Category: Treasure Hunt

Dear Donna,

Can you help me out with this tool? My sister thinks it’s for measuring melted candy. I found it in my dad’s tool box. So not sure how it could be for candy.

It is numbered 1-13 and marked U.S. Standard. So it measures something. Just what?

Thank you in advance, Donna.

Kimberly

Dear Kimberly,

You are right, it is for measuring. There is a temperature tool for candy that can look similar but has a glass thermometer.

Now you have to figure out how an early 1900s jeweler’s ring sizer got into your dad’s tool box. It was made to slide a ring onto so you could determine the size of the ring. Very helpful tool in the right hands.

The value on them in good but used shape runs around $50 plus. Simpler ones less, fancier ones a little more.

I hope, Kimberly, this helped answer the question. Have fun with it now!

Dear Donna,
Can you give me any information on this old wafer box? It has a glass top and is in good condition. It’s got some printing on the side as you can see.
Any help would be appreciated.
Tami

I have to say, Tami, I have seen many antique boxes of this style with the glass lids. This particular one was an education for me too.
Your antique Polish starch wafer box was originally for Christmas Eve wafers. The story starts in Poland and other countries. The wafers were like sheets of the same ingredients in the communion host. They had religious imprints on them. It was a Christmas tradition to share with family. I believe it still could be today as well. The story is a very interesting one.
The value on a box like yours is in the range of $80+. Depending on graphics and size, values fluctuate. The story behind it is priceless and humbling.
The contents were called Oplatki Polish wafers. They can still be found for purchase today.
Tami, I want to thank you for sharing with us a nice story.

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.

Hi, Donna.

I have attached some photos of antique furniture (with a grape leaf design) that belonged to my mother which I inherited. From my search on the internet, these pieces of furniture don’t appear to be very valuable, but I don’t know who would want them. Are there antique dealers who would quote me a price and come and pick these items up?

Thanks.

Doug

Dear Doug,

Your pieces are from the Victorian era (late 1800s) and a couple from the early 1900s. They all look to be in good clean condition.

The problem you’re facing is it’s a tough market! When Victorian collectors purchase furniture they prefer heavily carved ornate pieces and pieces with highly unusual designs.

Even though I would say the sofa and chairs you have look solid and clean, I think the value total for all would be under $300. As I said, tough market for resale, so for you to sell it to a furniture dealer the value would be low.

Doug, I might try a local marketplace online to get the most you can. Or try reaching out to an antique shop in your area to see what they might offer.

I hope you find a new home for them Doug. I hope this helps.

inside/outside treasure hunt

Hi Donna,

This piece of pottery was found in the mid 1900s when the grounds of a Boston tavern were being dug up near the seaport. The inside is glazed. The outside is rough. The lid has two larger chips on its surface, and the main piece has a chip at its base. My mother-in-law says not to clean it as that can remove value. Might this be worth anything?

Thank you!

Lisa

Dear Lisa,

What you have is an early American redware bean pot. Most of the ones found in the Boston area were marked with names and Boston Mass.

Your pot is from the early 1800s and would have been heavily used in its time for cooking beans mostly. Being chipped does weigh in on the value. In general redware bean pots are in the $100+ range to collectors.

Thanks for sharing, Lisa.

Dear Donna,

I want to give this pair of earrings to my niece. They belonged to my late wife. I think they were her mom’s as well. My question is, should I have them insured for her? They are marked 14 KT but I have no information on the diamonds. Can you point me in a direction for the correct information?

Thank you, Donna.

Denny

Dear Denny,

What a nice gift to pass along!

The first thing you want to do is have a jeweler take a look at them. This is usually a free service they provide. If you want a written appraisal that would cost you.

You want to ask them if the stones are of good quality and what is the size of them. Then an approximate value for them. They might be able to give you an age on them as well. This should give you all the information you need to make your decision on whether to insure or not.

Denny, I think any information will be helpful. Either way, though, it won’t take away from them being family and being passed on.

Good luck and thanks for asking.

Note: Jewelers have diamond testers as well to confirm the stones are real.

Hello, Donna,

Can you give me a value on my brother’s lava lamp? He just recently gave it to me. It’s in good working condition and is marked Simplex on the bottom. He got it in the 1970s so I’m wondering, is it an antique one? Thank you kindly, Donna.

Kenny

Dear Kenny,

Your brother gave you a collectible, not yet an antique, but a fun piece from the 1970s. Lava lamps were created in the 1960s by a British inventor. The first ones were called Astro lamps. The Simplex Co. was very popular in the 1970s. Now called Lava Lamps they were made here in the U.S. until the early 2000s, after which they were manufactured in China. Lava lamps were a big part of the 1970s. Lamps of this age in good working condition can bring in the range of $100 to $200+. So yes, Kenny, it does have a value and collectibility these days. It’s very important that the light is clear and the wax inside is in good shape. What a fun piece, Kenny. Thank you for sharing.