Q: I was given the set of dishes in this photo and would like to know more about them, as well as their value. There are eight each of dinner plates, salad plates, soup bowls, dessert bowls and saucers, but only seven cups. The set also includes serving platters, a cream pitcher, a sugar bowl with a turquoise lid and five water glasses.

A few of the dishes have chips, but most look as though they were never used. The dishes have an off-white background and are trimmed with turquoise, elongated diamond shapes alternating with starbursts that circle the borders. Based on the decoration style, the set was made in the 1960s, I suspect. Marked on the back of most pieces are the words "Nest Stone — Hand Decorated — Made in America — Oven Proof — Detergent Proof — Underglazed."

Any information you can provide will be appreciated.

A: Your stoneware dishes are circa 1960. They were made by Stetson China Company located in Lincoln, Ill. They were in business from 1919 to 1965. Stetson made Nest Stone dishes for Marshall and Burns Company in Chicago. Nest Stone dinnerware was available in several different patterns and marketed under the name "Mar-Crest." "Diamond Carousel" is the name of the pattern. The modern style pattern was designed by Stetson designer, Alfred Dube.

Your set would probably be worth $200 to $300.

Q: I have enclosed the mark that is on the back of a porcelain cake plate I have. The plate is decorated with three bunches of pastel roses against a white background. It is 11 inches in diameter and has small handles. Both the handles and the edges are trimmed in gold. It is in excellent condition. The plate was given to me by a friend who has passed away, and I would like to know more about its history.

Q: Your cake plate was made by Beyer & Bock. They made porcelain in Volkstedt, Thuringia, Germany, from 1853 to 1960. Beyer & Bock used this mark from 1905 to 1932.

Similar cake plates can be found selling in antiques shops in the range of $75 to $125.

Nest Stone dinnerware was made by Stetson China Company.

Beyer & Bock made porcelain in Germany from 1853 to 1960.

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.