Category: Family Fun

Treasure Hunt 25/03/06

Hi, Donna,

I enjoy your column in the Hippo and am wondering if you would have any insight into a piece of artwork I own. It is an artist’s proof by Irving Amen (see pictures with signature) called ‘Rythms’ (first “h” is missing?) but I cannot find a similar picture anywhere online. I am wondering if it ever went beyond an artist’s proof.

If you have an idea of what it might be worth, or who I could talk to if this isn’t your department, I’d appreciate it.

Much thanks!

Adele

Dear Adele,

Art being a really specific field, I did some research and educated myself.

Artists’ proofs were done of the original just as limited editions. Unlike limited editions there were not many made, and this makes them more valuable. Some proofs can have color changes and items just a bit off from an original, which can also give them a higher value.

It’s tough to determine values on proofs without comparing them to other proofs from the artist. Even then there can be a difference in values from one proof to another, depending on subject and exactly how many proofs were made.

I found lots done by Irving Amen in the range of $100 to $300. Not many duplicates out there either. This could be why you didn’t find an original.

Adele, I think that to be certain, I would contact a large auction house that sells artwork. Possibly Bonhams Skinner in Massachusetts — they have specific departments just for artwork. This way you will know for sure.

I wish you luck, Adele, and hope I gave you insight. Thank you so much for sharing and giving me some education too.

Donna

Kiddie Pool 25/02/27

Family fun for whenever

Dine with fairy tales

• The Derryfield Country Club (625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 669-0235, thederryfield.com) will host a Royal Princess Breakfast on Saturday, March 1, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Take photos with costumed princes and enjoy singing, dancing, games and stories. Tickets are $40 for children and $55 for adults through eventbrite.com. VIP tickets cost $65 and include 9 a.m. entry and a tiara, the website said.

• Join the Nashua Historical Society (5 Abbott St., Nashua, 883-0015, nashuahistoricalsociety.org) for afternoon tea at a Little Red Tea Party, Sunday, March 2, at 1 p.m., inspired by the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood. This event will feature tea, scones, petite sandwiches and sweet treats served amidst a magical forest of trees. The event is for all ages and will feature a variety of activities, including a historical presentation based on the story of Little Red Riding Hood, a STEM-inspired tea experiment, a mini paper basket craft activity, a special raffle and more. Tickets are $18 for Historical Society members, $20 for non-members, and $15 for children 12 and younger. Visit the Historical Society website.

Play time

• Cowabunga’s (725 Huse Road in Manchester; cowabungas.com) will have three gyms open for play during February vacation (through Friday, Feb. 28). The indoor bouncy park will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. On Friday, Feb. 28, from 5 to 8 p.m., it’s Friday Night Fun with a costumed character, games and more. The cost is $20 per child (infants and adults free with paying child) the website said.

• Krazy Kids (60 Sheep Davis Road in Pembroke; krazykids.com) is open daily during vacation from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Friday, Feb. 28, it’s “Let’s Glow Krazy!” from 6 to 9 p.m. with music and UV black disco lights. Tickets cost $20 for kids, $5 for adults (no slip grip socks, which are required, cost $4 per pair).

See a show

• The kids of the Palace Youth Theatre Vacation Camp will present Winnie the Pooh Kids on Saturday, March 1, at 11 a.m. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org). The show will feature kids in grades 2 to 12. Tickets cost $16 to $19.

• The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia will present staged productions of Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny Stockbridge Theatre (22-98 Bypass 28, Derry, 437-5210, pinkertonacademy.org/stockbridge-theatre) Wednesday, March 5, at 10 a.m. Tickets start at $10.

• Or catch The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Wednesday, March 5, at 10:30 a.m. Tickets cost $8.

• Catch 1994’s Little Giants (PG), the family movie night screening at Flying Monkey (39 S. Main St. in Plymouth; flyingmonkeynh.com) on Wednesday, March 5, at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $3 and there will be a special menu available.

Fun & games

• Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road in Manchester; chunkys.com) has several family-friendly events this weekend. Chunky’s will hold a family paint party on Friday, Feb. 28, at 1 p.m. in the Chunky’s lobby. Tickets cost $45 per person and the menu will be available to order from during the event.

On Friday at 4:30 p.m., ventriloquist John Pizzi will present a family-friendly show of comedy, magic and ventriloquism. Tickets cost $25. (Pizzi will also have a 21+ show that night at 8 p.m.)

Also on Friday at 6:45 p.m., it’s Family Friendly Theatre Candy Bingo. Tickets cost $10 (and come with a $5 food voucher) and get you one bingo card for several rounds of play.

On Saturday, March 1, at 6 p.m., it’s a family trivia night about Pixar movies. The cost is $6 per person.

Treasure Hunt 25/02/27

Hello, Donna,

My question is, does anyone have a use for these old keys? My wife said I should ask before I throw them away.

Van

Dear Van,

I’m not saying this without a chuckle. Your wife is right! Antique keys can be very useful and even collectible.

My suggestion to you would be to bring them to an antique shop. The value of a lot like yours won’t make you rich. But they can be so helpful to people who have antiques, for unlocking furniture pieces, boxes, etc. — besides having a decorative and crafters market as well.

