Value of Antique Wicker Buggy

A carriage used for something other than baby!

I had E-mailed you after your article on wicker in the July 2009 What’s Up Annapolis magazine and gotten your reply that you would need to see pictures of my 1905 antique wicker baby buggy in order to assign an approximate value. I appreciate so much your willingness to help me! You stated you would reply in your blog.

As you can note from the pictures, we are using the buggy as a sort of “cabinet” for sound entertainment equipment. The wheels only show in one of the photos, but I think you can ascertain enough from the pictures to determine what you need to know. Also, would you have an idea what sort of care we should be giving the buggy as to keeping the wicker supple?

Thank you SO MUCH for your assistance.

Sincerely,
S. T.

For readers who have not read the article on wicker, please go to www,WhatsUpMag.com and look in the Home/Antiques section of the site.

Response:
Wow, I’ve never seen a wicker baby carriage used quite the way you are using it. It appears to be a focal point in your home and you are enjoying it. Usually these antiques are used for display purposes for a doll or teddy bear collection.
The white paint appears to be recent. Based on its vintage, the wooden handle. and the wheels this was probably a natural wicker, perhaps with a two tone decoration. I cannot tell from the equipment placed inside, what is the condition of the interior.
From a value standpoint, the more original an item is, the more value it has. I am going to make a very general estimate and state that your carriage is approximately worth (based on visual imagery only) between $175 and $275.
In response to your question regarding preserving the wicker, I think the temperature conditions are most pertinent. Any extreme swings between hot and cold or dryness and dampness will cause the wicker to expand and contract. Try to keep your buggy in a room where the humidity and temperature is fairly constant.
Enjoy, what seems to be a family heirloom.
N.M.

Appraising Value of Toy Soldiers

Vintage Toy Soldiers in Good Condition

Nadja,

Hi! Our organization is having a silent auction as a fundraiser and someone donated iron toy soldiers to us. I read an article you wrote and wanted your advice on the value of them. Every piece is made of iron. I have cannons, cannon balls, powder kegs, shovels, soldiers on horseback with ponytails on their hats, hats with wings, and soldiers on horseback with flags and hats with a pointy front. I also have every type of foot soldier and horses by themselves. Can you give me an idea of the value of these things or tell me where to look? Thank you so much for your help!!!

M.S.
Education Alliance

http://www.whatsupmag.com/home-garden/antiques/08-11-25/Antique_Toy_Soldiers.aspx
The above link should take you to the article.
A question was also sent to this blog on the topic in November of 2008, so there are a lot of folks out there with metal toy soldiers. It sounds as if you have an incredible donation and you can probably increase the value of the bid if you can give some history on the collection and its relationship to the previous owners. Referred to as provenance, the ownership history can greatly increase the value of an antique or collectible. As to the basic value– while there are reference book/price guides I’d suggest thinking in terms of counting up the pieces and multiplying by 10 to work up a base price and then adding another $100 on top of that for your charitable cause. If you are looking for a reference point, I’d recommend http://members.upnaway.com/~obees/soldiers/links.htm.
The best of luck and I hope you raise a lot of money for your cause.

How to sell Antique Silver Flatware

Nadja,

I would like your advice on the best way to sell sterling flatware. I am interested in selling a set of Stieff Rose. Here’s a description of what I have.

78pc STIEFF ROSE PATTERN STERLING SILVER FLATWARE SET

Presented is a fine 78 piece sterling silver flatware set by Stieff. The set is done in the Stieff Rose pattern which was first produced in 1892. The knives, hollow handle carving fork, and servers have sterling silver handles and stainless steel blades. All other pieces are solid sterling silver.

The set includes:
• 8 dinner knives: 8 7/8 inches long
• 8 forks: 7 inches
• 8 salad or dessert forks: 6 inches
• 8 soup spoons: 6 ½ inches
• 8 teaspoons: 5 7/8 inches
• 8 small teaspoons: 5 ½ inches
• 8 flat handle butter spreaders: 6 inches
• 3 hollow handle servers: 9 7/8 x 2 ¼, 9 7/8 x 1 ½, 6 1/8x 1 3/8 inches
• 1 hollow handle carving knife 14 inches
• 1 hollow handle carving fork 11 1/2 inches
• 5 serving spoons: 8 1/2 inches
• 2 iced tea spoons: 7 ½ inches
• 1 butter or cheese knife: 7 1/4 inches
• 1 cold meat (three prong) serving fork: 7 5/8 inches
• 1 berry spoon with repoussé strawberries on the bowl: 8 inches
• 1 sugar spoon: 6 inches
• 1 point tip spoon: 6 inches
• 1 ladle: 6 1/4 inches
• 1 cocktail fork: 6 inches
• 1 2-prong fork: 4 3/8 inches
• 1 butter pick: 5 5/8 inches
• 1 broad flat spoon: 5 ¼ inches
The condition is very good to excellent. Several pieces need to be polished. The pieces are hallmarked on the reverse with Sterling Stieff. The backs are monogrammed with “W”.

