Do you have a puzzle?

[grasswire]

An item you've tried to research with no success? Something that eludes Google and eBay searches? Something that price guides don't cover?

If we put our heads together, we might be able to get somewhere. Many hands make light work.

[Vinca]

1. Here's one. About a year ago I bought an old Tiffany storage chest.

It's not just a little silverware chest, but one that used to hold a big sterling tea service and is so big I use it as a coffee table. I estimate it's from about 1910 - 1920. It's got a dark, fumed finish like the Stickleys used during the Arts & Crafts period, but no indicator of cabinet maker. It's lined in mauve velvet and has a tray for smaller pieces and is stamped with Tiffany's name and address on the inside. I've been trying to figure out how much it's worth, but no luck. One antique seller's site has a somewhat similar chest WITH the silver in it, for $188,000. One thing's for certain - I sure wish mine came with the tea set. LOL.

[yy4me]

2. I have seen a few of these chests over the years and

learned from an old time dealer that they were ordered from "custom" cabinetmakers of the period. Tiffany would have contracted with a New York cabinetmaking shop to build the box, form the liners and cover the inside with velvet. The tea or silver services would them be placed in the boxes. I believe they were an option available at the time the silver was ordered from the stores. The applied Brass or Silver plaques were engraved by the Tiffany staff. This engraving was usually done to match the pattern on the silver. The chests were expensive then and command good money today. In good order, I would guess the box is worth a few hundred dollars. Somehow the finish you described sounds a little off. Are you sure that under that "fumed" finish is not Mahogany or Walnut that has discolored with age? If there is felt on the base, can you pull back a corner and see what the wood really is?

Here in the greater Boston area, the boxes were make by some of the old, respected cabinetmaking shops for sale by the finest jewelers and silver retailers in the area.

[Vinca]

7. Thanks for the info. It could very well be an aged finish rather

than fumed, but the color is like that of an old Stickley piece. I imagine it spent decades in someone's attic.

[zabet]

3. Yes,

I have a small piece of pottery/porcelin, vase, what I would
call egyptian revival style. It features a frog battling a
scarab beetle. Sorry about the bad pic, the flash glares on the
finish. Looks better than the pic, has remnants of gold in the
creases on the beetle. It came from the estate of a long time
pottery collector. It was the only piece I could afford. It was
not IDed at the estate auction.

I would be much obliged to anyone who can help ID this piece!
:hi:

[grasswire]

5. any markings?

It's very intriguing.

[zabet]

6. Sorry...I forot to mention it.

There is the number 957 inside a rectangle on
the side (near the bottom) of the rock the beetle
is on.

Again - thanks to anyone who can help! :hi:

[Vinca]

8. I wonder if it's a knife holder or a chopstick holder.

The opening between the frog and the beetle looks like it must be for something. Neat piece whatever it is. We've got to figure this one out!

[zabet]

9. The frog has his mouth wide open

and I always thought that is where whatever you put in him
went. I see what you are talking about - very interesting -
have never thought about it like that. It very well could
serve that purpose. Thanks for your input! :hi:
I do want to add that it feels more like porcelin than like
pottery.

[Whoa_Nelly]

17. I believe what you have there is a Weller Dickensware third line vase

There were three Dickensware lines created by Sam Weller after Dickens' The Pickwick Papers. The second line is the most sought after, and are large pieces. I believe you have a Weller third line, (Dickensware III), and the number represents the piece as numbered in production sequence.

I found the mark in my US Pottery Marks Book by Lois Lehner. It was probably made sometime between 1903-1920.
The beetle is a Stag Beetle.

What did you pay for it?

[zabet]

18. I only paid

$14 for it. No one knew who made it or when it
was made. Any idea of value?
Thanks so much for your info!!!!
:hi:

[Whoa_Nelly]

20. I really don't know what the current price would be

But, if it IS a Weller Dickensware III (also looked up as Dickens Ware Third Line), as seen by the mark in my pottery book, it could have a value of $200-600.

Do you know any decent antique shops? Or are there any antique free appraisal fairs coming to a place or town near you?

