I just read an article about how Skype’s value could grow from an estimated $2.5 B today to $5.0B in 2 years based on the release of Skype for Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch.

That’s nice.  How about instead, eBay sells Skype today to Google or MS and makes a tidy profit.  Then focuses on the online auction business.

I started using eBay in 1997 and it was awesome.  No bells and whistles. Heck, most sellers didn’t even have pictures on their auctions.  But we bought and sold a lot, at fair prices, and built a community.

Now eBay is swamped with ads, and feedback systems that are trying to solve world hunger rather than meet customers’ needs.  Antiques sell at ridiculously reduced rates because of the inherent risk to the buyer. Legitimate antique businesses can’t afford to do business on eBay.  Online auctions should be thriving in this economy as folks hit by the recession look for other ways to make money.  But instead, eBay’s  growth has slowed or declined.  (Based on what I am seeing, the business is declining)

My advice to eBay is that they need a “do-over.”  You made the market for online auctions, then you got greedy or distracted.  Sell off the businesses that don’t make sense and get back to the basics.  Maybe split the business into Antiques/Collectibles, Resale, New.  The buyers for each segment are different and have different needs.   If you want your business to grow, focus on your customers.

Finishing artists took castings from their molds, cleaned them up, and added artistic talent to modifying the original. They also cleaned up originals thrown by the master potters, and often added artistic engravings to those as well.

