Q: My husband has a washbasin and pitcher from his great-grandmother. He thinks it’s around 100 to 150 years old. It has a light green magnolia flower design on it. There are markings from B&W Company. We want an appraisal, but no one returns our calls. Can you refer us to an Akron, Ohio, appraiser?

A: The mark on your wash set gives the history. “B W M & Co.” was used by Brown, Westhead, Moore & Co., a pottery at Cauldon Place, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It was in business from about 1862 to 1904 and was succeeded by Cauldon Ltd. The pattern name is “Kew.” The number “Rd 69313” is the design registration number, which indicates the pattern was registered in 1887. The washbasin and pitcher are part of a bathroom set. The owner kept water in the pitcher and poured it into the bowl to wash. There was a soap dish, toothbrush holder, and a large covered slop bowl that held waste until it could be taken away in the morning.

Contact a national appraiser group to find an appraiser in your area: Appraisers Association of America (www.appraisersassociation.org), American Society of Appraisers (www.appraisers.org), or International Society of Appraisers (www.isa-appraisers.org).

 

One response to “Antique Wash Basin and Pitcher”

  1. stuartwayne says:

    I’m not sure, but the cost to appraise a bowl and pitcher set may well exceed its value–my understanding is that these are not very popular anymore and I’m guessing a retail price wouldn’t be more than $100. I suggest that you go to an antique mall or search Ebay or other Web sites to get a sense of what values would be–this would help you decide if an appraisal is really worth it.

Leave a Reply

Featured Articles