Grandmother’s dining room suite has sweet value

Q . Originally my grandmother’s, this is the china cabinet of my mother’s dining room suite that includes a draw table with leaves that pull out from each end, four regular chairs, two armchairs and a sideboard. The family celebrated every Thanksgiving, Easter and Christmas using this suite for at least 63 years.

I found an impressed number “838” and a decal reading “The H. Krug Furniture Co. Ltd., Kitchener, Ont.”

Do you know the name of this design and when it was made?

• Melanie, Victoria, B.C. A . Founded in 1880, this company continues to be one of the top North American furniture producers. Your oak set is a tribute to their success with its excellent condition dating from 1930 to 1940. Names were not assigned to pattern numbers in their catalogues. The Viking-style ship panels, carved date of 1712 and the churchstyle strap door hinges are the designer’s hints of past styles being combined with contemporary tastes to create this rare design.

You will see higher asking prices for older Krug sets, but $2,000 would be the recommended starting point. Q . We have a set of four “B & L Ltd Farmer’s Arms” plates we inherited that were originally from my wife’s grandmother in England. I have determined they are from the Burgess and Leigh pottery. We believe they are middleto late-19th century. The plates are 26 centimetres in diameter (10 inches) and are in excellent condition. We would like to get an evaluation.

• Carl, Kitchener A . The popular design with significant motifs of farm life and tools, the banner reading “God Speed The Plow” and the plate back with the “Farmers Arms” poem is also found on oversized cups and saucers, as well as mugs from the 19th century. The word “England” appears in the mark — first used on products as of 1891 to comply with a law requiring the maker’s country of origin to be present. The abbreviation of “Limited” added to the “B & L” mark dates it to not earlier than 1919.

Your uncommon plate set is worth $150. Q . My mother told me that each of these silk cigarette “cards” were joined together by a French needle pattern called “point de chenet” by the ladies who collected them and made seat covers out of them. It came from my greatgreat aunt and I had it framed professionally. I am 76 years old and my children are the new generation who do not have space for it. I would appreciate your evaluation and opinion.

• Elizabeth, Orléans A . In the very early part of the 20th century, the Imperial Tobacco Company began providing these “silks” — premiums the same as the paper card forms — in packages of cigarettes or by mail order. Instructions were even included with some brands to make quilts and table covers. Yours contains two large examples that measure 18 x 15 centimetres (seven by six inches) each. The bulldog standing on the Union Jack came out in 1914 and is titled “Staunch and True.” The second, titled “His Majesty King George V,” came out in 1915. They are rarer than the other small ones present. In English, the stitch is called a “chain stitch,” which is very simple and useful. As with buildings or pump organs, repurposing items often salvages good value. From a collection of silks, to seat cover to decorative art you have preserved a piece worth $375.