Page 40 - joa-aug-22

By Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel

se it up, wear it
Collecting Tip:
out, make it do,
“Uor do without.” To get rid of mildew on wooden furniture,
These were words to live by in wipe the wood with a cloth dipped in a mixture
the days before mass produc- of 1 cup of water, 1 tablespoon of bleach, and
tion, online shopping, and 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent. Terry Kovel
overnight shipping. Then wipe the wood dry.
This leaf-shaped hand
mirror in an irregular wooden Q: I have a Wagner electric fan that belonged to my grandfather. I believe it is
frame is a “make-do” mirror, from the 1930s. The type is 52603, and the model number is L342A632. It’s
made by setting a broken about 10 inches high. It has a cast-iron base and steel blades. Can you give me
mirror in a frame so it could any information about it and the approximate value?
still be used. It sold for $438 A: Herbert Wagner and Ferdinand Schwedtman founded Wagner Electric in
at Cowan’s Auctions. The St. Louis, Missouri, in 1891. The company built a plant in nearby Wellston
shape of the mirror and the in 1906. Wagner Electric became part of Studebaker-Worthington in 1967.
chip carving on its frame and The Wellston plant closed in 1981. Wagner made electric fans, motors for
handle show it was made with Broken mirrors don’t have to be bad luck. small appliances, electric starters for cars, electric lights, transformers, and
care – a piece of folk art as This one was made into a piece of folk art other products. The type 5260 fan is an oscillating fan that can be used on a
well as a utilitarian object. that still had its use. desk or table or mounted on the wall. It was pictured in a 1934 ad, priced at
$13.95. A used 5260 fan sells today for $50 to $80, depending on condition.

***
o you like to play games on your phone
while you’re on a long trip? Today’s Q: I have a Mexican silver pitcher inlaid with iridescent shells and marked
Dtravel games have plenty of predeces- “Alpaca.” Is “Alpaca” the maker? What can you tell me about it?
sors. Cribbage, a card game where players keep A: Alpaca silver is a metal. It isn’t really silver, but an alloy of copper, nickel,
score with pegs on a board, is believed to have and zinc that may also be called “nickel silver” or “German silver.” It was first
been invented in the 17th century. It became a used in China and exported to Europe. In 1823, German metalsmiths created
favorite of sailors and was especially popular on
whaling ships. a version of nickel silver that was trademarked “Alpacca.” It can be a base for
Sailors would make their own boards out of electroplated nickel silver (EPNS). Today, alpaca silver is often used in jewelry,
carved whalebone, animal teeth, or tusks. This tableware, and decorative items. It is usually marked “Alpaca” or “Alpacca.” It
19th-century game board, which sold for $531 is more durable than silver, sells for lower prices, and may have a less shiny fin-
at an Eldred’s auction, has pierced whalebone ish than silver.
panels on an ebony and mahogany board. ***
Sailors continued playing cribbage after whaling Q: I’m hoping you can tell me about this Coca-Cola Santa doll. It belonged to
declined. Most ships still have a cribbage board my step-grandmother. My brother thinks it’s about 75 years old. It’s 17-inches
today. The U.S. Navy has a board that gets tall and has a “Rushton Toy Company” stamp on the bottom of its boot. It has
handed down to the oldest submarine in the a 3-inch Coke bottle in its hand. Can you tell me more about it?
Pacific fleet, a tradition that originated when an
officer was dealt a perfect hand in a game played A: The Rushton Toy Company in Atlanta made the Santa Claus dolls for the
Coca-Cola Company. Coca-Cola gave the dolls as gifts to their bottlers in
during World War II.
1957. The dolls were also sold in stores in the 1950s and ‘60s. They wear the
traditional red Santa suit trimmed with white fur and black or white rubber
Cribbage is a centuries-old travel game. In the 19th boots. They have hand-painted rubber faces and hands that hold one minia-
century, sailors on whaling ships made and used boards ture liquid-filled Coca-Cola bottle made of glass. They have recently sold for
like this one to pass the time on long voyages
$45 to $300. The Santas with the bottles, like yours, are more valuable.

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States.
Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.
CURRENT PRICES
Bottle, decanter, animal-shaped stopper, yellow Ceramic urn, dome lid with finial, globular, multi- Saddle blanket, Navajo, bands of diagonal stripes,
glass body, squat base, filigree around neck, silver color enamel, mosaic-style medallions, blue-green center band of serrated zigzags, red, white, yellow,
collar, Aesthetic Movement, British, 7 1/2 x 5 1/2 ground, white trim, flared rim, handmade, marked, black, green, c. 1875, 74 x 53 inches, $2,480.
inches, $190. Marmara Gini, Kutahya, Turkey, 22 inches, $65.
Writing table, Directoire, mahogany, brass inlay,
Furniture, chest, neoclassical style, wood, shaded Apothecary cabinet, Munyon’s, oak, two rows of frieze drawer, pullout writing slides, c. 1800, 29 x 34
and stippled blue paint, five graduated drawers three rectangular drawers over seven rows of five x 19 1/2 inches, $455.
with painted scroll borders, brass bail pulls, tapering square drawers, ring pulls, paper labels, c. 1900, 24 x
reeded legs, 54 x 34 inches, $465. 16 3/4 inches, $320. Bronze vase, art nouveau, asymmetrical, overlapping
petals, patinated, gilt flower, cast signature, Antoine
Pair of garden lounge chairs, Della Robbia pattern by Cabinet, Kas, Baroque, walnut, two sections, carved Bofill, 12 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches, $320
Salterini, wrought iron, bronze finish, leaf and vine panel doors, tortoiseshell medallions, ebonized trim,
crest, exaggerated shaped arms, large back wheels, pilasters, six lion’s mask ring pulls, bun feet, Dutch, Firefighting, extinguisher, glass bottle, brown,
front flared legs, adjustable back, 40 x 64 x 34 inches, 68 x 72 x 29 inches, $1,920. metal lid, paper label, Whiz, blue ground, red trim,
pair, $1,500. 11 inches, $555.
Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel answer readers’ questions sent to the column. Send a letter with one question describing the size, material (glass, pottery), and what you know about the item. Include
only two pictures, the object and a closeup of any marks or damage. Be sure your name and return address are included. By sending a question, you give full permission for use in any Kovel product.
Names, addresses, or email addresses will not be published. We do not guarantee the return of photographs, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. Questions that are answered will appear
in Kovels Publications. Write to Kovels, Journal of Antiques and Collectibles, King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803, or email us at collectorsgallery@kovels.com.
38 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles