Page 36 - joa-feb-24-rev

on Antiques & Collectibles

By Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel

nails have a lot of negative associations. Their slow movement Collecting Tip:
makes them a symbol of laziness and inefficiency. They are garden If a stain in a glass vase or bottle is caused by a
Spests, eating plants and oozing slime. And yet they often appear in chemical deposit, this treatment should remove it:
decorative arts, like this miniature brass figure that sold for $51 at an Fill the vase with water, drop in an Alka-Seltzer,
auction by The Benefit Shop Foundations. Its shell is decorated with and let it soak for about 24 hours. Then, rub the
colorful glass “jewels,” a popular adornment on brass in the Victorian era. stain with a brush or a cloth.
The beauty and geometry of snail shells has captured artists’ minds Terry Kovel
for thousands of years. The image of the “lazy” snail is often reinterpreted
to have themes of patience and perseverance; not to mention the utility Q: I have a couple of old scores and cannot find any info on them. Just wondering
of carrying one’s house wherever they if they might have any value over the typical $5 to $10. They are: a music
go. Remember, slow and steady wins score/transcript titled The Miners Dream of Home sung by Leo Dryden
the race. and dated 1892 and Cavalleria Rusticana — Potpourri for Pianoforte by
Pietro Mascagni. The only date I can see on it is 1846 but that could be an
“originating” date, as opposed to a printing date.
In real life, snails are unwelcome pests.
But this one brings the shine of brass A: One of the major reasons for collecting sheet music, and therefore one of
and colorful glass instead of leaving the most important factors in its value, is the cover art. Generally, the smaller
the picture on the title page, the older the sheet music. Full pictures were
slime trails.
used by the 1870s. Color pictures were introduced in the 1840s, but most
19th-century sheet music had black-and-white cover art. Cover art can also
add to the sheet music’s crossover appeal, which increases the value. For
methyst, a variety of quartz with a vivid purple color, is the birth- example, sheet music with a picture of a car on the cover will also appeal to
stone for February. It’s also a highly sought color for decorative automobilia collectors. A picture of a political figure or event will appeal to
Aglass. Colored glass is made by adding metallic oxides or salts to political collectors, and so on. To help date your sheet music, check the size.
the raw material. Amethyst glass often gets its color from manganese, Before 1917, most sheet music was printed on 13 1/2-by-10 1/2-inch pages.
which along with iron, also gives the natural gemstone its color. After 1920, 12 by 9 inches became the standard size. Be careful, though:
Colored glass has been made since ancient times, but, in the United some older sheet music was cut to a smaller size. This lowers its value. The
States, it experienced a surge in popularity in the mid-19th century, when Miner’s Dream of Home was an English music hall song that Leo Dryden and
Will Godwin wrote in 1891. Dryden was the first to perform it, and he first
lime became a substitute for lead in glassmaking. recorded it in 1898. Since then, it has been performed as a music hall song,
This tulip-shaped amethyst glass vase was made between about 1845 folk song or New Year’s song by many other artists. Cavalleria Rusticana,
and 1865 by the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company, one of the most Pietro Mascagni’s most famous opera, premiered in 1890. Advertising
important American glass manufacturers. It is pressed glass, which posters and prints of scenes from the opera have sold for about $50 and up
emerged in the 1820s with the invention of the pressing machine. at recent auctions, so the sheet music may have a similar value.
The earliest pressed glass patterns, often called “lacy,” were designed
***
to conceal flaws in the glass. Glassmaking techniques and tools improved Q: I have inherited an 80-piece set of china made by Meito China with hand-
by the 1840s, and simpler patterns became painted gold trim. It has 20 bowls, 20 small plates, big plates, the wine glasses
popular. Notice how this vase does not have the and collectible serving dishes. You name it, I have it. I’m trying to find out just
intricate, heavily textured patterns often associated how much it’s worth.
with pressed glass; it consists of simple shapes and
flat panels. The Boston & Sandwich company A: Meito China was made in Japan starting about 1908. The company made
hundreds of patterns over the next few decades. Unfortunately, large sets of
made it in several other colors as well as clear glass, china are difficult to sell and generally do not get high prices. We have seen
all of which are desirable. The one shown here sold sets of Meito china sell for about $50 to $150 at recent auctions, depending
for $960 at an auction by Jeffrey S. Evans. on the pattern, condition and whether the set is complete. For more infor-
mation, you could try contacting the Nippon Collector’s Club (www.nip-
poncollectors.com), which specializes in vintage Japanese porcelain, or a
pattern matching service like Replacements, (www.replacements.com),
Talk about jewel tones! Amethyst glass was made to
resemble the famous purple stone. The simple design of Classic Replacements (www.classicreplacements.com) or Missing Pieces
this pressed glass vase puts the focus on its color. (www.missingpieces.com/).

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.
Box, tantalus, wood, hinged lid, marquetry, center Silver plate, candlestick, flared cup, baluster shaped Washstand, pine, blue paint, vinegar sponge, harp
diamond, geometric borders, canted corners, velvet stem, open leaf mounts, knop, round stepped base, shaped dowel bar, gallery back, lower shelf,
lining, three perfume bottles, square stoppers, gilt, quatrefoil foot, scrolled mounts, marked, Warsaw, dovetailed drawer, square legs, mid-19th century,
4 x 6 x 4 inches, $165. Poland, 12 inches, pair, $95. 53 x 19 x 18 inches, $280.
Chair, corner, hardwood, carved, faux bamboo, Auto, pegboard, Milton Test Equipment, race car Lamp, electric, dome shade, reverse painted glass,
pierced back, leafy branches, stretcher base, Japan, graphic at top, For Better Performance, red, white winter landscape, red ground, gilt metal base,
26 1/2 inches, $60. and black, 48 x 24 inches, $190. baluster shape, Pittsburgh Lamp, Brass & Glass Co.,
early 1900s, 23 1/2 x 16 inches, $375.
Pottery, vase, tin glaze, blue, yellow, green, flowers, Rug, pictorial, figures, Immortals, multicolor, yellow
stripes, stick neck, bulbous base, Persian, 10 1/2 calligraphy, dark blue ground, white fringe, Chinese, McCoy, vase, figural, tulip, green, 4-footed, marked,
inches, pair, $100. 2 feet 11 inches x 4 feet 11 inches, $380. c. 1950, 4 x 4 inches, $45.
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.

34 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles