Inaugural Fall Trash & Treasure Sale

By Jubilee P. Reid

The McMinn County Living Heritage Museum is hosting an autumn Trash & Treasure Sale for the first time this year. This free event is the second sale of the year and will include autumn and winter décor for those who want to get an early start on holiday decorating.

This Trash & Treasure Sale will be held on Thursday September 19^th and Friday September 20^th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The sale will be open for its final day on Saturday September 21^st from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Unlike the spring fundraiser, this event will not have a Premiere Night; it will be open to the public for free all three days. Also, this sale will be held at only one location: the Museum Annex located at 408 W. Washington Avenue.

Members of the community have been donating items over the summer to contribute to the sale so this event will not be a repeat of wares from the spring sale. Limited furniture will be available at this event due to space; instead, the sale will include a large variety of household items. There will be much seasonal décor available at discounted prices as well as textiles, artwork, and kitchenware.

This sale is organized by the Museum Guild, a large group of museum enthusiasts who volunteer their time to organize fundraisers to support the museum’s programs. The Guild is always open for new members to join.

Among the many antiques available at this event, is a collection of pink lusterware porcelain including teacups and saucers as well as various other dishes. Lusterware (or lustreware) is a type of porcelain which has been decorated with metallic glazes often resulting in a slightly iridescent appearance. These metallic coatings can be added to a variety of base ceramic materials. Many of the techniques used for this production date even prior to the Middle Ages to the 700s in the Middle East. Lusterware production was revived when manufacturing began in England in the late 1790s. The potters of the northeastern port city of Sunderland, and the Staffordshire Potteries in western England became the most prominent producers of lusterware.

The many colors of lusterware included yellow, orange, blue, purple, and green, but the most popular color produced in the 19^th century was pink. One of the most successful of the Staffordshire potters, Josiah Wedgwood, often referred to as the “father of English potters,” was among the first to produce pink and white lusterware porcelain. Early Wedgwood lusterware was often marketed as “moonlight” or “mother-of-pearl” due to the artistic effect of mixing various shades of metallic finishes. Many lusterware pieces featured central images surrounded by a frame of the luster coating. Pink lusterware was so popular that even some unusual pieces were made such as rolling pins.

Originally, lusterware was available only to the wealthy and prestigious due to the inclusion of small amounts of gold or silver in the metallic luster. Later mass production made it affordable for the lower classes. Large amounts of pink lusterware were imported to the United States during the 19^th century.

Lusterware porcelain was not designed for heavy usage as the metallic coatings are not as durable as some forms of porcelain. Instead, it was intended to be used for ornamental purposes or for special occasions. This type of porcelain is still valued by collectors today and the Trash & Treasure Sale is an excellent opportunity to acquire an antique piece of this historic glassware.  

This sale is an excellent opportunity to find one-of-a-kind items for your home or gifts for your family and friends. Come to the first Fall Trash & Treasure Sale to see what treasures you might discover!