}`HPLASErJ$}.MT 10 .HM 3 .h1Grayson Enterprises Ltd. One time rights .h25 May 1991 Copyright 1991 .h3Page #. 1,252 words .LS2          OLD IVORY; ENDANGERED SPECIES   Written and photographed by June Grayson      Pity the poor Old Ivory collectors. The latest resolutions   prohibiting the importation of ivory in order to protect the   endangered elephants around the globe won't help them. The Old   Ivory that they collect, like a beautiful but short-lived shoot  ing star, came out of Europe for only a few years around the turn   of the last century, and then disappeared into some fortunate   π03 ŠAmerican homes, only to be seen again when the owners gave up   housekeeping. The antiques and collectibles price guides are no help.   They all say, in very prosaic language, that old Ivory china was   produced in Silesia, Germany in the late 1800's and derives its   name from the background color of the china. In addition,   perhaps they will mention that Hermann Ohme was the founder. But who was Hermann Ohme and why did his porcelain factory   flourish so briefly and then disappear? No collector has come   forward to write a book for other collectors, thus preserving   what is known for all time. Instead, Old Ivory china remains a   mystery wrapped in an enigma and ardent collectors are left to   trade hearsay and impressions by word of mouth. Virginia and Ralph Wantland, long-time collectors of Old   Ivory and antique dealers from Urbana, Illinois, introduced many   novice midwestern collectors to the joy of collecting Old Ivory. According to a letter I received from Mr. Wantland, detailing his   own research into the origins of Old Ivory, "... Old Ivory   chinaware was manufactured by a Hermann Ohme at his porcelain   factory located in Niedersalzbrunn, Schlesien (Silesia). At that   time Silesia was a province of Prussia, which was one of the   German states. Niedersalzbrunn is now known as Szczawienko,   Poland. He operated a branch factory in Waldenburg. Ohme made   household and hotel dishes. His factory was known as PORZELLAN  π0- ŠMANUFAKTUR HERMANN OHME (Porcelain Manufactory of Hermann Ohme). "Verification of the above may be found in a handbook of   European porcelain by Ludwig Danckert, i.e., Danckert, Ludwig,   HANDBUCH DES EUROPAISCHEN, Munchen, Prestel Verlag, 1954. (This   book was first published in 1912). The reference reads:Nieder  salzbrunn (Deutschland, Schlesien), Hermann Ohme, Porzellanfab  rik, gegrudet 1882; Produktionsprogramm: Haushalts und Hotelges  schirr. Das Unternehmen besteht nicht mehr. Mr. Wantland's letter continues: "The English translation of   the above is: Lower Salzbrun, Germany, Silesia. Hermann Ohme,   porcelain manufacturer, established 1882; production program in   household and hotel dishes. The establishment is no longer in   being."  It is not known if Ohme established the factory as a new   enterprise or took over another plant in 1882. However, it is   known that he operated the plant for 17 years until he went   bankrupt in 1899 and left the business. Additional owners operated the factory until 1932 until it   disappeared forever. Experts say that they can distinguish the   china made after 1899 because of a slight and subtle difference   in the color, not usually discernible to the untrained eye. Old Ivory was produced in dinnerware sets, with varied sizes   of plates, bowls, serving pieces, and cups and saucers (found in   demitasse, chocolate, small tea, regular tea, and coffee   π0- Šserving sizes). Serving dishes such as vegetable and fruit   bowls, soup tureens, bone dishes, butter pats, waste bowls,   mustard pots, relish dishes, and toothpick holders can also be   found. Coffee and tea pots, cracker jars, water pitchers, milk   pitchers, and spoon holders tempt avid collectors. Dresser sets   were also made. Not all pieces were made in all patterns.  So far as we know, none of the patterns had names. Instead,   patterns were identified by numbers - the earliest pattern known   as #4 and the latest #204, with more than 60 patterns identified  in between. All patterns seem to have a lot in common, using   transfer prints of floral designs, fruit, and acorns, overlaid   with applied designs of white paint. The rose is the most common   flower in the designs. Soft browns, tans, and greens are the   most common colors. Some patterns are decorated with a delicate   gold filigree.  The two most common patterns are #16 and #84. They are also   very similar, so they can be used together for a table setting.   Pieces in the three holly patterns - #17, #22, and #62 - are   priced at 150% of the price for the other patterns. The #17   pattern has tulips and forget-me-nots. The #12 pattern has pink   and red roses.  The reason that the patterns all seem so similar is that in   spite of the fact that over 60 patterns have been documented, all   of these patterns make use of one of about five border patterns,   π0- Šand the two most common of these appear the most - the Clarion   border and the Eglantine border.  Fortunately for collectors, most pieces have one or more   backmarks. My squatty cracker jar, pattern #84, has four: OLD   IVORY and 84 in red, a blue crown and fleur-de-lis with SILESIA   written under it, a green OHME and Silesia with a crown and   fleur-de-lis all outlined in red, and a brown artistic scrawl,   probably the initials of the decorator - all under the glaze. According to a New Jersey collector, factories in central   Europe at that time had an unwritten code of ethics: they did not   copy another factory's patterns. However, an Iowa collector   states that he has found Old Ivory backmarks with names such as   Elysee and LaTouraine, convincing him that other factories did   indeed produce Old Ivory. Old Ivory was imported into the United States through the   seaports of Portland, Maine; Boston, Mass.; and New Orleans, La. According to an Aurora, Illinois, antique dealer, sets of Old   Ivory dinnerware were popular wedding presents in Aurora around   the turn of the century, and upscale department stores were the   retailers.  That is why Old Ivory tends to be found for resale in the   same areas that they were originally sold by large department   stores. Much Old Ivory has been found in Iowa, perhaps because   it was sold by a Des Moines, Iowa, department store.  π0-  Š Collectors typically have found much Old Ivory in the New   England states, especially Maine, the continuing legacy from the   Portland and Boston seaports. Two known importers of record were   Loring, Short & Harmon of Portland, Maine, and Grayson & Sons of   Boston, Mass.  Mr. Wantland further states in his letter, "I believe that   Old Ivory was made specifically for sale in the United States or   England since the inscription, OLD IVORY, is in English, not in   German, as it would be if offered for sale in its homeland. Also   the royal Silesia crown mark uses the English spelling of   Schlesien, perhaps an Anglicized version of the royal trademark." In attempts to secure more information about the origins of Hermann Ohme and Old Ivory porcelain, Mr. Wantland has corre  sponded with the West German Antique Dealers Assn., the German   Consulate, the German patent office, and a Dr. Heuser from Olden  dorf, Germany, an authority on German antique wares. None of   them had ever heard of Old Ivory chinaware! Perhaps it will   prove impossible to find out anything more about this incredibly   fine china. As the number of serious Old Ivory collectors have   multiplied, prices have increased proportionately so that you are   not apt to find any bargains in Old Ivory. Dinner plates can now   sell for $150 each, a seven piece chocolate set may bring $750,   and cracker jars $325.  π0-  Š Although there are no detailed references books available so   far, perhaps some driven collector will write a book one day. In   the meantime, Pat Fitzwater, POB 1004, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070,   has just written the second issue of the OLD IVORY NEWSLETTER, as   a vehicle for sharing information. She will send you a copy if   you send her a stamped, self-addressed long envelope.  #####