Dear Connie Sue,
This is from my grandmother who passed away. She called it “The Holy Cow,” and that’s what all of us kids believed it was. I would like to know the origin of the marks and the value.
— Marty
Dear Marty,
This porcelain is called “Seduction of Europa.” The mythological god Zeus was in love with Europa. He disguised himself as a bull, tricked Europa into riding on his back by sea to Crete where he revealed his true self. There’s more to this story, but ultimately Europa gave her name to the continent of Europe. Truth and women’s rights were not addressed in mythology.
The porcelain was made in Passau, Bavarian Germany, before 1897. The maker is Dressel Kister & Company, which made fine porcelain from 1840 to 1942.
Its value is $500 to $1,000.
Dear Connie Sue,
I inherited a few items from my mother that are very special to me. One is a vase my mother loved from Austria. I’m not sure how old the vase is, but it brought her joy, and I love it.
— Cynthia, Thompson’s Station
Dear Cynthia,
This double-handle vase with hand-painted rose was made after 1914 for the United States market — for the purpose of bringing joy. It is offered for sale at just over $20 and sells for less at moving sales.
Dear Connie Sue,
I have a couple of lamps that belonged to my parents. I am sending a picture of the lamps for your opinions.
— Lynn, Nolensville
Dear Lynn,
Your parents’ ivory alacite art glass lamps were produced by Aladdin in the Lincoln Drape pattern. They were made from 1940 to 1949. Burners for these lamps were made in Nashville.
The lamps do not have the original shades, and to electrify them, holes were made in the burners. But these alterations haven’t affected value as much as our current taste in lighting. In the 1970s I sold Lincoln drape lamps for $175 each as fast as I could get them. Today, they struggle to bring $50 each.
If I owned the lamps, I would lose the floral shade and put a single bulb in the socket with the chimney, then use them for accent lighting in dark corners.
Dear Connie Sue,
We are cleaning out my mother-in-law’s possessions. Can you tell me about these two items? Thanks in advance for your help. There is so much stuff.
— Kimberly
Dear Kimberly,
The metal four-drawer Wesco file cabinet will sell for less than $50. The two-piece sad iron will bring around $20. The base was heated on a wood stove. A removable wooden handle kept the sad person doing the ironing from burning their hand.
And, yes, I am aware — there is so much stuff!
Subject line:
Baby Carriage Vase with Attached Picture. (No question or comment.)
— Nelle
Nelle,
Pastel blue and pink pottery planters shaped like baby carriages were used by florists for newborn baby flowers and potted plants. They currently sell for $4 to $10 and were made midcentury in the U.S.
