Treasure Hunt 23/11/02

Dear Donna,

I found this small pamphlet-type homemade book. Inside are several different pieces of crochet.

No two are alike, so I’m wondering if this is a teacher’s booklet. It’s possibly from my grandmother’s period of time.

Kate in Milford

Dear Kate,

You guess is a good one! I don’t think it even has to be a teacher’s, though. This sample book is a collection of someone’s work.

Yours looks to be from the Victorian era but could be even later. The fact that there are a few pages with multiple design work is what carries the value today.

I have had a few sample books over the years and each brings a different value, depending on age and the work inside. But they range from $50 to $100+.

So you found a treasure! I hope this helps you figure out what to do with your collection.

Thanks for sharing with us, Kate.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo

Treasure Hunt 23/10/26

Good afternoon, Donna Welch,

I have service for six of dinner, soup, bread/butter, salad bowl, dessert, cup/saucer and rectangular 11-inch platter that are looking for a new home. Can you provide a value of these dishes?

Marget

Dear Marget,

The Homer Laughlin Co. has quite the history. Since the late 1800s it’s been one of the most common names for china. There are many many styles and patterns. Diner china to fiesta ware, they have it!

I did find some pricing and it seems that the common dinnerware runs in the range of $5 to $10 or more per piece. The serving pieces and hard-to-find patterns and styles can be much higher. As always, all pieces have to be in great condition with no damage or scratches. Marget, the prices I found were all over the place and I think would vary a lot locally, depending on finding a buyer who will then also re-sell. My suggestion would be a local antique shop. But be aware, as I said, they have to then sell them. I hope this was helpful and your dishes find a new home.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo

Treasure Hunt 23/10/19

Hi, Donna.
A friend in New Hampshire who owns an antique restoration business gave me your contact. Is there anything you can tell me about this chair and its value? I was told it may be one of the 12 chairs created from the original. Thank you for your help.
Pamela

Dear Pam,
Your chair appears to be in great shape. Even though there is history behind this style, it’s tough to get the JFK recognition for it. When you do research you find that one of the original ones that JFK used brought a high value. But even though you were told this could be one of the original 12 made, it doesn’t carry the same value.

It did, however, get the P&P Chair Co. a boost in business. Out of North Carolina the company produced many rockers of quality. This style is not just theirs but other companies’ as well.

Yours, being in good clean condition and still usable today, would have a value in the $200 range. The days of being able to relax in a rocker!
I hope this was helpful, Pam.

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. She is a member of The New Hampshire Antiques Dealer Association. 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 photo: Courtesy photo

Treasure Hunt 23/10/12

Dear Donna,
I recently purchased these wondering what they were. I know now they were and are used for holding flowers. My interest is in collecting them now. My question is values on them and where to look for more.
Thanks, Donna,
Ellen

Dear Ellen,
I enjoyed your email! Nice to see a collection beginning!
Metal painted flower holders like yours have been around for many centuries. They are used to hold flower stems in place inside a vase, bowl or other container. Even today “flower frogs,” as I knew them, are still in use.
The values of them can range from $5 to $10. Some fancier forms can bring much more. What a nice collection to have. As far as finding more, the hunt is on. Look at antique shops, flea markets, yard sales, thrift stores etc.
Ellen, I wish you luck in your hunt for a new collection. Thank you for sharing with us.

Treasure Hunt 23/10/05

Hi, Donna,
Saw you in the Hippo. Do you have any knowledge of these old toys’ value or the market for them? Appreciate your input.
– Tracy

Dear Tracy,

Who hasn’t played with a Fisher-Price toy!

Your collection of Fisher-Price toys does have a value in the collectibles market.

Fisher-Price is a well-known manufacturer of quality toys. The company has made toys from the 1930s to the present.

My suggestion would be to bring them to an antique shop to get a value on them. With Fisher-Price toys, condition is everything. Consider their age, the paint on the wood, the paper designs, etc., as well as whether the set is complete and in working condition.

Some prices for hard-to-find toys in excellent shape can run into the hundreds. Common and easily found ones start at $10+.

I hope this helps you find a new home for your toys, Tracy. Good luck!

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. She is a member of The New Hampshire Antiques Dealer Association. 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.

Treasure Hunt 23/09/28

Hi, Donna,

I enjoy your Treasure Hunt and hope you can give me an idea of the market and value of this unique mirror.