Would definitely get it checked out!

on edit: also check out this site:
http://en.allexperts.com

and see if someone there can help you!
Pic taking tip: Use your close up setting on your camera, and set camera on something solid or use a tripod (to avoid blur), and just have good light or take pic outdoors in shade/semi-shade.
If you don't have a close up setting, then set camera on something solid/tripod, take the pic outdoors as stated above, then just crop your finished photo to isolate the frog/beetle.
Lay a ruler in front of it for one pic to show actual size.

[zabet]

21. Thanks so much for the info!!!

And for the pic tips! I soooo suck with this new camera. :P
I did better with the old Mavica with the floppy but it's obsolete now :cry:

The vase has absolutely no damage and minimal wear to the gold accents.
There is no close by appraisers or real antique dealers. We have a slew
of what I call junktique shops but, not any that are truly, soley antique shops.

Again - THANKS so much for your help!!!! :hi:

[Whoa_Nelly]

22. You may want to check into this

if only to have a resource:
http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070611/NEWSREC0101/70610004/1005/NEWSREC0101

You can often get more and/or good info from antiqes dealers
So....Other resources re: antiques in North Carolina:
http://www.antique-central.com/ncarolina.html

[zabet]

25. Thanks again!!

Great links!!! There are some good appraisers less than
2 hours from me!! :woohoo:
I will be contacting them.
Thanks again, the info has been invaluable!!
:applause:

[Whoa_Nelly]

26. If you do get the piece checked out, hope you post about it :-)

As I said, I am only going by what I found in my US Pottery book. I am by no means an expert, but I have been learning about pottery and ceramic pieces for many years. In fact, when I first saw your piece, I thought it may have been 1925-30s Japan, Art Deco. But, it also had the appearance of an end of the Art Noveau period look to it as well.

Once you posted what the mark looked like (rectangle with a number), I knew it couldn't be from Japan, as any rectangle marks on Japanese ceramics usually have a Japanese character or English letter.

The book I used to look up your mark is:
http://www.amazon.com/Lehners-Encyclopedia-Marks-Pottery-Porcelain/dp/0891453652/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-5657995-7783230?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192979540&sr=1-1

Lehner's Encyclopedia of U.S. Marks on Pottery, Porcelain and Clay by Lois Lehner

Lois Lehner has been THE authority on US pottery marks for many years. She recently had been ill, and died a week ago this past Saturday. Prior to her death, she gave Ralph and Terry Kovel her unfinished research so that what her findings and work could continue.

[zabet]

27. I will post when I find out more...

I will definitely be putting
Lehner's Encyclopedia on my wish list.

I get the Kovel's newsletter. Used to love
watching them back in the days when we had a
satellite dish.

Thanks again!

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

4. I have a campaign chest (at least that's what a few people

have told me that's what it's called - it's a tall chest with 7 drawers).

No one knows what kind of wood it is. I got it at an auction & they identified it as probably English or Irish, but probably Irish.

Years ago I was reading a book on antiques & there was an address where people could send a small sample of wood & this group would identify it, but I lost the address & can't even remember what book it was in.

Any ideas on how I could find out what the chest is made of?

[Richard Steele]

10. Here's something I've failed to find satisfactory info on:

This was in a jar of junk and buttons my mom found
at some thrift store and sent to me.

It's an antique "International Order of Oddfellows"
pin. It's hand-engraved, enameled rose gold with a
screw-on back. From the design and construction, I suspect
it dates to the early-mid 1800s. (the screw appears to be
hand-cut, and that skull design looks very "pre-Civil-War"
to me)

But I've never found any real SPECIFIC info, or even
any pieces similar enough to help pin down its age.
Value? Forget about it!

If anyone has any info, or knows of anyone who might,
I'd appreciate your help.

