Dear Connie Sue,
I have attached some pictures of my mother’s travel case that I inherited. I don’t know where she got it and have no idea who may have tooled the leather. I am hoping you may have some information. Anything you can tell me would be appreciated. The mirror, as you can see, is broken, but I have all the pieces.
Sandra
Dear Sandra,
You can easily have another mirror cut to fit your mother’s midcentury tooled leather train case. Made in England, fine luxury luggage like this was often given for special occasions. Many cases are monogrammed.
Today, tooled leather and fine luggage are briskly collected. We seldom use it for travel but instead for display and storage. Similar train cases sell for $160 to $350.
Dear Connie Sue,
My aunt gave this to me 50 years ago and asked me to never let it leave the family. She had it long before me, but I don’t know its history. I have long been curious as to the history and value.
Marie
Dear Marie,
Your aunt’s porcelain figurine was made in Germany. The blue mark of a crown over an “S” was used by the Sitzendorf factory from 1918 to 1954. Similar figurines are offered for as much as $50 by hopeful people but typically sell for $10 to $20.
To make the lace skirt, liquid slip (thin clay) was painted onto real lace. When the porcelain was fired, the real lace burned away, leaving fragile flounces on the figurine.
Dear Connie Sue,
My sister and I inherited these two needlepoint parlor chairs. They have leather and straw edging on the seats. They are very petite.
We would like to donate them to an organization that could use them. We just don’t know how to go about finding who might want them. Any advice would be appreciated.
Gaye
Dear Gayle,
You’ve inherited a pair of walnut Victorian side chairs, circa-1880. Victo-rian-era house museums are sprinkled all over Tennessee. Contact local government offices or chambers of commerce for history and preservation groups in your area. The chairs appear to be in excellent condition.
There are also community organizations that sell things to provide services to those in need. The chambers and local governments will know of these donation options as well.
Dear Connie Sue,
I am recently widowed. There were two items that I remember my wife saying I should investigate for their true value. The first is a Roseville vase, dated 1957.
The second is a Princess House figurine. I can’t seem to find out any information about either item. I look forward to your expert opinion.
Peter
Dear Peter,
I’m sorry for your loss but happy you listened to your wife. Her Roseville double vase is made in the Artwood pattern. The numbers on the base, 1057 8, are not the date but the pattern number. Double vases in this pattern sell in the $75-to-$125 range. Yours was made in 1951.
Princess House Exclusive bisque figurines sell slowly for around $10.
