#Middlebury #Kovels
This strange wooden carving is an early drying rack that was handmade from a single branch. Collectors of primitive pieces bid it up to $6,500. It measures 17 by 11 inches.
Our ancestors were clever and could make many tools, containers and cooking utensils from wood or iron. It was not until the mid-19th century that helpful gadgets like iron apple peelers with gears or other complicated tools were invented. Hundreds of patents were issued for improved household inventions. But during the 17th century and in rural areas, talented wood craftsmen created one-of-a-kind utensils for home use. Bowls, scoops, baskets, ladles and boxes were carved from wood harvested from nearby trees. The shape of the tree sometimes inspired the work.
At a recent Skinner auction, a wooden drying rack was auctioned. It was made from a single large branch with five upright “rods” for holding the drying fabrics. The largest branch had a hole at the top where it could be hung from a nail on the wall. It was primitive, but useful. The drying rack, made in the 1700s, sold for $6,500, because it was such an unusual relic of the early days of do-it-yourself tools.
Q: I have a Cracker Jack AM radio my dad gave me when I was 8 years old. It runs on a 9-volt battery. It’s in perfect condition and tunes in clearly. Is it worth anything?
A: Cracker Jack was first made in 1896 by Rueckheim & Brother. The company became Rueckheim Bros. & Eckstein in 1902. Prizes were included in the packages beginning in 1912. Cracker Jack radios like this were made in the 1970s in Hong Kong for Just Products, a New York company. They sell for about $25.
Q: I would like to know what a set of silver teaspoons is worth. The set has been in my family for more than 140 years. My great-great-grandmother received it as a wedding present from family in the Netherlands, and it has been passed on from generation to generation. One teaspoon and the sugar spoon both have “EPNS” on the back.
A: The initials “EPNS” stand for “electroplated nickel silver,” and mean your teaspoons are silver-plated, not sterling silver. Your set of teaspoons has great sentimental value, but not much monetary value. Silver-plated flatware is hard to sell, and it is not worth as much as sterling silver.
Current Prices
Cabinet card, black-and-white photograph, father and daughter portrait, bevel cut board, oval cutout, 1878, 4 x 3 inches, $20.
Milkshake mixer, single serving, metal with stainless-steel cup, square white base, electric, Arnold No. 15, 1920s, 18 inches, $75.
Birthing chair, wood, vinyl covered seat with metal studs, narrow plank splat, cutout crest, carved, midwifery, late 1800s, 30 inches, $160.
Aquarium, steel frame, molded metal rose blossoms, swags, original glass, cone shaped feet, c. 1905, 15 x 20 x 14 inches, $515.
TIP: If you collect the decorated glasses from fast-food restaurants, never wash them in the dishwasher. The heat and detergent will change the coloring and lower the value.
For more collecting news, tips and resources, visit www.Kovels.com
(c) 2018 King Features Synd. Inc.
You must be logged in to post a comment.