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