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USA ART POTTERY MARKS IDENTIFICATION SITE

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American Pottery Co. (APCO) Marked USA Brush Pottery Marked USA 745 Brush Pottery Marked Made in USA 540 Robinson Ransbottom Pottery Marked USA 181/- Hull Pottery Marked # 52-6 1/2" USA      Robinson Ransbottom Pottery Marked USA (other markings too)

SILVERPLATE MARK IDENTIFICATION - MWC in Upside Down Triangle - M.W. Carr & Co

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I Picked up this creamer & Sugar set, I couldn’t find anything much on these. I don’t think they are silver, what can you tell me about the maker Your Creamer/Sugar Set was made by M.W. Carr & Co out of Boston/West Somerville, MASS (1868-1995). Carr was formed by Martin W Carr and was a manufacturer of "Fancy Metal Goods, Jewelry and Novelties". They started in Boston in 1868 and moved operations to West Somerville in 1894. I believe your set to be from the 1920's when Carr made fancy filigree and repousse brass/silver over copper items such as trays and carriers with glass inserts (Pyrex). They had several different lines: Galleon Silver, Empire Ware and Holland Ware which used the mark you have provided. These pieces were marked on the bottom often with a mold number. The W.M. MTS mark means that the applied decoration is White Metal. The MWC Hallmark has proved to be elusive. Some have thought it was Montgomery Ward Co or Montreal Watch Case Co...that is incor...

Luigi Crosio Painting

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I have found what I believe to be a 17th c Painting on wood signed Crosio. Can you help me identify it? You have what appears to be a processed painting of a work by Luigi Crosio (1835-1915) an Italian Artist. The work is on masonite, which was not invented until the 1920's. The work is called "Grandpa's Birthday" and can be found for sale on the internet as a Chromolithograph print, so, his original work was commercially reproduced. Your piece is likely from the 1930's.

GAY FAD STUDIOS - GLASSWARE

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You have probably seen the term "Gay Fad" associated with various hand decorated glassware from the 1940's-1960's. The term originated from Gay Fad Studios (1945-1962) which was formed by Fran Taylor and mainly based in Lancaster, Ohio. Gay Fad Studios painted blanks from Anchor Hocking (Fire-King), Hazel Atlas, Federal Glass and Imperial Glass among others. There is a terrific 2 volume resource book on Gay Fad written by Donna McGrady and Kitty Hanson which can be purchased at www.santafetradingpost.com which shows over 900 designs and gives examples of numerous pieces misidentified as Gay Fad. Misidentifying Gay Fad pieces is very common. Fire King reference books have "Gay Fad" patterned pieces which actually might be attributed to Washington Co out of PA which was another glass decorating Co. Not every piece of hand decorated glass is "Gay Fad". Gay Fad sold their own wares and I recently purchased a Martini Mixer which was painted on a Feder...

CALL PITCH BASEBALL GAME

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I have an item that I can’t find any info on. It is a Board game of sorts. It was made in Trenton, Michigan, 1974 (dated) by Henkel G & T Company. It also say’s Donald G. Henkel 1974. You will also notice that the Illustration was done by Henkel. Henkel G & T Company was formed in 1974 by Donald G Henkel, still a current resident of Trenton, MI. Henkel is a local MI author who has written a couple terrific children's books. He has set up at the Wyandotte Art Fair and makes appearances at local schools and libraries. Apparently in the mid 1970's, he tried his hand at game making as he also copyrighted "Call Plays Football" and "Call Stick Hockey". This particular game, "Call Plays Baseball" would have negligible value. These types of sports games do not have sport's collector's appeal. Baseball game collector's prefer games that are player endorsed or that are older (Pre-1960's) with boards or covers with great graphics. Wh...

Martin Van Buren ERA Land Grant

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I need this deed appraised. You have a land grant that was given during the time of the presidency of Martin Van Buren. This 1837 grant, would have been signed by one of his secretaries which may have included one of two of his sons. Land grants were being issued in the tens of thousands and it would have been impossible for a president to sign such minor documents. The practice of secretaries signing such documents regularly started under Andrew Jackson in 1833. These Van Buren era land grants are quite common and I sold one at one of my auctions in the last year or two for under $50. Major auction houses seem to sell them for anywhere from $10-200. Your example has some soiling and damage, so, I would expect it to bring on the lower end of that scale. I am not an autograph expert, but, I examined a legit example of Van Buren's signature and it does not look anything like the one on your grant.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY ROTUNDA CHINA

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I have 8 pieces of Ford Rotunda China. Could you please tell me what they might be worth? From the 1930's-1960's, Ford had restaurant china with it's logo made for use at the Ford Rotunda Pavillion Cafeteria. There were many pieces including plates, bowls, celery dishes, butter pats, cups and saucers, creamers, sugar bowls and soup and salad bowls. Most pieces out there were made by Shenango China, but, you will find pieces made by Buffalo and Wellsville China. Plates that have the Rotunda pictured on them are popular and very eye appealing. Odd pieces, such as the fluted creamer, can command hundreds of dollars. Trying to put together a complete set of china with the serving pieces could be both challenging, fun and rewarding. I will also add.......expensive. Your Salad Plates are worth about $20-25 each and the Cup and Saucer Sets are worth about $50-65 a set. So, you are looking at about $180-230 retail.