ID

As more and more collectors enter the field of collecting Charleton items the need
for an identification guide becomes apparent. Hopefully, this section will be of use
to collectors in cataloging their finds and thereby benefit the collecting community
as a whole through proper identification.

This identification guide is structured to aid in determining the decorating
company and not the manufacturer of the blank. Besides our book, there are
hundreds of books available for this purpose and the serious collector should avail
himself of the necessary resources. Of course, the authors are always willing to
help anyone with questions concerning the manufacturer or decorator and we
welcome discussing new finds.

If your new find is something we have not yet documented, with your permission
we will post your picture on our web site (with due credit). If arrangements can be
made, we also professionally photograph important new pieces for our hoped for
Charleton: Book II. Please see the "Contact Us" section for details.

We will now outline the steps we use as researchers in determining attribution of
the decorator. This of course means that the piece in question has no Charleton
label, hang tag, etc. and has not been properly identified in published material. As
we discuss these techniques, photographs of various examples will be provided as
visual aids.

Labels, Ink Marks and Initials

The first thing to examine the suspected piece for are any label remnants or back
stamps. The oval foil or paper label that Abels, Wasserberg & Company (AWCO)
applied utilized a strong adhesive and even after complete removal of the label itself
you can sometimes find the telltale remains of the oval label. We know of no other
company that used an oval label with the same dimensions (1 3/8"L x 7/8"H), as
AWCO so if the measurements match then it is almost the same as having an intact
label.

With one exception, we do not feel the need to discuss the standard foil or paper labels
that AWCO predominately used throughout their line. The exception is a rectangular
paper label that appears on some Charleton decorated lamps. The word "Charleton" is
actually incorporated in the Underwriters Laboratory label and there is no stock
number as often found on the oval labels. We know these are actually AWCO labels as
the typeface matches the same one used in various Charleton advertisements. These
labels are usually found on the outside of the metal lamp base but we have also seen
them applied on the interior metal collar adjacent to the light bulb socket. These labels
are very scarce so finding one on a lamp should be considered important.

We are currently examining some red-bordered rectangular paper labels that have
appeared on a number of Charleton items. Although quite possibly applied by the
original retailer, further findings will be necessary before making a determination.

Back stamps are also quite useful in determining ID. The most prevalent stamp is the
words "Hand Painted" in black ink. It can be found in both a slanted script as well as
the usual block version. Care must be taken on decorated Kemple milk glass items as
they use a similar back stamp. Their type is always much larger and once the two
stamps are compared there is little room for confusion.

Another back stamp is the scarce triangular medium blue ink stamp. It contains the
company's abbreviation "AWCO" and if that portion is still legible then no further
study is needed. These back stamps have been found in either a large or small version
but both have the same layout. These stamps are easily removed by abrasion or
cleaning so great care should be taken by the collector to preserve them.

On porcelain items one should look for the words "Limoges France". Rather than
describe the two Limoges marks that have been found on these items we will let the
photograph do the work. Although a strong indicator, these Limoges back stamps are
not always a definitive attribution as they can appear on various white ware items
exported from Limoges France for decorating abroad and not necessarily AWCO.

The next marking that can be useful is the placement of the decorator's initials on the
item. Fairly common, these initials are almost exclusively found under the base of the
Charleton item. The exceptions are a handful of pieces we have documented that
actually incorporates the artist's initials in china paint inside or near the decoration.
The pieces with this type of placement will require strong additional proof of attribution
as this inclusion not uncommon on many pieces of decorated glass and porcelain by
other decorators.

AWCO initials when found are executed in china paint and/or gold leaf. The china paint
color almost always matches a color that is predominant in the decoration. These
initials do not always appear as alphabetical but are often seen expressed as numbers.
When gold leaf initials are found they almost always are found in conjunction with china
paint markings.

We feel these gold leaf initials indicate the artist who performed the gold leaf work and
the china paint markings represents the other artist who executed the main decoration.
These initials are also fragile and once again great care should be taken to preserve
them. The gold leaf is surprisingly durable but should only be cleaned when absolutely
necessary and then using plain water and very light pressure. Interestingly, the Fenton
Art Glass Company (a major supplier of AWCO blanks) now uses this same
arrangement of dual initials on some items when their decorating department utilizes
china and gold paint.

Decorating Elements

A difficult challenge is faced when labels, back stamps, or initials are absent. The
following are some methods we employ when examining such pieces.

The first approach is to determine the origin of the blank. The blank needs to be
identified to ascertain if it is from a known AWCO supplier. If the blank is from a
known supplier then so much the better for attribution. If not, it does not mean
the possibility of it being Charleton is ruled out, but makes it probably less likely.
All of the AWCO suppliers have yet to be identified although a great portion of
the glass manufacturers are thought to have been recognized.

Assuming the blank is from an AWCO supplier then one should determine the
pattern to see if it is also a known pattern that has been Charleton decorated in
the past. If so, then you are one step closer in the ID process. If it is not, then this
finding is not of great significance but greater proof will be required than in the
first case.

Now comes the harder and much more subjective determination. Although there
are certain design elements that are exclusive to Charleton decorations there are
many, many more which are not and thus makes an attribution a complex task.
Familiarizing yourself with Charleton design elements will lead you to a point
where your intuitive sense can be trusted to an extent and play a larger role in
attribution.

Likewise, it is also neccesary to familiarize yourself with other manufacturer's
decorations in order to understand the similarities that can occur with both
companys.

We don't feel that descriptive terminology will serve the collector nearly as well
as photographs, so we are including some photographs with a few of the design
elements commonly found on Charleton items. Paying attention to motifs, paint
color, design organization, and orientation of flowers and accents is crucial. By
counting or discounting these elements plus the other factors previously
discussed will often (but not always) lead you to the correct determination.

If it turns out later you were wrong, do not be disheartened. We are constantly
amazed at the breadth of Charleton decorations appearing that have never been
documented. A number of these new decorations would not have been
determined by us to be Charleton items if it were not for the label. We actually
immensely enjoy this aspect of collecting, as the search for "new" Charleton
items never grows stale.

Some things about decorated items will never be known and that is as it should
be. It is the pursuit of the unknown and the revealed surprises that impels us to
continue the search. If all of their items would ever be fully documented (and it
would not diminish their beauty or desirability) there would be a large measure of
satisfaction removed from the Charleton experience.