[zabet]

11. It is a fraternal organization.

This ebay item is has similar markings...seller dates it around 1900

http://cgi.ebay.com/IOOF-Odd-Fellows-ROSETTE-1900-glass-brass_W0QQitemZ260172013140QQihZ016QQcategoryZ4011QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Oddfellow info from another listing..
A century ago, long before radio and television brought entertainment into the homes, Elgin was a society of joiners.
In addition to several ethnic, veteran, social and literary groups, fraternal societies flourished. Members were
attracted by their rituals and regalia, the sickness and death benefits they offered, the values they inculcated and
fellowship they fostered.
In the great American republic where everyone was a commoner, the lodges bestowed titles of nobility.
Elgin was the home of the Knights Templar, the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of the Golden Rule, the
Knights of the Globe, the Knights of the Maccabees, the Knights of Tabor, the Knights of Columbus and
the Improved Order of Redmen.
Members voted on the acceptability of those who desired to join their ranks. Rituals, designed to elevate the
membership above the monotony of everyday life, were typically drawn from the Bible or from legends. Secret
hand grips, signs and passwords were customary, and lodge jewelry-watch charms, pins, and cuff buttons was
much in demand. The oldest of these organizations in Elgin, and the largest in membership, was the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
The first lodge, Kane No. 47, was formed by six men in 1849.
Paul Lodge 691 for German speakers was established in 1881,
Althea Lodge 619 was chartered in 1892.
Livingston Lodge 2427 of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, in 1883
The female counterparts to the Odd Fellows were the Daughters of Rebekah.
Samaritan Lodge, the first in Elgin, was organized in 1883.
The women’s Household of Ruth 485 in 1887
Benefits in time of need attracted many members who were often inactive. In 1896 Kane Lodge was paying $2 per
week for the first two weeks during illness, $4 per week for the next 13 weeks, and $2 per week for the next 37 weeks.
Odd Fellows were also assured a decent burial. Their state organization established a home for the elderly members
and their wives at Mattoon and an orphanage at Lincoln.
There were more than 400 Odd Fellows and Rebekahs in Elgin at the turn of the century, and their numbers continued
to grow. They purchased the O’Beirne building, where the Spring Street parking deck stands, and financed the addition
of third and fourth floors for lodge and club rooms.
When this meeting place opened in 1924, the Althea and Kane lodges (Paul Lodge had disbanded in 1918) had more than
1,100 members, although not all were Elgin residents. Samaritan Lodge of the Rebekahs then had more than 500 on the rolls.
Although some churches objected to these societies, there was more to a lodge than ceremony. An Odd Fellows meeting was
like “a school room in which kindness, consideration, courtesy and fellowship are taught.” The motto of the order is Friendship,
Love and Truth, symbolized by three inter-connected chain links, and its mission was to “visit the sick, relieve the distressed,
bury the dead, and educate the orphan.’
Due to the increased variety of recreational outlets, the expansion of commercial life and health insurance firms, and
government social security programs, the number of members in fraternal societies has declined. Rituals no longer have
much appeal, and young people see the advantage in belonging.


I found many of the fraternal items by doing an advanced search on ebay
for odd fellows, searching title and description, searching all categories..
got ove 300 items. Not all were relevant but enough to perhaps date your
piece.

[Richard Steele]

12. Yes, I've learned quite a bit about the organization itself, just not this particular pin.

From the hours I've spent researching, I'm starting to suspect
that IOOF items weren't STANDARDIZED. There's SO much different
stuff for an organization its size, I'm thinking each lodge may
have had its insignia and awards manufactured independently, just
following rough guidelines rather than precise design specs.

If true, that makes it less likely that I'll ever know exactly
what this particular item was for, or when it was made.

But, on the bright side, it raises the possibility that it
might be traceable to not just a particular year, but to
a particular LODGE as well. Which would be fun to know,
to my way of thinking.

[grasswire]

13. I remember that my grandparents belonged...

...to these two organizations. I recall as a small girl being taken to some kind of function where the women were all dressed in formal fussy dresses and did a lot of marching around.

That all-seeing eye is kind of creepy, eh?

[demgrrrll]

14. The skull was also used on Masonic jewelry as a Memento Mori,

Latin I think, remember you must die so live life to the fullest. They used a skull and crossbones on some old German crosses to represent triumph over death or something like that, I think. I love old Memento Mori jewelry.

