Shaker containers — boxes, baskets and buckets — were simply constructed, simply functional and simply beautiful. In the 19th century, the Shakers made them for their utility, not decoration. Yet collectors love them for their looks. Discover collectors’ true affection for these modest objects.
Foodies and advertising collectors might want to start stocking up on Kraft Mac & Cheese boxes. After 85 years of offering the easy-to-make lunch and dinner, Kraft Heinz Co. just announced that they are updating the name and box design.
Q: I have a 19th-century doll that belonged to my grandmother. The doll is 17 inches tall with a porcelain head and a stuffed leather body. Her hair is styled in a long braid down her back. I was told that her wig is human hair. She has pierced ears and blue glass eyes that move. She wears a skirt, a petticoat, and pantaloons under her maroon coat. I haven’t found any markings on her, but a medal embossed “Souvenir, International Range Cattle & Horse Growers Association, Denver 1886” is tied to her waist. Can you tell me any history and value of the doll?
Kovels Antiques, Inc., was founded by Ralph and Terry Kovel. Hailed as “the duke and duchess of the antiques world,” they have written more than 100 books and special reports about collecting. Their bylined column is the longest-running syndicated weekly column in the country, distributed to more than 150 newspapers. Their guides include the annual Kovels’ Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide, which has sold over 4 million copies since its first edition.