Category: Family Fun

Treasure Hunt 23/05/11

Hi, Donna.

Our daughter got these two pieces about 20 years ago in Somerville, Mass. and was told they were antiques. We can’t find any markings. The bureau hardware is not original to the bureau.

She has moved to the West Coast and asked us to sell these pieces. We don’t know what prices to ask. Any assistance will be much appreciated.

Thank you for your time.

Vikie

Dear Vikie,

The box in the photo is an antique blanket box in an original painted finish. Being from the 1800s and in the original finish does give it value. Prices have changed so much because of the current generation having minimal need for such pieces. Looking at it that way, I would say you still could sell it in the $100+ range.

The chest of drawers is not as old and in tough shape. The value would be if someone needs one and is willing to give it TLC to fix it.

Thanks for sharing with us, Vikie.

Treasure Hunt 23/05/04

Hi, Donna.

I have two of these tiny little plates. They are 3 inches long by 1 7/8 inches wide. As shown on the bottom they are by Nippon and are hand-painted. What are these and do they have any value? They were from my grandmother, who would be 120+ now. Thank you.

Janice

Dear Janice,

Your Nippon dishes were most likely part of a larger set. They could have been used for bone dishes or for other things.

Interesting story of these dishes: Lots were hand-painted here in New England. The blanks were shipped in and local artists would paint the pattern. Then they were shipped back to complete a set.

The value really depends on the detailing. Some can have full scenes on them in detail. Simpler patterns like the ones you have would run about $10 each today.

I hope this was helpful, Janice, and that you still find use for them today. Idea: soap dishes?

Donna

Kiddie Pool 23/05/04

Family fun for the weekend

Cats & dogs

• The Dana Center for the Humanities at Saint Anselm College (100 St. Anselm Drive, Manchester) presents Johnny Peers and the Muttville Comix on Friday, May 5, at 7:30 p.m. A graduate of the Ringling Clown College and a professional clown, Johnny Peers with his gang of shelter dogs combines “the joyousness of physical comedy with man and his best friend,” according to the venue’s website. Tickets cost $45; see tickets.anselm.edu.

• The Seacoast Cat Club’s annual cat show will run Saturday, May 6 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), and Sunday, May 7 (9 a.m. to 3 pm.) at the Douglas N. Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road, Concord). Tickets cost $10 for teens and adults ages 12 and up, $7 for seniors, kids under 12 and active military service members, and free for kids ages 4 and under. A $25 discounted price also applies for families of four. See the event page on Facebook @seacoastcatclub for more details.

Taking the stage

• The Palace Youth Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) will present Guys and Dolls Jr., with showtimes on Wednesday, May 3, and Thursday, May 4, at 7 p.m. The mainstage musical will feature student actors in grades 2 through 12, according to the theater’s website. Tickets start at $12.

• The UNH Symphony Orchestra and the UNH Youth Symphony Orchestra will present a public concert on Sunday, May 7, at 6 p.m. in the Johnson Theatre of the Paul Creative Arts Center (on the campus of UNH, at 30 Academic Way, Durham). The performance is free and open to the public, and also available online at YouTube.com/unhmusic, according to a press release.

Fairies, gnomes & superheroes

• It’s Fairy & Gnome Day at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover; childresn-museum.org) on Saturday, May 6 — enjoy a live show from Lindsay and Her Puppet Pals (at 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.), a dance performance from the Musical Arts Ballet students at 2:30 p.m., and other ongoing activities, like crafts, scavenger hunts, fairy and gnome home building and more. Reserve admission for either the morning (9 a.m. to noon) or afternoon (1 to 4 p.m.) play sessions, which cost $12.50 for adults and children over 12 months old, $10.50 for 65+, according to the museum’s website.

• Join the Bookery (844 Elm St., Manchester) for a superhero-themed Saturday storytime on Saturday, May 6, at 1 p.m. featuring local cosplayer Jenna Deedy as Captain Marvel who will read the 2019 children’s book What Makes a Hero, by Pamela Bobowicz. Admission is free but registration is encouraged. See bookerymht.com.

Meet the Kid Conservationist

• May’s Super Stellar Friday at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive, Concord; starhop.com) on Friday, May 5, at 7 p.m., will feature Jack Dalton, known as the “Kid Conservationist.” In 2021, at the age of 10, Dalton released his first book, Kawan the Orangutan, Lost in the Rainforest, hoping to inspire the next generation of conservationists, according to the Center’s website. Attendees will meet Jack and learn about his recent work on the island of Borneo. He will answer questions about orangutans. Admission costs $12 for adults, $9 for kids ages 3 to 12, $11 for 62+ and for students, and free kids under 2.

Treasure Hunt 23/04/27

Hi, Donna.

My name is Karen and I am unsure of what I have. It came to me in a collection of decorative spoons but it definitely does not look like a spoon. On the reverse side it says D. Peres Germany. It has a few brown spots around the tail and where the screw is located which connects the two pieces together. It is approximately 5 1/2 inches from top to the bottom. I would be very interested in knowing what it is.

Thanks.

Karen

Dear Karen,

You made me smile today! The first time I saw one of these I also thought, What are these for?

What you have, Karen, is an egg slicer. That’s why it’s in the form of a chicken. It is a plated material on the coating so you can find brown spots or even chipping of the plating. They were also made in sterling silver, which would be of higher value. What a novel idea to slice your hard or soft boiled egg with this kitchen tool.

The value is not high for the piece but priceless for an education. They run in the $15 range. Karen, thanks for sharing.

Donna

Kiddie Pool 23/04/27

Family fun for the weekend

Curtains up

• The Palace Youth Theatre will put on a performance of Pinocchioat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) on Saturday, April 29, at 11 a.m. Follow the puppet Pinocchio as he goes on an adventure to become a real boy. Tickets start at $12 and can be purchased at palacetheatre.org.

• Head to LaBelle Winery (14 Route 111, Derry) for the Springfest Family Concert on Sunday, April 30, at 3:30 p.m. Children’s entertainer Mr. Aaron will be ready with all of his top hit songs and his most recently released track “Intergalactic Music Spectacular.” Tickets cost $13 and can be purchased at labellewinery.com.

Indoor activities

• The Nest Family Café (25 Orchard View Drive, Unit 1, Londonderry) is hosting a coloring contest for kids ages 2 and older on Thursday, April 27, during its hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids will get a coloring page and the chance to win a smoothie or baked good from the café. Kids will be judged in the age groups 2 to 3, 4 to 5, and 6 and older. Visit thenestfamilycafe.com for more information.

• The Concord Community Music School (23 Wall St.) is hosting Music and Movement – Family Fun on Tuesday, May 2, at 10 a.m. Kids between 4 months and 7 years old will be introduced to a variety of instruments, songs, dance and rhythmic games to encourage self-expression through music. Classes will end with a story and meditation time. Drop-in sessions cost $15. Visit ccmusicschool.org for more information.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover) is introducing a new class, Junior Science: The Great Outdoors, to run on Tuesdays in May, starting on May 2. The class is geared for kids ages 3 1/2 to 5 years old and will be 45 minutes long, including a story time or felt board activity followed by an experiment and an art project to take home. The class will be from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. and costs $40 per child for members, $48 per child for nonmembers. Visit childrens-museum.org to reserve a spot.

Play ball

• The Fisher Cats are celebrating all the kids who participated in their reading challenge at the games on Friday, April 28, and Saturday, April 29. The challenge, which ended on April 1, was for kids to read an additional five books outside their school curriculum. Kids who participated in the challenge will get a chance to play catch at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive, Manchester) before the games start. Friday is also Fungo the Fisher Cat’s birthday celebration, and Saturday is Copa de la Diversión night, where the Fisher Cats become Gatos Feroces de New Hampshire. First pitch on April 28 is at 6:35 p.m. and on April 29 at 4:05 p.m. Tickets start at $10 and can be bought at milb.com/new-hampshire.

Summer camp fun

• Boys and girls in grades 2 through 11 can get ready to practice their jump shots at the New Hampshire Spartans Youth Basketball Camp; registration is already open. The camp runs in two sessions, the first from July 10 to July 13 and the second from July 24 to July 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The camp will be held at the New England Sports Center (7 A St., Derry). Registration costs $175 per camp, or $55 per day. Visit nhspartans.com to register.

Treasure Hunt 23/04/20

Dear Donna,

I was wondering if you have any information on this item that was my parents’. I believe it is made from heavy tin or something similar. It has a beautiful floral picture on it. I hope you might know something.

Thanks.

Joanne

Dear Joanne,

What you have here is a handled mid-century hammered aluminum tray.

There were several different companies that made them with the same look — flowers, scenes, hammered or plain. Most pieces you see are utilitarian in some way. The more common pieces you find in most homes bring about $20.

I hope this was helpful, Joanne, and you still have a use for your piece.

Thanks for sharing.

Donna

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