Menorahs

There are two kinds of Jewish menorahs. The six-branch menorah with a seventh center candleholder is used in Jewish temples. The Hanukkah menorah, used only during the eight-day holiday, has eight branches and a special central candleholder. Each day, candles are lit to represent the day of the holiday–one the first day, two the second day, etc. The single holder in the center is for the special candle that is lit first, then used to light the other candles. Prices for antique Hanukkah menorahs are usually higher than prices for antique temple menorahs.

7-branch menorah

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8-branch menorah

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Pook & Pook, Inc. (7-branch menorah), Showplace Antique + Design Center (8-branch menorah)

 

 

Holly Amber Glass

Holly Amber glass, also called Golden Agate, was made by the Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Co. of Greentown, Ind., for six months in 1903. The rare pressed glass has a border of holly leaves. A record price, $9,500, was paid in September 2012 for a toothpick holder on a pedestal stem. See more information on Holly Amber and its prices.

holly amber vase

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Holly Amber vase shown sold at Brunk Auctions

 

L.C. Tiffany

Interested in the works of L.C. Tiffany? The fear of a catastrophic earthquake near the Tiffany Garden Museum collection in Japan has led to the Nov. 17-18 sale of the museum’s collection by Michaan’s Auctions in Alameda, Calif. The collection of works by Louis C. Tiffany will include lamps, windows, vases, enamels, mosaics, and paintings. View the catalog here.
 

l.c. tiffany cobweb spiderweb table lamp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Michaan’s Auctions

 

Toy Boat Excitement

Check this section each week for our choice of the trend-setting events, sales, shows, museum exhibits, and conventions ahead.

Last week a catalog arrived, I glanced at it, then sat down and studied every page of the coming auction of toy boats and other nautical toys from a famous collection. The catalog for the sale, to be held on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, at Bertoia Auctions in Vineland, N.J., is online now. Both rare and “findable” toys are there for early bids and study. Amazing pictures and information not easily found elsewhere. If you own vintage or antique toys or if you are a boat lover, this catalog is for you. For details, email toys@bertoiaauctions.com; phone 836-602-1881; or visit the auction’s website.

battleship toy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Bertoia Auctions

Shawnee Pottery

Pieces made by Shawnee Pottery (1937-1961) are popular and inexpensive. Probably best-known are the dinnerware pieces from sets of Corn King, made from 1946 to 1954; Corn Queen, made from 1954 to 1981; and the figural cookie jars. Any jars that were imperfect were kept aside and sold to employees or to the public in the company store. Many of these jars were given added decorations to hide flaws, and today many collectors seek these “rarities.” Original “perfect” jars had no gold decoration and no small bugs, patches, or flowers used to hide flaws. For more information and prices, see our online price guide.

 

 

 

 

Lamps and Lightbulbs

Vintage lamps may now have to be altered to accommodate the new types of light bulbs. But this has a happened before. In 1860 kerosene was the fuel used for light. Electricity, introduced in 1879, made the cost of lighting much lower and old lamps were adapted or discarded. For more information on lighting, lamps, and their prices, go to Kovels.com.

lamp

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identifying Prints

Many things determine the price of an antique or collectible. Prints are especially difficult to judge if you’re a beginner. You must learn to recognize a print, etching, engraving, lithograph, chromolithograph, photograph, and modern copies of oil paintings, watercolors, pastels, hand-colored prints or enhanced oil paintings. Each one is in a different price range.  See Kovels’ online price guide for prices of all of these types of pictures.

print

 

 

 

 

 

Old Radios

 

The Sparton Nocturne radio is one of the most wanted of all old radios. It was designed by the famous Walter Dorwin Teague. The 46-inch-high Art Deco cabinet made of midnight blue mirrored glass was ahead its time in 1935 when it was made. The price when new was $350. For more information and prices of vintage radios, go to the price guide section on Kovels.com. There are several national and regional clubs for collectors of vintage radios, phonographs and TV sets. We list some of the clubs on our website.

 

Stereoviews

Stereoviews, also called stereocards, were popular from about 1840 to 1930. Two pictures were taken from slightly different locations. Then they were mounted on a stiff card and viewed through a stereoscope with two lenses. Just like the stereo movies made today, the method of photography made the pictures look 3-D. Collector associations include the Magic Lantern Society of the United States & Canada, the National Stereoscopic Association, and photographic groups in many cities. For more information and prices, see Kovels.com/Price-Guide/Stereo-Cards.html.

stereo card stereo view

 

 

 

Firefighting Items