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A find from rural Quebec
Q Over 50 years ago I bought what I think is a “jeux de dames” board, at a farm near Berthierville, Que. The game was once quite popular in rural Quebec.
It is made of two pieces of rough wood held together by a series of metal staples with thin pieces of wood on three of its sides and was hand-painted.
It measures 60.5 cm long, 34 cm wide and 2 cm thick (24 x 13.4 x 0.78 inches). It has a “folk art” look to it. Any information you might be able to provide would be most welcome. Jacques, Ottawa A There is room for conjecture with your game board. The “game for ladies” was invented by French settlers in Quebec. Also called Canadian checkers or Canadian draughts (the British word for checkers) it was played on a larger board having squares of 12 by 12 as opposed to the standard board of 8 x 8. But I think your 12 x 8 board format was possibly used for “Courier Chess” which employed extra chess pieces — a game played mainly from the 12th century until the 1700s.
Your board dates circa 1900 and the staples were added to stop the evident shrinkage problem. It is fun and decorative and in reasonable condition.
Your board is worth $250.
Q This chair is one of a set of four and were originally owned by my great grandmother. I passed these to my son and daughter-in-law last year who have had them restored and reupholstered.
We would be very appreciative to learn where the chairs originated, approximate value at this time, and any other information relating to these treasures. We are curious. Lynne, Ottawa
A When Thomas Chippendale published The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director of 1754 — full of his furniture designs (including a few with similarities to yours) — he immediately became worldrenowned. His designs have been used ever since including the 21st century and this chair design is called a “lattice back” or “cockpen” Chinese Chippendale chair.
The pattern was incorporated into other pieces of furniture by Chippendale including railings and a tester bed headboard. Your 1920s chair, fitting well with art deco tastes is likely mahogany.
Your “kids” have nicely modernized the set with current decorating flavours. They are worth the restoration investment — heirlooms for years to come. Enjoy! Q This teapot, I inherited might have originally belonged to my great grandmother who was born in 1867. Two women are framed on the front and there are flowers framed on the back. There are no markings on the bottom or anywhere else on this 25 cm high (10 inches) pot.
I am very interested in knowing the age and origin of this item. Thanks for your time. Elaine, Ottawa
A At a glance your cocoa pot resembles German-made R S Prussia porcelain but it is Nippon (Japanese).
No coincidence, the Japanese were capturing the North American porcelain market just prior to the First World War when European industries were turned to the war effort essentially stopping their porcelain exports and production.
Transfer-applied figures in cartouches surrounded by handpainting were popular at that time. The decoration with the Geisha duo was part of a series and the flowers and enamelling is distinctive as is the shape of the pot itself.
This might have been offered by Eatons of Canada around the period between 1910 and 1916 for about 75 cents. The entire set, with six cocoa cups and saucers would have been under two dollars. This sounds inexpensive until it is compared to the $350 that would buy a Ford touring car in 1913.
The McKinley Act of 1891 declared that the country of origin had to be on imported products but this didn’t always happen, as in your pot’s unmarked case. Nippon values are based on the quality of the decoration and this one is pretty.
It’s worth about $175.