On my recent trip to Ithaca and The Finger Lakes region, I was heading east on Route 20 between Auburn and Skaneateles when I noticed a building on the side of the road with the sign “Red Rooster Antiques.” While I initially drove by it, my curiosity got the best of me, and I did a quick U-turn and went back to check it out.
While there were plenty of interesting items – both in front of and inside the store – this particular post focuses on dog-related items I saw at Red Rooster Antiques. The first piece that caught my attention was this vintage colorized photo of a girl standing next to a St. Bernard. I didn’t see any info on the date or location, but I found it interesting in that while the girl’s face is clearly a photograph, it seems like the dog’s face looks more like an illustration than a photograph …? I wonder if the dog’s face was retouched or altered enough during the colorization process to make it look like this? It also seems as if the background is perhaps a painted backdrop from a photographer’s studio as opposed to a real landscape setting. At any rate, I found it interesting as an art work, and wished I had looked closer at whatever provided info they had for it.
As I was browsing the shelves of various knick knacks, I saw this pair of dogs made up to look almost like clowns. What are these things? A little research turned up some info …
I learned that these are referred to as “chalkware,” which are molded plaster figures that were commonly given as prizes at carnivals and fairs in the early to mid 20th Century. Chalkware is noted for having whimsical designs and vibrant, hand-painted colors, which this pair of dogs wearing hats tilted on one ear certainly qualifies as whimsical and vibrant.
This next pair of dogs also caught my attention, and I learned that these are called “Grindley Artcraft Hound Dogs,” and are considered vintage art deco pieces. Some research reveals that the Grindley Artcraft Manufacturing Company, of Sebring, Ohio created a series of small, whimsical animal figurines in the 1920s and 1930s.
I was curious about “Grindley Artcraft Manufacturing Co.,” and learned that it was founded by Arthur Grindley, who worked as a potter making dinnerware for other companies before starting his own business, where he chose to create small novelties and figurines for the mass market instead of continuing with dinnerware. While the business started with a kiln in the basement, it grew into a company that employed 170 people! They focused on animal figurines, including dogs, cats, donkeys, horses, foxes, bears, cows, and more, all in an Art Deco style with brightly colored glazes. The company closed in 1952.
It’s funny, I see these things on the shelf and I like them enough to photograph them, but when I do some research and learn the backstory behind them, it makes them much more interesting. I didn’t buy any of these things, but now kind of wish I had!
In conclusion, if you’re in the Finger Lakes region and traveling between Auburn and Skaneateles, I would highly recommend a visit to Red Rooster Antiques!