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Discover Mid-America — October 2004
How old is this hall tree?
 |
Q. I rescued this oak coffee table from the crusher. It has maker
marks underneath, of a rose perhaps, two intersecting triangles and a
circle. The applied top is made of wood sheets sandwiched together. The
bottom of the drawers is particleboard. How old is it and value? —D.M.,
Kansas City, MO
A. Your lamp table, in the French Provencal-style, was probably made in
the 1960s when the 18th century style was again popular and mass-produced.
Plywood was in use in the late 19th century. Particleboard is
20th century.
Q. This hand-painted coffee pot and four demitasse cups are marked
Nippon with a green wreath. The subject is a lake scene with swans. I
would love to know the value. —L.P., Staten Island, NY
A. What you have is a Chocolate pot set. The Japanese green wreath
mark gives it a shop value of
around $700.
 |
Q. I have a cut glass punch bowl and stand like the one pictured in
your article. I can’t find a signature. Where and how should I look
for it? —R.S., Kansas City, MO
A. Finding a signature on cut glass can be tricky. The obvious places
to look are on the smooth sections. Signatures were acid-etched. A rubber
stamp with the maker’s name was applied with a pad saturated with
an acid formula. The result was a milky white mark. Over time many have
worn off. Use a magnifying glass. Pedestal pieces can have signatures
on the top edge of the foot, the under rim of the foot or the inside center.
Q. I have never seen anything like this dressing table and chair with
an attached, adjustable mirror on the back. A sticker on the back notes
The Rockford Frame and Furniture Co., Rockford, ILL. —E.S., Centro,
AL
A. This piece of furniture would have helped a lady select a hat...from
all angles, in the millinery section of a 1920Ős department store. Once
common, itŐs now a unique piece and could sell in an antique shop for
more than $400.
Q. I can't find any information on this rocker with the curved arms
and wood circles underneath. —G.K., Glasgow, MO
 |
A. This style of bentwood rocker was first made around 1850 by a German,
Michael Thonet, along with other pieces including tables and side chairs.
It has been copied over the years. If yours is 19th to early 20th century
it could sell in a shop for nine hundred dollars or more.
Q. My grandfather made this table with the inlaid wood design around
100 years ago. What was this procedure called? —A.C., Staten Island,
NY
A. The technique used to make the beautiful inlaid motif is marquetry.
Which used different types of wood veneers. It was popular in America
from the 1840s thru the 1860s and became a popular home craft later adapted
by furniture makers such as the Herter Brothers.
Q. Can you give me an idea of the age of our hall tree? It
has the original mirror, cast iron drip pans and finish. And what is the
value? —B.H., Apollo, PA
A. It dates to the 1870s and could sell in a shop for $3,000 or more.
Q. I bought this gravy boat and under plate for $12 at an antique show.
On the bottom it says semi Royal porcelain, Wedgewood & Co, England
and Raleigh is the pattern name. When was it made and what is the value?
—W.H.K., Woodstock, GA
A. First of all, are you sure of your spelling? Proper spelling is Wedgwood.
Pieces marked Wedgwood, England were made after 1905. It could sell in
a shop for $50.
Send
your question about your favorite antique to
THE ANTIQUE DETECTIVE,
c/o Discover Mid-America
104 E. 5th St.
Kansas City, MO 64106
Email: editor@discoverypub.com
> Antique Detective Q&A Archive — past columns
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