A - Alice Offut - late 1980s
AB - Amber Burt - late 1990s
ABL - Unknown - late 1980s
AD - Unknown - late 1980s
AIG - Anita Gurney - 1980s
ALS - Arlene Shuckhart - 1988 -97
AO - Alice Offut - late 1980s
AS - Arlene Shuckhart - 1988 -97
AU - Unknown - 1930’s
B - Billie Bignell - 1950s-70s
BA - Bea Annis - 1995
BAH - Barbara Hough - 1998
BB - Unknown - after 1968
BR - Brad Roach - Late 1990s
BUL - Bozena Los - 1999-2002
BWL - Unknown - Unknown
CB - Clara Beyers - late 1980s
CC2 - Unknown - 2006
CE - Unknown - 1990s
CF - Carolyn French - 1986-1994
CG - Chris Graybill - 1992-93
CLC - Christina Crispi -1994
CM - Connie Morgan - 1991
CM - Connie Morgan - 1991
CP - Chris Pappialt - mid-80s
CR - Clara Reiner - 1940s-50s
D - Unknown
D2R - Dorothy Randolph - 1980s (Initials look like DZR)
DB - Donna Byers - 1960s
DHH - Unknown - 1982-83
DK - Dene Kiser - 1994-2004
DLH - Deonne Holt - 1979-1985
DLS - Unknown - 2005
DM - Donna Meyers - (BLOCK LETTERING) 1970s
DM - Darlynn Mangus - (script) 1984-2004
DR - Dorothy Ruff - 1980-2003
DW - Dorothy Webster - late 1970s
E - Unknown - after 1968
ECB - Elaine Burgess - 1980s
EM - Unknown - after 1968
EO - Ethel Owen - 1978 -1983
ET - Eloise Trujillo- 1984-2002
EZ - Unknown - 1979 - 1983
F - Unkown
G - Gladys Baker-1960s & 1970s
GB - Gladys Baker-1960s & 1970s
GML - Unknown - late 1960s
GP - Gail Pache - 2001-05
GRP - Unknown - 1970-2001
H - Nina Hess - 1970s and 80s
HC - Unknown - 2003
HI - Unknown - after 1968
HM - Hilde Manuszak - late 1980s & early 1990s
HMC - Hilde McLemore - 1984-86
HUN - Unknown - late 1980s
HVM - Hilde Manuszak - late 1980s -early 1990s
IH - Ivy Hill - 1998-99
IS - Irene Solska - 1997-2000
IVY - Ivy Hill - 1998-99
J - Unknown - 1980s or 1990s
JB - Joyce Blythe or Joyce Benwell - 1980s-90s
JDH - Jack Hartley - 1993-97
JDH - Unknown
JH - Julie Ann Haney - 1965-75
JJ - Joanne Jacobsen - 1970s and 1980s
JOY - Joy Baker - 1998
K - Mary Key- 1970s
KJ - Kathy Jalbert - 1986
KK - Kelly King - 1956-1985
KM - Kathy Milsap - 1980s
KW - Kathy Wills - 1980s
L - Lucille Larson- mid-1940s and 1950s
L - Unknown - after 1968 & mid-80s
LAW - Lateefah Wright - 1998-2004
LB - Linda Been - 1994-1997
Lb - Unknown - after 1968
LCB - Laura Bruggner - 2004-2006
LN - Linda Newman - 1984-85
LS - Loretta Short - late 1980s
LS - Lauri Strauss - 1980s (”L” and “S” are joined into one character)
M - Unknown - 1970s
M– - M with a dash Unknown - Believed to have finished 1980s or 90s
MA - Unknown - 1990s
MAC - Mary Mack - Years unknown
MB - Marianna Brown (Ridings)- 1973-2000
MBN - Mary Beth Nuss - 1980s
MC - Marge Capron - 1980s
MC - Michael Cowles - 2003
MCC - Michael Cowles - 2003-2006
MD - Marion Deitz - after 1968
MK - Marjorie Kruse- late 1980s
ML - Mary Lucas - Years unknown
MLP - Marge Pope - after 1968
MM - Melissa Meyers- 1980s
MMS - Mickie Shaw - early 1990s
MN - Unknown - late 1980s
MO - Unknown - 80s or 90s
MP - Myra Patterson - 1970s & 1980s
MR - Marla Ridenour-Cole - 1990s
MS - Mark Shuckhart- 1980s-1990s
MV - Unknown - 1990s
MW - Marie Webb - 1980s
N - Nora Richardson - 1970s-1980s
ND - Unknown - after 1968
NE - Nancy Eck - 1980s
NP - Unknown - after 1968
NUNN - Nunn 1920s
O - Martha Oliver - Finished 1980 through 2004 (plain o)
O - Otis Wills - 1940s-1950s
OB - Opel Burbaum - 1960s-1970s
OP - Unknown - likely after 1970
OVD - Odel Van Dell - 1940s
P - Phyllis Harms - late 1980s
q - Unknown - 1950s (lower case “q”)
R - Rosemary Dobbs - 1988 - 1997
RN - Rebecca Neff - 1993
RS - Rona Sellers - mid-1990s
RT - Ruth Tice - late 1980s
RY - Unknown - pos 1968
S - Mildred Scott - 1970s
SAM - Tonya Blythe - 1998 -1999
SAR - Sylvia Rice - 2001
SE - Sara Elder - late 1980s
SLB - Sandy Burton - 1995-1996
SLP - Unknown - 1970 - 2001
SM - Unknown - 1998-2004
SP - Unknown - 1950s & 60s
T - Unknown - ~1960
TB - Tate Brown - 1982 - 992
TC - Trudy Carter - 1970s
TE - Eloise Trujillo - 1984 -2002
TMT - Michelle Tollison - 1940s-1960s
UR - Unknown - late 1980s
V - Viola Merrick- 1970s
VM - Viola Merrick- 1970s
VR - Vera Riley - 1980s -1991
WA - Lisa Warnken - Years unknown
WLT - Unknown - 1980s or 90s
Y - Cleo McCoy - 1970s
YR - Unknown - late 1980s
Z - Jennie Zega - 1983-88

At VanBriggle, an artist mark is the initials of the potter who threw an original piece of pottery on the wheel.

