It’s Just Stuff

Hello, Connie,

Attached are pictures of two old tapestries that hung in my mother’s living room from at least 1964. I do not know their origin, but she valued them very much. I am hoping you can shed some light on them in The Tennessee Magazine. My wife works for Chickasaw Electric Cooperative, and I used to work there also. Thank you for your time.

Loyd, Somerville

Loyd,

The country of origin is often stamped in black on the back of these woven tapestries made in the early 1900s. Through the years, I’ve seen Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Spain and Italy stamped on the backs. A few still had thin, soft wood frames with applied decoration on the top center. Woven in cottage-industry communities, they were originally quite colorful, but time and the environment have faded and darkened the fibers. They sell today for less than $50 each.

Thanks for keeping the lights on.

Connie,

The egg collection I am attaching is one my mother bought for my daughter when she was very young. My daughter is now 41 and ready to let it go. It was bought through an ad she saw in a magazine; she bought one every month, and they then shipped the globe stand to complete the set. Unfortunately, she did not keep any boxes or paperwork. Do you have any idea of what they might be worth? Each egg has a different flower painted on it, and there are 12. Thank you so much for any help you can give us. They are all in mint condition.

Bonnie, Springfield

Bonnie,

I’ve noticed domes filled with eggs featured in numerous magazines lately. They apparently fill the upside down dome with assorted eggs, place the base on top and carefully turn it upright. Domes can be used to display precious, random or even mundane items. I’d keep the bilevel dome, for sure.

If your daughter still wants to sell her set, ask $45 for all, or keep the dome and sell the eggs for $18 to $20.

Hi, Connie,

I have owned this (buggy) for 33 years. I purchased it at an antique store in Florence, Ala., in 1982. I paid $550, which I thought was high, but I wanted it very badly.  It has wooden spokes and side vents. It is 4-5 feet long (depending if you let the leg panel down) and 3.5 feet tall. Would you be so kind and let me know the value of this buggy?

Cindy

Cindy,

Discriminating buggy buyers today might pay $350 for this restored, fully functional baby carriage. The Internet has made buying unique items a buyer’s market, though, and most sell for much less than $200. It was made by Lloyd Loom Products in Michigan. In 1917, Marshall Lloyd invented and patented the method of wrapping craft paper around a thin metal wire to imitate wicker. He sold the patent to a British company in 1919.