I salvaged it from a barbershop in Central Falls, Rhode Island, in either 1979 or 1980.

We had intended to open an ice cream shop and use it for the back wall; that didn’t work out but we hung on to it anyway!

Unfortunately I didn’t get a photo while it was still standing at the barbershop.
There are six sections approximately 3’x4’. The top three are clear mirror. The bottom three are blue mirror.

The top has four additional clear sections accented by eight blue strips/panels (approxdximately. 4’x3.5”). Each of the four accent pieces also has lights.
There are three blue strips that run horizontally across the top (approximately 3’x3.5”).

You can see from the picture that I have one narrow panel that broke in a move.
Thanks for your input.

Dan

Dear Dan,

Antique architecture is always collectible! You just need to find it a new home and use.

I think your Art Deco barber shop mirror could easily be repurposed in a business or a home. First you have to start with a value. I have a saying: ‘Find me another one.’ Then you have to say to yourself you have no use for it any longer. It would be better for it to be seen again.

As far as an approximate value I would start in the range of $1,000. Then work from there to find it a good home. I also think to do that you’re going to need to advertise that you have a treasure.

Dan, thank you for reading the Hippo and sharing with us. Good antique salvage save!

Treasure Hunt 23/09/21

Dear Donna,
I picked this small autograph book up a few years back. It’s 5”x7” and has about 60 autographs from Holyoke, Mass., 1884. I’m done enjoying reading it, so now I’m looking for a new home. Can you give me a value on this? Thank you for any help, Donna.
Alex

Dear Alex,
Autograph books were a very popular thing in the Victorian era. Earlier ones can also bring high values.

With autographs you’re looking for any significant ones of known people, events in time, drawings, etc. The more content the better, and hand drawings as well.

If it’s just a school autograph book with multiple friends signing it. I think there are collectors for just that as well. The values seem to run in the $25-$40 range. Again, though, if there are drawings or small paintings on pages etc., could be more.

Alex, I hope this helps finding your book a new home. Thanks for sharing with us.

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. She is a member of The New Hampshire Antiques Dealer Association. 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.

Treasure Hunt 23/09/14

Hello, Donna.
I’m trying to find out any information on these children’s toys. My main question is would they be safe for my granddaughter to play with now?
Claire

Dear Claire,
What you have seems to be a mixture of children’s tin cooking toys. Age-wise I think anywhere from the 1950’s through the 1970’s.

Some of the pans look like ones from my childhood, Easy-Bake oven pans!
There is a collectible market for the older pans and Easy-Bake ones as well. Values are in the range of $5 to $10. As to whether they are usable today, I say yes for pretend food but not for real food. And only if they are clean with no rust or damage.

Because I am in the antiques business, my grandchildren play with lots of older toys with my supervision. I enjoy telling them stories of how toys made it through so much time.

Claire, thanks for sharing and have fun playing with your granddaughter.

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. She is a member of The New Hampshire Antiques Dealer Association. 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.

Treasure Hunt 23/09/07

Dear Donna,
Can you give me a reason to not toss this item? Found in the attic of my parents. Looks to be building blocks but all pretty much the same. Any help appreciated.
Stacy in Andover

Dear Stacy,
Your box of blocks is actually from the late Victorian Era into the early 1900s. It’s a self-contained building block toy. In this case it would construct a mansion-type building. There were many different ones made. When you’re done playing, it all tucks away back into the wood box.
Stacy, the value is in having a complete set. With blocks or doors, roofs or other pieces missing the values drop. Complete and in good clean shape these tend to run in the $150+ range.

So now you have to figure out if it’s complete. Building it is one way, or doing further research on this one and seeing the complete version.

I hope this was helpful to you. Thanks for sharing, Stacy.

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. She is a member of The New Hampshire Antiques Dealer Association. 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.

Treasure Hunt 23/08/31

Hello, Donna —

I’m trying to get any information that you may know about this rocker. I’m not positive what century it’s from but I was told 19th by my mum. — Melanie

Dear Melanie,

Your rocker is called a stick-style rocker. The age your mom gave you is correct. It’s from the late 1800s to early 1900s, the late Victorian Era. It appears to be in original condition and in good shape for the age.

The values are tough. Antique rockers are not in high demand in this generation. The value should be in the range of $50. — Donna

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