[Whoa_Nelly]

19. Read some here

I.O.O.F. = Independent Order of Odd Fellows
Odd Fellows used the three links of a chain meaning , F.L.T. which is usually inside the three links of a chain. it stands for friendship, love and truth. They have three degrees also. Also they use a hand with
a heart in it for Charity as do the Masons.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~txcemeteries/symbol.htm

Another link says:
FLT (Friendship, Love, and Truth) see : IOOF <235> Independent Order of Odd Fellows
The three links symbolize the chain that binds IOOF members together and illustrates that a fraternity is strongest when joined together.
The "F" in the first link represents "Friendship", the strongest bond of fraternity that teaches goodwill and harmony. The "L" represents "Love", the basis for all life's ambitions, service to others and family. The "T" represents "Truth", the standard by which we value people and the foundation of our society.
http://doles.org/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=11&theme=Printer


I think the skull and bones means Initiation phase of membership.

Have you ever contacted the I.O.O.F., sent pics and asked them just to clarify the approximate date of the piece?
Maybe if you sent it to one order, someone may know who to contact to get you the date info you want.

Here's a start:
For more information contact: Hon. Dave Rosenberg at [e-mail] (some phone numbers at the below link, too)http://dcn.davis.ca.us/~yoloioof/fall2007.html

[Whoa_Nelly]

15. Bought an old Mexican pot, an "olla", about 6 weeks ago

It's decorated with figures and flora, hand burnished, and the best I can glean from what little I've found through extensive research online is that it's probably from the Tonala, Jalisco, Guadalajara.

I did locate an expert who said she would look at the photos, and get back to me, but so far have not heard from her in three weeks. Just wrote to her again with the hope that she has some tome to give me the help she offered.

Meanwhile, here's a site where you can ask questions about a lot of things, including items that you may need more info on.
http://en.allexperts.com/


and some pics of the olla
(only paid $7 for this at a thrift store!)

[demgrrrll]

23. OOOOOH that is a great pot. I think it is Tlaquepacque. I may be off on

the spelling but the art work definitely looks like the older stuff to me. Look up vintage Tlaquepacque on ebay and get a high to low on completed auctions. I think yours is older than the shiner 40-50's examples.

[Whoa_Nelly]

24. Tlaquepaque and Tonala are near each other regionally

and have seen pieces from Tonala that have similar artistic characteriztions as the creature (coyote?) on mine. But, you may be right re: Tlaquepaque...have thought that, too.
Thanks :hi:

[Phentex]

16. I do! I was given an old, all steel Eureka floor cleaner...

not a vacuum but more of a carpet shampooer or buffer. It says "Instant Foam" on the base. Greenish in color and still works. Looks to be from the 50's or 60's. I've googled everything (model number, etc.) and come up empty. I've looked at vintage floor cleaner sites too. Only thing I haven't done is call Eureka.

Any tips?

Thanks.

[Whoa_Nelly]

28. Does it look anything like this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/1947-EUREKA-WILLIAMS-VACUME-PRINT-AD-L113_W0QQitemZ290034693211QQihZ019QQcategoryZ13596QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

Am sure you already know that Eureka was Eureka-Williams from 1945-1974.
http://www.ristenbatt.com/eu/lux-name.mv?Main_URL=Yes

[Phentex]

29. This one is greenish

and is a floor cleaner with two round scrubber brushes on the bottom. Thanks for the links. I think I may make a phone call and see what they say.

[Vinca]

30. New puzzle: anyone here from the Dayton, Ohio area?

I found an absolutely gorgeous piece of pottery at a church sale last weekend. It's signed "Erbaugh" and there was a card inside it with the name Garry Erbaugh, 205 Grand Avenue, Trotwood, Ohio 45426 on it. There was an email address, but it's no longer in use. All I can find on the 'net is that this guy donated money to a religious retirement community and a picture of a teapot he made on a gallery site that provides absolutely no other information. I'm trying to find out anything about him - galleries he might be in, collections he might be in, etc., and, of course, what the pot is worth. I'm planning on keeping this find. I'll have to see if I can figure out how to put a photo on here so you can see it.

