Q: Enclosed is a photo of a Sick Call box that hung in my husband's bedroom when he was a boy. It originally belonged to his grandmother. The frame is wood, and there is a compartment at the bottom that contains a crucifix, tray, a cruet for holy oil, candles and a holy water bottle. At the top are painted figures of Mary and Jesus. Below there is a door that drops open to reveal a storage area. The outside of the door is decorated with a picture of the Last Supper. On the inside of the door is the word "VIATICUM." The overall measurements are 24 inches high by 12 inches wide and 4 inches deep.

I would like to know anything you can tell me about my sick call box, especially its age and possible value.

A: You have a circa 1900 Religious Call shrine/shadow box. They were often found in Catholic homes in the late 1800s and early 1900s and used by a priest to administer the Sacrament of Last Rites to a seriously ill or dying person. They usually contained a bottle of holy water, a silver tray with the letters "IHS," candles, candleholders, a crucifix and a cruet for holy oil. "IHS" are letters that stand for the Greek words for Jesus Christ and "Vaticum" is Latin for "provisions for a journey to the afterlife."

Despite antique Religious Call boxes not being in high demand, value for one in good condition can run from around $150 to $250.

Q: I will be 90 years old in March, and I have a service for 12 set of porcelain dishes that includes all the serving pieces. I have drawn the mark that is on back of each dish. The dishes are decorated with big pink roses, green leaves and gold trim. They are around 50 to 60 years old, in absolutely perfect condition and have never been used.

My daughter wants the set when I'm gone, so please let me know the value of my dishes.

A: Johann Haviland Porcelain Company has been located in Waldershot, Bavaria, Germany, since 1907. Johann was the son of Charles Haviland who produced porcelain in Limoges, France. They are now part of Rosenthal Glass and Porcelain Company in Bavaria, Germany.

Your mid-20th century dinnerware would probably be worth $1,000 to $1,500.

(set image) amc031513adAP.jpg (set image) (set caption) Sick Call boxes were popular around 1900. (end caption)

. Johann Haviland Porcelain Company was founded in Bavaria in 1907.

Address your questions to Anne McCollam, P. O. Box 247, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Items of a general interest will be answered in this column. Due to the volume of inquiries, she cannot answer individual letters. To find out more about Anne McCollam and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com