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Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper December 2016 Page 29

Tr nket “My mother bought these two screens at an antique mall in

Treas re Emmitsburg. They are six-and-a-half-feet tall, with walnut frames

by Lisa C. Cantwell and brass hinges. They weigh about 40 lbs. each. The fabric may

Owner of Coal Black Horse Antiques and a Maryland state- be linen or heavy cotton. There is a small hole and scratch in the
licensed antique dealer
material on one of the back panels. What can you tell us about them?”
Dear Reader: This is a column to help you determine the history and value of your heirlooms, attic finds,
flea market purchases, or antique items. Please send a picture and description of your piece, such as how — Thomas Gray, Maryland
you acquired it and any details about its history, to tomandlisa@wildblue.net. I’ll research any item, whether
it’s a piece of furniture, a painting, a tool, a doll, a figurine, or an article of clothing. An approximate value It appears your
will be determined to inform you if it’s a “Trinket or Treasure.” Please submit all pictures and questions by mom purchased
the preceding 15th of the month for possible publication in the next monthly issue of The Catoctin Banner. a reproduction
All inquiries will be answered; however, only those selected for publication will include approximate value treasure! The screens
assessments. Furthermore, not all submissions may be published in the Banner due to space considerations. are most likely English
Please include your name or initials and where you reside. Thank you and happy treasure hunting! and date to the 1950s,
so they would be
“I bought this large menorah at a thrift store for $8.00. It’s made of considered vintage. They
were made to represent
ornate, heavy brass and is in “like new” condition. What is it worth?” the period during which
bamboo furnishings
— R. Higgins, Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania were popular, from
about 1880 to about
You have a Hanukkah 1920. The bird of
treasure! Just in time for the paradise pattern on the
holiday season, you have found a fabric was quite popular
beautiful Menorah for a bargain around this period, also.
price. The Menorah is described in The vibrant colors and
the Bible as the seven-lamp ancient overall condition are a giveaway as to this pair’s age, though. The screens
Hebrew lampstand made of pure might have been used as a divide in a dining room, garden/sun room, or in
gold. It was used in a portable the boudoir. At any rate, they were meant to provide an elegant backdrop
sanctuary set up by Moses in the or hide unsightly clutter in a spacious room. Screens, while not a necessity,
wilderness. Some three hundred are always a decorative asset, provided there’s adequate space to showcase
years later, it was found in the them. A fair asking price for both would be $300 in their present condition.
Temple in Jerusalem. Even though Without any tears in the fabric or flaws in the finish on the frames, they
the holy Temple was destroyed, a might bring as much as $500. Although not antique, they are beautiful.
Menorah is still traditionally lit in
every Jewish home on the holiday “This rooster and hen were in my mother-in-law’s collection.
of Hanukkah. Although today’s
modern nine-branch version is There are stickers on the bottom of each that read:
quite different from the original,
it still shares the basic function of “NapcoWare Import Japan.” The number 6692 is impressed
spreading light. The seven lamps
of the Menorah allude to knowledge, with six of the branches representing on the bottom. Are they old, and what, if any, is their value?”
human wisdom, guided by the center branch of divine light. If there are no
identifying marks on it, and since you don’t know its provenance, I’d rather — C.L., Thurmont
not date it. Still, heavier brass Menorahs such as this one retail for $75.00
and up. Thank you for sharing this traditional Jewish candelabrum. Chicken figurines
are always a
Please note: Prices realized at actual market may differ from those printed here. Neither treasure! As for
The Catoctin Banner newspaper, nor the author, bear responsibility for a difference. being “old,” only if
you’re a millennial, as
If you’d like to discover the history behind and value this pair dates to the
of your heirloom, attic find, flea market or yard sale late 1950s. Napco,
purchase, collectible, or antique item, don’t forget or National Potteries
to send in a photo and description of your trinket or Cooperation, began
treasure to tomandlisa@wildblue.net. Your piece could producing figurines,
be featured in an upcoming issue of The Catoctin Banner. collectibles, decorative
glass, and porcelain
ceramics in 1938.
During the late 1950s
and early 1960s, their
products were popular
here in the United
States, as they were affordable and beautifully colored and detailed. Your
rooster and hen showcase the quality of some of their better hand-painted
porcelain ceramics. They are in excellent condition, with no visible chips or
cracks. Remarkably, the colors have not faded. Should you decide to part
with them, tag the pair for $45. A vintage “chicken lover” would likely be
willing to pay that price.
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