#Middlebury #Antiques
Everything has a name, but in the antiques world, many things have more than one name. This table was offered for sale as a “guard room table.” That is a made-up name for a table that looks like it might have been used by guards for eating, drinking and gambling in a castle a few hundred years ago. It is a table in the Elizabethan style (1553-1603, named for Queen Elizabeth I).
Look for unusual styles of furniture to get a bargain. The heavy, old timbers and craftsmanship of an antique are why it is still in good condition and can take hard use. This table is in the Elizabethan style, 400 years old, and still going strong.
Tables from that era are made of wood, usually walnut or oak. They are large, about 30 by 83 inches, and heavy with thick, strong legs, often heavily carved. Today, they are usually used in a large paneled room in a men’s club or hotel. Some of the tables, like the one pictured, have iron trestles used for strength between the end pairs of legs. They sell for surprisingly low prices for furniture that looks like it was made at least 400 years ago. They list for $800 to $4,000, depending on condition and proportions. This table was estimated at $700 to $1,000.
Q: I have a figurine that looks exactly like the Hummel figurine of St. Jude, but it’s white. I can only find ones that are colored. Do I have a fake or a real one?
A: Hummel figurines are based on drawings by Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel, a nun in Germany. The figurines were first produced in 1935 by W. Goebel Porcelain Factory of Oeslau (now Rodental), Germany. They were extremely popular after World War II, and hundreds of figurines were made and collected.
The factory made other figurines, but only those that are the children drawn by Sister Maria can be called Hummels. There have been changes in company name and ownership, but Hummel figurines are still being produced in Rodental, now by Hummel Manufaktur.
The Hummel figure of St. Jude has him holding a staff in one hand and a holy relic in the other. This is a common image that has been made by other manufacturers. If your figurine is real, it will have a Hummel mark on the bottom. If it’s not marked, it’s a fake. All Hummels are now very low priced, and religious figures are not popular. Your figure is probably Goebel but not Hummel. It is worth about $50.
Current Prices
Van Briggle vase, Lorelei, woman, hair flows over rim, white matte glaze, 11 x 5 inches, $190.
Tortoise shell jewelry box, beveled glass insert, ivory bun feet, c.1900, 2 x 6 inches, $265.
Kettle-on-stand, copper, embossed, cast, spirit burner, handle, turned, ebony, geometric design, WMK Co., 13 x 7 inches, $320.
Window, leaded, stained, Gothic, blue columns, brown arched window, purple panels, cabochon, 72 x 28 inches, $480.
TIP: Clean metal with a back-and-forth motion, not a circular motion. Use a soft, clean, lint-free cloth and turn it often to avoid reusing a soiled part.
For more collecting news, tips and resources, visit www.Kovels.com.
© 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.
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