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August, 2019 The Antique Shoppe Page 3
MERMAIDS Woolworth, helped make Lefton a household
name as nearly every bathroom in America had a
Lefton mermaid hanging on its walls.
Continued from Page 1
Today, Lefton mermaids are still kitschy, but
George Zoltan Lefton founded Lefton China they are kitschy with a price. On average, a set of
in Chicago, Illinois, in 1941. Lefton China Lefton wall plaque mermaids from the 1950s is
became famous for importing, mostly from Japan, valued at $250 on Internet sites such as eBay. The
porcelain decorative objects such as cookie jars, value of these mermaids is that they have “hung”
kitchenware, and figurines, including mermaid around homes for nearly 70 years, and they are in
figurines. “mint” condition. Lefton mermaid wall plaques or
Geo Lefton, as George Lefton was known, any “Made in Japan” ceramic piece that is damaged
arrived in the United States from Hungary in 1939, is virtually worthless, so if you are a novice and you
just before the outbreak of World War II. The war desire mermaids on your walls, look for ones that
prohibited Lefton from importing Japanese wares; are in mint condition with original boxes. Kitschy
however, luck and a kind heart SHOWN: Above - Vintage, Lefton “Mermaids on Shell” hanging wall plaque. or not, these cutesy mermaids
played an important part in Lefton’s These “Made in Japan” figurines are valued at $235. helped define an entire generation of
post-war growth. Below L-R - Heart bubbles add to the beauty of these Lefton “Mermaids on Seahorses” home decorating and are still used
that are valued at $425; Vintage, Lefton “Pink Mermaid with Starfish” wall plaques.
Following the bombing of This lovely set, with bubbles, is valued in the range of $400 - $450. to decorate vintage or “throw back”
Pearl Harbor in 1941, many Two Lefton “Mermaid on Seahorse” wall plagues, designed by Marika for Lefton, that are valued at $450. rooms in a home. Nothing captures
Japanese-owned businesses in the innocent, poor taste of the
Chicago, and around America, 1950s like Lefton mermaids.
were looted. Geo Lefton And while there is no
helped a Japanese-American evidence that mermaids exist
friend, Nunome, board up outside folklore and Lefton
his businesses in Chicago. imports, reports of mermaid
When the war ended in 1945, sightings continue to the
Nunome returned the favor present day, including 21st
by helping Lefton develop century sightings from Israel
important trade relationships and Zimbabwe. And, of
with ceramic producers in course, there is no evidence
Japan. that mermaids don’t exist, so
Lefton became one of the believe in them if you want to.
first American importers to
trade with Occupied Japan. The
first pieces of porcelain that Lefton Visit Historic Downtown
imported were stamped “Made in MADDY'S ANTIQUES
Occupied Japan.” By 1946, Lefton 121 W. Oak St.
China was quickly headed toward its ARCADIA
Golden Years. 863-494-2500
At one time, Lefton ceramic Voted Best Antiquing Town in Florida
figurines were sold in over 10,000 Specializing in:
shops in the United States. Today, it by Florida Monthly Magazine Country, Primitives,
is virtually impossible to walk into “Come Spend the Day With US” Vintage Sports
any antique mall and not find Lefton
China, especially Lefton figurines. Thur. & Fri. 12-4, Sat. 10-4 or by appt.
“Made in Japan” once was View our store at:
synonymous with “cheaply made” or
“in bad taste,” which is why Lefton ORANGE AVE MONROE ST OAK STREET POLK AVE DESOTO AVE maddysantiques.net 1
mermaid wall plaques exemplified
the kitschy, 1950s “Made in Japan” ! ANTIQUE ASSOCIATION
ceramic junk that flooded American
markets for nearly 30 years. Five MEMBERS
& Dive stores, such as Kresges and Antique Association of Arcadia Bizarre Bazaar - 863-456-5608
www.ArcadiaFLAntiques.com Corey’s Antiques - 863-494-5959
Maddy’s Antiques - 863-494-2500
Yellow Brick Road - 863-993-3000
MONTHLY ANTIQUE FAIR

4TH SATURDAY 8am-3pm

AUG 24

SEP 28 • OCT 26

Booth Info 863-993-5105

Vintage, Lefton ceramic mermaid on seahorse
that was offered on eBay for $325.