Majolica Pitcher Holds its Value by Anne McCollam on Creators.com

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Majolica Pitcher Holds its Value

Q: The pictured antique pitcher is in mint condition. It stands approximately 8 inches tall. On the bottom is a diamond-shaped mark. At the top is the Roman numeral "IA." Going clockwise is the number "17," the letters "E" and "W," and the number "4." The letters "Rd" are in the center of the diamond.

What can you tell me about my pitcher?

A: You have a Victorian majolica pitcher. "Rd" is a British Registry mark that shows the design was registered with the British government. "IA" establishes that your pitcher is made of a type of ceramic material, "17" refers to the day of the month it was made, "E" represents the year 1881, "W" stands for March and "4" is the parcel. Majolica is tin glazed pottery, which is decorated with vibrant colors and nature-inspired designs. It was made in the United States, England and Europe from the mid-1900s to the early 1900s.

Your pitcher is a desirable antique and would fetch $375 to $475 in an antiques shop.

Q: This mark is on a set of porcelain dishes that my mother bought around 1930. She gave me the set when I married 62 years ago, and it is in excellent condition. I believe they were purchased from the Larkin Soap Co. and the pattern is "Azalea." Each dish is decorated with pink azaleas and trimmed in gold.

I have hunted antiques shops and found many pieces to add to my set.

I now would like to give it to my newlywed granddaughter. The set is a service for 12 with 11 serving pieces, including a toothpick holder and a divided relish tray with handle.

For insurance purposes, I would appreciate an approximate value of all the pieces.

A: Your dinnerware was made by Noritake in Japan, especially for the Larkin Soap Co. in Buffalo, N.Y., from 1918 to 1941. The "M" represents the New York-based importers, Morimura Bros. The dishes were premiums given for purchasing Larkin soap products.

Your toothpick holder is worth around $80 and the relish tray is $280. The value of the complete set would probably be $1,500 to $2,000.

Q: I have a maple rolling pin that belonged to my grandmother in the early 1900s. It is in very good condition and I still use it.

Does it have any value?

A: Your rolling pin would probably be worth $75 to $100.

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.