Background/Books/Newsletter
This site is a web revival of The Flower Frog Gazette.
The original Gazette was produced quarterly from
1984-1989. It helped to unite a small group of collectors who
were interested in learning about and sharing information on
flower frogs. For awhile the past issues were sold on this website.
Regrettably, the newsletters are no longer available.
|
My book, Flower Frogs for Collectors,
was released in April 2001. 900 flower frogs are shown in just
over 600 color photos. For ease of use, the book is divided into
three main sections: Pottery, Glass, and Metal.
Sorry, Flower Frogs for Collectors
is out of print!
Learn more about the book and
view sample pages
Book Reviews:
Read what others have to say about Flower Frogs for Collectors.
Bonnie Bull
bbull@bullworks.net |
 |
My book, Images of America - Stamford,
published by Arcadia Books, was released October 3, 1997. It
contains over 200 photos of Stamford, Connecticut, selected from
the photo archives of the Stamford Historical Society. The photos
date from 1860-1920. This was a period of tremendous industrial
and economic growth for Stamford. The book may be purchased through
me for $16.99 plus $2 shipping. It is also available from local
bookstores and Amazon.com.
Images of Stamford. View a
sampling of photos from Images of America - Stamford. |
New & Noteworthy
Send any news or info you'd like posted here to ffg@bullworks.net.
 Flower
Frogs For Sale - Attic Treasures. This sale is comprised
of items that I had packed away in a box several years ago. Since
I had forgotten about them until recently, this seemed like a
good place to start downsizing. Sold items are marked SOLD. Not all items have
sold. This list is always up-to-date. Bonnie Bull.
Ø On
May 21, 2011, I received the following from Chris Bremner : "While
watching an Antique Roadshow on PBS from Detroit tonight they
showed a Rosenthal earthenware flower holder designed by Ferdinand
Lieberman in the 1920s valued at $2000. It was a faun sitting
on a column talking to a white goose. It is large enough to be
a table center piece all on its own. It comes in two pieces and
the base part has beautiful green shading. From B. Bull: This
is well worth viewing! Here is a link to the segment of the PBS
Show featuring this flower frog: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/season/15/biloxi-ms/appraisals/rosenthal-flower-holder-ca-1920--201004A09/:
Link updated 3/31/21.
Ø Mermaids, bathing beauties, flower frogs and
half dolls made by The German Doll Company are currently appearing
on eBay. In addition to a lady flower frog there are also Pierrot
and Pierrette figures (one male, one female) on a shell with
flower holes (search "flower frog" on their online
shopping search. Their website "homepage" address is
www.german-doll.com Note: There no longer is a German Doll Company
website. Also Roland Schlegel (the German counterpart to the
German Doll Co.) has been selling duplicate German flower frogs
and figurines on eBay. They are not marked German Doll Co. and
are listed as old. See the article Weiss,
Kühnert & Co. Porcelain Factory
for more information. Be sure to look at the 1927catalog page
linked to that article before buying on eBay. 4/29/06. It has been pointed out to me that they have
now resurfaced at www.german-doll.org. 2/18/09 Gone offline again! 3/31/21.
FFG Articles You May Enjoy (see the Articles
page for more lisitngs).
Flower Frogs: A Selected
Bibliography, The Rakow Library, The Corning Museum of Glass.
This recently updated bibliography was compiled and shared (4/13)
by Gail P. Bardhan, Reference & Research Librarian, Rakow
Library, Corning Museum of Glass. The bibliography covers books,
articles, catalogs, and photos housed by the Rakow Library. For
more information contact Rakow Research Library, 5 Museum Way,
Corning, NY 14830. (607) 438-5300. rakow@cmog.org
Nuart Metal Creations. This
company made metal flower frog ladies similar to the Frankart
ladies.2/16/2008.
English Pressed Glass Flower Frogs.
A sampling of English unmarked glass flower frogs to help guide
and enlighten the collector. Nyree, our fellow English flower
frog collector, has helped verify and add to information compiled
by Bonnie Bull. 2/99. Updated 3/00:
Information was added to the main page and a second page was
added on Jobling and Davidson with information supplied by Rod
Crowshaw.  Both pages Updated
1/26/08 A
third page has been added on Bagley.1/26/08.
Flower Frogs Sold in the
1962 Downs & Co. Catalogs. Shown are a black ceramic
frog, a Danish adjustable plastic arranger, Adapto metal arranger
for vases, lucite centerpiece ring, and lucite arrangers to fit
over candles.3/29/05
Weiss, Kühnert &
Co. Porcelain Factory. Catalog pages from the 1920s now identify
five flower frog figures made by this German company that became
part of East Germany. 6/30/03. Updated 4/29/06.
American Pottery Sampler
Part I and II. Two pages of photos of American Pottery Frogs,
nine photos (approx) per page.
Current Flower Frog Productions.
This article should help identify what is being currently or
somewhat recently produced.12/19/03. Last updated 1/3/21
Gillinder & Sons.
Pressed glass round frog patented by Kraft Booth Dec. 7, 1915
and assigned to Gillinder & Sons, Inc.7/26/03
German Pressed Glass Satin
glass figurals made by August Walther and Söhne from 1934-36.
4/28/02
Petal-Shaped Flower Holders Cast
in Lead. These frogs, patented by Ernestine N. Pole, were
produced in the 30s, 40s, and 50s. 11/15/01.
The Art That Influenced Female
Flower Frog Design This main index page takes you to several
different female design influences; such as, Venus, Psyche, Loie
Fuller, the art of Mucha, and September Morn.4/01
Books
Referencing Flower Frogs. This is a list of books (in alphabetical
order by subject) that picture and/or describe flower frogs.
Please help by contributing books you are aware of that are not
on the list. 1/99. Updated 2/4/01.
The Chinese Launderer.
This is a most unusual flower frog patented by Margaret Clayes
of San Francisco in 1920.
Flower
Frogs Sold by Mail Order 1984-1988. page 6 contains flower
frogs offered by mail order from 1997-2007. Page 7 contains flower
frogs sold in 2008-2009.
FFG Positive Feedback:
Ø12/27/01.
From the Bradleys: "Again, thanks for providing a great
place for people to learn about frogs and find others who share
their interest. I use your book for IDs all the time. Great Book!
Marcia & Miles"
Ø12/21/01.
From George Humphrey of Tennessee: "Thanks for the book!
I enjoyed comparing my frogs with the photos in the book. I have
only a few (compared to the serious collectors), but some of
mine are in different colors than you mentioned, i.e. my "Bird
in Flight" page 12 is in pastel green. Also, my Seiei &
Co. madrigal frog, page 114, is in a similarly marked blue lotus
blossom bowl. Your website is an added bonus to purchasing the
book at a local antique mall. Thanks again."
Ø11/5/00.
From new member Linda Alexander: " I was so thrilled to
find you on the web. I have been an avid flower frog collector
for many years. I thought I was alone in my fascination with
these oddities, until the past couple of years when the antique
dealers changed their tune from "What do you want those
for?" to "Oh yes, we have several" (and they are
priced quite high). For a long time I could get them out of dumpsters,
at auctions in boxes of junk, in thrift stores for a quarter.
My fascination started many years ago when my grandmother gave
me one. Thank you so much for making my day."
Ø3/3/00.
"Wanted to let you know I've been enjoying your site for
about a year... I just linked it to my site (see "Articles"
following this section) in my newsletter section on "The
Secret of Flower Arranging". I don't have the fabulous array
of frogs that you have, but hopefully my readers will go on to
view your site. Joy Myerscough, www.Flourishandgarlande.com."
Ø3/3/00."Your
'making of the book' pages are a joy. It is wonderful to see
other people who have these things all over their houses. When
people come in here, the question I hear most often is 'What
the heck are those?'" Ann Erickson, annson@aol.com
Ø10/4/99.
From Monica Callahan: "I am excited to hear about your book
and I am thrilled to know that there are other minimalist collectors
out there (minimalist in that I am much more interested in metal
frogs than the figurine pieces). Your website has developed so
much since I last dropped in on you. I will be a regular now.
Thanks so much for your efforts..."
Ø8/25/99.
From Mary Beth Mobley: "Thanks for the work you put into
your web page. I really do appreciate it as I'm sure others do!"
Ø5/1/99.
From new member Irene Berry: "...first off, I will tell
you how much I enjoy the FFG site. I just started collecting
flower frogs about 1 year ago and have learned so much from your
site."
Ø4/15/99.
From new member Glorianne Liner (gliner@mcn.org): "Thank
you for your wonderful web page. I have been visiting you for
months and enjoy what I read and see each time. I have met several
wonderful flower frog collectors online." Thank you, Gloria,
for the good words. BB.
Ø11/2/98.
From Ron and Ruth (rrbuenin@gte.net): Just wanted to let you
know I was reading your Q & A section, found it very interesting
and informative. We, my husband and I, are Flower Frog collectors
and found the letter about the oval orange bowl and frog quite
interesting. We have 5 of the oval bowls and frogs and an oval
frog without a bowl. The colors we have are emerald, amber, amethyst,
and 2 clear with a silver overlay. One of the clear has a Poppy
flower design and one has a leaf design. If at sometime someone
runs across a Red one, round or oval, with a red frog we would
sure be interested.
+++Thank You!+++
Articles or Info Appearing in Other Publications:
ØSouthern
Living, "How to Use a Flower Frog" by Grace Haynes,
March 20, 2021. This is an online article about helping
"floppy stems stand tall." https://www.southernliving.com/home/how-to-use-flower-frog.
ØCountry
Gardens, Spring 2012 edition. An article on
flower frog collecting featuring the collection of David Spain.
Learn more about David Spain at http://www.mossandstonegardens.com/blog/about/.
ØPhoenix
Home & Garden, April, 2012, p.36, "Flower
Frogs: History, Highlights and Helpful Hints." I was one
of two interviewed for this article. We each contributed photos.
BB 3/12.
ØCountry
Living Magazine, April, 2011, p. 37, an article on collecting
flower frogs for which I was interviewed. The article covers
pottery, glass and metal frogs. BB 3/11.
ØFlea
Market Style magazine, Summer 2010 edition, printed a one
page article on collecting flower frogs. The frogs pictured were
all metal with the exception of one simple glass round. I was
interviewed for this article but my comments didn't "fit"
the point of view of the article. The author suggested "other"
uses for flower frogs which included soap dish, paper weight,
pencil holder, place card holder, photo display, and candle holder.
BB. 2/20/10.
ØAn
article entitled "Frogs Worthy of a Kiss" appeared
in the Hartford Courant Garden Section, on July 3, 2009, for
which I provided the photos and an email interview. BB.
ØEllen
Hoffmann sent in information about the following article: "Jump
for Joy: Designed to support stems in a bowl or vase, collectible
vintage flower frogs are decorative enough to stand alone,"
CanadianGardening, Special Issue 2008, p. 46. The Flower
Frog Gazette website was cited. Thank you Ellen.1/27/08. This
information was also submitted by Chris Bremner, who noted that
the short article was written by a Hilary Bellis, a floral designer.1/30/08
ØFrom
Chris Bremner I have learned that the February 2007 issue of
Martha Stewart Living features Japanese Flower Frogs on p. 167.
Nine metal frogs are displayed on a copper plate. Some of these
I have never seen before, such as, the crocodile, the lizard,
and the crab. Don't have a copy of the magazine on hand? Currently,
they can be viewed on the Martha Stewart Living website as part
of a feature entitled "Collectibles We Love." Click
here to see them.1/26/07. Sorry page no longer available.
Ø"Frogs
and Flowers" is the title of a one page article appearing
in the June 2002 issue of Southern Living. It is not about
collecting, but how to use needle and cage frogs to simplify
the arrangement of cut flowers from your summer garden.
ØClaire
Height sends in this information: "I thought you might be
interested in an article in the May edition of Country Home
Magazine. On page 100 there is an article on the top ten
collectibles under $50. Flower Frogs is mentioned as one. It
also shows on the same page an ad for Porch Light [an antique
shop] which is displayed in one of the needle type frogs."
ØAn
article entitled "Princely Frogs" appeared in the September
2001 issue of Romantic Homes Magazine. While the article
touches briefly on all types of flower frogs and their history,
the photos predominantly illustrate inexpensive metal flower
holders. There is one photo of glass rounds. The handful of collectors
interviewed were from Illinois. Back Issue requests should be
directed to: National Subscription Fulfillment Services, 5443
E. La Palma, Anaheim, CA 92807. (Thank you to James Moretz of
the American Floral Art School in Chicago, Illinois, for letting
me know about this article.)
ØConnie
Swaim, Editor of the Eastern Edition of AntiqueWeek,
wrote an interesting article about myself and this web site in
the October 30, 2000 issue. On a recent episode of Who Wants
To Be a Millionaire, the contestant was asked what the thing
is that sits in the bottom of a flower container and holds the
flowers up. According to Swaim, if he had put Bonnie Bull on
his phone a friend list he would have gotten the question right!
It seems the contestant phoned a friend, but still got the question
wrong. Read
the whole article.
ØMartha
Stewart Living highlighted flower frogs in the June 2000
feature "find of the month." They were billed as "Flower
Frog Organizers." Two flower frogs were pictured- a pottery
round and a metal needle holder. The pottery round held pencils
and the needle holder neatly arranged small papers, i.e., business
cards and photographs.
ØAn
article on "The Secret of Flower Arranging" by Joy
Myerscough in the newsletter section on the Flourish and Garlande,
Ltd. website. The article mentions this site and speaks of vintage
flower arrangers.3/00 Unfortunately they no longer maintain
a website.
ØAn
article on metal flower frogs appeared in the Nov.'99 issue of
"Country Gardens," Meredith Publishing. The article
is entitled "A Chorus of Frogs" and was written by
Laura Beach. This site got a nice referral.
ØA
modest article on flower frogs appeared in the June 23, 1997
issue of AntiqueWeek. It was entitled "Collectors
don't have to make a trip to the pond for these frogs" and
it was written by Mildred Jailer-Chamberlain. Interviewed for
the article was long-time collector Everett R. Aldrich of New
Hampshire, who is now listed in our Directory (11/00).
ØAn
article on Flower Frog Collecting appeared in the March 1996
issue of Martha Stewart Living.
Last updated on 3/16/2023
© Copyright 1996-2023, Flower
Frog Gazette. All rights reserved. The right to download and
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Frog Gazette is granted to readers for personal use only.
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is strictly prohibited. |
