Are Bosson heads worth anything?
The most valuable Bossons include a bare armed Cheyenne warrior, worth several thousand dollars. Other Native Americans designs are worth several hundred dollars each. Values for the hundreds of other known designs range from $75 to $1,200. Bossons also made plaster art other than heads.
Is Chalkware valuable?
Value is higher for those pieces that have intricate designs and strong painted decoration. Values for Chalkware pieces from the late 19th/early 20th Centuries can range from $10 to $500 depending on form, decoration, condition, age, rarity, and other factors.
What are the rarest Bosson heads?
The collection included many of the very rarest Bossons pieces ever produced: Paul Kruger, (2) versions of the Bare-Arm Cheyene, Sophie Shelf Ornament and Sophie Lamp Base, Fennec Fox, Bengali, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Espana, Caspian Woman and Veiled Caspian Woman, Miniature African Masks, Geisha Plaque, Madonna …
What is vintage chalkware?
Chalkware is an American term for popular figurines either made of moulded plaster of Paris (usually) or sculpted gypsum, and painted, typically with oils or watercolors. Heavy, and easy to break or chip, chalkware eventually lost favor to ceramic and plastic alternatives in the 1970s.
Where was chalkware made?
Chalkware blanks being produced within the pouring room at the Vaillancourt Folk Art studios in Sutton, MA. During the 19th century, chalkware was sculpted gypsum painted effortlessly with watercolors. Because most chalkware was sold by carnival vendors, it was considered the “poor man’s porcelain.”
Are Bosson heads still made?
Much to the chagrin of Bossons collectors worldwide, the company closed its doors and ceased all operation on December 6, 1996.
What is chalk wear?
What is Antique chalkware?
Chalkware is an American term for popular figurines either made of moulded plaster of Paris (usually) or sculpted gypsum, and painted, typically with oils or watercolors. Early chalkware was often hollow and is difficult to find unblemished.
Is chalkware fragile?
Some chalkware pieces were formed in molds taken from Staffordshire and other popular figurines. Even pieces that survived unscathed often look dingy and careworn—because it is so fragile, chalkware essentially cannot be cleaned.
How do you clean vintage chalkware?
Do not wash your chalkware; it’s made of an unglazed material and is not impervious to liquid and moisture. Instead wipe the piece occasionally with a dry, clean, soft cloth. Do not leave Vaillancourt Chalkware outside or in direct sunlight.
Can you paint chalkware?
If desired, the entire surface of the chalkware piece can be repainted using this method. To give the piece an appearance similar to its original painted surface, paint several light coats of paint rather than one heavy coat.
Who made chalkware?
The first known chalkware made in the 19th century in the U.S. was produced by German immigrants, many of whom settled in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Dutch created a variety of folksy chalkware figures, often with a seasonal or animal theme, sometimes in unexpected colors.
