Memorial Day greetings for our extended holiday weekend, as we remember all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the Armed Forces. Originally known as Declaration Day, the custom of decorating the graves of fallen soldiers began after the Civil War. Ceremonial tributes continue today, along with the beginning of the summer season!
The Larchmere Sidewalk Sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 25. The sales extend onto the sidewalks, with all the shops and eateries open. Artists, musicians and other vendors will exhibit their offerings. It’s a great community of diverse shops, with something for everyone!
Thanks to Marc Goodman, a longtime antiques dealer who owns a shop at 12721 Larchmere Blvd. in Shaker Heights, who is a sponsor of the Sidewalk Sale. He also shares his expertise on the collectibility of horns. Referencing a recent powder horn article in which I labeled horns as bone, he remarked that they are actually keratin structures covering a bony core. The heavy sheath of this protein-rich keratin protects the core and, in many instances, the horns continue to grow as the animal ages.
Interestingly, the rhinoceros is the only animal with a horn that has no bony core -- it has only the keratin covering. They are on the Endangered Species list, making it illegal to import or export a horn from this animal.
On the other hand, antlers are solid bone, shed each year by deer, moose, elk and caribou. Because these horns are replaced and regrown without harming the animal, they are considered a graced collectible.
Dear Brenda,
This frog is supposed to be more than 100 years old. According to a dealer in Tucson, it could be from the period when Andrew Jackson was a presidential candidate. How would one go about researching this?
P. G.,
Cleveland
Dear Peggy,
Your cast iron frog is a door stop made for the Jackson Wagon Co. in Jackson, Mich. It is more than 100 years old, so it qualifies as an antique! The slogan reads “I croak for the Jackson Wagon,” which was their advertising logo. They became one of the largest wagon manufacturers in the world, dating to the 1880s and into the beginning of the 20th century.
Andrew Jackson was president from 1829 to 1837. As the automobile gained popularity, the horse-drawn wagons became obsolete. Your frog measures 5½ inches by 4½ inches and is solid cast iron. Value is $100 to $300.
If you have an item for evaluation, send a clear picture with history to Yenke Peddler, Brenda Yenke, P.O. Box 361633, Strongsville, Ohio, 44136. You may also email photos and information requests for Brenda to evaluate at kenyenke@aol.com.