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By BrandPoint Humpty-Dumpty had the right idea when he sat on a wall, as seg- mental retaining wall (SRW) systems can be used to create beauti- ful, versatile outdoor seating solutions. Many businesses expanded outdoor seating out of necessity over the past two years, and retaining walls were up for the challenge. Homeowners also prefer retaining walls for landscaping proj- ects such as seat walls around a fire pit or to create a raised patio to replace a deck. Re- nowned for the ability to retain earth to prevent erosion and tame slopes to create buildable sites, SRWs, including the VERSA-LOK Retaining Wall System, are beauti- ful, durable and low- maintenance open-air seating solutions. Dining al fresco A beautiful outdoor living space is a wise home investment, and it's also become a ne- cessity for hospitality businesses. Many facili- ties lacking patios built temporary or perma- nent outdoor spaces for guests during the pan- demic. According to the National Restaurant Association, outdoor dining is vital to the in- dustry's post-pandemic survival and expand- ing outdoor dining remains a critical need in replenishment of the Restaurant Revitaliza- tion Fund federal grant program. After purchasing a tavern in Wisconsin, Darryl Holley hired Ziegler's Landscapes by Design to build an out- door entertainment area just a few weeks before the pandemic required temporary closure of the business. Landscaping was deemed an essential business and work con- tinued. Ziegler's created a low freestanding re- taining wall that serves as seating for lawn game spectators and concert- goers. "The only regret we have is that we didn't make the patio bigger," Holley says. "Live music outside draws a lot of people." Homeowners in Stillwater, Minnesota, wanted to replace an aging wooden deck while preserving the view of their woods. "With a raised patio design, you have many more design options," says Andrew Lofboom, a landscape designer with Villa Landscapes. "We used VERSA-LOK to build the support for a paver patio on top. The cost of a raised patio can be less than replacing a deck, and it affords homeowners the option to expand in the future, such as add- ing an outdoor kitchen or seat walls." Lofboom chose the VERSA-LOK Standard retaining wall system because it makes both design and installation easier. With a mechani- cal pinning system and no hollow cores to fill, VERSA-LOK is re- nowned for versatility, durability and flexibil- ity for creating curves, columns, multi-angled corners and tiers needed for stunning outdoor designs. Sporting views SRWs are surpris- ingly economical for stadium, stage and out- door classroom seat- ing at schools, parks and sporting venues. An amphitheater at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls was renovated with a VERSA-LOK Mosaic retaining wall sys- tem chosen to replace crumbling limestone seating on the slope across from the band- shell. The elements had taken a toll on the amphitheater, built in 1972 of local lime- stone. "Natural stone was out of our bud- get, so we went with VERSA-LOK," says Joe McIntosh, a grounds supervisor. When Lawrence, Kansas, school officials learned that aluminum bleachers could not be manufactured in time for football season at their new stadium and that they would run about $400 a seat, they searched for a faster and more economical solution. Landplan En- gineering and Capitol Concrete Products of Lawrence showed the district that it could save $100 to $200 per seat by using VERSA- LOK Standard retaining wall units and finish the job in time for the fall season. Retaining walls provide beautiful outdoor seating By Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE Dear Helaine and Joe: This vase came from my husband's great aunt and is about 12 inches tall. It was originally in her home near Detroit. We really do not know much about it. Any information would be appreciated. Thank you, D. C. Dear D. C.: Some questions ap- pear to be easy at first glance. In this case, we knew who made the piece instantly upon seeing a picture of the vase. The picture of the signature only con- firmed our conclusion. But then we began our research and things became a bit less clear. The green sprawl across the bottom is the signature of Eng- lish potter William Moorcroft (1872-1945), who was an art school graduate and son of a professional china painter. In 1897, Moor- croft went to work as a designer for the James Macintyre and Com- pany pottery business in Burslem, Stafford- shire. Within a year, Moorcroft was heading Macintyre's art pottery studio and developing lines in the art nou- veau taste that were often decorated with specially colored glazes and raised slip (liquid clay piped through a tube) designs. Moor- croft developed his famous Florian line, which was entirely hand-decorated. His work won a gold medal at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Much of Moorcroft's work at Macintyre's was sold in London at the famous depart- ment store Liberty & Co., and in New York at Tiffany's. Moor- croft's work was soon overshadowing the other products of Ma- cintyre and Company, and his art pottery studio at that company was closed in 1912. With financial backing from Liberty & Co. Moorcroft es- tablished his own art pottery at Cobridge in 1913 with many of the former Macintyre employees. Moorcroft's son Walter took over the Moorcroft pottery when William Moor- croft died in 1945. The company is still in business in its original location. Around the turn of the 20th century, Moorcroft developed a line of pottery called Hazeldene, which generally featured slip-outlined trees in a landscape rendered in various shades of blue and green against a cream back- ground. There can be variations in this color scheme (including some done in shades of red), but the vase in today's question is a typically colored exam- ple. And at 12 inches tall and 4 inches across the base is a large and highly desirable piece. Some pieces of Moorcroft's Hazeldene were dated, and some had a Made for Lib- erty & Co. stamp on the bottom, but D. C.'s piece appears to be lacking both marks. The signature is W. Moorcroft des. We be- lieve the "des" stands for designer or dessi- nateur, and the Rd No 3979664 is the English registration number or patent for the design itself. We believe the vase is circa 1905 and at auction would sell in the $3,500 to $4,500 range. Its in- surance replacement value would be in the $6,000 range. Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson have written a number of books on antiques. Do you have an item you'd like to know more about? Contact them at Joe Rosson, 2504 Seymour Ave., Knoxville, TN 37917, or email them at treasures@knology. net. If you'd like your question to be consid- ered for their column, please include a high- resolution photo of the subject, which must be in focus, with your inquiry. Moorcro" vase a highly desirable piece H8 BAY AREA NEWS GROUP 001 Homes | Advertising Section

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