A carriage used for something other than baby!

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.

sent for identification

Thank you for all the compliments regarding “What’s Up? Eastern Shore. In response to your questions, when I once had an antiques store up in New England, I had and sold a very similar late Victorian oak sideboard. However yours is much nicer in that it has the handsome lion’s head carved in the center between the top drawers (as far as I can tell from the photograph.) The style was very popular in the late 1900’s until about 1910 and various versions of sturdy solid oak furniture were made by a variety of mail order companies including Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward.
This was a transitional time, when machines were able to do some of the decorative work on furniture and individual pieces of machine carving was glued and pegged into place while other sections might still have been individually done by hand. ( It is hard to tell without an examination in person),
I can tell by your photo that you have a nice mirror of bevelled glass, With the passage of time, many of these original mirrors have been removed from the sideboard, so the fact that yours is in tact adds value.
Golden oak is the finish of your sideboard and while many of these pieces were copied in the 1970s and 80s, your is an American original.
Enjoy!
–Nadja Maril

Last week a soldier’s first edition of “The Federalist Papers” sold for $80,000 and edition of “Common Sense” sold at auction for $56,000. That’s over $1.2 million.

Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas was pleasantly surprised by the positive buyers’ response to their recent Rare Books and Historial Manuscripts auction that included a 1st edition of the Federalist Papers. When the piece hammered at $80,000 ($95,600 with Buyer’s Premium) the applause in the room wasn’t only for the greatness of the lot, but also for the recipient of the full hammer price: Captain Nathan Harlan, an Indiana National Guardsman preparing to ship out for his second tour of duty.

Prior to the auction the lot had been conservatively estimated to bring $8,000-12,000, but the price rose amidst a flurry of international publicity and multiple bidders. Before the auction Heritage offered to waive its previously agreed-upon, customary seller’s commission in a show of support for Captain Harlan and his upcoming deployment; he gratefully accepted the offer.

“I can’t thank you enough for all of your help,” Captain Harlan wrote to Heritage. “You not only made special arrangements for me to receive the money because I will be overseas when settlement day comes, but you also waived the seller’s fee. That’s unbelievable in this day and age.”
The winning bidder is from the Baltimore, MD area.

“We have been moved and amazed by the reach of this story,” said James Gannon, Director of Rare Books at Heritage Auction Galleries.

Early American history showed sustained strength throughout the auction, especially in the form of an historic second edition of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, which brought $56,760, and a 1663 document signed by Mayflower pilgrim John Alden, the man widely credited as the first to set foot on Plymouth Rock, which went to an erudite collector for $15,535.

Superb examples of first edition fiction tomes were in great demand during the Rare Books section of the auction with a trio of books whose publication dates span the better part of 135 years. Chief among these books was the most recent, and certainly the most famous to modern day audiences: A first English edition hardcover copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, just one of an estimated 500 from the original printing, brought $29,875, showing the continuing strength of the premiere run of this popular series.

A remarkable first edition first impression of Charles Dickens’ masterpiece Great Expectations, in the original cloth no less, brought $23,900 from a determined bidder, while a first edition first printing of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ American classic Tarzan of the Apes, in its original dust jacket – one of just 5,000 original copies printed – rose to the occasion with a price of $20,912.

Two more intriguing lots finish the Top 10 of the Heritage June 16 event: The original Fort Knox Bullion Depository blueprints and a singular archive of writings from mid-19th Century Supreme Court Justice John McLean, spanning four decades (the 1820s through the 1850s) of his notable life. Both lots respectively brought $6,572.
It just goes to show you, that even in a weak economy, unusual items still sell for a lot of money!

Vintage Toy Soldiers in Good Condition

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.

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.

Charnwood, a discontinued pattern by Wedgwood

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.

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.

The underside of one of the cast soldiers.

Thank you!
M. H.

Thank you M.H. for your interest in learning more about antiques and sharing your photos. (Bloggers, if you’d like to read the original article the writer is referring to, please go to www.WhatsUpMag.com and look in the Antiques department in the Home section of the content listings. You’ll find other articles about antiques there as well.)
In answer to your question, you have inherited some collectible soldiers, but I am dubious as to their “great value”. From what I’ve seen, the more valuable soldiers consist of large sets, in excellent condition, with the original box. Your soldiers look well worn and well loved.
I do not, however claim to be a specialist in the field of antique toy and model soldiers. The best course of action I’d recommend is to do further research by consulting some reference texts on the topic. If there is any markings that designate a particular company or at least let you know whether or not the soldiers were made in America, that will get you started.
Even if you find that your soldiers are only in the $25 to $65 price range for the group; you have some heirlooms to pass down to your children with happy memories attached.
All the best-
Nadja Maril

This email was sent in response to the article published in print and online

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.