Cabinet’s use is unclear to many collectors
“Vernacular Tobacco Cabinet” was the name of a piece sold in a Nov. 2014 Garth’s auction. It doesn’t seem to be made by a skilled cabinetmaker. Although it looks like two pieces, the back construction shows that it was made to be one piece — a fitted cabinet at the bottom behind the ad and an empty space behind the mirrored door.
Few collectors know how it was used. The cabinet is a little over 5 feet high. The ad of Old Judge Cigarettes identifies the probable maker, Goodwin & Co., an American tobacco manufacturer from New York City working before the Civil War. Old Judge was one of its brands. The company merged with others and became part of the American Tobacco Co.
Collectors today like their tobacco cards picturing baseball players; one set called “Old Judge,” issued in 1887-1890, was 17/16 by 21/2 inches. A larger set, called “Old Judge Cabinets,” issued from 1888 to 1889, was 41/4 by 61/2 inches.
The mirrored section of the wooden cabinet seems to be missing some sort of shelf or racks, probably pipe racks. The lower part has cubby holes, drawers and partitions that may have held loose tobacco, a mixing bowl, humidor, pipe cleaners and cards.
The ad, showing a convict held in the stocks, dates from about 1900. An unusual piece, it sold for $780.
Q. I have a blue-and-white plate with a picture of Paul Revere on it and a border of fruit and flowers. I found it in an old steamer trunk in my grandmother’s attic. I’m over 80 years old, so I think the plate was made about 1800. The back of the plate reads “Ride of Paul Revere Apr. 18, 1775. Staffordshire, England,” and it’s marked “RM CO.” in a diamond shape. How old is it, and what is it worth?
A. This mark was used by Rowland & Marsellus, an importer in business in New York City from 1893 to about 1937. Several factories in Staffordshire, England, made historical blue souvenir plates and other chinaware decorated with American scenes. Historical scenes, important buildings, landmarks, cities and colleges were transfer-printed onto the china. Plates with rolled edges are the most wanted. Rowland & Marsellus used a diamond-shape mark from about 1893 to 1900. Your rolled-edge plate is worth about $55.
Tip
Keep heirloom fabrics such as quilts, tablecloths or christening gowns away from scented candles, cigarette smoke and cooking smells. They all cause damage.
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