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Past Newsletter
November 2005
Dear MajolicAddict,
Because of an unexpected trip to Europe, we haven't been able to send out our regular Newsletters lately, but we are excited to be back and we promise that this month's newsletter and the new shipment (which has just arrived) will make up for it!
We have bought some great pieces and we will try to get them online as soon as possible, so that you will be able to add something new to your collection this Holiday Season or put it on your wish list!
 ,
Liesbeth Depoorter
President of Out of Brussels
Also, keep in mind that we have Gift Certificates, which you can purchase online or at our booth during one of our shows.
Enjoy your visit
and come back often!
You can also download this
newsletter in PDF for
a printer-friendly version
News Update
In case you didn't know it yet: We have moved into 14th Street Antiques Market in Atlanta, GA!
It's an inspiring place with fabulous antiques and collectibles, wonderful people and a great atmosphere.
It's located in the former GA Lighting Building, on 14th Street.
Our showcase is located in the case gallery, and it is filled with Out of Brussels' majolica.
There's a wide selection of plates, oyster plates, planters and the other "unusual" suspects.
The Market is open Monday through Saturday from 10 till 6, and on Sunday from 12 till 6.
Certainly a place to keep in mind when you visit Atlanta!
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Feature Article
Majolica Banks
In the last couple of years, majolica banks have sparked huge interest among collectors.
 Banks are usually small, diverse and a lot of fun to decorate with, but what I really like about them is their sentimental value and special meaning they must have had for their owners.
This article was originally written in French, by Maryse Bottero. I have translated it into English.
Maryse Bottero lives in the French Riviera and she is an expert on French majolica or barbotine.
She is the author of several books about majolica: "Pichets en Barbotine", "Tirelires en Barbotine" and "Barbotines de la Cote d'Azur" She is currently working on a new book about "Asparagus", for which Out of Brussels was happy to provide some photos. We can't wait until it comes out!
We have illustrated Maryse's article with some pictures of banks, most of which are available for purchase. For more banks, please go to the "Banks Catalog" on our website.
If you have any questions about the pieces shown in this Newsletter, please contact Liesbeth.
"Majolica Banks"
(Translated into English by Liesbeth Depoorter from "Les Tirelires en Barbotine", a French article, written by Maryse Bottero)
 People have been saving money forever.
Whether it was animals from hunting or fruits from harvest, men have stored food reserves for hard winters to come.
During the first century before Christ, Cicero wanted to impose a sense of value onto his fellow Roman citizens, which he saw as a guarantee for dignity.
Julius Caesar issued gold and silver coins and thus established a link between money and power. Pretty quickly, these coins, the "denarius" was gold and the "aureus" was silver, were being sought after and collected. On New Year's Day the Romans used to exchange their earthenware banks as they associated money and happiness.
The Greek, on the other hand, used to deposit their money under the good care of the Gods, into the "thesaurus", which was located in the temple. In fact, besides their religious functions, priests served as guardians of those treasuries.
In the beginning of the 4th Century, emperor Constantine the Great issues an Edict guaranteeing Freedom of Religion for all Christians throughout the entire empire. Besides the image of the emperor, the coins were impressed with the symbols of Christianity.
 From then on, mankind never stopped rivalling for fortune and power.
In the 8th Century, Leon III, the emperor of the East, issued the "solidus", a gold coin that would become mythical, sought after and collected for centuries.
In the year 800, Charlemagne (Charles the Great) declares that the "denarius" is to become the only legal coin throughout the entire territory of the Franks.
From the 10th to the 18th Century many more laws would be imposed for the deposit of money and thus enjoy the pleasures of wealth.
The way people kept their money of course evolved along with the mentality and fashion: Iron, wooden or copper cases little by little become veritable safes.
During the 18th Century, the bourgeoisie imposes its own conceptions of personal success and its own regulations on spending and so on. This was in sharp contrast with the arbitrary sovereigns and the noblemen who claimed they derived their power from God.
It's this mentality change, which, in 1818, caused the first savings banks in Paris. But savings was something that only a very small part of society could afford to have. With the industrial revolution an entirely new kind of population came into existence. It was the working class, which was particularly impoverished, only possessing the bare necessities.
It was the middle class, who secretly started to save up money, behind the protective walls of their homes, in basements or attics, but more commonly they hid money in old socks, in between the walls of closets, or simply underneath their mattresses!
In later years, the sock became a box. Whether they were made out of lacquered wood, inlaid wood, copper, white iron, or silver, banks found a cherished place in many homes and they encouraged their owners to chase their dreams and keep the hope alive that they would be realized one day.
 Two World wars and several international economic crises during the 20th Century didn't change people's habits of saving money. French people were still saving up, regardless of their social status.
Although they got smaller, piggy-bank manufacturers found their inspiration in popular culture.
Ceramists couldn't resist making caricature banks of all sorts (not sparing political leaders and remaking comic figures), they let themselves be inspired by nature, animals in their natural habitats or a funny version of them, like Benjamin Rabier, the inventions of the Century (cars, planes, trains, and so on) and other objects that were proudly shown at the great expositions throughout Europe.
 Although banks were not a big part of their production, companies produced the so-called "breakable" banks, which means that you needed to either break them in order to get the money out or take it out with the blade of a knife, which required endless patience for the piece to slide out!
Whether it was before or after World War I or II, it was not a time for wastefulness.
Often times, those small boxes contain someone's savings over many years (for a big part of their life).
Therefore they have enormous sentimental value. They're all brightly colored, very realistic and highly amusing.
For some people they've become real works of art, something that is small and very easy to decorate with.
Banks have long been the "keepers of treasures", and they have now become true "collector's items"
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Web Update
We value your opinion tremendously. So far, your feedback about the layout and usability of our website has been very positive, so we're not changing anything for now.
We're thinking about adding a new section to it though, and we need your help to do it.
We would love to get your opinion about Out of Brussels, the service that we provide and about the majolica that we offer, and we will put it in a new "Testimonials" section on our website.
Your testimonial doesn't have to be long. We just would like it to be personal and original!
We will send a 15% off Promocode to everyone who participates.
You will be able to use your personal Promocode online or at any of our shows. It will be valid for 2 months after you receive it.
Please send your testimonials to: info@outofbrusselsantiques.com
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Coming Up
We want to tell you about a couple of upcoming shows.
If you haven't seen our majolica in person, here's where you can find us in November.
- Charlotte, NC: November 2- November 6
- Atlanta, GA: November 10- November 13
- Raleigh, NC: November 18- November 20
If you like antiques, the Metrolina Antiques Show in Charlotte, NC is the place to be during the first week of November. It's the big Extravaganza Show and a must for collectors and antique lovers.
We're bringing our new shipment to Building #1, booth B-19.
For more info, please go to their website at: www.dmgantiqeshows.com
Some of you are probably familiar with the Raleigh Woman's Club Antiques Show. Well, expect the show to be a little different this year. It is still sponsored by the Woman's Club of Raleigh, but it will be managed by Mr. Miller, who will revamp the show and make it into something fabulous, just like his other antique shows. We certainly did not want to miss it, so please come see us there! We don't know our booth number yet, but we will keep you updated.
That's it for now.
We hope that you've enjoyed it and we hope to hear from you soon!
Take care,
Liesbeth
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