I appreciate your advice.

L. W.
Response:

The good news is, the price of silver is going up. The bad news is, fewer and fewer people have time to polish silver and it is never a good idea to put sterling flatware in the dishwasher.
If you have the time, the highest prices are paid for individual pieces by folks who need to replace a missing item from their set, such as an iced tea spoon. You can selling the set, piece by piece on eBay or a similar online auction and the items are easy to ship, as they are not breakable. Set up an account. Wait until the check clears before shipping or only accept money orders.
If you are in a hurry, there are plenty of dealers who inventory large quantities of flatware to sell as replacement pieces. To give you an idea of prices– currently a five piece place setting is listed at $170 but an individual soup spoon is listed at $85. Expect to receive half of the list price from a dealer.
To give other readers some background on the Steiff Rose pattern, which is extremely popular in the Baltimore, Maryland region of the country- the design is characterized by an ornate raised rose pattern. The earlier pieces, probably produced before the factory moved from downtown Baltimore to the Wyman Park neighborhood are slightly larger in size and heavier in weight. In 1979 Steiff purchased Samual Kirk and Sons having previously purchased the assets of the Kirk Corporation in the late 60s. In 1990 Lenox Incorporated purchased Kirk-Steif and still produces the Steiff Rose pattern.

How to Sell Wedgwood Dishes

Charnwood, a discontinued pattern by Wedgwood

Hi Nadja,
I have enjoyed reading your articles in the magazine. I have a set of 8 plus other serving pieces of fine china – Wedgewood the Charnwood pattern. I am interested in selling the set but am not sure how to go about finding a dealer that might be interested in this china. Any ideas?

Thanks,
L.J.

Your inherited set of Wedgwood in the Charnwood pattern is sold by a number of dealers online who specialize in discontinued china patterns. Introduced in 1951, it is a colorful and handsome design inspired by polychrome designs from the late 19th century. If you no longer wish to keep the set of dishes, the pattern was discontinued in 1987, you could probably sell the dishes online. I found a similar set which was being offered for $1200. Individually a dinner plate sells for approximately $60, while a lunch plate sells for approximately $35. Plan on receiving approximately half of those list prices, if selling to a dealer. Consider trying to sell your set online at Craig’s List, Ebay, or through a newspaper classified advertsement.
Regarding your general questions concerning finding appraisal help, please read the previous blog entry.

How to Find an Antiques Appraiser

Hi Ms. Maril,

I am new to the area and was reading the Eastern Shore magazine and noticed an article you wrote on ruby glass and that you attended an art museum opening in Centreville, which is near our house. I was hoping you could guide us. We have several boxes of collectibles, many of them old and possibly antique, and would like to have them appraised before deciding what to do. This includes porcelain dishes, silverware, framed pictures, etc. In the article it mentioned that you are a former antique dealer. We wondered if you could recommend a couple of dealers who may be local to us whom we could call upon?

We really appreciate your help–

S.L.
Centreville, MD

There are so many different kinds of antiques, no one appraiser is an expert on everything. That’s why I would recommend that you first visit some local antique shops and ascertain who is specializing in what type of item. For example, there are dealers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore that specialize in oriental rugs and others who specialize in decoys. Consult with dealers who know about the items you’re seeking to have appraised. Do not pay for an appraisal, if the same dealer is planning to purchase the items.
You’ll also notice that there are a number of pseudo “Antique Road Shows” that give folks the opportunity to get a general appraisal for five or ten dollars. On March 21st and 22nd, such an event (16th Annual Antiques Show and Appraisal Event) is going to take place in Easton at the Waterfowl Building. The proceeds collected benefit the Mental Health Association of Talbot County. (410)-822-0444. This is an inexpensive way to get a general idea on values from experts.
(It’s written about on the Giving Back Page in the current March issue of What’s Up? Eastern Shore). Stay informed on local events by visiting our websiteand sign up for our e-newsletter when you visit the site.

