Moorish Revival lamps, cast iron bank, lithograph: What are they worth? – oregonlive.com

In the antiques and collectibles trade, the most common answer to the question of any objects monetary value is What a willing buyer and a willing seller agree on. Condition, age, quality and rarity all come into play in that answer, but the market is the final decider.

This month, a pair of Moorish Revival lamps and an antique coin bank will likely find eager buyers. The Japanese cloisonn vase is also collectible, though its damaged condition makes it less appealing. The stoneware pitcher and lithograph, while attractive, are perhaps more valuable as family keepsakes.

The snakes, birds and perhaps dragons in the design of your lamp are unusual and very appealing to collectors of objects in this style.Courtesy of the collector

Q. I inherited these two floor lamps from my father, who lived in New York City. They are 6 feet, 3 inches tall with 11-inch square bases. Some of their wiring has been re-done, and Ive attached a photo of the original plugs and bulb containers that were removed.

S.M., Seattle

A. Your pair of floor lamps appear to be American, in the Moorish, or Oriental Revival, style, and probably date to around 1920. The style was popular in the early mid-19th century and then again in the early 20th century, and reflected a Western fascination with Middle Eastern and Far Eastern design elements. The snakes, birds and perhaps dragons in the design of your lamp are unusual and very appealing to collectors of objects in this style. At auction, you might see this pair sell for $600-$900, but they might well bring significantly more if avid collectors are bidding. A retail dealer specializing in such items, or perhaps an interior designer, might ask $3,000-$5,000 for such a pair of unusual lamps.

This cast-iron bank was made by the A. C. Williams Company of Cleveland, Ohio.Courtesy of the collector

Q. This is a cast-iron metal bank that my father had since he was a child probably at least 80 years. One of the families his father worked for in Stamford, Texas, gave this to him. I dont see any identifying marks on it and it weighs about 14 ounces. Its about 5 1/2 inches long and 3 1/5 inches tall. The only other one Ive ever seen is in a museum display in Dodge City, Kansas, at the Boot Hill museum. I hope you can give me a bit of insight into this treasured piece.

E.M., Lake Oswego

A. Your cast-iron bank was made by the A. C. Williams Company of Cleveland, Ohio. This company made cast-iron toys and banks as part of their wares from 1905 until about 1938. In the 1920s it was the largest cast-iron toy company in the world. Your toy probably dates to 1910-1920. At a toy auction, it might fetch a sale price of $30-$50, though examples have brought significantly more. A dealer specializing in antique toys might ask as much as $100-$150 if it is in the original painted finish.

This pitcher is almost certainly American, and dates to the late 19th or early 20th century.Courtesy of the collector

Q. I have had this stoneware pitcher for over 50 years. There are no markings on it, but someone told me it might be a late 19th century item. It is 9 1/2 inches high and 5 1/2 inches across the top opening. Thank you so much for helping out

S.B., Dansville, New York

A. Your pitcher is mold cast stoneware, with an applied handle, in a Bristol glaze, with relief cobalt profile bust decoration of a gentleman and a lady. Bristol glaze was first created in the 19th century in England and produces a smooth white glaze on stoneware. This pitcher is almost certainly American, and dates to the late 19th or early 20th century. At auction, you might expect a sale of $50-$70. A dealer specializing in American ceramics might ask $100-$150.

Your vase is a Japanese cloisonn vase, from the Mieji era, and probably dates to the first quarter of the 20th century.Courtesy of the collector

Q. This large vase came to me from a family member and I would like to know if it has any value today. It measures 24 inches tall.

L.C., West Linn

A. Your vase is a Japanese cloisonn vase, from the Mieji era, and probably dates to the first quarter of the 20th century. It appears some of the cloisonn is gold stone or tea gold cloisonn, which is made by mixing copper crystals or aventurine glass with the enamel before it is applied. If it were undamaged, it might sell at auction for $300-$500 and carry a retail price tag of $900-$1,200. However, condition is important to collectors; and the damage to the rim and particularly the enamel of this vase could reduce those numbers by half, if not more.

This is not an original painting but a color lithograph of the original painting titled Garden Bouquet, by Mae Bennett-Brown (1887-1973).Courtesy of the collector

Q. We have had this painting for many years and would like to know something about the artist and if it is at all valuable. It measures 20 inches wide and 23 inches deep with the frame and 15 inches wide by 19 inches deep inside the frame. The artist signature is M. Bennett Brown.

C.J., La Pine

A. This is not an original painting but a color lithograph of the original painting titled Garden Bouquet, by Mae Bennett-Brown (1887-1973). This litho was probably published by Henry B. Sandler Co. Inc., of New York City, around 19401942. Born in England, Brown exhibited her work in Derby, Leicester, London and Nottingham, England. She moved to Boston in 1921 and became a member of the North Shore and Rockport Art Associations in Massachusetts. She painted many shore scenes and landscapes, but specialized in bright floral still lifes. At auction, this might sell for $20-$40. A print dealer in a retail shop might ask $100-$150.

About Todays Collectibles

The values discussed for items featured in this column were researched by Portland appraiser Jerry l. Dobesh, ASA, an Accredited Senior Appraiser with the American Society of Appraisers, with a specialty designation in Antiques & Decorative Arts. His services include providing appraisals for estate tax, charitable contribution, insurance scheduling and loss, and equitable distribution needs.

To find an appraiser, contact the American Society of Appraisers, the International Society of Appraisers, or the Appraisers Association of America. Estimates suggested in this Collectibles column are for general information purposes only and cannot be used as a basis for sale, insurance, or IRS purposes.

To have items considered for inclusion in future columns, please send us your high-quality images, preferably at least 300 dpi, 1Mb in size and in jpeg format. Photos must show each object in its entirety and must be clearly focused and well lighted to show detail. If there are any maker's marks, please include an image of those. Include measurements and information about the condition of the piece.

Send to: carolynpatten@gmail.com

or to: Todays Collectibles/Homes & Gardens The Oregonian 1500 SW First Ave., Suite 400

Portland, OR 97201

Please include your name and town, along with contact information; phone number or email address. Contact information will not be published. The Oregonian will retain usage rights of the photographs for its print, marketing and online media.

Carolyn Patten, carolynpatten@gmail.com

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Moorish Revival lamps, cast iron bank, lithograph: What are they worth? - oregonlive.com