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McCartney Collection

Opal and Fred McCartney

Opal and Fred McCartney and a fantasy piece they had made on a pink Rho-Dendra plate to commemorate their collection.

In the summer of 2014, I had the good fortune of getting a tip in an antique store in Fairmont, W.V., about a couple in Grafton – Fred and Opal McCartney – who collect Carr China. I gave them a call and introduced myself. After a few minutes on the phone, they extended an invitation for me to come and meet them at their home.

I was amazed at the size and variety of their collection. If I remember correctly, they did not even start collecting Carr China until 1997, after their daughter gave them a Tygart Dam plate. Once they started collecting, however, they more than made up for lost time. Their extensive collection contains thousands of pieces. In addition to the china, they have a huge collection of paper, photos, and advertising items relating to Carr.

Fred told me an interesting story during that visit. He actually did some work for Joy Bachman at her house in Grafton so many years ago, and he said she offered him several pieces of Carr China, which he declined. After all, at that time he was not a collector!

From that first visit with Fred and Opal, I hoped we would both be able to return and bring along a camera. Fortunately that visit occurred this past May, and we are now pleased to offer Carr collectors a small view into the vast collection of Fred and Opal McCartney – "the couple that have everything" – as another West Virginia friend so aptly describes them.

Below are photos that include group shots of some of the pieces on display, some individual pieces (that were mostly new to us), and some artist sample boards that are damaged but truly one-of-a kind.

  Group Photos
•  Individual Pieces: China, Ephemera and Curiosities
•  Sample Boards



Rows upon rows of Carr China



China, ephemera and curiosities


Boxer


Boy Scout Camp
- Grafton


Bucking Horse
Ashtray


Advertising
Ashtray


Chessie


Clock


Coca-Cola


Christmas
Greetings


Floral compote


Continental
Grill


Dachshund
Knife Rest


Dante School


8-Ball Lighter


Grafton
Advertising Plate


Reopen
Pottery Drive


Color Test Plate


George
Washington


Herman's
Seafood


Ivydale Sample


Marbled Vase


Mary Had a
Little Lamb


Masonic Temple


Mattson Sample


Pinecone Plate


Floral Sample


Poodle


Maple Leaf


Washington &
Jefferson College



Pink Rho-Dendra



Top Hat Ashtray



Oil Mug Shape


Boston Egg
Shape


Soap Dish


The Lookout


C.I. Thornburg





 



Sample Boards





         
         








 

 

 

 


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