WALKING THROUGH HISTORY

Late-1800s painting likely commissioned by owner’s family

Q This watercolour has been in my family for more than 60 years and depicts Dollis Brook, England, where my maternal grandfather was said to have been walked by his nurse or nanny in the late 1800s. With the frame, it measures 58 by 86 centimetres and bears the signature “W.Pdk.” We think this stands for William Paddock. According to research by my sister, Paddock (1871 to 1925) was born in Bristol and served as senior art master at University College School in London from 1905 until his death in 1925. My Grandpa was born in Finchley, not far from the scene location.

Marg, Ottawa

A Your sister’s research is correct. This signature matches another painting attributed to Paddock and the time frame lines up with the years he exhibited in Glasgow and London (1892 to 1920).

It’s likely this piece was commissioned by your family. Paddock also worked in oils, but few of his paintings have ever come to market, which makes demand for them fairly low.

These English watercolours are very attractive, but sadly a bit out of favour at the moment. Although it may have fetched almost $1,000 about 10 years back, today this lovely piece won’t sell for much more than $400. The family history, of course, is priceless. Q This vase has been in our family for many decades. Family lore suggests it was a gift to my mother from an elderly English neighbour sometime in the mid-1940s. The beautiful flowers are different on the front and back of the globelike vase. Some raised gold “paint” enhances the leaves, veins and flower edges. It stands about 15 cm high. The two handles are twisted in opposite directions. The numbers and letters on the base appear to read “Rd NO. 303844” (in reddish brown) and also “HB 2779, C 7750.”

Deidre, Ottawa

A Your vase was made by Doulton & Co. (now Royal Doulton), famed producers of high-quality British pottery and porcelain ware.

Doulton has a long and storied history, beginning with a small factory in Lambeth in 1815. The markings tell us your vase was made at the second factory, at Burslem, dates to circa 1897, and was hand-painted by an artist named Herbert Betteley. The other numbers refer to shape and decoration.

The fine poppy flowers highlighted with gold are certainly stunning, as are the oblique handles. Today’s marketplace is difficult to predict in porcelains of this type, but the fine eye appeal of this piece should safely realize $175. Q I recently received this item from a family estate and thought you (and your readers) may find it interesting. My grandfather was a prospector in Northern Ontario and Quebec in the 1930s and ’40s. This magnetometer or “dipping needle” was used “to measure the angle at which vein, fault or rock unit is inclined from the horizontal.” The manufacturer, Sharpe Instruments, of Toronto, has since become Scintrex. It sits on a stand and measures about 28 cm high. Any additional information on this unique piece would be most welcome.

Peter, Guelph

A You have a seldom-seen instrument, also known as a miner’s or dip needle compass — named perhaps for the magnetic north and south poles, also known as the “dip” poles. It differs from a regular compass by operating vertically rather than horizontally and is held close to ground level to locate magnetic ore deposits such as iron, nickel or cobalt.

This one dates to sometime between 1915 and 1940, after which they fell out of favour as no longer accurate enough for big industry use. There should be a case for it somewhere, which always helps value.

Collectors interested in science and technology items will be intrigued, and I’ll wager they’ll pay up to $250 for it.