Chair features carvings
Q: We have a mahogany wood chair that is decorated with carvings. We believe it is the face of the North Wind, and it has never been refinished. Does it have any value?
A: Your side chair was made circa 1900. Wood chairs like yours were often called grotesques. The design appealed to the Victorians who have a penchant for unusual or bizarre carvings. There was an abundance of the chairs decorated with the carvings of the North Wind. Many other chairs depicted scenes of lions, dogs, pubs and griffons. Fables, literature, music and paintings were the sources of inspiration. According to ancient mythology, Boreas, the North Wind, was the son of the Greek god Astraeus. He symbolized the cold wind bringing in the change of season. Grotesques originated in Germany and soon were produced in the United States. Many were made in Grand Rapids and were often made of oak. Your side chair would probably be worth $150 to $300.
Q: I have a vintage porcelain child’s tea set, with a teapot, cream pitcher, sugar bowl, and four cups and saucers. They are decorated with an iridescent tan finish against a white background and flowers. I think the set was given to my grandmother when she was a child in the 1930s.
A: Porcelain that has an iridescent tan finish is known as lusterware. Vintage
porcelain that is marked “Made in Japan” was produced after 1920. Seventh century A.D. Islamic potters discovered the formula for producing luster glazes. By the 19th century, English, German, American and Japanese factories were producing a lusterware.
Your set would probably fetch $25 to $50 in an antiques shop.