Antiques — Let’s Play Jeopardy: ‘Antiques for $200, Alex’

I admit it. During Jeopardy, I become one of those obnoxious smarty-pants who shouts the answers (I mean the questions) at the television set. I’d risk less humiliation for blurting out incorrect responses if there was an “Antiques” category once and a while, but I don’t remember ever seeing one.
So let’s pretend we all just won $1,000 on the first round, and there’s an “Antiques” category in the Double Jeopardy round. Could you run the category? How much would you wind up with at the end of the game.?
1. ($200) This county in England created two-thirds of all the ceramics made in that country, and was home to such venerable companies as Wedgwood, Spode and Minton.
2. ($400) This popular line of American Art Deco dinnerware by Homer Laughlin was actually designed by an Englishman, Frederick Rhead, in 1936.
3. ($600) This brilliantly iridescent glass was called the “poor man’s Tiffany glass,” but got its current collectible nickname name because it could be won by knocking down milk cans at a county fair.
4. ($800) A term for highly prized decorative items made from handcrafted and painted tinware, it is simply the French word for tin.
5. ($1,000) This colorful style of metallic glazed pottery is actually ancient in origin, but was reintroduced by English and American potters in the mid-19th Century, and is avidly collected today.
Well how much do you have left to bet on the Final Jeopardy answer? Here it is. And don’t forget to put your response in the form of a question.
This simple, yet elegant late-19th Century style of furniture, only made in walnut or oak, is technically called Reformed Gothic, but is know popularly by the name of the man who advocated it in his book, “Hints on Household Taste” published in England in 1868.
Da-Da, Da-Da, Da-Da-Da
The correct Jeopardy questions are:1. What is Staffordshire?; 2. What is Fiesta Ware?; 3. What is Carnival Glass?; 4. What is Tole?; 4. What is Majolica?; And the Final Jeopardy question is: What is Eastlake?
Well, how much did you win? Lucky contestants will win a trip to the more than 40 antique shops here on the Cape, where you’ll learn enough about antiques to make you a Jeopardy champion. For a complete list, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Antique Shop Guide, Department of Tourism, P.O. Box 365, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210.
And now for a public service announcement:
Mark your calendar for the event that always starts the summer season off with a bang – The Avalon Antiques Show on Sat., May 28 at Community Hall on 30th Street and the Beach. I’ll be there from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to appraise whatever you bring in.
You’ll also have an opportunity to see great stuff, talk to dealers, get a hot dog or hamburger, pick up plants for your garden, and buy some of the yummiest home-baked good you can find anywhere. It’s always lots of fun, and it’s all for charity! Hope to see you there.
Arthur Schwerdt, a certified appraiser, is the author of “The Antiques Story Book,” and co-owner of the August Farmhouse antiques on Route 9 in Swainton. Send your comments, questions and appraisal requests to: aschwerdt@cmcherald.com.