Category: Family Fun

Treasure Hunt 26/09/24

Hi, Donna,

My wife and I own a frame shop and we acquired this piece many years ago. I sent a photo to the Museum of Fine Art in the midst of Covid, but never heard back from them. Can you shed some light on it?

Thanks.

Brian

Dear Brian,

I can try to provide you with some advice for this piece.

I think for you to get an authentic appraisal, depending on where you live, I would bring it directly to professionals who deal in this subject. For yours I would recommend Bonhams Skinner in either Boston or Marlborough, Mass.

There were two eras of this work that was Cuzco style done in Peru, first during the 16th through 18th centuries, and later in the 19th century. Prices vary from around $15,000+ in the first era to up to $3,000 in the second era. So you need eyes on it to get an age determination and assess authenticity in general.

You can get information on both Bonhams Skinner locations online. You can send the pictures but I really recommend a visit directly.

Brian, can you drop me a note to let me know what you found out? Good luck!

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.

Treasure Hunt 26/09/17

Dear Donna,

My sister reads the Hippo weekly. She referred me to you for help.

This is one of a couple bowls my mom had in her house. While cleaning out my sister said to check values before just donating them.

This bowl is big in size, 14 inches across the top. It is marked Texas Ware. I can unpack others if you would like to evaluate them as well.

Thank you for your time, Donna.

Claire

Dear Claire,

Your sister was right to check values! This bowl is a great size melamine plastic mixing bowl. Texas Ware was made in Dallas, Texas. It was very popular during the 1950s and still is today. The melamine plastic was made to last and be very durable for everyday use.

The one thing you have to look for in a value is whether the sheen is gone inside the bowl. Sometimes with heavy use the inside can wear down. This changes the values. As always any damage would lower the value as well.

There is lots of history on melamine bowls and other companies that made them. Imagine a set of three graduated bowls sold for $2 to $3 a set. Now your single bowl has a value of $50+.

Claire, you’re welcome to send more pictures, but you might want to bring the items to a local antique shop. Good luck and thank your sister!

Kiddie Pool 26/09/17

Family fun for whenever

Space and sky

• The annual AerospaceFest at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord will take place Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to starhop.com.

“AerospaceFest is the Discovery Center’s annual celebration of all things STEM and highlights the exciting ways local companies, universities, non-profits, and other organizations are contributing to science and education. These organizations will be spread around the Discovery Center’s grounds and exhibit halls, sharing their work with visitors through demonstrations, hands-on activities, and discussions,” according to the website, where you can find a list of vendors and participants. The Fest will also feature Big Joe’s Big Green Show; “Big Joe the Storyteller presents a show filled with multicultural tales about protecting the environment and making our world a happier and greener place to live,” the website said.

The Center will debut the new planetarium show “Encounters in the Milky Way” with free tickets available, first come first served, at the Discovery Center’s front desk, for screenings at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., the website said. The event is open to all with a suggested donation of $5 per person, the website said.

Wheels & Wings

• Nashua Airport’s Wheels & Wings “A Touch a Truck Event” will take place Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Boire Field with cars, trucks and planes to see and explore, according to the city’s SummerFun brochure at nashuanh.gov. The event will feature a horns-free hour from 1 to 2 p.m. and organizers will collect nonperishable food for End 68 Hours of Hunger, the brochure said. The event, which is free to attend, will feature fire trucks, police vehicles, planes, helicopters, DPW vehicles, electric cars and more, according to a post on Nashua Recreation Department’s website.

Outdoor movie

• Inside Out 2 (PG, 2024) will screen in Derryfield Park in Manchester on Friday, Sept. 18, at 8:15 p.m., according to a post on the Manchester Parks & Recreation Facebook page. BYO chairs, blankets and snacks, the post said.

At the museums

• Toddlerfest, the annual celebration of younger kids at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, 6 Washington St. in Dover, Tuesday, Sept. 22, through Sunday, Oct. 4, according to childrens-museum.org, where you can purchase admission for the Toddlerfest days. The museum will feature special events and activities geared toward younger kids, the website said. Tuesday kicks off with Early Birds Playgroup from 8:15 to 9 a.m. and then a storytime and sing-along with the Dover Public Library at 10:30 a.m., the website said. Other events in the first week include Try A Little Artists Class at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23; Messy Baby Paint Crawl on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 10:30 p.m., and Science Friday on Friday, Sept. 25, at 2:30 p.m., according to the website, where you can find admission information. The Children’s Museum reopens after its annual fall cleaning on Saturday, Sept. 19.

• SEE Science Center, 200 Bedford St. in Manchester, will reopen after its annual break for maintenance and repairs on Saturday, Sept. 19, when it will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to see-sciencecenter.org. The center will then operate on its fall/winter hours: Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with some Monday hours on certain holidays and school vacations, the website said.

