Perhaps you have noticed after a 10-day absence that I’ve reinserted a delicate toe into the murky waters of the blogsphere with three recent posts, not counting this one.
I’m simply suffering from what is becoming my annual August allergy to current events and all opinions regarding same, including my own.
I’m hoping that upon concluding a, please God, sunny October in Florida that my bloggy battery will be recharged.
Though I wasn’t posting from August 19 to the 29th I did experience some interesting art pottery doings that soothed my news-addled brain.


For example, this fairly rare 12” Weller Ardsley-line fluted vase (Ardsley shape 1-C) was languishing in a local antique mall with an astonishingly economical price tag of $180.
Sam Weller’s pottery only produced molded Ardsley ceramics between 1919 and 1928 and this large and beautifully glazed example could have easily sold many times over its selling price.
This pot is living proof that sharp-eyed antique mall browsers can still realize excellent buys.


A tiny window into rising American Art Pottery prices was opened when this beautiful 2” diameter American Encaustic Tiling Company manufactured ceramic disc was recently sold on Ebay for a lofty hammer of $81.
Only one year ago the Cincinnati Art Galleries sold a lot of three of these rare and beautiful little precursors to buttons and plastic badges for $120.
I would appreciate an email from anyone knowing the name of the union or fraternal organization represented by the design on this delicate and charming ceramic medallion.


Informed sources tell us that this earthy 8” Rookwood Pottery gourd-shaped, matte-glazed and, likely, William Hentschel-designed production vase from 1927 was the object of a bidding war between representatives of Cincinnati’s two leading art pottery auction houses at a summer auction held by the Queen City’s oldest antique dealer, the Karp family's 120 year-old Main Auction Gallery on 4th Street.
Interestingly, our sources tell us a private collector trumped the big boys with an absentee bid of $500!


All art pottery aside and returning to my base fascination with politics, I was stunned, this morning, to read an editorial in the heavily Republican Cincinnati Enquirer, where this cynical blogger once slaved as a humble copy boy, slamming Kentucky Governor “Fast” Ernie Fletcher for questionable pardons:

Kentuckians may be at a loss to decide which was more offensive: Gov. Ernie Fletcher's pre-emptive pardon of his indicted aides, or his remarks justifying such arrogant actions…Other Kentucky governors have pardoned aides before trial, but that doesn't excuse Fletcher's abuse of his pardoning powers. His Fifth Amendment plea and the pardons just add to this administration's record of contempt for the merit law.

Wow!
Maybe tomorrow the Enquirer will rail against President Bush’s tardy leadership with regard to the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Photos: sean, governor.ky.gov
- posted by Sean @ 6:17 PM