When I had my shop we always had a key box under the counter. Often we were asked to see if we might have one to help open something. We would lend them out and many times came back successful.

So, Van, sometimes the value on them can be priceless to someone who needs one. A value to you should be in the range of $10 to $15 for the lot.

Thanks for checking with us first!

Kiddie Pool 25/02/20

Family fun for whenever

Ski days

Area ski hills are offering special events and camps during New Hampshire’s February vacation week.

• McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Way in Manchester; mcintyreskiarea.com/kids-vacation-camps, 622-6159) has single-day and five-day camps, which run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., for ages 6 to 12. Five-day lessons for ages 4 to 6 (12:30 to 1:30 p.m.) and 6 to 16 (9:30 to 11:30 a.m.) are also available. See the website for pricing for camps and rentals.

McIntyre is also holding its Rail Jam on Sunday, Feb. 23 — rider registration is 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m. riders meeting at the top of the park, at noon the GROM Heat (13 and under) starts and then skiers open class at 12:30 p.m. and snowboarders open class at 1:30 p.m. Registration costs $25 and includes a lift ticket during the event; helmets are required, the website said.

McIntyre is open daily; lift skiing hours during vacation week will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and tubing hours will have two-hour sessions starting at 11 a.m. and ending at 9 p.m.. McIntyre also offers a one-rate fee for lift tickets and rentals during the end of the day until 9 p.m.; prices vary based on start time. See the website or call for each day’s offerings and times.

• Pats Peak Ski Area (686 Flanders Road in Henniker; patspeak.com, 428-3245) offers a three-day camp, Feb. 24 through Feb. 26, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., for 7- to 14-year-olds, with and without rentals.

Pats Peak also offers a Pay One Price ticket for skiing, snowboarding, snowtubing, rentals and lessons for the end of the day — through 10 p.m. starting at 4 p.m., 5 p.m. or 6 p.m., price varies based on start time. The promotion runs through vacation week (except for Sunday, Feb. 23).

Art vacation

• The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org) is offering a three-day workshop for ages 6 to 12 during February vacation. The half-day workshops are themed “My Favorite Things” and run Wednesday, Feb. 26, through Friday, Feb. 28 — 9:30 a.m. to noon for grades 1 to 3 and 1 to 3:30 p.m. for grades 4 to 6. The cost is $180 ($162 for members).

Visit the museum Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free for kids ages 12 and under and $5 for ages 13 to 17, $15 for students and 65+ and $20 for regular admission.

• Kimball Jenkins (266 N. Main St. in Concord; kimballjenkins.com) has February Break Programs for ages 7 to 14 with morning programs (9 a.m. to noon) for ages 7 to 11 and afternoon programs (1 to 4 p.m.) for ages 11 to 14. Classes are $198 and “rotate through a diverse array of artistic mediums with each class featuring an art activity that aligns with our arctic theme,” the website said.

Air and space

• During February school vacation week, the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org) will be open additional days — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday Feb. 25, through Thursday, Feb. 27. The museum will offer the Elite Flight Simulator on Feb. 25 and Feb. 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. for kids ages 12 and up, according to a museum release. The museum will also host a story time on Feb. 26 at 11 a.m., the release said.

• The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com) is open daily through Sunday, March 2, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $13; $12 for ages 13 through college and 62+, and $10 for ages 3 to 12, according to the website. Planetarium show tickets are an additional $7 for everyone ages 3 and up.

Treasure Hunt 25/02/20

Dear Donna,

I recently picked this up and fell in love with it. There is no information on it or markings. I am wondering if you can give me any help on age or value. Not looking to sell it, just curious Thank you for any information.

Deb

Dear Deb,

Let me start off by saying it always makes me smile to hear of people enjoying older items.

Your pin is considered costume jewelry. Costume jewelry is made to have an expensive appearance to it. It can be tough to identify without a maker’s mark. Signed pieces usually bring higher prices, all makers varying. Also sometimes older pieces are made the same way today so it can be tough.

Looks like your swan pin is a mixed metal with silver tone finish. I think it’s safe to say 1960s range. Could even be a bit more modern as well.

The value is in the range of $10 to $15 but if you love it priceless!

Thank you for sharing, Deb, and enjoy your pin.

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.

Featured Image: Courtesy photo.

Treasure Hunt 25/02/13

Hello, Donna,

Have enjoyed your column for years in the Hippo. The photos will show a carving of some type that my grandfather bought back from France during WWI in 1919. It appears to be ivory or marble. It’s approximately 5 inches in diameter. The frame is a dark hardwood with a curved glass top. Any idea on rarity or value?

Thanks.

Gene

Dear Gene,

Thank you for reading the Hippo and my column.

What you have is a Victorian era (last part of the 1800s) carved meerschaum in a convex glass frame. Meerschaum is a form of clay that was used for lots of smoking pipe carvings.

Your carving is of a religious subject and most ones I found to compare it to ran in the $200 range. I found some in a higher range but on average the ones marketing were in that range. Some of the meerschaum carvings that had other subjects and details also brought more. Value depends on the condition of the inside carving, glass and frame.

Thank you for sharing and I hope this helped.

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