Author: Donna Welch

Hi, Donna.

I have nine big bins of Annalee dolls. Many are holiday-themed (Halloween, Christmas, etc.) and they all still have their tags. My late brother collected them from the late 1980s to mid-2000s. I’d like to sell them; the only problem is that they smell of mothballs. I’ve spent the summer adding baking soda to the bins. I’ve taken a few and aired them out, but they still have that mothball smell. There are so many dolls that I don’t know how to deal with this. I know some of them are valuable and I don’t want to throw them out. Any advice? Thanks!

April

Dear April,

Mothball smell can be a never-ending project to remove. Along with many at-home methods, there are many store-bought items that promise to remove mothball odor. I have never had much luck with any, especially when the items have been stored sealed. I might try airing them individually for long periods of time. But with them being collectible Annalee dolls you don’t want to damage them by trying to remove the smell. April, knowing the New Hampshire-made dolls are all different in demand and value, I think I also might try marketing them just the way they are. Let the collectors remove the smell. Try to figure out what might make you happy for a total value. Keep in mind the smell is very significant to values. If the smell stays even slight, it’s just a matter of finding someone who would love them and give them a new home.

Dear Donna,

I have a small collection of Breyer horses. They belonged to my daughter in the 1980s. They seem to be in good condition. Can you provide any information on values and where or who might purchase them? Thanks for your help.

Jana

Dear Jana,

The history of the Breyer horses goes back to the 1950s with the Breyer Molding Co. in Chicago. They did lots of molded animals and then produced the first horse in the 1950s as a clock display piece. Because of the love for horses they took off. They are still collectible and made today.

Each one is marked Breyer usually on the inside of a leg. Different ones have different values, always falling back on popularity, rarity and condition. Take a good look at them, Jana; usually you can find tiny chipping around the ears. If you find some, the values drop significantly. If they are all damage-free then I don’t think you will have any problem finding them a new home.

My suggestion would be to bring them to a local antique shop. They would be able to help you determine if any might have higher values. Also they might be your buyer. People who collect Breyer horses enjoy the older ones, so marketability is good.

I would think you have at least $100 in value for your lot. But keep in mind, wherever you sell them they have to re-sell them.

Thanks for sharing, Jana, and good luck.

Dear Donna,

I have an old child’s school desk. My sister says no one wants them. Can you help me out with some information? I would like to see someone enjoy it again.

Crystal

Dear Crystal,

Your late-1800s oak school desk looks to be in good clean condition. That will help in finding it a new home.

Your sister isn’t right but she isn’t wrong either. Most antique child’s school desks are not very desirable these days. It seems the ones with connected seats are least desirable. There are always exceptions if they can easily be reused. With so many different styles of school desks over the ages, from the 1800s to the mid-century style, some do hold higher values. Rarity, form, makers, and as always condition are important.

Your desk, Crystal, could easily fit back into today’s needs. Even with the slightly slanted top. Being a common style in good usable condition, the value would be in the $40 range. Now you just have to find the new home.

A school desk like this could easily be used for displaying a piece of art work, plants, etc.

Thanks for sharing, Crystal, and good luck finding the desk a new home.

Dear Donna,

I’m looking for a value on my kitchen cabinet. I have decorated with it for over 20 years now. I’m moving and would like to find it a new home.

Thank you, Donna,

Tina

Dear Tina,

Your Hoosier style baker’s cabinet seems to be in very good condition. I don’t think finding a new home will be hard, as long as pricing fits today’s needs.

Hoosier cabinets and baker’s cabinets were popular during the early 1900s. Yours is most likely from the late 1920s or 1930s. That was when the painted ones were popular.

The cabinets were used as a mini kitchen, holding everything you needed for baking and most cooking. Flour, spices, dough boards, sugar jars etc. were all stored within the cabinet.

Back in my younger days the 1980s-ish everyone seemed to collect them and try to collect all parts to complete them. Because of the demand, the values on them were very high for ones in good clean condition.

I think things have changed a bit now and demand is lower. The values seem to be in the $350 range for an original painted one in clean condition. If the accessories are missing it would be less.

Tina, I hope this gave you some information and wish you luck finding a new home for the cabinet.

Dear Donna,

I’m wondering if I could sell these. They belonged to my wife. She used them for bookends. She passed last year and I don’t want to throw them away. I would love to find a new home for them.

Thank you, Donna.

Emile

Dear Emile,

I am smiling though thinking of how your wife used the old shoe forms. She must have been a creative lady.

Even though most shoe forms don’t bring a lot of value, they do have many uses today. As your wife showed us.

The values all depend on age, size, unusual forms and sometimes even makers. An average price for a common adult size matching pair would be in the range of $20 to $30.

So, Emile, I do think you can sell them and someone will find a new use for them. You can try a local antique shop. Remember, though, you will get less because they then have to market them. It sounds to me like it will make you happy just finding them a new home.

Thank you, Emile, for sharing your story with us and thank you for not tossing them.

Dear Donna,

I picked this platter up. I am aware it is ironstone and has some value. It is very discolored. It doesn’t have any damage I can see, though. My question is, can I use it and is it better just for decorative purposes?

Ashley

Dear Ashley,

Ironstone has been around since the early 1800s. It’s an earthenware, which is porous. If the original glaze finish has a slight crack or even a pin hole, moisture from using, washing etc. can get under the glaze and create what you’re seeing as discoloration.

Can you use it the way it is? Yes! It’s been used for many many years most likely in that condition. There are collectors who like that look and ones who won’t have them with any discoloration or damage. So you can decide which way you prefer it, Ashley.

But there are also ways you can get them whiter again. Not sure of exactly the mix but I know it’s peroxide and sunshine. I don’t find long-term it works if you continue to use it. Remember even though your platter looks not damaged, somewhere the glaze is.