Q: I have enclosed a photo of a child's bowl that was mine when I was a child in 1946. It measures about 9 inches in diameter and is trimmed in gold. On either side of the dish is a place for a fork and spoon with instructions where each goes. Interestingly, the instructions are upside-down. Other than that, the dish is in mint condition. The back of the dish reads as follows, "My Own Plate Made for Holmes & Edwards, Division of The International Silver — US Design Patent #88343 — By Salem China Company."

I would like to know if there is any special value to my dish, other than the fact it was mine from my childhood. Thank you for any information you can provide.

A: Children's dishes continue to be popular collectibles. Their designs and scenes reflect days from a past era. Your dish was made by Salem China Company for Holmes & Edwards Silverplate Company. A silver plated fork and spoon accompanied the dish. The pattern is "Danish Princess." The bowl is decorated with a transfer print scene. Homer Laughlin also made a version of this dish before Salem China Company. Holmes & Edwards Silverplate Company was founded in 1882 and located in Bridgeport, Connecticut. It was taken over by International Silver Company in 1889.

Your circa 1946 dish would probably be worth $40 to $50.

Q: We recently inherited a set of Noritake dishes. There are 94 pieces and not a chip or scratch on any of them. We enclosed the mark that is the back of each dish. Each dish is decorated with gold trim around the edge with a burgundy draping border. In each of the loops is a bouquet of flowers. We have searched Noritake books and cannot find the pattern.

I know this is very little information, but hope you can give us an idea of the value of our set. We don't intend to sell it; we are just curious.

A: Noritake porcelain has been made in Japan since 1904. Your set was made during the U.S. occupation of Japan after World War II. The occupation lasted from 1947 to 1952, and the mark you provided was used in 1947. Objects marked "Occupied Japan" are of special interest to many collectors.

Your set of dinnerware should be insured for $800 to $1,200.

Child's bowl was made by Salem China Company.

Noritake porcelain has been made in Japan since 1904.

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.