ASK AN EXPERT
Our specialists shed light on your antiques
Take a seat
This chair has been in our family for three generations, however l know li! le or nothing about it. l would be very grateful if one of your experts could give me some advice.
Debbie Ross, Sunderland
Your chair is typically Edwardian, with a hint of Chippendale, and dates from c1915–1920. Judging by the wear to the arms it is very likely to be made of stained beech. The seat is Rexine rather than leather, more frequently seen on desk chairs – it might originally have had a caned seat. Currently value is modest, but it obviously has sentimental family value. Lisa Lloyd
Cup of plenty
This ‘cup’ has been in my family since the start of the 20th century. My mother remembers it in the 1920s. The story is that it was given to a Welsh family member who was serving in South Africa in one of the Boer con "icts or the Anglo-Zulu War in gratitude for some act of bravery. It has always held a blown ostrich egg! Over the years we have sought information from various dealers, none of whom have been able to shed much light on it. There is a minor crack to the rim but otherwise it is in good order. We would love to know if such cups were produced to honour bravery in South African con "icts and, if so, which ones. What is it made of, what does the casting represent, and does it have any monetary value? It is 21cm tall and has a 12cm diameter at the top.
Vaughan Williams, Cardi
Your cup is decorated with ‘shorthand’ images of adventurers, explorers or colonial soldiers engaging with African tribesmen amongst coconut trees. Details such as sun helmets, pistol belts and bayonets are token symbols of Imperial expansion and wars. It was made in Europe in the late 19th century from spelter (an alloy in which zinc is the main ingredient). Your family story
ts the date and iconography of the cup, but I doubt they were ever awarded for participation in any speci c South African wars. As a decorative piece with a great story I think it could fetch £50 to £ 80 at auction.
Adam Schoon
Sowing the seeds
Could one of your experts tell me anything about this jardinière? I remember it being in my grandmother’s hall. It passed to my mother and then to me. I love the colour and the amazing whiteness. The name on the base is ‘DUDSON’.
Peg Browning, Dorset
I too love the colour – the green on the crisp white is really quite something. The mark on the bo!om is for James Dudson – he opened his factory in 1838 in Hope & Hanover Streets, Hanley. They were quite proli #c makers of domestic po!ery and, towards the end of the 19th century, were known for producing pieces for the hospitality market, moulded wares and pieces very similar in style to Wedgwood Jasperware. Your jardinière is very typical of the Art Nouveau period with the iris and harebell $owers and will date to around 1890 to 1900. At auction, I would suggest an estimate of £50 to £ 80.
Alison Snowdon
Scent of success
I was given this bo le of Chanel No 5 perfume as a birthday present back in 1997, but I liked the packaging so much that I didn’t want to open it. I know that perfume bo les and packaging are quite collectable and, as a limited- edition design,
LEFT Laura’s limited-edition 7.5ml bottle of Chanel No 5 perfume, inspired by the iconic pop art designs of Andy Warhol, is in mint condition.
I wondered if this had any value beyond being a bit of a novelty. Laura Jones, London
When you look at the design of your perfume bo!le’s packaging, I can quite understand why you were loath to open it. This special release of Chanel
No 5 honours pop artist Andy Warhol. It revisits the series of advertising images he made for the perfume brand in 1985, which were re-released in 1997, 10 years a "er the artist’s death. There is an active interest in collecting perfume bo!les, both contemporary and vintage, meaning an example like this would be of interest. In its pristine state, appearing in an online auction, it would fetch between £125 to £165. Now that’s more than a novelty!
Katherine Higgins
As it stands
I bought this as a Ming dynasty pot stand but have my doubts about this description. I wonder whether it could be a Chinese censer. I would be grateful if you could tell me if this is correct, and what date you would ascribe to it. It has a brown treacle-type glaze in part and a green glaze in other areas. It is 17cm high and has a diameter of 12cm.
Robin Clee, via email
The good news is you probably own a Ming dynasty piece! It is a typical example of green and ochre glazed earthenware usually found in early Chinese tombs. Figures of a!endants and miniature models of furniture, food, animals and other o%erings were placed in the burial chamber for the deceased to use in the a "erlife. It is a stand, indeed: it would have supported a miniature wash basin balanced on the aperture at the top. The bad news is that countless pieces of funerary wares have been excavated over the years and only high- quality and rare pieces are sought a "er today. At auction, your washstand is probably worth under £100. Alexandra Aguilar