Q
& A with the Antique Detective
Q. I have saved five Little Golden Books that belonged to my children. How
can I find out their history and if they have any value? D.S., Chicago,
IL
A. Just about everything you ever wanted to know can be found in the
just
published Warman's Little Golden Books Identification and Price Guide by
Steve Santi, Krause Publications.
Q. Can you tell me anything about this
jewelry box that was my grandmothers? It is marked "J.B." in one corner of the
bottom and is gilt. D.B., Kansas City, MO
A. From your photo, your jewelry
box is in the Art Nouveau style, made in the 1890s. It appears to be ceramic
with a gilt finish. In good condition, it could sell in a shop for $75 to
$125.
Q. We had this piece of furniture refinished, and it has six of the
original handles and added the needed replicas. We were told it is a doctor's
desk. It is 32 inches high and 31 inches wide. What is the value? D.L.,
Gladden, IO
A. Because of the small size and the shallow drawers, it looks
more like a dentist's cabinet. It could sell in a shop for $350 or more.
Q.
This small figurine of a little girl is of metal and very heavy. It is 13 inches
tall and has a tinted surface of green and yellow. It must be brass or bronze.
It was given to us years ago by my wife's late aunt who told us it was quite
valuable. No markings. I would appreciate knowing age, origin and price.
T.E.R., Wilmette, IL
A. From your photo, you have a painted cold cast bronze
figurine, probably Austrian, late 19th to early 20th century. It could sell at
auction for over $350.
Q. This table lamp was given to us several years ago
by an elderly lady. It has no markings and is quite heavy. Can you tell me
anything about maker, age or value? H.C., Waterloo, Iowa
A. Unfortunately,
without a mark I can't tell who made your lamp. However, lamps like yours were
made in the Art Nouveau-style from 1903 to around 1920 by many manufacturers
around the country. Since you say it is very heavy, the base and trim on the
shade could be bronze, adding to the value. It could sell at auction for $600 or
more.
Q. I was given this ceramic vase many years ago and told it was
valuable. It is 10 inches high. No marks. JF, Freeport, PA
A. Your
Satsuma-style vase was made in Japan anywhere from 1926 to the present. The late
19th to early 20th century examples with gilt trim can sell for several thousand
dollars. Your vase could sell in a shop for $200 to $300.
Q. I have always
wondered about the origin of this 8-inch bowl. Family legend has it that a great
uncle traveled to China in the early 20th century and brought it back. I've
looked but never seen another like it. N.S., Evanston, IL
A. The fact that
your beautiful Chinese export porcelain bowl has phony Chinese characters on the
bottom tells me it was probably made by the famous French porcelain faker Emile
Samson in the late 19th century. Chinese export was never signed. However,
Samson pieces are collectible in their own right, although far less valuable
than the originals. It could sell in a shop for around $800.
Q. Can you tell
me something about my great aunt's vase that I think is lead crystal? It is 9
1/2 inches tall. V.W. - Vandergrift, PA
A. Your vase with the engraved
floral motifs dates around 1906. Earlier 19th century brilliant cut glass motifs
were geometric. Since values are influenced by signatures, check the piece by
looking on the base or the rim of the base. It could be tagged for $250 or more
in a shop.
|
Dentist's cabinet, $350.
Possible fake by Emile Samson.
Ca. 1906 brilliant
cut glass vase, $250.
Art Nouveau-style lamp, $600.
Satsuma-style vase, $200-$300.
Cold cast bronze figure, $350. |
