Some old lawn sprinklers have high value

#Middlebury #Antiques

Decorators and gardening columnists are reporting that the latest look for a garden includes furnishings to make it look like an indoor room. Chairs, tables, rugs, cushions, statues, urns, fountains, hanging decorations, fancy birdhouses and even gnomes and fake animals are half-hidden in the flowers. But one vintage garden piece that has not been copied is the figural sprinkler, the piece that attaches to the hose and stands on the grass to water the yard.

This iron frog sits on a ball on a curvy base while balancing a sprinkler on his nose, waiting to water the lawn. The rare figure, even though repainted, auctioned for $780 at a Bertoia auction last summer.

Companies made the first figural sprinklers in about 1910, and by the 1920s and ’30s there were many manufacturers with similar ideas. Iron sprinklers shaped like animals, birds, people and frogs were made. Firestone made flat cut-out metal figures holding hoses that turned as the lawn was watered. These were copied in wood and painted in school shop classes. By the 1940s, Bakelite and other colorful plastics were used, and shapes were modern boxes or balls. One was a huge orange sunflower. Today, there is a tall pole that turns to send a spray that looks like a flower.

Figural iron sprinklers are now considered folk art and sell for thousands of dollars. The others still are inexpensive garden art.

Q: Are cereal boxes still a popular collectible? I remember reading about them in the 1960s and seeing a display of flattened boxes for sale at an antiques show.

A: Advertising collectors have been buying round oatmeal boxes since the 1940s. About 1910 to 1930, Kellogg put games and stories to be cut out on the back of boxes. But the rectangular boxes did not attract much attention until Wheaties began picturing athletes on boxes in 1935. It was the “Breakfast of Champions,” and there was a premium that could be cut from the box. By the 1940s, small pin-back buttons picturing comic characters were included with the cereal. Soon, other toys were included and were pictured and mentioned on the box.

But it was the 1960s that pushed cereal-box collecting, and soon there were books about it and boxes were sold at most antiques flea markets. Many were destroyed when the Mickey Mouse mask or other toy was cut out. The most expensive today are the full flattened boxes of the 1950s and 1960s. Some sell for over $100.

Current Prices
WWII photograph, V-J Day parade, soldiers in car with American and “Don’t Tread On Me” flags, black and white, 1945, 3 x 4 inches, $10.
Beatles board game, Flip Your Wig, 4 band member playing pieces, multicolor, box, Milton Bradley, 1964, $150.
Lamp, electric, one-light, dancers, flutist, blue ground, Marcello Fantoni, Italy, 1900s, 27 x 5 1/2 inches, $240.
Easel, walnut, adjustable, wheels, hand crank, Anco, 70 x 28 inches, $505.

TIP: If you own a wicker chair that makes small popping noises when you sit in it, dampen it with water. It is too dry, and wicker may crack if not kept moist.

For more collecting news, tips and resources, visit www.Kovels.com.

© 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.