Q
& A with the Antique Detective
Q. I received this crock from my mother-in-law many years ago. Is it an
antique and the value? R.A. - Lower Burrell, PA
A. Your crock with the blue
decorations and the name "Hamilton-Jones Greensboro, PA" is an antique made in
the 19th century. Similar pieces from this American pottery have sold in shops
for $400 or more.
Q. I purchased this piece of pottery at a yard/estate sale
of a world traveler. On the bottom is written "copy from the Corinthian Museum."
It is made from red clay and is painted with Egyptian figures. Any value? I.W. -
Plainfield, NJ
A. The fact that it is a museum reproduction, not an
antiquity, puts the value at around $50 to $75. An authentic 6th century piece
could sell at auction for around $2,000-$3,000.
Q. Any idea of the value of
my wooden Buddha with a partially gold patina? It is 10 inches high, 7.25 inches
across and 6 inches deep. My impression is it came from Japan and dates from the
early 20th century. Can you confirm any of these details? S.W.K. - Wilmette,
IL
A. Since there is no mark that would date it to the 19th century or
earlier and I can't tell from a photo, you need a hands-on examination, if
possible by a curator in the Oriental department of the Art Institute of
Chicago. Similar carvings, 19th century, have sold at auction for $700 and
up.
Q. I inherited this lamp recently. It is marked "HB Quimper France."
Still works with the old electric cord. Any idea of age and value? M.E.M. -
Sarasota, FL
A. Quimper is a French earthenware pottery company that has been
appealing to collectors since it opened at the end of the 17th century. Your
early 20th century figural lamp could sell in a shop for $125 or more.
Q. I
believe this pair of vases was a wedding gift to my grandparents in 1917. They
are 13 inches high and are marked "Nippon C5241." I would like to know the
value. M.A.F. -Bridgewater, NJ.
A. Each of your Japanese Nippon vases could
sell for $800 or more in a shop.
Q. This spinning wheel has been in our
family for around 100 years. What would be the estimated value? L.J.M. - Sarver,
PA
A. Your 19th century spinning wheel could sell at auction for $700 and
up.
Q. I have this 3-piece set marked "FB Rogers Silver Co. and can't find
the value, even on the internet. Can you help?
A. What you have is a
silver-plated chafing dish, early 20th century. In good, condition it could be
priced at $50 in a shop.
Q. Please help me identify these pieces of glass.
They were new when a piece was given to my in-laws as a wedding gift in 1942.
These days, I can buy it for $5 to $35. I have 39 pieces with different color
rims. B.G. - Kansas City, MO
A. Your pieces resemble the early studio glass
created by glass icon Frances Higgins when she and her husband Michael Higgins
began their careers at the Dearborn Glass Company, Bedford Park, Illinois in
1948. These pieces were called "drop in vases." However, your dates don't
coincide with the time the Higgins worked at Dearborn. You didn't mention any
signatures. Your pieces are examples of Modern art glass. A possibility is that
they were done by Frances during her 1942 experiments with glass.
|
