THE KOVELS | Antiques and collecting Old, unusual art pottery holds surprising value

Bargains can still be found at auctions and antiques shows.
Recently at an online auction, a piece of pottery marked "C.A.P." was ignored by bidders. It sold for about $50.
C.A.P. is the mark of the Cincinnati Art Pottery Co. It was founded in 1879 and closed in 1891.
The Rookwood Pottery, Frederick Dallas Pottery, Coultry Pottery, Wheatley Pottery, the Pottery Club of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Art Pottery all operated at the beginning of the art pottery movement in the United States.
Only Rookwood Pottery and Wheatley Pottery stayed in business into the 1900s.
The 19th-century vases by all of these companies are sought by serious collectors and museums today. Most are in a Victorian style inspired by the designs of the Haviland art pottery, a look that has been out of fashion for many years.
The C.A.P. pitcher, 8 1/2 inches high, is worth more than $600.
Look carefully at old and unusual art pottery. Sometimes a mark is very faint; sometimes it is unfamiliar. Research is one of the best ways to get a good buy.
In this case, researching on the Internet was difficult, but the C.A.P. mark is in many books on art pottery or American pottery marks.
Q. I inherited an Art Deco silver-plated martini pitcher with a Bakelite handle. It is shaped like a coffeepot, but it has a metal stopper in the spout. The mark on the bottom reads "Meriden S.P. Co., International Silver Co. 365, Pat. Jan. 11, 1927. The words form a circle surrounding a picture of a lion holding a vase. With the martini back in vogue, does this pitcher have any value?
A. The Meriden Silver Plate Co. was organized in 1869 in Meriden, Conn. It was one of the original companies that formed the International Silver Co. in 1898. The new company continued to use the brand names and marks of the original silver companies -- that's why there are two names in the mark on your pitcher. During the 1920s and '30s (during and after Prohibition), the International Silver Co. sold a wide variety of cocktail serving sets. Some were in traditional designs and shapes, while others were contemporary. Yours has a traditional shape but a contemporary design, and the Bakelite handle adds to the contemporary look. The patent date refers to the all-metal stopper that replaced cork. Your martini pitcher would sell for $150 or more.
Q. I have a 65-year-old stick of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit gum. It was sent to me in 1938 with a letter from the Wrigley "Spearman" explaining how good gum is for toddlers' teeth, "which need more exercise than they get with modern soft food." The stick of gum is not broken. It's in its original paper wrapper and is covered with cellophane. I also have the original letter and envelope from the William Wrigley Jr. Co. of Chicago. Is the gum a collectible?
A. Vintage candy and gum wrappers are collectible. But the most valuable wrappers (with or without the contents) are those with "crossover" appeal. This means that an old gum wrapper picturing Mickey Mouse or Superman would be more valuable than your gum. If you want to sell, you could try an online auction. You might get $2 or $200.
Q. My mother-in-law gave me a 16-inch pottery vase years ago. It has two handles and is decorated with beige and white flowers on a brown-and-green background. The molded mark on the bottom is: "Roseville, 99 -- 16, U.S.A." Can you give me some idea of its history and value?
A. The pattern and mark tell the story. Roseville is the name of the pottery that made your vase. The firm was in business in Roseville and, later, Zanesville, Ohio, from 1890 until 1954. The number 99 refers to the shape of your vase, and the 16 to its height. The pattern you describe is called "Magnolia." It was introduced by Roseville in 1943. Magnolia items were made in brown (like yours), blue or green. Your vase, in excellent condition, would sell for $100 or more.
Q. I bought a Mission-style oak chair with leather upholstery at a local swap meet. The chair has a small, adjustable headrest and a metal device on the back that lowers the chair's back. There's also a metal bar on the back that could serve as a towel or tool rack. The patent number on the metal pieces is 203786. Was it a dental chair?
A. The patent number was issued in 1878, so your chair was made after that year. Mission (Arts & amp; Crafts) furniture was not manufactured until the early 1900s. Your chair probably dates from the first decades of the 20th century. By that time, dental chairs were much more sophisticated -- with foot levers that could adjust the height and back of the chair. Your chair might be a Mission chair with a Morris-style adjustable backrest and an added headrest.
Tip
When storing a sugar bowl with a cover on a high shelf, be sure to fasten the top with string. The lid could fall off if you tip the bowl when you try to take it off the shelf. This applies to any piece of china or glass with a cover.
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