Sample plates are very rare

#Middlebury

Ever wonder how the rich American families in the 18th century bought their dishes, glassware and other necessities from foreign countries? Many of the best sets of dishes came by ship from China. If you lived in a major city like Boston, a shopkeeper would show you samples. The shopkeeper also might draw a picture of your family crest or initials, or designs of flowers, leaves and geometric border patterns. Some shops had actual sample plates made with multiple borders. The sample plates were sent from the Chinese factory to be used for special-order dishes. It could take up to two years to send the order, have the dishes made and ship them to the customer in Boston.

Sample design plates are very rare. They were made for store displays. A c. 1795 Chinese export plate showing four sample borders, one with a monogram, sold for $8,125 last year at a Christie’s auction in New York.

A joke among antiques collectors is the story about one set of special-order dishes. A black-and-white design drawing and color directions for a set of dishes were sent on a ship to China. The set came back and it was an exact copy of the directions. The blue-and-white design showed the borders and initials, and each had the blue words added that read “paint this red,” “paint this green,” etc. Of course, the Chinese workman couldn’t read English, and he thought the letters were part of the design. We are told a plate from this set does exist in a museum.

Q: Is my G.I. Joe doll worth anything?

A: In 1963, Hasbro marketed a new doll for boys. They realized a boy wouldn’t ask for a doll, so they sold the G.I. Joe doll as an “action figure.” The toy was a huge success, and it was followed by comic books, video games and more. G.I. Joe was discontinued in 1978, but it was soon put back into production. Today the high-priced G.I. Joes are early or rare. A figure with painted hair or Vietnam camouflage clothing is best. Also collected are 1960s and 1970s figures in very good condition or, better yet, in the package. The G.I. Jane Nurse in her box, made only in 1967, sells for $3,000 to $5,000. Some talking action figures sell for more than $1,000. There are others that are special enough to sell over $1,000, but most figures that have been played with are in poor condition and have very low, if any, value.

Current Prices
Egg carton, cardboard, cobalt-blue lettering and images of chickens, 12 cardboard inner egg dividers, Bloomer Bros., 1930s, 5 1/2 x 7 inches, $25.
Rug beater, primitive, metal looped heart beater, turned wood handle with metal hanging loop, 1920s, 35 x 9 inches, $160.
Piano Scarf, black silk with embroidered pink flowers, green leaves and long fringe, Spain, 1930s, 49 x 49 inches, $515.
Plant stand, carved cherrywood with mother-of-pearl inlay, three tiers and stepped cornice, arched feet, Morocco, c. 1890, 40 x 16 inches, $1,100.

TIP: Don’t wear rubber gloves when polishing silver. Vinyl gloves are OK.

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© 2018 King Features Synd. Inc.