[Whoa_Nelly]

31. Does it look like this?

http://www.innereye.net/artists/erbaugh/index.html

Maybe you can contact someone at the home site of the above link for more info:
http://www.innereye.net/artists/artists.htm

on edit:
http://www.zabasearch.com shows Garry Erbaugh as living in Brookville, OH

http://www.zabasearch.com/query1_zaba.php?sname=garry%20erbaugh&state=ALL&ref=$ref&se=$se&doby=&city=&name_style=1

[Vinca]

32. That's the teapot I mentioned, but the pot I found is more colorful.

Thanks for the info. I already found the innereye site and couldn't make heads or tails of it. I couldn't even find the link to contact anyone.

[Whoa_Nelly]

33. John Toth, the person who put together the Inner Eye site

You may be able to get a link/connection/info to contact through the University of Iowa.
http://itsnt166.iowa.uiowa.edu/uns-archives/2006/september/092206toth.html

The above article gives a lot of info about Toth that may also be helpful re: contact

From the article:
Toth has been a visual arts teaching artist at the Lincoln Center Institute in New York City since 1985. He also teaches art at Hunter College in the School of Education.

here's his email addy at Hunter College:
[e-mail]

And, if you do contact him, perhaps Toth can lead you to more info/contact re: Erbaugh

[Vinca]

34. Thanks. Good detective work. nt

[grasswire]

35. what era are we talking here?

I know nothing about this style.

[mopinko]

36. a book- vintage pornography

i don't have it handy, so i am going from memory, but-
"the modern eveline, the true story of a young woman of quality who was never found out. " it has a plain, light green cloth cover, no markings. it is dated 1903, the publisher is listed as (shit, i forget), something like - the french group for the preservation of erotic entertainment. or some such. it is in fine condition, with a little soiling of the cover, but the pages are white, a nice laid paper. there is one picture, erotic but tasteful, that is loose.
:shrug: the things you find in a dumpster.

[grasswire]

39. sounds quite collectible!

Have you checked comparisons for value?

[mopinko]

40. i have searched this title everywhere

ebay, aliblris, google, nothing, not a sign. i have even asked a couple of rare book dealers, and i get raised eyebrows, and that little glow in their eyes, but no info.
i think i just need to shop it around. there is a big book fair here every year, and i never get down there for it.

[grasswire]

43. I found it

...on abebooks.com. Unfortunately, it was published in two volumes and I think you probably have one volume. Right?

The two volume set is priced by antique booksellers from $100 to $260. If you search "modern eveline" on abebooks.com, you'll find info about printings, etc. Apparently there was a printing of the 1904 edition in the 1930s, and then a new edition in the 1970s.

How many color plates are there?

[zabet]

41. A fellow DUer...

that hangs out in the Lounge...owns a
bookstore. Maybe you could PM them about
your book. DUer: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=user_profiles&u_id=114774
Bookstore link: http://www.xenithbooksellers.com/
Even if they are not familiar with this genre
and/or antique books, being in the book business, they
may know a bibliophile or appraiser that can help you.

[mopinko]

42. that's a good idea.

i have met paul. he is a good guy.

[Vinca]

37. New puzzle!

Today while searching the recycling shed at the local . . . well, you know (dump) . . . I found a rectangular box covered with silk kimono-type silk fabric and a paper label with Japanese on it. It has loop closures with bone hasps. Inside there are several rows of small, clay figurines affixed to the lining. They're like dolls split so you only have the front half and glued to the lining. Each appears to be dressed in clothing from another country. Oddly, the facial features are all Asian. There are paper labels, in Japanese, next to each little figurine. I'm stumped. On a side note, here's something funny. A dealer of some sort must have left some stuff off. I picked up a clear glass container that had a sticker that said, "Vase, $2.00." You won't believe what it was - an old, antique urinal!:rofl: It's kind of a gross item, but I had to drag it home and show my husband that label.

