'Cover Girl' hosts collection at DSCC

Local antiques dealer Virginia Chappell straightens an original porcelain cover displayed in the Learning Resource Center at Dyersburg State Community College. A reception will be held at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, Oct. 6, in the LRC, featuring Chappell and just a portion of the collection that earned her the name 'Cover Girl.'

Local antiques dealer Virginia Chappell was not too disappointed to learn that the phrase "Lid Lady" had been trademarked, not when it meant she could spend her career being referred to as "The Cover Girl."

Area residents have the opportunity to discover Chappell's unique collection of fine porcelain, ironstone, china and cut glass covers for themselves with a new exhibit at Dyersburg State Community College's Learning Resource Center.

Displayed as artwork against the dark wood of the LRC's hallway, spectators may find themselves forgetting the function of the lids created to cover vegetable dishes, soup tureens and even chamber pots.

Chappell, who has dealt in antiques for some time, fell in love with glass and china when she was just a girl. In fact, she received a Candlewick punch bowl from Santa when she was 9 years old.

"I picked out my crystal, china and silver patterns when I was in junior high school," said Chappell. "I was receiving pieces for my birthday and Christmas and when I graduated from high school, my mother advised family members to help me finish out my services. We were raised on it. And I also used my patterns with my family every day."

Chappell was set on the path to find, display and collect china, porcelain and ironstone covers at a show in Atlanta, Ga., when a collector walked in her booth and asked if she had any loose china covers at her shop at home.

"She told me she had been collecting these for 30 years and displaying them as artwork," said Chappell. "I never saw that lady again, but it was too late. I was hooked. They are absolutely works of art."

Since that time, Chappell has added covers and lids to her antiques booths and store just outside of Dyersburg, displaying them as many would display fine porcelain dishes. She has many repeat customers who collect certain colors or patterns, but her decision to feature antique covers led to another service, as well.

"I still do general antiques, but this is my specialty. We are also a search and replacement service," said Chappell. "The more lids I hung, the more people started asking me to find pieces for them. If you loose your grandmother's sugar bowl lid or break the lid to your Aunt Susie's teapot, you can call me. We've made some pretty good marriages in the past. Even if we couldn't find the specific top, we'd find pieces that people could live with. It's amazing to me what I have found over the years."

The exhibit also features the tops of candy, lemon, honey and miniature dollhouse dishes, elegant glass, butter domes, pancake covers, the tops to dresser pieces and an array of stoppers to fit perfume, cologne, wine and liquor decanters.

"There are many uses for stoppers," said Chappell, who said the beautiful glass and porcelain stoppers can be used as suncatchers, Christmas ornaments, cookie presses, and paperweights. She also suggested displaying them on mirrors or tucking them into a jar or vase. "If you are interested in finding a top that fits your decanter, bring the bottle with you."

A colorful collection of cookie jar lids are also on display on the bookshelves of the LRC. With smaller pieces displayed in locked glass cabinets, the exhibit is scattered throughout the building.

"I've never been out there to make a lot of money," said Chappell. "There is a history lesson every time you pick up a piece. They are a lot of fun."

A reception will be held for Chappell in the LRC on DSCC's Dyersburg Campus at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

Chappell's antique store, "Antiques Almost, the Home of the Cover Girl", is located on Highway 104 East, just outside RoEllen. For more information or to request a certain pattern or piece, call 676-4483.