A Tribute to James Ellwood

James Ellwood passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona on July 21, 2023 at age 91.

Collecting Peace

Collecting is a testament
to life already lived –
a witness of the future
still in store.

The past holds value far beyond
the grave in which it lies;
we are wraith-ed in peace and yet left
wanting more.

Our ghosts inhabit weathered woods,
etched glass, revolving clocks –
every tick marks a beginning
and an end.

So we gather warm and lovely things
to comfort and surround,
ground ourselves in new tomorrows
with old friends.

The landmark book Trivets & Stands, written by Ellwood and Rob Roy Kelly, was largely responsible for revitalizing trivet collecting in the 1990s. T&S provided both a serious study on the history of trivets as well as a guide to the enormous variety of trivets available to collect. Long out of print, copies are still available on Amazon.

The majority of trivets documented in this book are from the Ellwood and William Paley collections. (The 2100+ trivet Paley collection was bequeathed to Vermont’s Shelburne Museum upon his death in 1983.)

James “Jim” Ellwood, the collector

The early years … still plenty of wall space!

When my first trivet book The A-Z Guide To Collecting Trivets was published in 2004, I mailed James Ellwood a complimentary copy in appreciation of his valued contribution to collectors. (Trivets & Stands continues to inspire and guide me to this day!) I was honored when he wrote back and a long distance Florida ~ Arizona friendship began.

He would occasionally email images of new acquisitions, usually teasing me with “Do you have this one? It’s not for sale!” Anything new or unusual was hung on a wall in his home. He possessed so many trivets that sometimes he would “discover” and buy a duplicate by mistake.

Back in 2014, while I was working on a PITCA Convention presentation, Jim contributed this brief essay along with photos of his collection. (His wife Joanne passed away in February 2020.)

My collection started in 1973 when I inherited 30 trivets and the two Hankenson books from my mother. Naive as I was at that time I thought that if I found everything in those books I’d have a great collection. It didn’t take too long before I had some number that were not in the books, but I never dreamed there were so many out there. By 1981 I had several hundred. My neighbor suggested we go into the antique business and do some shows.

By the late 1980s I had around 900 and got a copy of Paley’s collection he donated to the Shelburne Museum. Rob Kelly (a professor at Arizona State University) and I were invited to the Museum to catalog the collection prior to writing a book on trivets. We published A Collectors Guide To Trivets and Stands in 1991. By then my collection had expanded to about 1300, and today I have about 1700. Mostly cast iron with some number of hand forged iron, a few brass, tin, wire, tile, aluminum and one in stone.

I still buy a few at auction and on eBay. The interest is still there but I’m out of space, for which my wife is eternally grateful. Jim Ellwood

In 2015 I inquired how he polished and hung his trivets. Jim’s email reply: “I just hang them on a nail. Fortunately we are dry out here (Arizona) and I haven’t touched them in years. I used a product years ago called Glorifying Antique on all. It cleaned the iron and put a nice finish on the iron. Kept it from rusting.” (Yes, Glorifying Antique Polish is still available for sale.)

Jim never lost his love of trivet collecting and was still browsing and buying on eBay into his 90’s. I know this for a fact because he purchased two trivets from me on eBay in late 2022.

There were occasional phone calls through the years, always ending with “We really need to meet in person” … but that resolution remained unfulfilled. Time slipped away and now he’s gone. I’ll always regret not taking the opportunity to shake Jim Ellwood’s hand, view his collection, and discuss trivets and collecting. Rest in peace my friend.

What has become of the Ellwood collection?

On August 11, 2023 Ellwood’s daughter Ruthie Hunt posted trivet wall images on several Facebook collecting groups and, for one week, invited members to private message her if they were interested. A few savvy collectors took her up on this opportunity to fulfill specific needs for their collection. Then, on August 18th, all remaining trivets in the Ellwood estate were taken down, carefully packaged, and transferred to E J’s Auction where they have since been categorized and photographed. The house looks so empty with Jim gone and his trivets coming down. (Many thanks to Ruthie Hunt for sharing many of the images appearing in this blog.)

James Ellwood Cast Iron Trivet Auction

Auctioneer: E J ‘s Auction & Appraisal
January 26, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona, USA

● 106 Lots for a total of 775 trivets
● Trivets, Lots 7001-7106: Prices Realized

Auction comment from Ruthie Hunt ~ “I’m glad everyone got some of my dad’s collection at a very good price! Thank you to everyone for bidding! I’m sure my dad is pleased that these trivets went to people that truly love them.”

The remaining trivets will be incorporated into future auctions presented by EJ’s Auction & Appraisal in 2024.