[zabet]

38. I have seen those old glass

urinals mislabled many times.
The last antique/junktique shop
I went into had a price tag of
$18 - I remember this because my
husband asked me who in the hell
would pay $18 for a piss bottle.
:rofl:

[Vinca]

44. I think I figured out how to get a photo on here -

[zabet]

45. That is sooo neat.

My nephew's wife is from Japan. I will
catch him at work tommorrow and get him to
show her the pic. Maybe she can shed some
light on it. As she is neck deep in graduate
studies, it may take a day or two for her to
contact me back.

[Vinca]

46. Thanks!

[Vinca]

47. I have a clue on this item. Someone on an asian art forum told

me the figurines represent the 56 official ethnic groups in China. Still no idea on exactly what this is supposed to be or how old it is.


Oops - guess I won't get rich on this one. Here's the same thing on ebay.http://cgi.ebay.com/CHINESE-NATIONAL-FIGURE-DOLL-56-NATIONS_W0QQitemZ220123875109QQihZ012QQcategoryZ29445QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

[zabet]

48. Looks like you found out quicker than

I got a reply. (saved me a lot of typing LOL)
Nephew's wife said the same thing - -
'official ethnic groups in China', said she was not
sure of the age of yours because she is pretty sure
they have been being produced for many years.
Looking at the label on the ebay one - it is a little
different than the label on yours. Maybe yours is older?
Anyway, if you can sell a freebie for $20, that is still
a pretty good find, IMO.

:hi: Happy Hunting :hi:

edit: I think faster than I can type and my fingers
cannot spell under pressure

[Vinca]

49. Back to searching for that elusive copy of the Declaration of Independence.

:rofl:

[demgrrrll]

50. How would you like to be that flea marketer who sold the picture

frame that had an original copy! I think the guy paid 20 bucks and made what was it? 1.8 million. It can happen!

[Vinca]

51. Well, I'm reasonably sure I didn't find it today, unless it's lurking

behind needlepoint Jesus.:rofl:

[demgrrrll]

53. You never know. It is fun to find cool things though isn't it.

[yy4me]

52. We all keep hoping but I don't compare my efforts to the

Declaration of Independence guy. That story never set well with me. He just happened to find it behind an old print in an old frame. He was a document and autograph collector. Somehow the story doesn't wash with me. Now if we were talking about finding a Faberge egg, or a genuine 18th century Philadelphia tea table...well, then I'd really be pleased with my days shopping..

[demgrrrll]

54. I didn't know he was an autograph and document collector, that does

put a different spin on things entirely, as I recall he presented himself as some lucky old guy who just happened to be in the right place at the right time. What do you think the real story may be?

[Vinca]

55. Sometimes things do stink to high heaven. There was a church auction

at a small town in New Hampshire a few years ago. Parishioners (and this is kind of a wealthy town) donated items for the auction and the church members running the auction would pick them up and store them for the auction. Well, apparently one lady's donation caught the eye of the person picking up the goods. You can read the story for yourself. In the end it was not all "good luck" on the part of the purchasers. Apparently they schlepped the thing to the city to have an expert look at it before bidding. I don't think they were ever charged with anything, but as I recall they were just about run out of town. I guess it seeps to all levels. A volunteer at a local charity thrift shop told me he had found a Tiffany sterling silver bowl on the store's quarter shelf under the junk. A decent person working for the charity would have retrieved it, remarked it and made money for the charity. I suspect this guy planted the bowl. He later sold it for a bundle.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/06/19/church_auction_nets_fortune____for_buyers/?page=1

[demgrrrll]

56. Some things do stink to high heaven. Look at my comment on your

thread about the end of the season. It is really dog eat dog here and some people are completely unethical. I found a watercolor at a thrift shop and it looked like it may have been put aside so I asked the owner and she told me that it was available. I offered to give her my phone number and told her I would bring back the painting if someone had indeed put it aside for themselves. She declined, and I saw her again so I know it was OK but you have to be ethical. Or I do.. That NH painting thing stinks. If you are a dealer you know they knew. That wasn't some shot in the dark. Just my 2 cents.

[Vinca]

57. I finally got around to taking a picture of the Garry Erbaugh pottery

from earlier in the thread. It's kind of an old topic, but I'll post it anyway. I'm still searching for a guesstimate of value.