Viktor Schreckengost’s Estate Sale

By Janet Dodrill

Hundreds of people showed up within the first couple hours of the estate sale for industrial designer and artist Viktor Schreckengost on Friday, the first day of the three day sale, at his Stillman Road home in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. When I arrived in the first hour, there was a mob of people waiting outside and I was instructed to get number. I got number 153, and they had just called 74, so it turned out I had a couple hour wait ahead of me!

Viktor Schreckengost’s house and estate sale in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, June 24, 2016.

Once inside, the house was full from basement to attic of personal household items of the Schreckengosts, Viktor and his wife Gene. It was an incredible feeling just to be in his house, and on the grounds. I left with a few small items that I thought were interesting, and learned by someone at the sale and a member of a Viktor Schreckengost Facebook group that he most likely designed a couple of them.

Creamer designed by Viktor Schreckengost.

One item being a plain coffee cup and creamer he designed for Salem pottery with no design. The other being his popular Christmas pattern showing a decorated tree with gifts under it. A pedal car and pedal plane ornaments made good additions to my holiday decorations. I thought a partial metal sign with his initials, V.S., may have been from a childhood toy. Miniature solid colored dishes that he designed but had produced to give as holiday gifts, and I bought five to have. A few small plates were most likely salad plate designs by Vik.

Miniature dishes designed for production by Viktor Schreckengost.

There was a room in the house where Viktor had hundreds of seashells and rocks, separated in different boxes, containers and cans. A few of the shell collections were in old cigarette boxes, Marlboro and Viceroy. I thought this was a clever way organize them, using boxes and containers from around the house!

 

Sea shells stored in an empty cigarette box belonging to Viktor Schreckengost.

It was a well-organized and fun event (by Mitchell Attenson Estate Sales), to see what purchases others were walking out with, like a globe, candlesticks, and plate designed by Viktor, a steel yard stick, a teapot, and even a Pantone book!

Copyright article and images. All rights reserved. Not to be used without permission.

 

Viktor Schreckengost estate sale, June 2016.

Christmas ashtray with artwork designed by Viktor Schreckengost.

Cup designed by Viktor Schreckengost.

Salad plates designed by Viktor Schreckengost.

Metal sign piece with Viktor Schreckengost’s initials.

Pedal car Christmas ornaments designed after actual pedal cars by Viktor Schreckengost.

Pedal car and plane (reproductions) designed by Viktor Schreckengost.

Shells, rocks and organic objects in boxes and containers in the attic of Viktor Schreckengost.

Painted poster in the home of Viktor Schreckengost.

Books belonging to Viktor Schreckengost.

Travel souvenirs and miscellaneous art and objects in the home of Viktor Schreckengost.

 

‘In The 216’ Gift Shop

By Janet Dodrill

In The 216 gift shop.

In The 216 gift shop, which offers locally and Ohio made art and handmade products by local artisans and fine artists, opened in January 2015 and is located in Coventry Village. Store owner Jenny Goe began selling her jewelry at Coventry’s free outdoor summer concert series, and now manages the work of over 40 local artists who sell their wears in her shop. Everything is made in the state of Ohio.

Merchandise includes T-shirts, glass items and jewelry, ceramics, handmade soap, paintings and prints, pillows, and many other creative treasures.

This week I brought some of my note cards, prints and gift bags there for consignment. My original design themes include Cleveland skylines and landscapes, carousel horses of the Euclid Beach Carousel, and naturescapes from the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes. Most of the images are iPad photo art, manipulated using art apps with photographs.

In The 216 Grand Opening Celebration is Thursday, May 28 at 6:00 – 10:00 p.m., 1854 Coventry Rd, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118, (216) 862-4830.

In The 216 gift shop community doodle wall.

In The 216 gift shop.

In The 216 gift shop, artisan items made in Ohio.

