Antiques — July Mailbag

In the Pink, the Cat’s Meow and More
When I’m answering reader mail, I usually try to come up with a theme, but no luck this time. Just like the antique business itself, this month’s mailbag is a mixed bag, but it’s bag full of goodies.
The first letter we pull from the bag is another request for the value of a book. I don’t mind doing the research for you; in fact, it’s often fun. But you can look up your books yourself at www.abebooks.com, www.alibris.com, or www.amazon.com. And those three are only for starters. Just make sure you read the descriptions carefully. Edition and condition are key.
This reader wants to know the value of “The Modern Home Medical Advisor” by Morris Fishbein (revised, 1941). The first edition of this book was 1935, and can be purchased on-line for about $20. The 1941 edition goes for about $15. Add shipping to each of these prices.
While there is a market for old medical books, those published for a popular rather than professional market are really just curiosities. People, especially writers, like them because they offer a glimpse of what people understood, or were being told, about health at various times in history.
Another reader sent in a photo of a “Kutani cat,” but the mark on the bottom clearly sated that it was an “Imari cat.” The blue and red colors are a standard Imari color combination. More important, however, is the quality of the painting.
Imari artists took the color restrictions and went to town.
As Imari became more popular many more pieces were being produced, so there was less time to be creative. I didn’t have an old Imari cat to show you a comparison, but if I did, you would notice how much more densely decorated and artful the older pieces were. This mid-20th Century feline is still a charmer, however, and could retail for $50-75.
I wrote a recent article about identifying Kutani. I think you might find it still posted on the Herald web site. Check it out.
Another reader is in a quandary about a large collection of pink Depression glass. The collection was assembled just for the color, a popular way to collect, but there are lots of different patterns. When determining value, Depression glass is all about knowing the pattern. In the photo grouping sent in it was impossible to determine any specific pattern, but a quick scan gave me the impression that these were sellable pieces, but none were very valuable.
When I say sellable, I mean cheap: plain small dishes may be $1-$3 each, small serving pieces, like candy dishes, at about $5. If you Google “depression glass patterns,” you’ll find some helpful sites that have just about all you need to find your pattern. Some shapes that could be valuable include: large dinner dishes and grill plates (divided dinner plates), pedestal cake plates, kitchenware, tumblers, water goblets, cocktail sets, etc.
Lastly, there was a reader looking to find out about one of those oak bow-front cabinets. They were popular around 1900, and came in a variety of sizes. They also vary in quality. The more ornately carved pieces were more expensive, of course, but there were other features that added to the value – a mirrored back or glass shelves, for instance.
Today you can find bow-fronts from $250 for one that’s small, plain natural plain-sawn oak to nearly $4,000 for a rare size with extensive carving. Whatever they are, they’re a bargain, like most antique furniture these days. They are still very useful, and are of a quality and craftsmanship hard to find for the price today. This one comes in at about $600-$800.
For help finding the value of your things, get out and visit the shops. There are about 40 of them in the Cape May County. Somewhere out there you’ll find your stuff with a tag telling you what it is and what it costs. And each antique shop is a mixed bag just waiting for you to reach right in and pull out some goodie for yourself.
Arthur Schwerdt, a certified appraiser, is the author of “The Antique Story Book: Finding the Real Value of Old Things,” and co-owner of the August Farmhouse Antiques on Route 9 in Swainton. Send your comments, questions and appraisal requests to: aschwerdt@cmcherald.com.