Vol. 3 No. 1
| Newsletter Vol. 3 No. 1 |
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Other Newsletters | |
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| July, 2002 | ||||
The journey on the Walrath Trail covers a span of nearly 21 years. It started on March 15, 1981 when I married Mr. Arthur Walrath, a landscape contractor in Brownville, NY, whose accomplishments with rare flowers became known in other countries. He made headlines for owning the largest and rarest Trillium garden in the world, and for having raised 660 bulbs bearing 29 petals after 29 years of experimenting.
With our mutual love of nature and flowers, I was encouraged to have Fenton produce my "Love Bouquet” on Burmese in 1982, consisting of six pieces, namely the 6 ½” Jack in the Pulpit, the 10” Jack in the Pulpit, the Crimped Hat Style Basket, the Cupped Rose Bowl, the Crimped Rose Bowl, and the 6” Bud Vase. That collection is documented as the last Burmese produced with the original Uranium formula. These rich yellow pieces are now much sought after. In addition to the artist’s name, each piece is inscribed: “Inspired by Mary Walrath”. Hundred of letters are on file hailing this bouquet as the most beautiful and delicate ever to compliment Burmese.
When the government placed its’ restrictions and allocations of Uranium, it literally meant that new Burmese experimentations and formula adjustments were inevitable, if further productions of Burmese were to be continued. It was about that time when I prevailed upon Fenton to produce miniature Burmese pieces exclusively for me, to especially attract and encourage Burmese collectors living in apartments and trailers and those already running out of space to keep on adding with large pieces. While the suggestion seemed like a great idea, it was instantly ruled as a definite impossibility.
But the joy of Bill Fenton and I discussing our differences of opinions resulted in a new formula being finally discovered four and a half years later. I felt confident that if Fenton’s patience for nearly fifteen years rewarded all efforts to discover the formula for producing hand blown Burmese, then surely in less years than that, one would inevitably be discovered for pressing it as well. Thus, a new plateau in the world of collecting Burmese became a reality.
This resulted in my 7 piece" Miniature Burmese Collection becoming the first to be produced in the ‘pressed’ technology. A letter from Howard Seauffer, Quality Control Manager of Fenton confirms that a brand new special formula was needed to produce my miniatures in 1986. (A copy of this letter in it’s entirety can be found attached to Newsletter #3 dated February, 1999). With this accomplishment, 1986 fulfilled my greatest dream in my world of glass, but it also became my bleakest and most tragic year in my personal life when on August 31st, cancer claimed Arthurs’ life. For nearly three years my heart was not in my mail order work. Instead the 4 ½ acres of prestigious landscaping completely devoured my time and strength, as I persevered to maintain them in my tribute to and memory of him.
About mid 1993, I fell in love with the Fenton 8” doll figurine which was known as 5141-NX in the rose color. As I studied the superb details of the mold, and especially her long flowing hair in the back, I envisioned transforming the figurine into a bell, and so the Southern Belle bell collection came into being in May of 1994. It was reduced to only 6 issues for a number of reasons. When I learned that a run had already been made for me in the Holiday Green, I opted to have only 200 hand painted in memory of my sister, Peg, as a “Special Edition”.
Without a doubt, the “Southern Belle” bell collection is the least produced. Each piece bears the inscription of my name, the Edition number, the individual name of the bell itself, the number of the bell itself, and the certificate of authenticity documents the date of production and the actual number produced. Anna yielded 254, Carol was 299, Marianne was 286, Susan (Joyce) was 274, Stephanie was 252, Michelle was 281 and Peg was limited to 200. Each is gorgeously hand-painted, etc. This is truly a breath-taking collection in as much as the color of each issue was carefully chosen to compliment each other into a beautiful grouping. Since then, this figurine has been produced in Burmese. The latest, I understand, was done for QVC in the Violet color and is signed by Nancy Fenton.
In 1996, at the age of 80 and with failing health, I felt that the most memorable way to end my career was to again touch base with Fenton and ask them to do a 3-pc. Farewell Burmese collection for me, . . .namely the Basket (style of the Lattice Rose), the Pitcher (same style as 2729-JI in the 1994 Connoisseur Collection), plus the cat. These three pieces are limited to 150 matching numbered sets, and are fully handpainted on both sides. Thus the Mary C. Walrath Burmese Exclusive productions total 16 Burmese items and include my poem "My Love Bouquet”.
But my complacency in letting go of the business and being more obedient to doctors’ orders was short lived when my daughter, Joyce Colella, for sentimental and emotional reasons, could not and would not let the “Love Bouquet” die. “I simply can’t let all your efforts and accomplishments fall by the wayside,” she said to me one day. “During my sleepless nights,” she continued, “I designed how a dove will join yours and mine.” And so, the “Circle of Love” became Joyce’s dream to take over my business and keep my “Love Bouquet” alive. With both bouquets being hand-painted on every piece, both mother and daughter have jointly signed every piece. And so the Walrath Trail was still stretched out before me in the market place.
So that you will know the exact number of the “Circle of Love” editions on which the Walrath name appears, I shall endeavor to proceed by listing all of the pieces produced to this time.
| Edition # | Description of Item | Quantity Produced |
|---|---|---|
| I | Burmese Pitcher | 53 |
| II | Burmese Cupped Rose Bowl | 80 |
| III | Burmese Crimped Rose Bowl | 163 |
| IV | Burmese Bowl w/ Rosalene Nymph | 205 |
| V | Cruet - Topaz Opalescent Iridized w/ Cobalt Handle | 155 |
| VI | Burmese Lamp | 60 |
| VII | Cat - French Opalescent | 125 |
| VIII | Burmese 6 ½” J/P Vase - Crimped w/ Ebony Crest | 69 |
| IX | Burmese 6 ½” J/P Vase - Plain w/Ebony Crest | 125 |
| X | Burmese Cat - Satinized | 53 |
| XI | Burmese Cat - Glossy | 35 |
| XII | Burmese Bear - Satinized | 140 |
| XIII | Burmese Bear - Glossy | 50 |
| XIV | Burmese Perfume Bottle - Satinized | 60 |
| XV | Royal Purple Rose Bowl | 80 |
| XVI | Blue Burmese Temple Jar - Glossy | 50 |
| XVII | Blue Burmese Temple Jar - Satinized | 130 |
| XVIII | Burmese Stylized Cat - Glossy | 69 |
| XIX | Burmese Stylized Cat - Satinized | 145 |
| XX | Blue Burmese Bell Crimped - Satin | 98 |
| XXI | Green Burmese - Tumble-Up Set - Satin Diamond Optic | 128 |
| XXII | Green Burmese - Tumble-Up Set - Glossy Diamond Optic | 14 |
| XXIII | Burmese Tumble-Up Set - Satin Diamond Optic | 116 |
| XXIV | Burmese Tumble-Up Set - Glossy Diamond Optic | 51 |
| XXV | Bridesmaid Doll - Topaz Carnival | 100 |
| XXVI | Lamp - Cranberry | 52 |
| XXVII | Green Burmese - Stylized Cat (Presently in Production) | Anticipated production 130 |
| 1-A | Spec. Ed. Burmese Small Cat Glossy | 68 |
| 1-B | Spec. Ed. Burmese Small Cat Satin | 132 |
Joyce is also currently working on her Forget-Me-Not theme featuring very beautiful Pansies. Only her signature, etc., will henceforth appear on her items. To date, an exceptional Butterfly has been produced in Green Burmese as well as a Bridesmaid Doll done in Topaz Carnival.
And so my journey on the Walrath Trail will end with the following announcement: