Whimsical majolica highly valued
It is impossible to miss Minton majolica in a room. Pieces usually are shaped like animals, birds or flowers. One example is a tasseled, pillow-shaped garden seat held by a crouching monkey, also holding a coconut, that came up recently at a Skinner auction in Boston.
The monkey seat was glazed majolica made by Minton, often thought to be the best of the majolica manufacturers.
The company — still in business in England — no longer makes such majolica, which went out of favor in the 1950s. Today it is more popular. The 18-inchtall garden seat likely will stay inside: It sold for $13,530.
Q: I have an old brass telescope about 24 inches long. On the scope it says “W. and S. Azimuth Instrument, Model 1910, No. 246, Frankford Arsenal,1915.” Can you give me any details about it?
A: Your telescope was made by Warner & Swasey Co., which was founded in Cleveland in 1880. The company made large telescopes for observatories as well as smaller telescopes for individual use. A telescope like yours, with the original boxes and leather case, sold at auction for $737 in 2013.
Q: I own a mechanical bank that matches two pictures in Kovels’ Antiques & Collectibles Price Guides. It’s priced $3,360 and $5,103. The description is “Magician” and “Cast Iron.” I’d like to sell this bank.
A: The cast-iron Magician mechanical bank was made by J. & E. Stevens Co. of Cromwell, Connecticut, in the early 1900s. If you put a coin on the magician’s table and press the lever on the stairs, the magician lowers his hat over the coin and moves his head up and down. When the lever is released, the coin “disappears” into the bank.
Over the past few years, prices for the Magician bank have ranged from $944 to $8,400.
An auction house that specializes in cast-iron banks might want to sell it. Ask about value, sales, commissions, buyer’s premiums and taxes. Or try an antiques store.
Current prices
Prices recorded from throughout the U.S.
■ Picnic basket, handwoven, dome lid and wooden carved handles, made by Winnebago Indians, 1800s, 9 x 14 inches, $135
■ Toy truck, Fro-Joy Ice Cream, metal, red and yellow with decals, Steelcraft, 1930s, 7 x 22 inches, $325
■ Coverlet, handwoven cotton, red and ivory, flowers, inscribed “Rose of Alendale” on four corners, c. 1850, 74 x 90 inches, $405
■ Salon hairdryer chair, metal, orange vinyl seat with piping, attached dryer hood, Turbinator, 1950s, $820