Page 40 - joa-nov-22

on Antiques & Collectibles

By Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel

hining red and yellow eyes peer from the dancing shadows.
Collecting Tip:
This could be a scene from a haunted forest – or a cozy living
Sroom fireplace. Don’t use the popular aluminum foil and baking
A cast iron figure of an owl perched on a twisted branch decorates each soda system to clean antique silver. It leaves the
of these andirons, which sold as a pair for $660 at Morphy Auctions. They silver with an undesirable tin-looking color.
use the fire to their advantage with colored glass marbles that catch the light Terry Kovel
for eyes. Appropriately, they are marked “Bright Eyes” on the reverse. Q: I have an unusual fork with one wide tine on the left side and two
Andirons have been used for hundreds of years to hold the logs off narrower tines. It’s marked “Wm. A. Rogers SXR” and “Pat Apr 17 06.”
the fireplace floor, allowing for air circulation and letting the fire What was it used for?
burn brighter. They are also decorative, with styles changing over time. A: You have a pastry fork. It was used to eat pie or cake. There were many
Animal and bird figures became popular by the 19th century. silver companies named “Rogers,” including at least eight using some form
Owls have been used in art and decoration since ancient times. Their of the name “William Rogers.” Wm. A. Rogers Ltd. was started by a
big bright eyes and ability to see at night make them a symbol of wisdom. shopkeeper in New York in the 1890s. The company began making silver-
But being nocturnal, not to mention plated flatware in 1894. Oneida Silversmiths bought the company in 1929.
their eerie calls, means they are also The letters “SXR” indicate the fork was plated with an extra layer of silver.
associated with darkness and bad luck. The patent date is probably the date the pattern was patented.
Of course, around Halloween, when it’s
time to be scary, a sign of bad luck can ***
be a good thing! Q: My sister bought a pitcher and washbasin at an estate sale on the East
Coast. The pitcher is 12 inches tall, and the basin is 16 inches in diameter.
These shadowy owl andirons have glass marble It’s marked “Royal Foley Ware, J. Kent, Semi porcelain, England.” Can you
eyes to catch the light of a fire. tell us the value of this set?

A: James Kent founded his company at Old Foley Pottery in Longton,
laying cards provide innocent amusement: a game with friends, a Staffordshire County, England, in 1897. Kent’s sons joined the business. It
magic trick to entertain a child, or a round of solitaire to pass some became James Kent Ltd. in 1913. The pottery was run by members of the
Ptime alone. So, what’s a devil doing here? Kent family until 1981. Ownership changed several times after that. Old
This novelty pitcher made by Royal Bayreuth about 1930 has a body Foley Pottery was demolished in 2006, and the company closed about 2008.
that looks like it’s made of playing cards and has a smiling devil figure for The mark on your wash set indicates it was made between 1897 and the
a handle. It sold for $250 at a Potter & Potter auction. 1920s. Pitcher and basin sets sell for about $75 to $150.
In the past, playing cards were seen as sinful, whether they were associ-
ated with gambling, divination, or merely idle frivolity. (Do those friendly ***
games, magic tricks, or solitaire sessions sound less innocent now?) Many Q: I have seen different types of maple furniture, like “bird’s-eye maple,”
“tiger maple,” and others. What are the differences? Do they come from dif-
of their earliest mentions in European history come from bans on them. ferent varieties of trees? Do they affect the value or quality of the furniture?
In 1890, Mrs. John King Van Rensselaer
published a book on the history of playing cards
A: Maple is a strong, sturdy wood that is popular for furniture. Figured
called The Devil’s Picture Books, after a Puritan name maple has naturally occurring variations in its grain pattern. The cause
for cards. According to one anecdote in the book, for these variations is not known, but environmental factors like climate,
Columbus’s sailors brought decks of cards with soil type, disease, and injury to the tree may contribute. Bird’s-eye maple
them on their voyage across the Atlantic Ocean but and tiger maple are two types of these patterns. Others include spalted and
threw them overboard out of superstitious fear quilted maple. Tiger maple is also known as curly maple. Figuring does not
during bad weather. After the ships landed safely, mean a lower quality wood; in fact, figured maple is especially desirable for
the crew made themselves new cards out of tree Can you resist anything decorative pieces like furniture, crafts, and musical instruments. Since
leaves. Later, even the Puritans approved of some but temptation? Buyers the 19th century, inexpensive woods and other materials have been painted
card games if they had educational themes. Seeing couldn’t resist this Royal to imitate grain patterns, and naturally patterned wood adds to the value
playing cards as a sin doesn’t eliminate their appeal. Bayreuth pitcher with a of a piece.
In some cases, it may even contribute. devil and playing cards.
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
Toy teddy bear, Steiff, cinnamon mohair, clipped face, Quilt, Mennonite, Everlasting pattern, five stripes Staffordshire historical platter, Palace of Saint
jointed arms, and legs, plays music, key on the back, with sawtooth edges symbolize trees, green print Germain, France, blue and white transfer print, oval,
Steiff button in ear and chest tag, 15 inches, $70. fabric, red print ground with tiny hearts, marked “R. Hall’s Picturesque Scenery” series,
Pennsylvania, c. 1890, 90 x 82 inches, $490. c. 1825, 19 x 14 3/4 inches, $575.
Jewelry, cuff links, muse’s head, flowered headdress,
14K yellow gold, elliptical ends, art nouveau, head Chinese export porcelain shrimp dish, Canton river Jewelry, necklace, large turquoise ceramic leaves,
3/4 inch, $185. landscape with diapered rain and cloud border, inset blue and silver plaques, crystal beaded
blue and white, shaped rim on one side, 1800s, wirework, marked, Vilaiwan, leaves 2 1/2 inches,
Garden bench, metal, chain-link top rail, cutout 10 1/2 inches, $485. necklace 20 inches, $155.
nautical ship’s wheel and anchor on back, shaped
arms, slatted seat, 37 x 42 x 20 inches, $245. Scrimshaw, lady’s pointing stick, whale ivory, Box, mahogany, dovetailed construction, inlaid
hand, half closed, carved, stained rose blossom in bone bands, and corners, inlaid cherry sawtooth
Office, desk organizer, chrome wire top with palm, notched cuff, baleen separator, 1800s, 29 1/2 diamond on lid, sailor made, 1800s, 5 3/4 x 18 x
compartments, Lucite base, Modernist, 3 1/4 x 11 x inches, $1,535. 7 inches, $615.
9 inches, $340.
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