After clearing out some my the 'stuff' from my computer room, I grouped together my chalkware collection. I thought that I would give you a closer look.
Chalkware figures were given away as carnival fair prizes from 1910 through to the 1950's. The earlier pieces were often painted by hand, but this was replaced by airbrushing (sometimes using stencils), which enabled the manufacturers to produce them more efficiently. At the end of the 1950's/60's they were replaced with stuff animals or other small trinkets.
I began collecting them because my uncle 'G' had a collection of kookaburra's and he would often ask me to bid on some on Ebay. I would keep an eye out at the markets and swap meets for them, and after a while started to collect them myself. I collect predominately kookaburras, koalas and dogs. I do have a few others scattered around, an owl, boat, and Dopey from the snow white.
They are getting harder to find these days, not as many are turning up at the markets, or swap meets but you are still able to find them on Ebay/Etsy.
Do you have a collection too??
22 comments:
Wow Tamara thats some collection.How do you tell the differnce between chalkware and plaster?I have a little dog somewhere I think it may be chalkware tho.They were much nicer prizes back then than the scabby ones of today thats for sure.
I have to many collections family calls most of it crap and junk how rUde!They just dont get it.xx
I LOVE your collection Tamara,I have two ships and I wish I could find more.They are so darn hard to find in my area,I'm always hopeful though.Are they scarce because they damaged so easily?Checkout Bungalowranger's photostream.
@Nelly
Hi Nelly,
Chalkware is the american term for plaster-of-Paris figures, so essentially they are the same thing, but just given a different name. So your little dog would be plaster of paris, and chalkware also.
Don't worry, my kids call our collections junk too. hehe
@simmone Hi Simmone, let me know if you would like the ship that you can see in the collection. I will send it up to you, Tam x
Learn something new every day. Very interesting. I have never heard of chalkware, thanks Tamara.
You have a wonderful collection! I love the dog figures....a couple of those kind of looked like my dog.
I have a lot of different collections. I always enjoy hunting for new pieces to add to my collections.
Jane
Tamara,
Your fun collection makes me smile! It makes such a difference seeing "all of the same" together, doesn't it? Thanks so much for popping into my blog and leaving such a sweet comment.....:).
Hello Tamara,
what a beautiful your collection
dogs are adorable, too
do the collection, congratulations
a hug
Suzy x
Wow Tamara! Another fab collection. The blue terrier at the back is such a cutie. Thanks for sharing your collections, they are so interesting.
Pam x
I can't let you spoil your wonderful collection by pinching a piece! thanks for the offer though,very kind. I gave you the wrong name it's Bungaloneranger not Bungalowranger photostream, lots of plaster goodies.
What a great collection. I have a couple of dogs similar to yours and love them. I recently found a pair of chalk ware figurines which I will show on my blog soon as I was really pleased to find them.I have all sorts of collections, I guess I am just a hoarder really. I have loads of enamelled and painted glass mainly dating to the Victorian period, a large tin collection, lots of vintage dogs and also a collection of 1930s bisque dolls and figurines.I have other collections too including eiderdowns and utility wear but it's quite scary when I start listing them as it reminds me how cluttered my house is !
Ann x
Thanks for showing your "sweet as" collection Tam, and for the background info, l never knew any of that stuff, l'm fascinated that they used stencils to help paint them. The kookaburras are my fave. l wonder if you've found any your uncle G doesn't have...Have a great weekend.
I have never seen so many unusual piece...what an amazing collection!
Like the dog figures best - the koalas are cute too!
Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger
Love your chalkware , I have some pieces , my favorite being an old church statue by mattei bros. I'm now following your lovely blog xx Ava
I am in awe of your chalboard collection Tamara and I'll admit, a little bit jealous. I have a couple of koala's which I love to bits but they definetely don't have the impact yours do clustered together in those pics. Gorgeous. I can't believe its taken me this long to find your lovely blog, so glad I did, I'll be back for more and following you from now on too x
Hi Tamara,
As a young girl l used to play with some chalkware dogs (like the terriors in your photo) at my great nana's house and she gave them to me just before she passed away. She told me that poppa won them for her at a sideshow when they were dating.That would have been around 1912. They are a much loved item that have pride of place in my loungeroom and bring back wonderful memories.
Just out of curiosity would you know what their value would be eventhough l would never part with them.
Cheers Kerrie.
At last I've found someone who can tell me a bit about the background of these figurines. It's hard to get past all the sale listings when you are searching for information. I've been trying to date an obviously cheaply made but cheerful figurine of a pair of red cardinals. Thought it was probably fifies. And it would have been quite a treat to bring home from a fair. Thanks for this post.
I have two chalk figurines about two feet tall. My Mom was born in 1936 and they were given to her by an uncle as a baby. He.got them at the.local carnival. Do they have any monetary value?
They do. Some are worth more than others depending on the theme (ie, kooburra, Lone Ranger, Disney, signed etc), size and condition. The best thing to do would be to search for similar examples and see what they are selling for, ebay and etsy should give you a good idea.
hi my name is jill johnson from wisconsin, i collect pigs. i have several large , at least 2 ft tall, chalk/plaster pigs. several are cowboys and a couple are of girl pigs(i call them bar girls)that have low necked dresses and look like they may be girlfriends of the cowboys! i was wondering what a price might be if i were to sell any of them. they are in very good shape but not perfect. i also have at least 15-20 small pigs that i am not trying to sell. i love them all but just am running out of room for all my thousands of pigs. the biggest and duplicates just have to go. i'm 74 and my family just shakes their heads as to what to do with them all when i go to pig heaven. ha drop me a line if you get time. i love collectors and collections. yours is great. i also collect flower frogs, deviled egg plates, egg cups, wire mesh purses from the 30's i think, marbles, dice,hat pins, boyd's bears/animals esp pigs. i have over 350 pig salt and peppers and around 50 pig cookie jars. i have hundreds of pig stuffed animals. so much for me got to go. thanks for listening. take care jill
hi,my name is jill johnson from wisconsin. i collect pigs. i have at least 20 smaller chalk pigs but am contacting you about my large ones. i have several cowboys that are about 2 ft tall at least and a couple of girls that look like girlfriends of the cowboys-kinda bar like. i need to cut back because of space and was wondering what they might be worth . i wrote you in the comment part of your site. take care jill
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