Recently
China Dinnerware Serves as Family Treasure
Q: my mother gave this lovely china set to me many years ago. She received the set as an engagement gift in the 1920s. The pattern is "Victoria," and it was made in Czechoslovakia. The number "299" is marked on most of the dishes.…Read more.
Carnival Glass Bowl Used on Holidays
Q: My mother received this purple carnival glass bowl around 1910. She gave it to me when I married in 1957. Marked on the bottom is an "N" in a circle and there is a line under it. The inside is smooth; the only pattern is on the outside. …Read more.
Reverse Painted Lamp Made in Early 1900s
Q: Enclosed is a photo of an electric lamp that belonged to my husband's parents. It stands approximately 14 inches tall, has a reverse-painted, dome-shaped, glass shade and a metal base. There is no manufacturer's mark, and it is in excellent …Read more.
Porcelain Condiment Set Serves as Family Heirloom
Q: I have in my possession the porcelain set that is seen in the enclosed photo. The set consists of a tray, a covered sugar bowl with a matching porcelain spoon and two shakers. The round tray measures approximately 7 inches in diameter. They are …Read more.
more articles
|
Piano Babies Strike a Chord with CollectorsQ: I want to learn more about the pictured pair of bisque piano babies. Originally, they belonged to my daughter-in-law's mother. Each is unmarked and stands approximately 11 inches tall. They are both in excellent condition. Any information you can provide will be appreciated. A: Piano babies were a Victorian era fad. They were available in sizes from 4 inches to 18 inches tall. Since pianos were the focal point in Victorian parlors, the whimsical bisque babies were designed to sit on top of the ubiquitous pianos to anchor piano scarves. Many were made in Germany, and two of the leading manufacturers were Gebruder Heubach and Carl Schneider. Most babies were marked, although there are exceptions. They have been reproduced in recent times. Your piano babies are very collectible. They were made around 1900, and each would probably be worth $300 to $500. Q: I have a beautiful porcelain pitcher that was given to my mother as a wedding gift in 1917. Enclosed is the mark on the bottom of the pitcher, which also includes the date "1916." The pitcher is 12 inches tall and decorated with grapes, flowers, leaves and a gold trim. It has a dragon-shaped handle and a scalloped top edge. I think it is a Limoges original, but I don't know for sure. Any assistance you can offer is much appreciated, and I hope you can give your best guesstimate as to its value. A: Based on the size, you have a tankard. It was made by Jean Pouyat in Limoges, France, which produced porcelain from 1890 to 1932.
Q: My mother has a pottery vase that someone gave to her years ago. Still in perfect condition, it is green and decorated with embossed philodendron leaves. There are handles on each side and it stands around 6 inches tall. The word "Shawnee" and the number "805" are marked on the bottom. She knows nothing about its history and value. Is it worth keeping, or should it go in her upcoming yard sale? A: Your vase was made by Shawnee Pottery, a company that produced pottery in Zanesville, Ohio, from 1937 to 1961. They made vases, planters, kitchenware, dinnerware, cookie jars and lamp bases. Sears Roebuck, Procter and Gamble, and major dime stores were a few of the retailers who sold Shawnee Pottery's products. Your vase was made around 1950 and would sell in an antiques shop anywhere from $25 to $50. If your mother likes her vase, she should keep it.
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. COPYRIGHT 2010 CREATORS.COM 
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
