Q: This is a photo of an ironstone wash set that belonged to my grandmother. It was given to her by a very wealthy family in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the late 1890s or early 1900s. The set is in perfect condition and decorated with purple flowers, gold leaves and green bands. Included in the set are a large pitcher with a bowl, smaller pitcher, cup, covered soap dish and covered toothbrush dish. Marked on each piece are a crown and the words "Germany — RW — Rudolstad," along with gold letters and numbers.

What can you tell me about my wash set and its value?

A: The mark you provided was used by L. Straus and Son, an importing firm located in New York from 1882 to around 1930. It imported fine porcelain from Rudolstadt, Thuringia, Germany, and later from its subsidiaries in Bohemia and France.

A plethora of ironstone and porcelain wash sets were made in Europe and the United States from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. The sets usually also included a chamber pot and slop jar. The pieces were placed on a washstand in the bedrooms. Some washstands had a special compartment for the chamber pot and racks that pulled out from one side to hold towels, and many had marble tops. With the arrival of indoor plumbing, the need for wash sets declined.

Your wash set was made around 1900 and would probably be worth $150 to $275.

Q: The enclosed mark is on the bottom of a set of six matching porcelain cups and saucers. Each piece is decorated with lavender flowers against a white background. The set is in perfect condition. It is all that is left of my great-grandmother's dinnerware. My daughter would like to have them and wants to know more about the history and value.

A: It all began when David Haviland, a New York porcelain importer, founded his first factory in Limoges, France. His son, Theodore, later started his own factory in Limoges in 1890. He introduced new innovative methods of decorating and firing and eventually became one of the leading manufacturers. The mark on your cups and saucers was used from 1895 to 1952. Each cup and saucer set might sell for $15 to $25.

Wash set was made around 1900.

Theodore Haviland has produced fine china since 1890.

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.