Messages

1

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Okay, I'm horrible. Claw foot table time placement?

« on: June 10, 2009, 09:27:56 am »

From the photo- it looks like oak, though I can't tell if the top is veneer or solid.  This piece was probably made by an American manufacture between 1890 and 1910 - or so.  It's value depends on where you live, as oak in certain area's is not as popular as others.  I'm out east, and it just goes for good used furniture value, and at auction, I could buy that table most any day for under $200.00, but I couldn't sell it for any more than $250.00, even cleaned up, and I'd have to wait awhile at that.  It is a lovely piece though and it is the perfect little table for many uses, plants, lamps, whatever.

2

Antique Questions Forum / Re: can anybody help with this furniture set?

« on: June 10, 2009, 09:15:24 am »

Looks like a combo of early 1900's mixed in with a touch of 1960's Mediterranean that was popular and a bit of early American, also popular at the time..  That would put in the 1960's category as vintage furniture, but definitely not antique.  Could have been made by any one of a number of furniture manufacturers from Broyhill , Bassett, or even Ethan Allen, but most of the major companies usually had a signature burned into it somewhere.

3

Antique Questions Forum / Re: My first Auction

« on: June 06, 2009, 09:28:23 am »

I've been buying and selling for many years and still get stuck with a crack or flaw I missed in my enthusiasm for the piece and the potential value of my find.
Never, ever buy a broken, chipped or cracked or in anyway flawed piece unless you, yourself alone, are madly in love with it.  Not unless you are sure of the rarity, the true value and have a buyer looking for such an item, buy anything that isn't perfect, even then it may end up yours for a lifetime.
The value of any antique piece is only what somebody is willing to pay for it, and that does leave many variables in the possibility of a good price for your purchase.
Enjoy the hunt- it's very addictive, just don't forget there is a lot of "fools gold" out there too!

4

Antique Questions Forum / U.S. Coin glass authenticity

« on: June 06, 2009, 08:24:11 am »

Hi- I have been trying to research the authenticity from Internet sources of a piece of U.S. coin glass, which I believe to be original and from the Central Glass Company.  Since there are still lingering questions, obviously, I'm not really 100% positive, or just a victim of wishful thinking.

I have found there is confusion in the date it was made- 1891 or 1892, or possibly the time frame of 5 months of production overlapped the two.  However, if the 1891 date is correct- that means there were no 1892 coins even available  to have all these pieces dated so, yet that seems to be the case, the possibly the dates were altered.

Next point of my confusion is the use of the seated liberty quarter, rather than the Barber quarter-  seated liberty quarters ended minting in 1891- therefore - where are the coins dated 1892 coming from.  Then there are "experts" who are claiming that the eagle from the Barber quarter, which came in in 1892, is the authentic one used on the coin glass pieces.  This coin is different from that of the Seated Liberty Quarter in that the banner on the seated liberty is behind the eagle, and the Barber version, which also does not have a seated liberty, but a bust only, and the eagle had the banner in his beak, but it does have the 1892 date, obviously.  

A book written by T. Timmerman on U.S. Coin, is quoted as saying the glass was made in 1891,  while he is also quoted as saying the coins using the seated liberty quarter reverse eagle are reproductions.  This can't be correct since the Barber quarter has yet to be minted at this date.  And I have checked photos and info from auction houses that pieces that they have sold do have the seated liberty quarter, as well as the banner hanging behind the eagle on the reverse.  And since the real coins were not allowed to be used after the original, and only 5 mos. of firing- how are these reproductions even possible?  The molds were broken at the time the forced end of production occurred.

So, I am obviously confused and hoping somebody out there might know the real deal on the U.S. coin glass. http://