Category: Treasure Hunt

Dear Donna,

I bought these old bingo cards at the end of the flea market season. I’m hoping you can help me find the missing pieces. I would like to give the old set for a gift.

Thank you ahead, Donna,

Carla

Dear Carla,

I have to say this was a bit of fun to find out for you.

I believe unless these are reproductions they are from the 1930s. But because they are decorative, reproductions are popular as well. I would think if they’re original they should be thin and even have an old cardboard smell. Not sure without seeing them in person.

What you’re looking for is red wooden markers. Then wood numbered markers as well. I think rules of the game would be good too. A playing card from 1 to 75. One I saw was in a dark navy box from Milton Bradley.

Carla, I think finding the cards was the easy part. Now your hunt is on for the rest. A complete set even with the cards will be in the $25-$30 range.

I hope you succeed in your hunt. I would try thrift stores, flea markets, antique shops etc. or even online.

Thanks for sharing and always for passing on older items.

Dear Donna,

I have a hanging lamp shown in my basement. It was with the house we bought in 1998. It was removed from our dining room to make a bedroom. Any ideas what year or price if we sell this item? Thank you.

Kristina

Dear Kristina,

Your hanging slag glass lamp looks to be from the 1970s. It also looks to be in good condition. Any cracking in the glass would change the value greatly.

This style of hanging lamp was very popular for a dining room during that period of time. Usually with a caramel color slag glass (non transparent glass), then a band of colored glass. Red, green, blue etc.

I think the value today would be to a collector or decorator who enjoys that period of time. The value would be in the range of $100.

I thank you for sharing, Kristina, and I hope you find a new home for your hanging lamp.

Dear Donna,

I have an assortment of wooden balls — croquet balls and others that are larger with no painting on them. I thought before throwing them away I would check — if any interest I would love to give them away. Let me know your thoughts.

Thank you, Donna.

Cecile

Dear Cecile,

Old croquet sets can run in the range of $15 to $100+. That would be for a complete set. the older the better.

Cecile, I think having just the balls would be fun for someone for decorative purposes, crafts etc. I do think the larger brown balls could be bocce balls, from a totally different early game. If so they would be very heavy and a hard dense wood. I think finding a home for free could be tough unless you know someone. So maybe donate them to a church fair, thrift store, or even an antique shop. Cecile, I have to say it’s not often you hear “give away.” It made me smile! Because memories of playing croquet make smiles. I hope you find a new home and life for your collection of fun!

Hello, Donna.

I read your column each week in the Hippo, and I wonder if you could help with a table. I’ve attached some pictures.

My parents got this from a cousin about 15 years ago. Someone was moving and my folks just took the table. It’s very heavy, has Italian marble in it and the dimensions are 102 x 40 x 29.

All of the original chairs are gone and years ago someone told me that it was an expensive table due to the marble. Is that true?

Any information would be appreciated.

Thank you.

John

Dear John,

Your table looks substantial and nice but doesn’t fall into my area for being antique. It does bring up a good point, though.

Even though a piece might not be considered to have an antique value, quality and some age would still give it a value. Better if you had a maker that was well-known in furniture. Then it would be quality, design and as always condition. Last would be finding it a new home.

John, not having the complete set can definitely matter in pricing it as well. My suggestion would be to go out to a few furniture consignment stores to see if you can get an idea of what pricing is for similar size and quality tables.Then you decide how to market it.

I apologize for not having more information for you. Good luck, John, and I hope your table finds a new home.

Dear Donna,

I have a tin full of assorted mostly damaged pieces of old jewelry. I don’t want to throw it away if someone can find a use for it. Can you help me with any information on where to take it? Sell or donate, what’s best? Thank you for any help.

Deb

Dear Deb,

I think before I did anything with it I would go through it. Bring it to a local store you can trust. What to look for would be pieces of gold or silver. Or any signed jewelry, watches etc. that stand out.

After that I would feel safe to either sell it as a lot or even possibly donate it. Crafters love jewelry fragments to remake into new pieces etc.

Wherever you bring it to for help, they might even be interested in purchasing it — an antique collectible shop, jeweler. Even if you don’t find any hidden valuable pieces, the tin lot should be worth at least $25. Cross your fingers! Maybe a tiny treasure is there.

Dear Donna,

Does anybody buy and use Depression glass anymore? When cleaning out my mom’s home I accumulated quite a few pieces. I brought them to a consignment store and got most of them back. Things have changed so much. I never thought I would get them back again. Any advice on what to do now?

Thanks, Donna.

Ellen

Dear Ellen,

First let me say you are right.

Things have changed a lot in the past years. Items that were popular for collecting and displaying are being unloaded as people want simplicity and less clutter now. I do think that some Depression glass is wanted; I also think that as always the best, rarest pieces, and those in the best condition, will always hold high value in the collectors market.

During the Depression era lots of glassware was made. So much of it is still around today. Common pieces seem to now get pushed back.

I think now I would donate it to a fundraising sale or possibly a yard sale yourself. But for value I don’t think I would price it more than $1 or $2 apiece. If there was any more value to them I think that would have been the pieces you didn’t get back.

Good luck, Ellen. Thanks for sharing with us.

Donna

Note: Ellen, if any of the glass is chipped or heavily scratched, toss it!