Antique Globes Another Type of Collectible

Remember when teachers used globes of the world to explain about geography? It wasn’t that long ago. My daughter, who is now fifteen, was given a globe of the world when she was six and it seemed like a nifty gift at the time then, but now everyone uses computers to find there way around the planet.

Besides the names and the boundaries of various nations keep changing. This month I wrote my antique column in What’s Up? Annapolis and What’s Up Eastern Shore magazines (November 2008 at www.whatsupmag.com)  about maps, but I didn’t have space to talk about globes.  The older ones, certainly fall into the category of antiques and collectibles.

There are those colorful small tin globes  of the world that were made between the 1920s and 1950s. Small in size that sat atop many school desks and were used for easy reference. The there are the early, and much coveted, leather globes that were crafted and made by hand.  Values can range from a few dollars to several hundred, depending on materials and condition.  For someone who likes to travel they can  make a fine and unusual gift.

How Old is My Antique Miller Lamp?

Miller Lamp

Hi there.. I was wondering if you may be able to answer a question about this lamp I recently acquired from my great grandmothers house. It’s a Miller lamp, about 26 inches high. It’s marked EM& Co 1149 underneath. I haven’t seen it in any old catalogs, eBay, or even your book, that I recently purchased on Amazon. I’m trying to narrow down the exact year. All I have heard so far is anywhere between 1900 and 1920. Have you ever come across this particular lamp? Thanks for any info and for your time.
A.L. Wakefield MA

You have inherited a very handsome lamp by the Edward Miller Company founded in the mid 1840’s and located in Meriden, Connecticut. The company is still in business, so if you want to specifically determine the exact year of manufacture you could try contacting them and see what they have in their files from the early 1900’s. I have placed their contact information for you at the end of this blog entry.
Generally, based on the style and design of your lamp I estimate your lamp was made in approximately 1920. I base this on the simple geometric style of the sillouette cutwork influenced by the Art Deco style. However, there were many overlaps in style influences so your lamp could be as early as 1905. I take it you already examined it for any patent numbers or dates on the sockets or base. These may provide further clues. You can contact the U.S. patent office to look up dates of specific patents, however this only helps approximate age as an older patented socket might be used on a newer lamp.
275 Pratt Street
Meriden, CT 06450 USA
sales@themillerco.com
Telephone:
(203) 235-4474
Want to read more articles on antiques by Nadja Maril? Here is another one you’ll enjoy from the WhatsUpMag.com website. Go to www.WhatsUpMag.com

Unique Case Increases Value of Antique Photos

Mid 19th Century Ambrotypes in gold leafed frames

Recently a reader and colleague shared with me an unusual item- a lovely boxed set of antique photographs. These are no ordinary photographs, they are ambrotypes, popular in the mid 1800’s these were positive images affixed to a glass plate. Often confused with its earlier cousin, daguerreotypes, an image captured on a thin layer of glass. You can tell the difference between the two by holding the glass plate and tipping the image one way. If it is a daguerreotype it becomes nearly invisible, tip it another, and the image pops into view. It is this distinctive “memory ” that makes the daguerreotype recognizable and distinguishes it from ambrotypes and tintypes. To read more about early photography please link to my antique column on the subject at http://www.whatsupmag.com/apr06/antiques.shtml

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One side of Victorian era gutta percha case.

Even more interesting than the images it contains is the box itself, which is made from gutta percha. Popularly used for furniture and jewelry during the Victorian era, gutta percha gets its name from a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. The sap from the trees produced a material that could be molded into the appearance of carved wood and a number of ornate furniture items made by the Gutta Percha Company established in 1847 were exhibited at the Great Exhibition held in London in 1851. Carved brooches, lockets, and beads were made of gutta percha and sold as mourning jewelry. It was even successfully used for golf balls!

Created in a mold, the box gives the appearance of being carved.

As for the value of the box, with molded decoration on both sides and the ambrotypes that are handsomely surrounded by gold leaf decoration still in mint condition- I would place it at between $350 and $500. The box itself is worth approximately $150 and portrait ambrotypes usually start at $50 each and go up depending on condition and rarity of subject. As this is a specialized type of antique, by going directly to collectors or dealers, the seller may have better success obtaining a higher price.

 

 

 

 

 

Depression Glass is An Antique You Can Use

A beautiful turquoise green color, distinguishes this lovely set of what is termed Depression Glass.

