Bracelets continue to charm for Mother’s Day
A charm bracelet can be a thoughtful gift for Mother’s Day. Historically, they have been linked to motherhood and family. Queen Victoria, who made family and domesticity an important part of her image, wore a bracelet with lockets that held miniature pictures of her family. She would also give charms as gifts.
Some modern jewelers sell charms for Mother’s Day gifts customized with children’s names, initials or birthstones. Of course, charm bracelets are never limited to one occasion. Look at the 14K gold bracelet shown here, which sold at Sloans & Kenyon for $1,206. It has 21 charms made of materials like gold, enamel and coral.
There appears to be an eclectic mix of themes, including several number charms, dogs, insects, a black-andwhite Mickey Mouse and a Buddha statue. What does it say about its previous owner? Were some of the charms travel souvenirs? Were others gifts? Did any of them mark certain occasions? Maybe the number charms were lucky numbers; there is also a “Touch Wood” charm.
Q: I have a very large collection of “M.J. HUMMELS.” I am 93 years old and want to find a home for the collection as my family is not interested in them. Is there a place to sell them? Donate?
A: Unfortunately, this is a common situation. There was a Hummel collecting craze in the mid-20th century, starting with American soldiers bringing figurines home from Germany after World War II. Demand for the figurines, and therefore prices, started dropping in the 1990s. However, some of the oldest or rarest Hummel figurines can still sell for high prices. So can very large (8 inches tall or larger) pieces. Original boxes always add to the value. Check price guides to see if any of yours are valuable. Since Hummel figurines have lost popularity, many resources are out of print, but you may find some at your local library. “The Official M.I. Hummel Price Guide: Figurines & Plates” by Heidi Ann Von Recklinghausen (2nd edition, published November 2013) is one of the best.
The easiest way to sell a collection like yours is through a dealer or an auction house. Check antiques and consignment stores in your area; they may be interested in your collection. Contact auction houses in your area, especially if they sell collectibles or estate sales.
If you are comfortable using social media, another option is to look online for collectors’ clubs or buy-and-sell groups to find prospective buyers. You may also want to consider selling to a matching service like Replacements, Ltd. (replacements.com), Classic Replacements (classicreplacements.com) or Missing Pieces (missingpieces.com). They often deal in collectibles like ceramic figurines. If you cannot find buyers, donating your collection to a local charity shop is an option.
Q: Somehow, I ended up with a soup/ salad plate marked as follows: “Theodore Haviland/france/expressly made by Theodore Haviland/limoges/ France/for/canadian National Railways.” I don’t suppose it’s worth anything by itself. Just curious.
A: Theodore Haviland was one of the sons of David Haviland, who started the Haviland porcelain firm in Limoges, France, in the 1840s. Theodore opened his own company in 1893. The mark on your plate was used from about 1903 to the 1920s. Individual Haviland plates are usually worth about $20 or less, unless they have an especially rare pattern. Railroad china, however, is usually worth more. A Theodore Haviland plate made for the Canadian National Railways sold at a recent auction for $50. Railroad memorabilia can sell for high prices. Items like tableware and silverware, which were also sold at gift shops, are associated with dining cars and luxury travel, making them especially desirable. If you would like to learn more about railroad china, a railroadiana collector’s club like the Railroadiana Collectors Association Inc. (railroadcollectors.org) will have resources. To learn more about your plate, the Canadian National Railways Historical Association (cnrha.ca) has more information on the history of the Canadian National Railways.
Tip: Hummel figurines should be cleaned by washing in liquid detergent and water, half and half. Never put them in the dishwasher.
Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel answer readers’ questions sent to the column. Send a letter with one question describing the size, material (glass, pottery) and what you know about the item. Include only two pictures, the object and a closeup of any marks or damage. Be sure your name and return address are included. By sending a question, you give full permission for use in any Kovel product. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We do not guarantee the return of photographs, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. Questions that are answered will appear in Kovels Publications. Write to Kovels, The Columbus Dispatch, King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803 or email us at collectorsgallery@kovels.com.