Marks, labels and maker’s names add to the value of any antique or collectible. A label usually gives positive identification of the maker and clues to help a collector determine the piece’s age.
But be careful about trusting all that you see or hear. In the past year, we have seen fake pottery vases clearly marked with the raised trademark “Roseville,” new dishes stamped with the old green Nippon mark, pieces of new scrimshaw decorated with ships and mermaids and the date 1824, and furniture with the Gustav Stickley mark added.
We have heard dealers claim that a poorly made, unmarked piece of jasperware was made by Wedgwood. A new dinner plate picturing a plane and a black pilot is being sold with the 1920s Buffalo pottery mark.
Sometimes an unmarked piece is “attributed” to a famous maker. Auction catalogs often use that term as part of the description.
“Attributed” means that someone has researched the piece and made an educated guess about who made it.
If you are considering a purchase, always ask the seller about the attribution. Is the hardware on the piece marked with maker’s initials? Are the carvings or decorations the same as those on a marked piece? Is an identical piece of glass pictured in an old manufacturer’s catalog?
When judging the value of a piece, always consider the quality of the workmanship and the design.
Q–My son dug up an 8-inch bottle at a construction site. The bottle is dark blue and in the shape of a poodle holding a circle. It has a rusted metal cap and is marked “Des. Pat. 89968.” How old is the bottle? What was it used for?
A–Sham-Poodle bottles were made in cobalt blue or amber glass and once held dog shampoo. The design patent number dates it to 1933. A label was glued in the circle the poodle is holding.
Q–My 6 3/4-inch cigar humidor is made out of painted glass and is marked “Wave Crest.” It’s off-white and decorated with flowers and leaves. A sponge can be placed in the lid to humidify the cigars inside. How old is it and who made it?
A–Cigar humidors are collectible no matter who made them. You have a Victorian art glass treasure manufactured by the C.F. Monroe Glass Co. of Meriden, Conn. It is worth about $1,000.
Monroe made Wave Crest ware from 1892 until sometime before it closed in 1916. It bought glass blanks from other companies, including Mt. Washington-Pairpoint. Monroe hired talented artists to paint the glass.
Q–I recently purchased what I thought was an ironstone china-covered butter dish. Now my mother tells me what I bought was a soap dish. Who’s right?
A–Butter dishes are square or round, not rectangular. They have medium to high domed lids. Homemade butter was shaped into a round mold, and the dishes were made to fit the mold.
Soap dishes are either oblong or oval to match the shape of a bar of soap. They have lids that are just slightly raised.
We once thought the number of holes in the dish’s liner was a clue, but it’s not. Both butter dishes and soap dishes can have liners with one or several holes.
Those are a few guidelines to help you, but understand that there might be a few exceptions to the rules.
Q–My silver metal piggy bank is marked “Napier Company.” What did the company do?
A–The Napier Co. of Meriden, Conn., made jewelry and metal pieces by the 1930s. A pig bank, clown bank, cocktail shakers and ice buckets were among their most popular products.
For appraisals, contact an auction house or antiques dealer.
