Claret decants good value
QThis claret jug stands 33 centimetres high (13 inches) and dates from either the 1860s when my great-grandfather emigrated (in 1871) from Scotland to Canada or from the 1880s when he married in Toronto (in 1881), receiving this wedding gift from someone “back home” in Scotland. The silverplating has all been removed by an overzealous maid long ago polishing it. The silver is of a rather Gothic style. The glass is cut into etched diamonds with shamrocks, thistles, roses and leeks. Can you enlighten me on its origins and can you advise me whether I should get the jug resilvered — I rather like it the way it is. My wife and I like the jug because the wine does not drip. David, Ottawa
AIt’s terrific having solid family provenance to help with the background of this fine English jug. Its general shape and style is post 1860s — making it definitely the wedding gift — popular in the 1880s and ’90s. The metal designs depict Bacchus, god of wine, with the masked spout and grape clusters on the handle allude to its use. To realize full value, it should be resilvered. But with wine and related items being of great interest today your unusually cut and etched vessel is worth $350.
QI have five identical chairs that I can’t find any information about. They cost me very little since I acquired them by trading an old, cracked acoustic guitar to a young man who wanted them out of his basement. I knew by the spiral legs and oxblood leather that they were old and I don’t know much more than that. Any light you may shed on age and manufacture would be greatly appreciated. Jaclyn, Kitchener
AYou have a high quality set of oak dining room chairs made by H. Krug Furniture Company of Kitchener. Hartman Krug founded the company in 1880 and by focusing on high quality production it grew, furnishing rooms for the Royal Family and major hotels across Canada. It is still in business after 138 years. They employed skilled cabinetmakers, hence Krug furniture survives well today. Your chair styles include the Gothic back — suggesting use in a church or rectory — and the front legs are Jacobean Twists, a style used from the late 1600s. The upholstery label from 1975 tells me they were old enough then to need recovering — my estimate is the 1920s. There will be a prominent, impressed number on the frame underside in plain view — a ‘trademark’ of H. Krug products. The colour suits well and your good trade is worth $300.
QMy elderly mother owns this piece and another matching one that has a spout at the top. They were a 50th wedding anniversary gift for my grandparents. All we know is that they were purchased from an antique store and considered valuable. They both stand 36 centimetres tall (14 inches). The hand-painted symbols underneath look like a “T” and the number “.1-04.” As the item with the spout had its base severed quite cleanly, thankfully, we are wondering if it would be worth repairing professionally or just do it ourselves. Any information and advice would be welcome. Esther, Cambridge
AThis impressive pottery gift set has all the signs of being made in the factory of Franz Anton Mehlem, who operated in Bonn in the Rhineland region of Germany. Originally there would be another vase to match, forming a mantel garniture. The artists were adept at using a printing process for the flowers and embellishing the background with rich shades of blue and gold to give the appearance of expensive porcelain. The marks are simply decorator and pattern codes. Made between 1887 and 1920, these lines are often called and marked ‘Royal Bonn.’ The business was bought in 1920 by Villeroy & Boch. I think it would be worth having a professional fuse the breaks so you can enjoy a set that’s worth $175.
John Sewell is an antiques and fine art appraiser. To submit an item to this column, go to the Contact John page at www.johnsewellantiques.ca. Please measure your piece, say when and how you got it, what you paid and list any identifying marks. A high resolution jpeg must also be included. (Only email submissions accepted.) Appraisal values are estimates only.