| A Brief History | | | | were manufactured in China, Mexico, India, Taiwan |
| Antique reproductions have abounded on the market | | | | and England. This would be the only USA |
| for as many years as there have been antiques. As | | | | manufacturer of reproduction pottery and the only |
| early as the 1960's, reproductions of old pattern glass | | | | company permitted to use the USA logo on all their |
| examples from the late 1800's started to appear in | | | | pottery. (Foreign imports are not permitted by law to |
| antique shops, markets and shows. This early onset | | | | put USA on their items in accordance with US |
| of reproductions spurred a niche market in the | | | | Customs Federal law) |
| Antiques and Collectibles field. | | | | Why Reproductions? |
| What occurred in the 1960's spawned an incredible | | | | - Demand |
| growth in reproductions not only in the glass markets | | | | Designers and decorators want to enhance their |
| but also in almost all specialty antique and collectible | | | | client's homes and business', but are not able to find |
| markets including cast iron and pottery. In the early | | | | an available supply of the types of antiques they |
| 1970's, the Merritt family headed by Mary and Bob | | | | need. Collectors wishing to enhance their collection |
| Merritt started one of the longest running | | | | may search for years for that one rare 'missing piece' |
| reproduction wholesalers in the USA, which later | | | | in their collection. There is a short supply of original |
| through a family dispute branched off into one of the | | | | antiques in the marketplace, and that supply shrinks |
| most successful business ventures in the Antique | | | | every day as more people buy up original antiques. |
| reproduction field, known as Fred & Dottie's, Inc. | | | | - Affordability |
| Up until the late 1970's Merritts enjoyed somewhat | | | | Imagine buying an original tiffany lamp for $4500 or |
| of a monopoly until Fred Burkholder (son of Mary | | | | you could choose a reproduction which has the same |
| Merritt) and Dottie (Fred's wife), both minority | | | | look and most times better quality at a fraction of |
| shareholders, broke away from Merritt's after a bitter | | | | the cost ($300-$500). You could decorate one room |
| family dispute. Fred and Dottie Burkholder formed | | | | with an original, or your entire house with |
| Fred & Dottie's, Inc. and began their own | | | | reproductions. Designers and decorators in the last |
| reproduction wholesale business just a few miles | | | | decade have been using reproductions to decorate |
| down the road from their former partners in | | | | client's homes and business' because it is more |
| business. | | | | affordable and the insurance replacement cost |
| Within a few years, the rivals were ferociously | | | | premium is much less. The only one who really knows |
| competing as more Reproduction wholesalers began | | | | that beautiful 'Antique' is not an original is you! |
| to spring up throughout the USA. Ralph Lussino and | | | | - The 'LOOK' |
| his brother, John, friends and former customers of | | | | When decorating, we all want to give our visitors, |
| the Burkholder's and Merritts threw their 'hat in the | | | | friends and clients the impression of wealth and 'we |
| ring' and formed Castle Antiques and Reproductions. | | | | are doing well' attitude. What better way to stretch |
| All three of these Reproduction wholesalers are still in | | | | your decorating budget, then to display beautiful |
| Business as of this writing, although Castle is in the | | | | antique reproductions throughout your home or |
| process of liquidating their entire inventory and closing | | | | business? It just screams, "I am doing well! Look at |
| in late 2008. | | | | my beautiful collection!" We all desire that LOOK, the |
| Glassware reproductions of the late 1800's were | | | | look that we are keeping up with the " Jones's' ", the |
| extremely popular in the 1960's and 1970's, but began | | | | look that exudes and exemplifies the epitome of |
| to slide in popularity, giving way to depression era | | | | wealth. |
| glassware reproductions in the 1980's. These trends | | | | - Memories |
| were set primarily by the demand of the public to | | | | Remember when...? A question you have probably |
| decorate with the hottest trend of that time. While | | | | asked many times in your life, pondering the good old |
| the 1980's and early 1990's saw a dramatic increase in | | | | days or remembering that favorite vase mom or |
| demand for depression-era glassware, the | | | | grandma always had on the mantle, or the cookie jar |
| reproduction markets responded with 100's of | | | | she had in the kitchen. It brings back the "good OLE' |
| patterns of depression-era glassware. As time went | | | | days" when you see grandma's cookie jar, you |
| on, the late 1990's saw a trend toward art pottery | | | | remember her baking your favorite chocolate chip |
| of the 1950's, which stimulated a growth of | | | | cookies and you can almost taste them again. |
| reproductions from the Weller, McCoy, Roseville and | | | | Our lives are filled with memories that bring back the |
| Majolica potters. The most popular of all these | | | | pleasant times of our lives as we grew up. Having |
| companies was the McCoy Pottery Company, mainly | | | | available reproductions and easily being able to acquire |
| because it was the most recognizable, the most | | | | them brings back a rush of memories, giving us a |
| affordable and the most diverse of all the potters of | | | | feeling of euphoria and contentment. |
| the 1950's. | | | | When you combine the demand, the affordability, the |
| In 1997 an American manufacturer had set out to | | | | 'look' and the memories, you can see why antique |
| reproduce some of the most popular McCoy | | | | reproductions are such an integral part of our lives. If |
| patterns, successfully manufacturing a line of over | | | | you have been inspired by this article to reminisce, or |
| 110 pieces including cookie jars, vases, creamers, | | | | you want to decorate your home or business with |
| bowls, black memorabilia, and planters. Up until this | | | | beautiful antique reproduction pottery, take a |
| time, an overwhelming majority of reproductions | | | | moment and visit the links below. |