Depression Glass show will feature collectible lamps

Lamps to be exhibited at upcoming show

Glass lamps from the 20th century will be a featured item this April at the Del-Mar-Va Depression Glass Club’s 78th exhibit and sale. Anyone who follows this blog and/or is familiar with my reference books on American antique and collectible lamps knows that I have a particular interest in lamps, so I’m pleased to spread the word about this upcoming exhibit. On display will be lamps from the 1920s and 1930s by companies that include Aladdin, McKee, and Westmoreland. There will also be plenty of Depression era glassware to admire and possibly purchase.
Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 27th, 10am-5pm and Sunday, April 28th, 10am-3pm, and plan to visit with some of the best depression glass dealers on the East Coast. These dealers love what they sell and will be happy to answer your questions.
The Club continues to offer its popular glass identification service without charge, to those attending. Identification is performed by knowledgeable Club members.
The Show is held at Duval High School, 9880 Good Luck Rd., Lanham, MD. Admission is $4.00. For directions and information, phone (301) 565-2361, or (410) 263-4192; email: ybrian@verizon.net

Figural Lamp with Horse and Rider appraisal

Dear Nadja:

Just looked thru your latest book, Antique Lamp Buyers Guide (Third edition just released in March),and I couldn’t find a picture of the horse lamp that I have. It has a horse with a rider sitting sideways ON IT and THE HORSE IS DRINKING from a trough that has a light in it. The lampshade is also lit. Can you give me any idea what it might be worth or where I might find a picture of it or something about it? Thank you for any insight you might give me or helpful hints to find out info about it. Thanks so much. The Ruth in my email address is now in Heaven (2/20/2012) Now I live alone after almost 64yrs.
The base of the lamp must be made of iron or steel as it weighs 12Lbs, ht. is 20 ¾” , the shade is 8 ¼”, the base is 9 ½”long & 6 ¼” wide, horse & rider are 8 ¾” high. I don’t know what OTHER SIZES I CAN GIVE YOU. I would really appreciate it if you could give me some idea of it’s value. God bless you. Thank you for your help!
Sincerely, Gordon S.

Response:
Dear Gordon,
My condolences on your wife’s death. It sounds from your email as though you had many fine years together.
In reference to your lamp, you have what is referred to as a figural lamp that in some respects is a cross between a cast sculpture and a lamp. Back at the start of the 20th century, cast bronze sculptures were fashionable and if you could not afford a bronze casting, then maybe you could afford to buy a less expensive version made of what is called “pot metal” and alloy mixture of iron, steel, lead, and whatever was available. (That’s why your lamp is so heavy!)
When electricity was first available, early bulbs emulated very little light but they could create a mood and they could light something like colored glass or be used in place of a flame in a small figural statue that depicted a woman holding a torch.
In your particular lamp. the illumination is in the leaf canopy of the tree, which looks more like a roof and also near the base in the water trough. The glass pieces are called slag glass and they were made in many different colors. Based on the attire of the man, the lamp looks like it is from the 1920s. Without knowledge of a signature or any sort of marking, it is difficult for me to give an accurate appraisal as to the value of your lamp because I’ve never seen one exactly like yours. So all I can do is “guestimate” and say what price I would mark your lamp if I were asked to price it for a sale. If it is structurally sound, with not dings, cracks, or chips to the metal or glass and the wiring is safe and sound, I would value it from $300 to $450.
If anyone out there on the internet, who reads this blog, has encountered something similar at a different price, please let us know and I will relay the information to Gordon.
Enjoy your unusual lamp.
Sincerely,
Nadja Maril

Kerosene Lamp Appraisal

Dear Nadja,
After reading the above post regarding Kerosene Lamps and observing the picture I noticed that the Kerosene lamp to the left is quite similar to one that was left behind when my Great Grandmother passed, but hers has decorative silver, and an emblem that I do not recognize I do not know how to leave a picture but would like you to see it. Maybe you could give me some background and also curious if worth anything.

Thank You
C.S.

