The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-12-12
BY MRS. c. O. ROBINSON

collection OF antiques may
4 have various expressions. Low
ers of glass, bric-a- brac, and small
quaint articles have an enchanting
and practically unlimited fielc
awaiting their exploration. The cur
rent practice of living in small
houses and apartments has fosterec
the popularity of collecting these
dimindative antique objects.
A varied selection of one each OF
the many small articles made in the
past would be an engaging endeavor
Another goal might be the assem-
bling of different type of the same
item. This to me would be of great
er interest, because a collection of
this kind would take longer to COM
plete.
In fact, it would be never-ending
as new variety might appear
from an old attic at any time.
Among the best known possibil-
tiles for the enthusiast are old
salts, inkStandS, perfume bottles,
Millef1ori (glass of a thousand
flowers|5 jewelry, silhouettes, tiny
parasols, toothpick and match hold
ers, paperweights and cup plates.
The list is almost endless.
Mlllefiori is best known from the
paperweights, manufacture of which
has been revived recently. A col
lection of this flower glass can be
varied as to shape as we'll as COL
or, for it was used in jewelry. door
knobs, vases, inkstands, bottles and
also in knobs for holding back cur
tains and hanging pictures.
n
THE small china pin boxes eve
L would call them jewel boxes)
very popular in the COS and 7Os,
would make a charming collection.
Most OF these dainty containers are
about four inches high and were
made to resemble bureaus, as the
one owned by Mrs. George Forrey
Jr. here pictured. They had tiny
mirrors held in place by gold or
silver paper. Many of us can re-
member the one that was on the
whatnot at grandmother house.
How we loved to be allowed to play
with it and have our dolls pretend
to dress before the little mirror!
Canoes make marvellous collec-
ton, as do intaglios-the opposite
Of cameos-the design being cut in
the surface Of the stone, instead of
in relief, as with the canoes.
Toothpick holders and match
containers came in many odd
shapes, such as high hats, barrels,
CATS dogs, shoes and other queer
conceptions. My little china shoe,
pictured, is ornamentsd with play
full kittens. Many that were made
OF china included delicately colored
figures of children standing beside
the receptacle. They now are used
to hold matches and cigarets. which
makes me think of an old poem
little irrelevant, perhaps, but
brought to mind by the mention of
the cigaret holders. IT is entitled
Tobacco"
Pernicious weed whose scent the fair
annoys
UnfriendIy to society's chief JOYS,
Thy worst effect is banishing for hours
The sex whose presence civiIizes ours.
The modern comment on that is
"Oh, Yeah!"
NPEN salt dishes are the most
" popular of these collectable
trinklets. They make varied and
historic collection, as salt was ire
mendously valuable at one time,
and social distinction was deter
mined by whether one was seated
above or below the salt. Aecollec-'
ton of salts, therefore, could go
back into the dim, distant past
certainly to the time of wooden
dishes. Since all pressed glass pat
terms included open salts, these
alone would make a nice collection.
The earliest sandwich glass salt,
shaped as boat, has "B. and S.
Glass Co." marked on the stern and
Sandwich on the bottom. Much
contention would have been elm
mated today if the Sandwich fac
tory had continued to mark its
pieces. Salts were made also in
many odd shapes, such as birds,
log cabins, melons, COW, fish and
all types of fantasies.
Many salts as we'll as other small
objects were made as single piece.
Workmen were allowed to use for
their own benefit glass left after
the days work was ended. Often
several colors remained, and these
were mixed to get startling or beau
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