Prescott's "Instant" Appraisals

Objects provided by the Readers of the
Josie Prescott Mystery Series

Scan through these pages -- enjoy!

As part of the Free Instant Appraisals Offering (currently discontinued) almost 200 objects were appraised by the renowned auction house, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.  Readers provided a description and photos of the objects they submitted.  Browse through these pages to hone your skills or take the QUIZ, "You Be the Judge", to pit your knowledge against that of the experts!

Select an Object from the list below to View Its Appraisal
[Click any image to view an enlargement.]

Fenton Lamp

Description:

I believe this is a Fenton lamp. I cannot find the body style or the pattern that is on the body. The glass is frosted and the flowers appear to be hand painted. The shade is hobnail milk glass. I’ve seen the shade and the brass base as parts of other Fenton lamps. There are no markings anywhere.

Appraisal:

Victorian glass table lamps, such as this, sell between $150-300 at auction. Based on the photos and information provided, this is an interesting example with the floral detail on the body and would probably bring around $300 at auction—pending further research of the piece to correctly attribute it to Fenton.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

Snow Globe

Description:

This looks like an old "Snow Globe."  It has an Arabian figure inside and it is filled with water. It sits on a mirrored base with sea shells attached to the mirror. I do not know if it is an antique or not. It was found while cleaning out a house.

Appraisal:

Snow globes have been around since the 19th century and yours looks to be in the Victorian taste.  As they were produced commercially and in fairly large numbers I would estimate this one at $200, based on the information and photo provided.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

Photo/Record Album

Description:

I came across this album when my in-laws suddenly passed away last year. The album is titled "The year of the Tiger '68."  In the upper left hand corner is written: "NBD presents The Official 1968 Detroit Tiger Album Limited Edition."  In the upper right hand corner it is written: "Compatible stereo FCLP 30CL". Across the bottom: "The Detroit Tigers Win The American League Pennant/Ernie Harwell & Ray Lane." Produced by Fleetwood Recording Co., Inc. Revere, Mass. The album and cover are in very good condition. I even have the album sleeve, which is not torn.

Appraisal:

While this is an interesting collectible which any Detroit Tiger fan would appreciate, they were produced in fairly large numbers and routinely sell on EBay for between $5 and $10. This estimate is based on the photos and information provided.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

Trampart Frame and Walter Granville Smith Watercolor

Description:

This is a trampart frame from the mid to late 1800’s with a Granville Smith watercolor in it.  The frame measures 39 1/2 inches by 32 inches overall.  It is from the Cornwall on the Hudson area of New York State.  It is in excellent condition.  There are no markings on the frame, but the watercolor is signed W. Granville Smith 1892.

Appraisal:

Based on the information and photos provided, this appears to be a very nice example of a trampart frame.  Most I have seen have been of a smaller size and would estimate this one alone for $500/700 at auction.  The watercolor by Walter Grandville Smith, an American artist (1870-1938), could potentially be worth at least twice as much as the frame.  It should be inspected first hand by an expert.  If it is original to the frame there could be conservation issues which might need to be addressed.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

Toy Truck

Description:

I bought this old toy at a yard sale.  Don't know much about it, but it appears to be in good condition, and includes the box. The toy is made out of metal or tin.  It is 6 1/2 inches long, almost 3 inches wide at the widest point on the back of the truck, and 3 1/2 inches tall to the top of the drivers head. 

Appraisal:

Tin windup toys are actively collected and your German model dating to the first half of the 20th century is very interesting.  Based on the information and photos provided, it looks to be in near original condition and the fact that you have the box helps too.  Lehmann trucks like these can bring several hundred dollars at auction depending on if they run and if the decorations have been touched up or not.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

Plaque of Washington by Charles Calverley

Description:

This bronze bas-relief was purchased by my deceased aunt prior to 1982. I have located 2 other copies: Albany Institute of Art and the Virginia Historical Society. A cast iron type is for sale at http://www.crsculpture.com/artists/charlescalverley  . It’s dated 1877 and is in excellent condition. Size: 17" wide x 21 1/8" high. These are the actual dimensions of the bronze not including the frame. It’s signed: From Houdon's Bust by C. Calverley, Sc. 1877.

Appraisal:

This plaque is a fairly well known image of Washington.  Charles Calverley, an American artist (1833-1914), designed this work after a bust done by Houdon. Based on the photographs and information provided, at auction I would estimate it at $800/1200.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

Victorian End Tables

Description:

I have two genuine Mahogany Victorian end tables with marble tops which were made in Italy. They are hand carved and in really good condition. We believe them to be over one hundred years old.  The marble has an "ITALY" stamp underneath and on top of the table, but underneath the marble top there is a "VICTORIAN" stamp and a label stating genuine mahogany with a issued number.  Table is an oval shape:  34" long, 22" wide and 27 5/8" tall. 

Appraisal:

The term Victorian generally refers to the style popular during Queen Victoria's reign, 1837-1901.  While your tables have the Victorian look their construction and the manner they are labeled date them to a later period, probably mid 20th century.  Based on the information and photos provided, at auction I would expect the pair to sell for around $200.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

Chinese Mud Figure

Description:

This oriental seated figure is in very bright colors and in excellent condition. An artist friend told me that this piece is hand made. You can see the artists thumb prints on the inside of the piece. She believes that it is stoneware. There is a Chinese mark impressed into the interior of the piece. This piece has a Certificate of Antiquity from Hong Kong dated 12th Dec., 1978 which states that it is from the "Ching" Dynasty A.D. 1736-1821. The height is 8.5"; the width 9.5". This piece weighs about 4 lbs.

