Author: Donna Welch

Dear Donna,

We have accumulated inherited Christmas balls and other decorations from family. It’s time now for a new look, so we’re looking to see if there is a market for these. Thanks, Donna, for your feedback.

Colleen

Dear Colleen,

Old Christmas-related items are very collectible, from 100 years old through the 1970s and even some modern ones as well.

As long as your hand-painted Christmas balls are in good condition paint-wise and have no broken pieces or cracks you shouldn’t have a problem finding them a new home. The more unusual the design and the more intricate detail the better.

The value of Christmas balls like yours is a few dollars each and up. So you have a little treasure there. Should be in the $200 range for the lot.

All the family memories, though, are priceless!

I hope this gave you some help and you find all of your collection a new home.

Donna

Dear Donna,

I have a few old gloves from when my dad was a kid. Can you advise me how to research them for any value?

Thanks

Dan

Dear Dan,

Although sports items are not something I have dealt with much. I can tell you that one old glove can be worth $10 and another thousands. So research is important to determine values.

I think I would also bring them to either a sports store or antique shop that could help. Age, maker, signed, condition are all factors in valuation.

One last thought is doing research online. Be very careful if you choose this way. It can be easier but comparing one to the other is really tough. Mistakes easily happen and incorrect values happen frequently. Once you have identified the gloves, then online might be a more accurate way to determine a value.

I hope this gave you a helpful direction, Dan, and thanks for sharing with us.

Donna

Note: When you find old gloves leave them in the condition you found them in. Let a collector do the cleaning and restoration.

We have inherited this fish. It belonged to my uncle, who had many stuffed fish. Are there local collectors for such items?

My husband and I thought we might like them in our home. They are not working for us.

Thank you for any information you can share with us.

Cathy

Dear Cathy,

Your taxidermy fish looks like a bass. And I would say yes to at least this one and probably all of your uncle’s fish. The condition of each one will determine the value.

When it comes to collecting anything related to fishing — fish, poles, reels, etc. — there is a strong collector’s market. Some taxidermy fish can bring into the four-digit range along with related items.

First thing I would do, Cathy, is bring them either to a sportsman’s store or antique shop. This is to determine the condition of each and identify them.

After getting as much information as possible, they should be able to come up with an approximate value for you. They might even be your buyer. Taking the time, Cathy, will be worth it. Your bass is in the range of $100 in good condition. Some could even be higher. I hope I helped and your inherited fish bring you a treasure.

Dear Donna,

I Enjoy reading your articles in The Hippo. Can you give me some advice?

I just started collecting old bottles. I’m wondering how to get rid of the white cloudiness inside and outside.

Hope you can help.

Thanks.

Eric

Dear Eric,

Thank you for reading The Hippo and my column.

I learned a lot myself trying to answer your question. This is what I found.

First, bottle collecting is fun and sometimes can be very financially rewarding, with education.

Cleaning bottles to remove lime buildup and dirt can be a hard, time-consuming job. Well worth it, though, for a clean result.

Here are a few things to try at home:

Soaking them overnight in just a mild soap.

Adding a vinegar mix to the inside.

Using rice as a mild abrasive inside.

Finally — but be careful and follow instructions — using CRL liquid. It’s made to remove lime, calcium and rust.

Never use steel wool or anything abrasive, to avoid scratches to the glass.

Eric, I really enjoyed answering your question. I hope this helped and good luck with bottle collecting and cleaning.

Donna

Hello, Donna,

Can you help me by telling me what this is? My wife says a wax stamp for envelopes. It’s 2 1/2 inches long and has a design only on one end.

Thanks for any information.

Eric

Dear Eric,

Thanks for the photos and question.

What I believe you have is a potter’s chop, which is basically a potter’s mark or stamp. It would be imprinted into the clay to identify who made it.

The value is the tough question. It really depends on whether the artist is well-known, the age, style of work, etc. Some can be extremely high in price on the market, but you really have to know who it is.

I did talk to a couple other people about yours and got a starting value of at least $50. Remember though, Eric, it could be much higher. It really would be like a needle in a haystack to find out, possibly trying an appraisal auction place like Skinner in Bolton, Massachusetts. That too is only a possibility. The other thing is it could just be a stamp design.

I hope this was helpful, Eric, and I will keep looking into it as well. Thanks for sharing an interesting piece.

Donna

Hi there, Donna.

My name is Jessica, and I happened to catch your section in the Hippo.

My father-in-law, who is in his mid 70s, gave me some of these treasures. From what I understand, some belonged to his mother, grandmother, along with his great-grandmother.

Some of the cases alone are fantastic.

I’m not sure if these things are of any monetary value, but they are treasures, no matter. I hope you enjoy looking at them and I would be interested in any input or feedback you may have on them.

Jess

Dear Jess,

Nice lot of Victorian jewelry. Your father-in-law passed you some nice family pieces.

Jess, most of the items in the photos you sent are not gold (the pins, earrings and watch fob). The two rings in the jeweler’s boxes I would say are either 10kt or 14kt. They would be marked inside the bands.

Even though the pins would be gold filled (gold over metal) they still have value for being from the Victorian era (mid to late 1800s). They also look to be in good condition and that helps for values.

The Puss in Boots watch fob (holder) is also gold filled.

Jess, as far as values go, I would think all the pins are in the $40+ range each. Earring set $25. Two gold rings would depend on stones and gold level. So you should bring them to a jeweler to get an accurate value.

The watch fob would be in the $70 range.

I hope this was helpful, Jess, and thanks for sharing your treasures.

Note: Even the Victorian jewelry store boxes have value to jewelry collectors as well.