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Italian Pottery Boxes

What is your name?- Angela Amato

Where do you live?- Shingle Springs, California, north of Sacramento in Amador County.

What do you collect?- Italian Pottery. 

How long have you been collecting?- I have been going to Italy every year for the past 25 years. I started collecting on my very first trip.

Why do you collect these objects? - I loved the shapes and colors and designs of this pottery. Each region of Italy has their own particular type of pottery. I have collected chickens from Florence, small pots from almost every city I have visited and a wide variety of plates. But I am particularly fond of my boxes.

How many boxes do you have? - I probably have 200 pieces of ceramics but only 12 boxes. I hand carried each one of my 200 piece collection on the plane. Never lost one on route.

How much do you spend on each piece? - The boxes range from $10. to $75. Other pieces in my ceramic collection can go up to $500.

How do you display them? - I have a tendency to move my box collection all over my house to make it fresh and interesting.

Do you have a favorite?- That is my chicken on the top. It was not my most expensive but I use to raise chickens and it reminds me of them. 

Any story you'd like to share with us on how you found a piece?- I always enjoy the hunt for boxes. Any box. We would often visit towns and small villages that are off the beaten path from Cortina in Northern Italy to Pompeii just below Naples. Each destination was a place to hunt. 

POLITICAL BUTTONS

Who are you?

Virginia Amato

Where do you live?

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

What do you collect?

Political Buttons

How long have you been collecting these pieces?

I'd say about 50 years. My first ones were during the John F Kennedy campaign.

Why did you start collecting them?

I wanted a piece of history. I thought they were exciting.

How much do you spend for one? 

Some are given to me from friends that know I collect but I've never spent more than $5.00 for one.

How many do you have?

Approximately 225. Occationally I'll move a box and find a baggy with a few of them in it.

How do you display them?

I have these four 3D boxes that holds about 15 in each. The rest are in baggies.

Do you have a favorite?

That would be "A Man Came Out Of The West- Hart". Mid campaign he was ruined in a sex scandal.

Tell us a short story about one of your pieces.

In 1960 I had this tiny apartment in Madison, Wisconsin called Crestwood. It was maybe 800 sq.ft. I decided to have a "tea" for contributions towards the Kennedy campaign. There were rumors that Jackie was going to show up. It was all very exciting. Jackie didn't make it but her sister-in-law, Eunice Shriver did. As a thank you, she gave all the ladies a golden "Kennedy '60 PT Boat" pin. I still have that one. It's worth about $85.

Mid Century Wall Clocks

Who are you? Where do you live?

Diane Amato /  SanFrancisco

What do you collect?

Mid-Century wall clocks.

How long have you been collecting them?

I got my first clock in 1989.

Why do you  collect these particular pieces?

I have an attraction to mid century pieces in general. My first clock was a turquoise and white George Nelson "Chronopak" starburst. It was sitting in the common hallway of a friends live/work space for about 2 weeks.  I finally said "Well, if no one is going to claim this, I will."

How much do you usually pay for a piece?

That one was free but I've never spent more than $20. for one.

How many do you have?

I own about 25 of them.

How do you display them?

I had them all on my dining room wall for about 15 years. Adding to them periodically. I recently moved them to a larger wall space in my studio. I never set or wind them and I never get tired of looking at them.

Do you have a favorite?

My all time favorite is my George Nelson "Steering Wheel". That one is still in my home. To me, that is the  "Holy Grail".

Tell us a short story of how you found one.

At the end of a long Sunday, I was driving up Sloat Blvd when I noticed a garage sale closing up. I  pulled over to take a quick look around. There wasn't much as most of the items had been already packed up. Inside an open box I saw a black curve of what I thought was wrought iron. I lifted it out of the box to discover a weird steering wheel clock. It was heavier than I thought. I asked the guy how much. He said $3. and I took it home. That clock is now worth about $800. So glad I stopped.