AG    Andrea Gabriel - 1995
AG     “AG” combined into one character - Alan Gillman – 1980s
AMS   Anthony Mark Sucharski
a.s.     Ambrose Schlegel - Master Potter from 1903 – 1930
BH     Becky Hansen - 2003
BJS    Bill Sidenberg - 1970s-80s
BS      Bill Sidenberg - 1970s-80s
C        Clem Hull – 1946-48
CC     Charles Chavez – 1984
CH    Clem Hull – 1948-52
CMH  Clem Marot Hull – 1952-65
CS      Craig Stevenson - late 70s to present
CS      Chris Scalia - (BACKWARDS “S”) 1990s
CV     Christopher Vernon
d        Unknown - (Lower case “d”) 1940s-50s
D        Unknown - (Capital “D”) late 1940’s-early 50s
DC     Doug Cowles - 1980s
DG     Dan Garner – 1970s
DH     Don Harvey or Deborah Hager
DK      Dene Kiser – 1994-2004
DW     Don Wills - Son of Master Potter Fred Wills (FW)
EH       Ed Hearn - mid-1990s
EM      Eric McCulley - (Arrow pointing down from “M”) - 1997
F          Fred Wills – 1947
FW      Fred Wills – 1948-98
FWW   Fred Wayne Wills - Son of Master Potter Fred Wills
IH        Ivy Hill - 1998-99
IVY     Ivy Hill – 1998-99
JC        Joseph Cordova - late 1980s
JF        Jared Finkenbinder - 1980s
JH       Jerry Hill –
JJ        Joe Jezek - late 60s
JR        Jim Reddinger – 1982-83
JU        Jan Upwall
JSW     Jeff Weise - 1970s – 80s
JWS     Jeff Stevenson - 1969 - 88
LAW    Lateefah Wright – 1998 – 2004
LK         Lori Keenan - Early 1990s
LP         Lou Prosch - 1970s - 80s
LS          Loretta Short - 1988 – 97
LW        Leroy Weber - Late 1960s to early 1970s
MD       Mike D’attillo - 1984
MG       Matt Gebhardt - 1995
MS        Mark Shuckhart – 1988 – 1997
MS        Mark Sucharski - (BACKWARDS “S”) early 80s
NC        Nelson Curtis – 1964
NUNN   Unknown (presumed last name was Nunn)- 1920s
O          Otis Wills - 1943-1964
O<—    Teina Bentley - 1994
O.F.      Bruce - 1920s. Deaf Mute.
PD         Pattie Duncan - 1987
PG         Paul Gibson – 1960s-80s
PO         Paula Old - 1997
RA         Rudy Abeyta - 1985
RAF       Bob Fair - 1973
RF           Unknown - late 1980s
RFS         Unknown - 1919
RH           Ron Heim- early 1990s
RKH         Ryan Hall - 1988
RU            Russel Upwall - 1980s
Scott        Scott Ladzinski - 1991-94
SF             Steve Ford - 1989
SL             Scott Ladzinski - 1990. (”S with an “L” intersecting it vertically down the center)
TU            Tina Ufford - 1980s or 1990s

The Hull Pottery Little Red Riding Hood Cookie Jars have different decals, I will post as many as I can find over time.  Send me your pictures.  The Cookie jars can range in price from $200 - $1200. There are fakes, and they are marked to deceive … so buyer beware!  A few easy indications - the paint colors on fakes are too bright, and the painting tends to look sloppy.  Also, fakes almost never have crazing - where the real cookie jars do have crazing.  If you buy a cookie jar, ask the dealer for a guarantee that it’s “right”.  If they won’t give you that guarantee, look elsewhere.

This is a later cookie jar, note the smaller basket:

This is a later cookie jar, note the smaller basket:

The value depends on the glaze and the year.  The Flower or Seeding pattern comes in a variety of sizes and is a Van Briggle favorite.

This vase is 8″ tall and is in the Mulberry color:

• A 1920’s version sold for $99 on Ebay in March 2009.  This was a great deal, I would estimate the retain value at $200-$300

Logo Van BRiggLE Colo. Spgs. (Note the residue bottom) was used in the mid 1930’s to the mid 1940’s.

The value depends on the glaze and the year.  The Flower or Seeding pattern comes in a variety of sizes and is a Van Briggle favorite.

This vase is 4.5″ tall and is in the Mulberry color:

The mark signed simply Ann Van Briggle Colo. Spgs. was used with high gloss glaze between 1955-1968.

Hull made the art pottery Open Rose  pattern in 1949.  Each piece was hand tinted.

Hull Open Rose Vase: 131 -4 3/4″  – value - $80-$120

Hull made the art pottery Sunglow pattern in 1949. There were 29 shapes, over time, I will try to add them all. Each piece was hand tinted.

Hull Sunglow: Pitcher Wall Pocket, 81, 5 1/2″ — value - $120–$175