on which potter did which part of the decorating process.

Small yellow interior vase showing actual size

Detail of small yellow interior vase

Small blue/green interior vase showing actual size 

Detail of small blue/green interior vase

Each of the small vases also have some very minor nibbles to a couple of leaf edges though these are extremely hard to see.  Overall the condition of the three vases is extremely good considering their raised decoration and age.