Treasure Hunt 26/09/10

Hi, Donna,

We have this set of two glasses we are hoping you can share some information on and suggest an approximate value for.

We are looking to sell them and wonder who you suggest we contact.

They are labeled:

Ritzenhoff

Milk Club for Collectors.

Oscar Tusquets Blanca 1993

David Palterer 1993

Thank you for your expertise and assistance!

Dan & Suzanne

Dear Dan and Suzanne,

These glasses fall under a collectible market that I’m not too familiar with. They are from the 1990\s and usually that’s too modern for me.

I did some research for you and did find values for a set of two in the original packaging, which is the bonus. Without the box they would be $15 to $30 each. But yours would be in the $50-$70 range each with the box.

Now as far as selling them I can only give you my suggestion. I would either try online sites or a higher-end consignment store. Not really sure if either would be the best. Again, Dan and Suzanne, this is really not in my field of knowledge. Knowing now that they are collectible, I think you should be able to find a collector.

I wish you luck and hope this was of some help to you. Thanks for sharing and for educating me!

Kiddie Pool 26/09/10

Family fun for whenever

Season finale

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats play their final stretch of regular-season games at Delta Dental Stadium in downtown Manchester against the Harrisburg Senators with games daily through Sunday, Sept. 13, at 1:05 p.m. — a game that features a Bluey meet and greet, according to milb.com/new-hampshire, where you can find details about the VIP package for a pre-game Bluey and Bingo event. Thursday, Sept. 10, at 6:03 p.m. the Fisher Cats play as the Manchester Buffalo Tenders with a Buffalo Tenders bobblehead for the first 500 fans, the website said. The game on Friday, Sept. 11, at 6:03 p.m. will feature post-game fireworks, and on Saturday, Sept. 12, the Fisher Cats play as the New Hampshire Space Potatoes and the first 1,000 fans get a Trey Yesavage bobblehead, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

Family fun

• Mr. Aaron’s Kids Music Fest takes place Saturday, Sept. 12, at the NH Statehouse on Main Street in downtown Concord from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. featuring the Mr. Aaron Band, Miss Alli, Friend Andrea, La La Squad and a kids’ music songwriting competition, according to Mr. Aaron’s Facebook page.

• The Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St. in Manchester, currier.org, will hold Community Day on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with art-making from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) featuring free admission; tours of the galleries with artists from the exhibit “Radical Quiet” at 1, 2 and 3 p.m.; the New Hampshire Forest Society; hands-on activities and more, the website said.

• The annual Friends of Benson Park Family Fun Day is a special one this year, as the park is celebrating its 100th anniversary, according to friendsofbensonpark.org. The party happens Saturday, Sept. 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Benson Park, 19 Kimball Hill Road in Hudson, and admission is free, the website said.

Ducks and dogs

• Auburn Day and Annual Duck Race will take place Saturday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Auburn Village on Hooksett Road, according to auburnhistorical.org. The duck race will take place around 2:30 p.m. — earlier if all the ducks are sold, the website said. Racing rubber duckies cost $5 for one or $20 for five, the website said, with prizes for the first- through 10th-place ducks (you need not be present to win). Other happenings include a Black Hawk helicopter set up from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., demonstrations in the field behind the library, live music, a petting zoo, food trucks, vendors, and cookie and pie contests, the website said.

• The family-friendly, dog-friendly Wags to Whiskers Festival held by the Humane Society for Greater Nashua will take place Saturday, Sept. 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Holman Stadium in Nashua. The day will feature K9 demonstrations, adoptable puppies, entertainment, kids’ games and more, according to hsfn.org, where you can purchase tickets (kids ages 12 and under get free admission, the website said).

Treasure Hunt 26/09/03

Hi, Donna,

I believe this is a Buck Rogers toy metal Daisy ray gun. As you can see, it shows its age! Is there a value for this or a market/buyer?

Thank you.

June

Dear June,

You are right. This toy gun was manufactured in the 1930s by Daisy Mfg. It was a Buck Rogers toy. It should have markings on it in the handle and side of the barrel.

Condition and whether it’s working really matter. The best condition paint, decals, etc. would be the highest value. In the condition yours appears to be in I think it would still be in the $150 range if working.

Marketing it I would start by looking for an antique toy dealer. It’s got two attractive things going for it: it’s a toy gun by Daisy, and it’s a Buck Rogers toy. You could either get information online or stop in an antique store. Always keep in mind unless you are selling directly to the collector you have to leave room for the buyer to re-sell.

I hope this was helpful, June. Good luck finding a new home for your toy.

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