Sometimes context can be deceiving. A lamp belonging to a senior citizen does not necessarily make the lamp an antique. In style, your lamp is fairly pedestrian. It’s meant to be a practical kerosene lamp, made with clear utilitarian glass. These lamps are still being made today for use on boats and in rural areas where there is no electricity or frequent power outages. A visit to some online auctions shows showed a number of similar lamps selling for between $7 and $12. A company incorporated under the name Lamplight Farms was founded in 1996 in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin and parts, including wicks for Farms Lamplight lamps can be purchased from B & P Lamp Supply– founded in the 1950s. My advice would be to enjoy the lamp for its sentimental value. I hope it brings back fond memories of your great grandmother.

Good Reviews for Newest Lighting Book

It’s always gratifying to get positive reinforcement from another expert in the antiques field. So, remember that although it is tempting to take shortcuts. it always helps to do some serious research and that means reading some books!

New Antique Lighting Book Just Published

Learn to identify antique lamps. National authority on late 19th and early 20th Century American Lighting Nadja Maril has a new book, just released by Schiffer Publishers— the Updated Revised and Expanded Third edition of her popular reference book “Antique Lamp Buyer’s Guide”— now available at major booksellers and online. The 144 page softbound book with updated price guide widely used by collectors and professionals, is a must-have for any antique or decorative arts reference library.

Maril, currently editor of Chesapeake Taste magazine, at one time exhibited at 20 trade shows a year around the country and saw clients by appointment. An Annapolis resident since 1985, she has gradually shifted her focus over to writing and editing fulltime, but still occasionally consults on some antique lighting related projects. “ I wrote the book to make sure people are getting a good value when they decide to invest in an antique lamp,,” says Maril, “ there are still some lovely examples of antique American lighting if you look in the right places and do your homework.”

There’s a lot of great information on this blog, to help you learn more about antique lighting and antiques in general. But nothing can replace a good reference library, if you take antiques seriously.

How Much Are My Grandmother lamps Worth?

I recently received the following message on facebook….

Hi Nadja,
Remember me? I’m Bill K’s friend. I remember that you are an expert on antique lamps. Will you please help me figure out if these lamps I got from my grandmother are worth anything? I have more pics but here is one.
Thanks,
S.H.

It’s hard to tell anything from an out of focus photo, particularly when looking at porcelain lamps. These types of items are judged by texture, feel, and the all important mark on the bottom. Just a general observation, but I’m going to guess that these lamps are from the 1940′s or 1950′s and that they were meant to go in a French provincial style living room. But this is just a guess based on what I can see in the photo. As to their value? They are probably not “real valuable” but would be valued to someone who likes them if they are in excellent condition. While you can find some very inexpensive table lamps these days, for as little as $25 per lamp, if you were looking to find something in this style a decorator might charge as much as $250 for the pair.
Hope my comments help. Good luck!

Coach Lamps and Consolidated Glass Co. Fixture

Nadja,
Attached are two images of the lights. Both are in excellent condition with no glass chips or cracks. The chandelier brass has been polished and clear coated I think. I am not certain but I expect that the coach lights (they are a pair) have also lost their original (black?) paint. The coach lights were from my mother’s family funeral home coach. Her great-grandfather started the funeral business in the 1850’s , and was the first to use embalming in Ohio!
I recently was able to look at the chandelier again, and found: “ 40719 PATENT MAY 31, 1910” pressed into the glass rim of the large main globe. I found no markings on the coach lamps. I look forward to hearing from you.
I have more photos.
Thanks,
Chip
Response:
I can give you a little bit more information about the grape “blow-out” glass chandelier than I can about your lovely carriage lamps. The carriage lamps are often sought after by folks who are restoring old carriages for museum and historic house exhibit purposes. Designed for use with kerosene and wick perhaps, I’m not certain whether or not they were painted black but I suppose that would be appropriate for a funeral coach.
A own the sister to your chandelier and it was actually on the cover of the first edition of Antique Lamp Buyer’s Guide. The glass globes were manufactured by the Consolidated Glass Company in Coraopolis Pennsylvania. Some of their work is often confused with the blown-out shades created by the Pairpoint Glass Company in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The brass metalwork design of your fixture is not quite as elaborate as mine, however the price range in the current edition puts the value at between $2600-$3800.

How to Pack Away Your Antiques

This weekend Hurricane Irene came to town. She forced me into my basement to assess the safety of my antique lighting collection, primarily stored in the basement. If anyone out there in internet land wants to buy an antique lighting collection, just give me a holler via email or blog reply , but until that happens, I am the proud caretaker of various shades and lamp parts for late 19th and early 20th lamps. My son has been packing up his apartment to move to a new job, and he was asking my advice on how to pack dishes, which reminded me how little people know about safe packing protocol. So here are a few tips.
1) Strong waterproof containers that can withstand a flooding situation are imperative. If you buy containers that are all the same size they are easy to stack in your garage, basement, or when moving them in a van or truck.
2) You want to wrap your items in something which will provide protection and padding, so if jostled they will not bang against one another. Newspaper is the material of last resort because it turns your fingers black when packing and becomes yellowed and brittle with age. If you have the time, the best packing stuff are the hospital pads that are cotton and blue plastic–designed to protect the bed from “accidents”. You can order them online. They cost approximately $45 for a box of 200. If you can’t find those pads, then I recommend rolls of bubble wrap combined with sheets of white newsprint that are often available places that rent trucks for moving or at a printing plant. To economize, you can also use old towels, sheets, or old T-shirts.
3) Never pack the box or bin to the very top, because if you put weight on top, the items pressing against the lid will snap and break. Always try for approximately one to two inches of insulation at the bottom and the sides. I usually leave six inches at the top.
4) Label everything on the top and on the side where you can easily read the contents of what is inside each tub!

Is it an Antique?

While an antique is supposed to be at least 100 years old, many of the items for sale in antique shops are not that old. To many folks, antique is something no longer used. With that definition, a record player made in 1970 could be an antique. No one ever plays records on a turntable unless they have an old record. Do they? But 1970 is only 41 years ago, which doesn’t even qualify as semi-antique.
Semi-antique is a term often used with oriental rugs signifying that a rug is 50 to 75 years old and of an earlier vintage.
We have the other category “collectible” which describes something that people value because it was either made in limited quantities and now prized, or because it is a good example of an item that people like to collect and also limited in availability.
Some “collectibles” are part of a created market, for example collectible Christmas plates.
With the advances in technology, certain items are going out of fashion at a faster rate than in previous centuries. Typewriters, eight tracks, VHS tapes, slide rules, cameras with film, transistor radios.. the list goes on and on. Will they be collectibles? Well they are not something you are likely to want to display but the old LP covers are nice. The advertising posters for some of the aforementioned items are future collectibles can be attractive. And yes when any of the above mentioned items or a game from our childhood reach 100 years old they will be antiques.

Appraising an Antique Lunch Box

Dear Ms. Maril,

I was reading in the Annapolis Magazine and saw your article about collectible Lunch Boxes. The green one with the wooden handles that you showed is like the one I found at my fathers home after his death. It is not in as good shape. I was wondering if you would tell me any more information on the this box, like age, where it was made and by who. I did not see anything on my box that would give me any information on this item.

Thank you for your time
B.A. Annapolis

Your father’s lunch box is most likely from the mid 20th century, probably the 1930s or 40s. During the depression, if you had a job, you would certainly want to economize by bringing your lunch from home. The metal construction discouraged insects from getting inside and could withstand a lot of wear and tear. The battered condition indicates it was put to good use. Other than telling you it was made in America, I cannot identify a particular manufacturer. As to value, this particular style is not as appealing to collectors as the boxes with movie stars, celebrities, and child-related illustrations such as ducks or nursery rhymes. So the box is in the $10 to $30 range, depending on condition. These boxes are great for storing things like old tools. Blog readers, you can read the original article and other antiques columns at http://www.WhatsUpMag.com.