Category: Treasure Hunt

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!

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.

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.

Dear Donna,

I thought you may be the right person to contact regarding an antique robot I was given by my grandmother for Christmas in 1961. She bought it for $3.99 at SS Kresge — those were the five-and-dime stores. Based on the little research I did about 10 years ago, these were made in Japan and were popular in the 1950s. My search (years ago) saw prices ranging from $35 to $1,000 and I have no idea why the price range was so large. What value would you place on this and where or to whom would I bring this? Any information you have for me is much appreciated.

Jim

Dear Jim,

Let me start off by saying your research was right. But not all robots bring a higher value, and some can bring even more. Having the original box is a huge plus as well. Sometimes the higher values are in the box!

Toys are a specific field, with values changing a lot. I did some additional research for you. I found condition is crucial in the value. The original box as well, as I stated. Some were in the $500 range to collectors, but ones that were damaged and with no box were significantly less, selling mostly for parts.

I can refer you, Jim, to a gentleman who is a toy dealer and collector. I think this is where you start to get a current marketing value. Feel free to contact me again for his information.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Dear Donna,

I believe this was from my first communion in the 1950s. I just realized the flowers are wax. I think my sister who is older used it as well. Can you give me any information on floral crowns? Can this be cleaned to pass down to my grandchildren?

Meg

Dear Meg,

Thanks for the pictures. They really help.

I would start off asking more questions of family, and looking at even older pictures. Sometimes crowns could start in one part of a family like a cousin and then get passed through to yours. This could have even been part of a wedding crown, dating it back to the early 1900s. So this could have a lot more family history. Wax flowers fall under millinery. They were commonly used with, on and for headwear — decorative flowers etc. The values on older pieces of wax flowers are in the age, detail, design and, as always, condition. The more details and colors the higher the values. I found values of wax florals like yours to be in the $40 range.

I think, Meg, your flowers look to be in good condition. Discoloration is expected so I might leave them. Cleaning them could result in some damage. Meg, I would see if I could find out if this was from family and where the crown started. This will give your grandchildren more appreciation for it as well. Family history of items is priceless!

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Dear Donna,

I am a faithful reader who now has a question for you. This was in a junk drawer at my parents’. We recently cleaned the house out and I now have it.

At first I thought it could be a bracelet, because they all connect. They are all painted metal and wheels all move so I’m not sure now. The lot of train pieces only measures 6 3/4 inches. So they have to be tiny toys? As I said, not sure. I also couldn’t find any name on them.

Thank you, Donna, for any help.

Melissa

Dear Melissa,

They look like they could be made into a bracelet. How fun that would be. But I’m thinking they were always meant to be toys.

They could have come from Germany or Japan. Without any markings it’s hard to tell. I did do some research for you and found some similar from the 1950s. They were from Japan so it’s a possibility.

The value on the ones I found were in the $50 range but had a few more than you do. They were part of a train set with signs and other stuff.

Melissa, I hope this was helpful to you. I also think a bracelet isn’t a bad idea! Thanks for sharing with us.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.