Resource Links:

In The 216 Grand Opening Celebration www.facebook.com/events/1568404900092698/

In The 216 on Facebook www.facebook.com/inthe216shop

Local woman opens ‘In the 216’ shop in Coventry Village www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-f3FVxujE8

In the 216 Opens Retail Storefront in Coventry Village www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2015/01/27/in-the-216-opens-retail-storefront-in-coventry-village

Local woman opens ‘In the 216’ shop in Coventry Village www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news/cleveland-metro/local-woman-opens-in-the-216-shop-in-coventry-village

Jenny Goe launches new all-Cleveland retail store: In The 216 on Coventry www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/02/jenny_goe_launches_new_all_cle.html

New shop on Coventry features works by local artists heightsobserver.org/read/2015/02/03/new-shop-on-coventry-features-works-by-local-artists

Discover the Resources at your Local Library

By Janet Dodrill

If there’s something you would like to learn but don’t have the time or money to go to school, try taking a free online course at the Library. Cleveland Public Library offers Ohio residents the opportunity to sign-up for any number of classes in the areas of Accounting and Finance, Business, College Readiness, Computer Applications, Design and Composition, Health Care and Medical, Language and Arts, Law and Legal, Personal Development, Teaching and Education, Technology, Writing and Publishing. Because of my interests, I am drawn to Technology, where there is a category called Graphic and Multimedia Design which includes things like Creating Web Pages, Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Flash, and more, at varying levels. The courses run over a 6-weeks period in 2-4 hour increments per week, and are lead by an instructor. An award of completion is given with a passing score.

Obtain a Cleveland Public Library card and have it activated at any CLEVNET library to qualify and enroll at Ed2go.com. See Who May Obtain A Cleveland Public Library Card and How to Apply for a Library Card on CPL’s site. Start dates for this Fall’s classes are Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 14, and Dec. 12, 2012. Beyond that, check back at the Ed2go.com page. If you’re not in Ohio check with your local library.

Antiques & Collectibles: A Big Industry

By Janet Dodrill

Royal Doulton Lady in Purple Dress Figurine

Recently, I have been exposed to the antiques and collectibles auction industry, and it is a bigger industry than I thought. First, I told myself I must not beat myself up for giving away or nearly giving away antiques and old family items in the past. I did not know then what I know now, and that these items may have been of value.

Seeing an item for auction triggers an emotional response in the viewer on a variety of levels. If it is an antique item, it may remind them of something they saw in their mother’s or grandmother’s house, or when they were growing up. It may be an item they do not already have in their collection that they would like to obtain. It could be that the viewer likes the thrill of winning and therefore keeps bidding on the item until the bitter end.

There are hundreds of auction companies throughout the country (and world) who draw consignors to sell their merchandise at regularly scheduled times of the year. Some auction houses have themed auctions (i.e. glass, Americana, memorabilia, estates, fine art, sports, dolls, etc.) and some have general auctions (i.e. antiques) or specialize in particular types (i.e. auction houses only selling movie posters).

Auction companies draw good followings. There are buyers and collectors that follow favorite ones or find out when items of interest are up for auction at other auctions.

Live online auction

The more I learn about the auctions, the more auction companies I see are out there. With the luxury of online auctions and bidding, one can bid and purchase items while the ‘live’ auction is going on, in the comfort of their home, but the excitement is still there.

Dream Home for the Birds?

By Janet Dodrill

Every spring birds fly and chirp around my windows and attempt to build nests in the inner corners of my aluminum awnings.

Bird building materials.

After a couple weeks of frequent visits by male female North American Finch couples, and lots of noise as they express excitement at discovering a location, in addition to hard work and frustration, they realize that there are no good areas in the shelter of my awnings, for a nest to stay and for them to prepare to lay their eggs and nurture their young.

The pieces of sticks, branches, stems, feathers, twine, and other debris-turned-building-material, lay scattered about my drive as the result of their fruitless efforts. They simply leave, as time is crucial, searching for other prospective locations. I wish I could tell them every year when they keep coming back with hope and enthusiasm. But then I would not be here to greet the onset of spring which they represent.

I share their sense of defeat when I look down and see their abandoned particles. But only for a day or two, then when I am unaware, they come back and quickly collect and transport most of their materials to put into building their new dream home nest down the street.