Author: Donna Welch

Dear Donna,

We were given this carved duck several years ago. Wondering an approximate value now. It is signed and has a company name on it also.

Any help appreciated.

Thank you.

Mary

Dear Mary,

As always I thank you for the added photos, it really helps.

Your carved and hand-painted duck decoy is a Canada goose by the Big Sky Carvers from Montana.

The makers were around from the 1980s to 2010, when they merged with another gift store company.

Falling into the collectible market, decoys are always evaluated by age, maker, artist and quality of work.

I found several Big Sky Carvers decoys to compare yours to. So safe to say it’s in the $200 range in the collectible market.

Nice gift you got, Mary, thanks for sharing with us.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Hello, Donna,

I believe this set of fruit knives and forks may have been a wedding present for my parents in 1939. I have done a little research on the company that produced them; it existed until 1994. Would you be able to determine a value for them? Is there a market for such items? Thank you.

Chris

Dear Chris,

Nice dessert set!

Your Sheffield six-piece dessert serving set falls right into your date frame. They had earlier and later sets; some weren’t stainless steel but were silver-plated. Some even in sterling silver. The set appears to be in really good clean condition with the mother of pearl handles.

Chris, the value is in the $100 range but to find a home is tough. Most of this generation wants simplicity. I might try a local antique shop near you first. Expect less than full value. They have to then find a home. Or possibly online if you have that option.

Whatever you choose , I think the buyer would be getting a nice set!

Thanks, Chris, for sharing and I hope this helped.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Hello, Donna.

Maybe you can help in giving me some information on these coins. They are all buffalo nickels. They were in a change jar belonging to my dad. I could read some of the dates so I shared that with you if it helps. They are in used condition so not sure there is any value left. Any information would be helpful, Donna. Thanks for your time.

Ken

Dear Ken,

Coins are really a specific field. Going directly to a coin dealer is truly recommended. I can provide you some history and guidelines but the final determination should be made by a numismatic dealer (fancy name for coin dealer).

Buffalo nickels have been around since 1913–1938. The values always depend on condition, mint mark, date, etc. So you can have a pile of them but just one can line up right with all of the above and have a high value. In general buffalo nickels had a 25-year run until they were replaced by the Jefferson nickel.

Giving you values without seeing them, as I said, would be incorrect. So I suggest doing a search for a local coin dealer. Then do a historical check for some interesting stories about the coin.

I hope this gave you some good advice, Ken. Good luck with your coins.

I know this isn’t an antique. I was just told not to throw them away because they are collectible. Do people collect and pay money for these?

It’s not a very big nest but solid. Any information is appreciated.

Shanna

Dear Shanna,

What an interesting question, nature-made collectibles.

Whoever told you they were collectible and desired for decorative reasons was right!

I’m sure that older really large complete ones could bring higher values. But I have seen many in the $50-$100 range in decorative shops, antique shops etc. Lots of times values in items are depending on the demand for them.

Good advice given to you, Shanna!

Hi, Donna,

I’m attaching a couple of pics of a ceramic pitcher and wonder if you can tell me its age. I remember it being in my Grandma’s house (in England) at least 70 years ago. The writing says “Better late than never” and I’m pretty sure the maker is Royal Doulton.

Thanks in advance.

Ann

Dear Ann,

Yes, the mark confirms it is a piece of Royal Doulton. Thank you for the extra photos. It always helps.

What you have is a toasting motto jug pitcher dating to the early 1900s. The middle band carries the motto.

Royal Doulton started in London during the early 1800s under John Doulton. Since there are so many different pieces, patterns, etc., values range from under $100 to in the thousands. Your motto jug pitcher in good clean condition with no damage would be in the $100 range.

Thanks for sharing, Ann. Fun piece

Hi, Donna.

The New Boston Historical Society wonders what you might know about an old urn that’s now in the Whipple Free Library. It’s 12 inches tall.

We have a photo made from a glass negative that shows this urn and its twin in our town’s first public library, c. 1890-1900. This library was in one corner of what’s now Dodge’s Store. In 1927 a new library was built, and the two urns plus the clock that’s between them were moved across the street to the brick building that’s now our museum. (You spoke about antique collecting here in September 2011). I saw no maker’s marks anywhere on the urn, including under its base. Thanks for reading this!

Dan

Hello, Dan.

Your silver-plated mantel clock set looked great on the fireplace mantel in the photo you sent. To me that makes it a great piece of New Boston’s memorabilia.

Mantel clock sets were very popular during the late 1800s and early 1900s (Victorian era). Some were simple, some elegant. They were ceramic, silver, silver-plated, etc. I have seen some of the vases that weren’t even deep and were weighted with cement to just appear vase-like. I think your value lies in the maker of the mantel clock and its condition. The one fumed (darkened aged silver look) vase is beautiful but its value is now in being a vase. It’s unfortunate for the loss of the other one.

Depending on age, style, maker, condition and material, values can range from a couple hundred dollars to thousands. But that is for a three-piece set. I think, as is, values could be in the range of a few hundred dollars together.

Keeping both pieces with the photo of the three-piece set is a sweet memory.

Donna Welch has spent more than 35 years in the antiques and collectibles field, appraising and instructing. If you have questions about an antique or collectible send a clear photo and information to Donna at footwdw@aol.com, or call her at 391-6550.

Donna Welch has spent more than 35 years in the antiques and collectibles field, appraising and instructing. Her new location is an Antique Art Studio located in Dunbarton, NH where she is still buying and selling. If you have questions about an antique or collectible send a clear photo and information to Donna at footwdw@aol.com, or call her at 391-6550.