Appraisal:

This collectible is called a Chinese Mud Figure.  Given the photo and information provided, I don’t believe it is as old as estimated in the description.  It may be from the late 19th century. At auction, the estimate would be between the following ranges: $150-200/200-300.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

LeCoultre Clock

Description:

This clock is 3 3/4 inches in height, 2 1/4 inches in width and 1 1/4 inches deep.  The clock is marked LeCoultre on the front with an 8 under the name.  The clock is also marked on the bottom with LeCoultre Swiss 59.  The condition of the clock is nice and the clock does run and does play music.  The back of the clock has three things on the top right marked alarm stop, alarm and movt.  The two bottom items have stop and music.  I believe this is called repeater, however, I am not sure about that.  My husband and I acquired this clock many years ago and when we bought it we did not realize that it played music. 

Appraisal:

LeCoultre produced clocks such as this in the mid 20th century. Given the photographs and information provided, at auction this would probably have an estimate of $100-200.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

Borden's Dairy Box/Soules

Description:

I have a wooden box with "Borden's Dairy" on the side. The measurements at the top are 17" X 12", at the bottom are 12" X 8" and 9 1/2" tall. There are hand forged cleats

holding the board together and hand forged handle. I haven't been able to find anything online. I would like to know the approximate age and value.

Appraisal:

Your Borden's Dairy box appears to date from between 1930 and 1950.  The market for an object such as this is usually in the $30/50 range.  This estimate is based on the information and photos that were provided.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

Antique Cup

Description:

I purchased this cup for my mother, who collects antique cups, from a consignment shop in West Chester, PA about 8 years ago. It cost me $60 and I thought the deep blue and gold decoration was particularly attractive. The saucer has this inscription: "Zur Errinnerung des 9 Aprils 1850 an." In the center of the saucer is the letter "L" with a circle around it. I am curious what the inscription is, what the date might signify, is there significance to the handle shaped like a snake gripping the cup, and what it is worth.

Appraisal:

This looks to be a German or Austrian porcelain coffee cup and saucer from 1850. The inscription reads "For remberance of April 9, 1850." Coffee cups and saucers like this one can sell for $100-200 for a group to $800-1,200 for a single cup and saucer depending on the maker and the decoration. This cup and saucer would probably bring around $80-120 at auction, without knowing the maker or seeing all of the decoration, and basing it on the information and photos provided.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

Statue --- Les Tres Gracias per Antonio Canova

Description:

This statue was purchased in the late 70's at an antique store for quite a bit of money. It stands 20 inches tall, 11 inches wide, and 5.75 inches deep. It has no damage whatsoever. It has been taken care of very carefully. There is a number on the back of the base inscribed in the piece that says 1820. On the front of the base, it is inscribed "LES TRE GRACIAS per ANTONIO CANOVA" 2 LINES. It is very detailed and beautiful.

I read a little bit about the artist, and know it is Italian, but would like to know the value now and if there is a market for these types of statues. It weighs approximately 12 lbs., and seems to be made of porcelain, but I don't know. The inside is hollow.

Appraisal:

We have researched your collectible and found about nine different sales results at auction for works matching this description. There are varying sizes, and only one that somewhat matches the height of the piece included in the email. It seems noteworthy that every listing is an "After". Based on the information and photos, and depending on the materials I would say that this would be worth between $500-1,000.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

Bird’s Eye Maple Butler’s Chest

Description:

This is an early to mid 1800’s Birdseye Maple Dresser from Pennsylvania. It is in very good condition and measures 48 ½ inches tall by 41 ¾ inches wide.  It has very nice handmade dovetails.  There are no markings that can be found.

 Appraisal:

It appears that the top drawer has a writing surface and an interior fitted with cubby holes and drawers over two long drawers. A Bird’s Eye Maple Butler’s Chest, 19th century, would be estimated to bring in $800-1,200 at auction. This estimate is based on the photos and information provided.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

Kerosene Lamp

Description:

This is a kerosene table lamp with ornate black cast iron "footed" base; 11" tall without the chimney.  It has a satin finish squatty amber bowl 8"d -painted floral design  The outer ring of brass burner marked: EAGLE and the underside of base is marked: 300.  The control knob is marked: RISDON P&A MFG CO DANBURY.CT.MADE in USA.  There are no chips/breaks. Paint is in prime condition. The original chimney is missing, however. The lamp was passed down from my great grandmother [B1873-1944].

Appraisal:

The Risdon P&A Manufacturing Company produced lamps beginning in the early 20th century and continued through the mid century. Based on the photos and information provided, this painted kerosene table lamp with the Eagle wick burner would have a preliminary auction estimate of $60-80.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

Character Doll

Description:

This is an unmarked, all composition, jointed character doll.  It is 19" tall, with curled fingers on both hands. It has blue sleep eyes, original brown mohair wig, and an open mouth with four teeth.  It has the original underwear, socks, black shoes and rust bonnet with stitched flowers. There are no cracks or breaks. Very little crazing on the body; face looks like new.  It as my mother's doll as a young child in mid 1930's and stored in cedar chest for 60+ years.

Appraisal:

Based on the photo and information provided, an unmarked composition doll in good condition would have an auction estimate of $100-200.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

Glass Lamp

Description:

This is a cased glass lamp base which measures 9" tall to top of socket. It was left in my home and cannot identify it. It is a thick textured glass. The base has small nicks or flea bites. Otherwise, there are no chips or damage. It has a couple drips of paint on it that would come off easily. I have looked all over it for a mark or signature and can not find one.  I think it's an early lamp but I do not know the age. I am positive it is not new. It is really elegant when a light is held under it. 

Appraisal:

This cased glass lamp stylistically looks to date from the first half of the 20th century. Based on the information  and photos, and without any maker (and I could not find any similar examples) it would have an auction estimate of $60-80.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers