The Magazine Antiques - December 1947

Overview
The December 1947 issue of The Magazine Antiques offers a remarkable snapshot of the American antiques world during the first years of the postwar collecting boom. Published when many foundational collections were still being assembled and numerous important objects remained in private hands, this issue combines serious scholarship, collecting advice, exhibition coverage, and period dealer advertising in a way that modern reference works rarely duplicate.

Major articles include Joseph Downs's study of the furniture of Goddard and Townsend, Malcolm Watkins's examination of electric light in antique settings, Edna and William J. Wilson's discussion of collecting lustreware, Anne Allison's article on engraver Peter Pelham, and Helen McKearin's continuing research into New England Glass Company invoices. The issue also contains an article devoted to Pennsylvania German Christmas traditions, making it especially appealing to collectors interested in early American holiday customs and folk culture.

The period advertising is equally important. Dealers such as Harry Shaw Newman of The Old Print Shop and Shreve, Crump & Low illustrated and marketed antiques directly to collectors, preserving a visual record of objects, prices, and tastes current in late 1947. One notable advertisement depicts an oil painting of Santa Claus traditionally dated circa 1850, a fascinating glimpse into the Christmas-themed material being offered to collectors immediately after the war.

Dating / Background
Issued in December 1947, this magazine appeared during a transformative period in the antiques trade. American collecting was expanding rapidly, museums were increasing research efforts, and scholarly standards for attribution and documentation were becoming more rigorous. The Magazine Antiques occupied a central role in this development, connecting collectors, dealers, museums, historians, and decorators through authoritative articles and market reporting.

The issue's Christmas-season theme gives it additional charm and historical significance. Beyond the scholarly content, it documents how holiday traditions, decorative arts, and Americana were interpreted and collected in the immediate postwar period.

Why Collect
Back issues of The Magazine Antiques serve as primary-source references rather than merely old magazines. They preserve original scholarship, contemporary opinions, dealer inventories, exhibition notices, and market information that often cannot be reconstructed from later sources. Researchers frequently discover objects, dealers, and collections within these pages that have long since disappeared from public view.

The December 1947 issue is particularly desirable for collectors of Americana, early American furniture, Pennsylvania German material, antique lighting, glass, ceramics, Christmas traditions, and the history of the antiques trade itself. The advertisements alone provide valuable evidence of how important dealers described and priced antiques nearly eighty years ago.

Dimensions (inches)

• Height: 11 7/8
• Width: 9 1/8
• Depth: 3/8
• Weight: 1.4 lbs

Condition
Poor but complete condition. Exposed spine, edge losses, significant cover wear, dog-eared corners, handling wear, and general age-related deterioration are present. Despite the condition issues, the issue survives as a complete research and reference copy and retains substantial historical value because of its contents, period advertisements, and documentation of the postwar antiques market.