Messages

1

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Norman Rockwell Wall Plaque?

« on: May 24, 2012, 06:08:09 pm »

Yeah, it's not all that valuable.  I had one -- a jockey modeled after Eddie Arcaro.  They were very popular in the 70s.  I imagine the solid slab of mahogany mine was mounted on was worth more than the image itself!

2

Antique Questions Forum / Re: The tale of Genji porcelain shells 54 pcs

« on: May 24, 2012, 06:06:29 pm »

As a side note, "The Tale of Genji" is among the oldest novels in the known world, and was written by an Imperial lady-in-waiting named Murasaki.  It is about a mischievous emperor's son who is reduced to a commoner, and has to become an officer at court.  It's a story of forbidden love, 11th century aristocratic Japanese life, and the Imperial court.  It rivals only "The Tale of the Heike" as one of the most beloved of the early works in Japanese literature.

3

Antique Questions Forum / Re: What is this?

« on: April 28, 2012, 09:04:31 pm »

Are there THAT many dairy/creamery items coming on the market recently?  Or is it just that dairy machinery inspires a great deal of "what the heck?"?

And yes, I'll sleep better too......

4

Antique Questions Forum / Re: standing ashtray era?

« on: April 27, 2012, 05:05:51 pm »

Probably 60s, the height of smoking and amber!   

5

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Can anyone tell me what this item is?

« on: April 21, 2012, 01:37:37 pm »

This is the weirdest thing I've ever seen!

If there were a mirror in the back, I'd say it was some kind of lantern, with a candle going in the drawer's hole and the smoke going through the top's hole.  But then, why make a drawer for a candle? 

About the only thing I can say is that it was meant to display something that required ventilation, but that was not very large (hence the narrow drawer).   Now I'm worried it was meant to torment small animals.

Could it have been to show off some kind of chemical reaction?  I don't know enough about science, but if a small amount of SOMETHING were added to the drawer, if the drawer were pushed in, and if the SOMETHING then went down the hole into another area, it could interact in some way with a substance in the bottom of the box.  The top hole would still provide ventilation for the reaction, or might contain the reaction for a greater show.

6

Antique Questions Forum / Re: sieve with swastika logo

« on: April 17, 2012, 08:13:18 pm »

Prior to the Nazi usurpation of the symbol, it was, variously, a form of the Christian cross among the eastern orthodox communities and a good luck symbol in Hinduism.

7

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Green Eggs and Ham book

« on: April 06, 2012, 07:54:30 am »

Book club editions and most "sets" are not worth very much, it's sadly true.  A note about sets -- if the books were designed to be uniform (such as the Harry Potter books, where the first editions have elaborate artwork on the dust jackets, etc), then a complete "set" of the first editions would be worth something!  When I'm talking about a set, I'm talking about a reissue of books sold as a set.  For example, how many of us got the "Little House" books as a set in the little cardboard case? -- great to read, and a treasured story for most of us, but financially, practically worthless.  Ditto The Franklin Library of Great Books, and such.

8

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Do you know what this antique is? Get your thinking cap on.....

« on: March 24, 2012, 06:29:41 am »

<------ speaking in deep and sultry voice.

I've always needed a place for my whips and sticks.....

9

Antique Questions Forum / Re: I need help to identify who is the character of this barbedienne bronze

« on: March 22, 2012, 06:13:26 am »

Shakespeare.

10

Antique Questions Forum / Re: "Double Cross" wooden board game

« on: March 19, 2012, 06:40:05 am »

Could it be Cross Cribb?

http://www.gamedaze.com/Crosscribb-The-Game-Of-Strategy-Luck-Double-Cross.aspx

11

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Silver item help!

« on: March 19, 2012, 06:37:58 am »

What is its diameter? -- because it looks like a napkin ring.

12

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Old skull ring

« on: March 15, 2012, 06:16:35 am »

One hates to paint any group with a broad brush, but GENERALLY speaking......many Germans have a "thing" for Native American history and culture.   Wouldn't surprise me if it's a German hodge-podge of what they think a Native ring would look like.  In which case, it would be fairly modern -- 20th century, likely.  That's just my guess, BTW.

13

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Cast iron pot belly stove

« on: March 01, 2012, 05:24:29 pm »

Cogar,

You jogged my memory!  Yes, it looks exactly like one we had in the basement of a house in Illinois.  The place used to use coal -- had the old coal chute running from a ground-level window down to the floor of the basement and everything.  I remember thinking it looked like a space alien, with all the aluminum ductwork overhead.

14

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Large Figurine - Who Is It and When?

« on: March 01, 2012, 06:32:08 am »

For the tourist trade, no doubt -- it's a very Westernized face. 

15

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Henry II furniture

« on: February 26, 2012, 08:32:36 am »

Do you mean the English king (12th century) or the French king (16th century)?