A reader just contacted me with the following:
Dear Ms. Maril:
I just read your latest antique column in What’s Up? Annapolis about antiques you can use in the kitchen. I have some dishes I inherited from my grandmother that are very attractive. While they are not actual kitchen gadgets they are nice for serving an elegant lunch or tea. Could you identify them?
RESPONSE:
What you have is a lovely set of swirl pattern depression glass. Mass produced glassware in a variety of pastel colors has become known as Depression Glass because it reached the height of popularity during the Great Depression in the 1930’s. Actually, it was introduced in the 1920’s. The first mass-produced molded glassware made in the United States, it was both festive and inexpensive.
Hold up a piece of your Depression Glass to the light and you will notice numerous imperfections in the glass. These imperfections include air bubbles and lines in the glass called “straw marks.” Depression glass was designed with detailed patterns and produced in colors to hide what would have been very apparent defects.
The most popular Depression glass colors were green, pink, and ruby red. Opaque colors such as “delft blue”, “jadite”, “monax” (which looks like an opaque milk glass), and cremax”, (a creamy beige) were also produced. Clear glass is very common because it was made for the longest period of time, into the 1940s and 1950s, when the pastel colored glassware went out of vogue. Collectors should be aware that some manufacturers have re-introduced Depression glass patterns using the old molds, primarily producing pieces in crystal and pink.
Initially Depression glass patterns sought to emulate the look of Sandwich glass by copying many of the most popular patterns as well as drawing inspiration from 19th century English glass patterns and designs. As the market developed, light delicate patterns evolved as well as more simplified and angular designs, the style we today term Art Deco.
Depression glass is a fun item to collect because many pieces can still be purchased for less than ten dollars. During their era the same pieces sold for a few pennies apiece, and many senior citizens still remember going to the movies during the Depression and receiving a free piece of glassware on “Dish Night.”
“Many advertising items were made of glass,” writes Marian Klamkin in her highly regarded reference book, “The Guide to Depression Glass.” “These ash tray and mugs or other objects could be made to order cheaply and helped promote the sale of many products. Cobalt blue mugs, pitchers, and cereal bowls with a decoration of the photographic image of Shirley Temple, the popular child actress, were packed in cereal boxes to entice the consumer to purchase the product.”
While glass dishes were once given away as advertising premiums, sometimes a complete set with the purchase of a set of furniture, some pieces can be quite valuable due to their rarity. Whereas saucers and luncheon plates are common, items like a covered butter dish or a stemmed iced tea glass are very rare. Generally pieces that were easily broken such as glasses and covered dishes are rare commodities. Combine a rare item with a rare color and pattern and you have a valuable piece of Depression era glass. The current popularity of particular colors and patterns is also a determining factor in the current market values.
To read more articles about antiques by Nadja Maril go towww.WhatsUpMag.com

Who Buys Antique Nutcrackers?

Often when I write about a subject in my monthly antique column in What’s Up? magazines and also published on the website www.WhatsUpMag.com, I receive inquiries from readers seeking to sell an items I’ve just written about.

Such is the case with the following email:

Black Dog both a nutcracker and attactive collectible.

I have a very old dog nutcracker.  It must be at least 200 years old.

 

It has printed on it “Old Dog Tray”.

 

I can’t tell the artist because it appears to have several coats of paint on it.

 

It looks exactly like the picture in your article in Annapolis “What’s up” for July/August.

 http://whatsupmag.com/home-garden/home/0708-antique-dogs.aspx

Do you know of anyone (dealer) who I could take this to in order to learn the value?

 

Thank you.

 

G L

Severna Park, Maryland

Response:
The nutcracker you refer to is a handsome example, but it is approximately 120 years old, not 200 years old. Your nutcracker was made by pouring the molten iron into a mold.  This is a nutcracker that is a product  manufactured in an early factory setting at the start of the industrial revolution, placing it in the late nineteenth century. Earlier hand lever nutcrackers were crafted entirely by hand. Some were made as early as the 1300s and 1400s.

A little cruising on the internet yielded quick results. I found a similar dog nutcracker being offered by a dealer for $325. They dated their piece as being circa 1900.

If deciding to sell your lovely heirloom, expect to receive approximately half of the retail value when selling to a dealer to allow for their profit margin.

Generally fair market value is midway between wholesale and retail price.

For more information about antique nutcrackers, a great website is http://www.nutcrackermuseum.com/about.htm