Rare set of Chinese porcelian tells a soldier’s story
D.K. sends me a pair of teacups and saucers that belonged, he supposes, to either his world-traveling grandparents, or his dad. They are delicate Chinese porcelain. Which story “fits” the …
Measuring up to ABBA’s Piano’s Value
Rick’s Café upright piano from Casablanca sold for $3.4 million in 2014. John Lennon’s “Imagine” piano sold for $1.67 million in 2000. But your piano is worth less than you …
Hunger for mid-century modern extends to some tableware
C.H. read my mid-century modern column and has a question about mid-century ceramic dinner services, like her mom’s “Golden Harvest” by Stangl, “Apple” by Franciscan and a set designed by …
What’s a Mork and Mindy Script Worth?
C.H. from Santa Barbara found a Mork and Mindy script, along with a few other TV classic scripts, in a beat up cardboard box at a Pomona Antique mall; the …
From Goodwill to good grief: The value of mid-century modern pieces 8/1/2017 0 Comments
J.V. has a mid-century modern ceramic vase by one of Scandinavia’s most influential post-war designers, Stig Lindberg (Swedish, 1916-1982). Lindberg was the archetypal early modernist designer, with his quirky horn-rimmed …
The Dire Melody of Time
T.A. from Valencia sends me this tall case or long case clock, not technically a “grandfather” clock, because the term “grandfather” only entered parlance due to a popular song written …
The Watteau revival
D.L. is an amateur collector who has inherited a rococo artwork. Rococo is a flamboyant French style of the 18th century, a reaction against the grand classic style of the …
Erotic Alabaster
S.F. from the 805 inherited a white marble bust entitled “Poesia” from her late mother-in-law, who inherited it from “her no-good father who ran off when [my mother-in-law] was a …
Four levels of an 18th century-style painting’s value
B.T. brought in a lovely and valuable oil painting to our Santa Barbara office for my opinion of value. If it is everything I think it is (an original), our …
1950’s Eggbeater
J.F. sends me a photo of a 1950’s metal eggbeater which has a metal gear and two whisks, labeled on a rubber handle across the top of both sides “B-E-S-T.” …