Author: Donna Welch

Hello, Donna,

Can you provide any information on this black plastic pin? I have provided a few photos to try to help. Thank you in advance.

Jenny

Dear Jenny,

First I want to say thank you for all the pictures. Multiple views help always.

Your pin is from the Victorian Era. Used for mourning times. It is a cameo style (which means the center woman is raised, not recessed into it. That would be considered an intaglio.)

Even though it feels like plastic, it’s most likely Gutta Percha. That is made from a sap from special trees. Very common in that era.

Your pin looks to be in great condition for the age. Remember being a mourning pin it was mainly used just for that purpose back then. It’s a nice piece of history, Jenny.

The value on one like yours would be in the $100 range. Thanks for sharing with us.

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 [email protected], or call her at 391-6550.

Dear Donna,

I am looking for information on this Heywood Wakefield dresser. It’s got a stamp in the top drawer and on the back it says Champagne and a number. I have seen some with low prices and others very high in price. Wondering where mine would be.

Theo

Dear Theo,

Your mid-century (1950’s) Heywood Wakefield dresser appears to be in good, clean, original condition. The Heywood Wakefield Co. goes all the way back to the middle 1800s. It started off as just Wakefield and in the 1920s became The Heywood Wakefield Co. It has an interesting history. The word “Champagne” on the back relates to the color. The number would be the style.

You are right that values are all over the place. Most are in the high range and very collectible today. Condition and surface are important. Dressers would be very desirable in today’s decor.

As long as drawers are structural as well with the condition we can see, I would say the value would be in the $800+ range to a collector. Possibly even higher in another region. I hope this was helpful, Theo, and thanks for sharing with us. Note: If you have or find mid-century furniture try to leave it in the original finish and condition. Once refinished it doesn’t have the highest value.

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 [email protected], or call her at 391-6550.

Hello, Donna.

Can you shed some light on these paintbrushes? Possibly for stenciling. They belonged to a member of my family who was a painter. They seem to not have much wear.

Any information would be helpful. Thank you in advance, Donna.

Linda

Dear Linda,

Your brushes are actually not for painting. They are antique Shaker clothes brushes, made to dust off clothing and coats. They are from the early 1900s and a lot of them made it through to today.

Possibly your family member used them for a purpose related to dust removal in painting. Being made of horsehair, they could be easily used for many purposes.

Most are used today for decorative purposes. The value on them is in the $50 range each to collectors. Thank you for sharing, Linda.

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 [email protected], or call her at 391-6550.

Dear Donna,

Approximately 86 years old. With double bed and vanity, table. This was my parents’ set and I would like to know how much I should ask for it.

Thank you.

Diane

Dear Diane,

Your maple bedroom set appears to be in good clean solid condition.

Being from the 1930s-1940s it’s not considered an antique set. So values would be in the condition and appeal to a buyer.

These sets were meant to last. And if taken care of they did. Like your parents’ set.

The value comes down to who can appreciate it and have use for it. I would say it should be in the $300 range. You couldn’t buy a set today for that! Finding the right buyer could be tough, though, with styles today changing so much.

I wish you luck finding the set a new home, Diane. I hope this was helpful to you.

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 [email protected], or call her at 391-6550.

Dear Donna,

I read your column each week in the Hippo.

I am hoping you could tell me about this porcelain figurine that has been in my family for as long as I can remember. It was brought from East Germany after the war, when my mom and I fled to West Germany. What can you tell me about its origin, age, and worth?

Thank you so much.

Heidy

Dear Heidy,

Your porcelain figurine is sweet. But it’s tough to figure out makers sometimes. There were so many made in Germany, Australia, the U.S., Japan and elsewhere.

The more details in it, the higher the values go.

Your time frame fits a time of mass production for such figurines. So this easily could have been brought over to West Germany with you anytime from the late 1940s through till the wall was built in the 1960s.

The problem with this one, Heidy, is the imperfection on the arm. It would be considered damage and takes away from the value.

A figurine of this size in perfect condition and detail would carry a $40 value in today’s market. Damaged it still is a priceless memory to you and your family.

Thank you for sharing, Heidy.

Donna

Dear Donna,

Is this pink glass old? We found it in my mom’s cabinet while cleaning out. I don’t remember ever seeing or using it while growing up. It’s in good clean shape with quite a few pieces to the set as you can see in the photos. Thank you, Donna, for your assistance.

Deborah

Dear Deborah,

What you have found is a later version of what we call Depression glass. Yours was not from the 1930s or ’40s. It was a later version produced by the Arcoroc Co.

Even though it was produced later and is a less expensive version of Depression glass, today it has a collectible market. Condition is important in all older glassware, so no scratching, chips or cracks.

Deborah, thank you for all the photos. It helps in determining values. I would say your pink swirl dishes would be in the $150 range to a collector as long as the condition is good and clean.

Thanks for sharing with us. I hope your set finds a new place in your home.