HAMS Bowl Brings Home the Bacon by Anne McCollam on Creators.com

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HAMS Bowl Brings Home the Bacon

Q: I was wondering if you could shed any light on the bowl in this photo. It was handed down to me from my mother; however, I do not know how long it has been in our family or where she got it. The shallow bowl is approximately 5 inches in diameter. It appears to be bronze that is decorated with silver scrolls and the image of a cat. In an elongated diamond, marked on the back are the letters "HAMS." Below that are the words: "Sterling on Bronze — Pat. Aug 27.12 — 422."

Thank you for any information you can provide.

A: Your Arts and Crafts bronze bowl was made by Heintz Art Metal Shop located in Buffalo, N.Y. Otto Heintz established his shop in 1906, but the shop closed in 1930. They made decorative accessories using brass, copper and bronze with sterling silver overlay. "422" is the design number, and the bowl was patented Aug. 27, 1912.

Similar bowls have sold in the range of $225 to $325.

Q: This mark is on the bottom of a cut glass bowl that is at least 80 years old. Decorated with a diamond pattern and hob stars, it measures 10 inches in diameter.

Can you identify this mark as well as my bowl's age and value?

A: H. P. Sinclaire and Co. made your bowl in the early 20th century. Sinclaire was in business from 1905 to 1929 in Corning, N.Y. They purchased blanks from C. Dorflinger and Sons and several other glass factories and cut the designs.

Your bowl is an example of the Brilliant Period of cut glass and would probably be worth $300 to $375.

Q: I have an oak spool cabinet with six drawers.

The drawers are labeled "Clark's Mill Ends, Spool Cotton, White-Black, Blues-Browns, Slates-Drags." The cabinet is in mint condition.

What is it worth?

A: Your spool cabinet was made around 1900 and would sell in an antiques shop in the $600 to $800 range.

Q: A child's Boston rocker, which belonged to my great-great-grandfather when he was a child, has been passed down to me. It has four vertical spindles in the back, a decorative stencil design on the top rail and a solid seat that curves up at the back and down in front. It is in excellent condition.

I would never even think of selling it, but would like to know if it has any value.

A: Your child's Boston rocker was made in the mid- to late-1800s. Boston rockers were created in New England for children and adults.

Your rocker would probably be worth $250 to $350.

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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.