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on Antiques & Collectibles

By Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel

extiles are fragile and need special care. Collecting Tip:
Dust, light, insects, and moisture can The best way to store plates is vertically in a rack.
Tdamage them. Antique textiles in good If you don’t have space, store them with pads
condition are rare and often sell for high prices. between the dishes. Terry Kovel
This needlepoint casket was made about 1660
in England and sold for $17,920, nearly three
times its low estimate, at Morphy Auctions. A Q: Did Avon create their Cape Cod-style dishes in other colors besides red? Also, I
closer look shows that the colorful people, plants, noticed on the bottom of some of the blue versions being offered for sale on sites
such as eBay, there is a number. What does it mean? Were they truly made by
and animals stitched onto the fabric are 3-D, The embroidered figures on Avon as the seller claims?
making the stitching even more complex. This this 17th-century box are
tricky technique, called stumpwork, required three-dimensional. They were A: Wheaton Glass made Avon’s “1876 Cape Cod Collection” line of dinner-
padding the stitches to make the designs stand made with a technique called ware using a special formula to make the dark red glass. Although most
out. Scenes of people and animals in natural set- “stumpwork” that was popular sources list red as the only color, we have seen a few pieces online that appear
tings were among the favorite subjects. at the time and, even after to be the same pattern but are cobalt blue. Thirty-seven different items were
Richly embroidered textiles and the items grew hundreds of years, shows the made in the dark red glass. Samples of each item were made in clear flint glass
more popular as more people could afford them. embroiderer’s advanced skill. first and sent to Avon for approval. Several molds were made for each piece.
Many surviving examples of embroidery, including some museum-quality The number on the bottom of the glass could be the mold number. The first
pieces, were made by amateurs, probably girls or young women. Girls would pieces of Cape Cod, a candlestick and a cruet, were made in 1975. A few new
pieces were added each year. The last new pieces, a bread and butter plate, cup
learn embroidery at a young age and practice stitches making samplers, another and saucer, and pie plate, were made in 1993. The remaining stock was sold
popular collectible. Elaborately embroidered boxes like these may have been until it ran out in 1995. Avon’s ruby red Cape Cod glass is very collectible.
projects for girls learning embroidery to show their mastery of the skill. But, no There are websites where collectors list pieces they are looking for or pieces
matter how skilled women were at embroidery, they were not likely to become they are selling.
professionals. Only men could join professional embroiderers’ guilds.
***
Q: I have a Little Miss Kay doll from my childhood over 60 years ago. She is wear-
une means warmer weather, flowers blooming, and more time spent out- ing a white and pink dress. The doll was purchased by mailing in several box tops
doors, especially in the garden. Even if you’re as avid a gardener as Terry from cereal. I’ve never seen this doll at stores or flea markets. Does the doll have
JKovel, the garden is never just a place for work. It’s a place to sit, relax and any value other than sentimental value?
enjoy the view of your beautiful plants and the birds and butterflies they attract. A: Little Miss Kay is a 13-inch-tall vinyl doll offered as a premium by
Garden seats have been used for centuries. Early garden seats in China, called Kellogg’s in 1960. It sold for $2 plus two box tops from Kellogg’s Cereals.
Zuo dun, literally “a block to sit on,” were shaped like barrels with a stretched The doll came with four different outfits, a pastel striped dress, a red body suit
skin top held in place with nails. Later garden seats were made of porcelain but with a red and white striped skirt, flannel pajamas, and a “play set” consisting
had the same barrel shape and featured decorative rows of bumps to resemble of a top and pants. Three extra outfits could be bought for $1 plus two box
the old nail heads. tops. Some of the outfits came with a hat and panties. It’s been offered for sale
In 19th-century Europe and America, majolica, an earthenware pottery with online, with the original outfits, for about $50. The doll by itself, dressed, has
thick, colorful tin glaze, was a popular material for garden seats, planters, and sold for under $10.
other garden furnishings. They often had three-dimensional nature-themed ***
decorations, like flowers, leaves, and insects. However, majolica is fragile, and
prone to chipping and cracking, so it should be brought inside during inclement Q: I would like to know the history and value of an upholstered and carved
weather or kept indoors. Victorians often kept majolica pieces in conservatories, mahogany chair. I think it’s called a parlor chair. A tag on the bottom says
or greenhouses, so they could be part of a nature setting without being exposed “Morganton Chair, Lenoir, NC.” It was my great-grandmother’s. It’s in
to the elements. perfect condition, with no tears or stains. She never let anyone sit on it.
Majolica stools are still sought as decorative items.
This one that sold for $160 at Bunch Auctions was made A: Morganton Chair started in business in Lenoir, N.C., about 1935. The
in the 20th century but shares the vivid colors and three- company made upholstered chairs. The business was dissolved in 1979. It’s
dimensional decorations of its Victorian predecessors. not possible to give you the value without seeing the chair. Since it’s not made
by a famous maker, it would sell as good used furniture. The value depends
This majolica stool was made in the 20th century. It is square
instead of the antique barrel shape but still shows the influence on the desirability of the style and the color and design of the upholstery.
of 19th-century style.

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales, and auctions throughout the United States.
CURRENT PRICES Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.
Clothing, scarf, silk, and cashmere, white, repeating Coca-Cola advertising thermometer, tin, bottle Poster, travel, Buenos Aires, Braniff International
thick black O’s, black band border, metal sewn-on shape, script Coca-Cola, red, brown, white, and Airways, cartoon image of chef serving dinner to
tag with Dior, 12 x 74 inches, $65. turquoise, original glass tube, 1950s-1960s, 29 1/4 x man, aircraft in background, burgundy ground,
8 3/4 inches, $220. c. 1955, 20 x 26 inches, $425.
Photograph, John Lennon & Yoko Ono, black and
white, close-cropped, signed in pen by photographer Silver-sterling tray, oval, stepped raised rim, shaped Cane, carved fisherman with net, crustacean and fish,
Jack Mitchell, numbered 1/20, 1980, 15 1/2 x cutout handles on ends, marked, Gorham, 15 3/4 x varnished wood, resin, and green stone accents, D.P.
19 1/2 inches, $700. 22 1/4 inches, $1,125. Dahlquist, 20th century, 37 1/2 inches, $190.
Furniture, stand, curly maple, rectangular top with Stoneware jug, cobalt blue bird and flowers, stamped Furniture, chest on stand, William & Mary, walnut,
raised edge, single drawer with brass ring pull, twist White’s Utica, bulbous, tapered, two high curled rectangular top, two short over three long drawers,
carved legs, ball feet, 24 x 18 x 17 inches, $415. handles, marked at top, 5 gallons, 17 inches, $1,375. stand with long drawer, 54 x 39 x 22 inches, $750.

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.

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