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Photo Caption: Diamond Dyes is a favorite company of collectors of antique advertising. Its advertisements featured vibrant images, like this cabinet with a scene of children playing.

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Dye company’s vintage advertising is highly prized today

In those days, fabric dyes were big business because most people made their own clothing.

Every food you might find on a Victorian table had its own silver-plated dish. This English silver-plated jar was used for cookies or "bisquits."

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Victorians snitched cookies from this silver-on-copper jar

Also, are historical items from WWII worth much to collectors? How about rugs made from old clothing?

This bell-shaped blue lamp was made by Fenton Art Glass Company for Bell Telephone. It was probably used in a hotel lobby.

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Vintage lamp harkens to the days of the pay telephone booth

A (no doubt) nostalgic collector paid $2,700 for it at a recent antiques auction.

Photo Caption: This unconventional table was made in the 1980s by an unconventional artist, Jeff Lederman. It sold for $4,750 at Main Auction Galleries in Cincinnati.

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Unconventional Ohio artist designed this unconventional table

Plus answers to questions about antique samplers, Herman Miller furniture, doorknob collecting and more.

Photo Caption: Would you believe a zipper sold for $18,450 at Morphy Auctions? What about a diamond necklace that looks and works like a zipper?

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X-Y-Z spells ‘big money’ with this high-fashion zipper

It’s actually a necklace, but the zipper function works. Someone paid nearly $18,500 for it at a recent…

Photo Caption: This Escale watch in a signed box was estimated at $3,000 to $5,000. It sold for $3,000 at a Rago auction in 2021.

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Louis Vuitton wristwatch is aimed at the world traveler

Plus, what’s Mom’s 1960s glass coffee percolator worth these days? And what about an old Hudson Bay blanket?

This tramp art picture frame was carved and painted by hand. It sold for $315 at a Pook & Pook auction.

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‘Tramp art’ creators would be stunned by their value today

The handmade art from 1865-1940 are sought after by today’s well-heeled collectors.

Photo Caption: Royal Worcester is one of the oldest and most famous makers of porcelain. It made this ram's head pitcher in 1888.

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Royal Worcester’s 19th century porcelain took on animal forms

Also, questions about Oriental rug care, old newspaper front pages and a family heirloom violin.

Photo Caption: Amphora pottery made in Bohemia during the art nouveau period is prized for its elaborate nature-themed decorations. This octopus vase brought $6,600 at a Morphy auction in 2021.

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Pre-WWI Amphora pottery pieces from Bohemia are highly prized

This stylized octopus vase, with two of its tentacles forming side handles, sold for a cool $6,600 at…

Photo Caption: This stick and ball umbrella stand shows that not all Arts and Crafts furniture is plain and dark. It sold for $300 at a recent Selkirk auction. (c) 2022 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.

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Umbrella stand is unusual example of Arts and Crafts furniture

It breaks the mould by having a light, intricate look with some ornamentation.

Photo Caption: This rocker blotter sold for $161 at a Cowan's auction. Today, it has more value as a piece of Tiffany craftsmanship than as a useful desk accessory. (c) 2022 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.

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Luxury brand Tiffany also made useful, practical items

The company made a line of commercial desk accessories made from about 1890 to the 1930s.

The red Chinese porcelain vase decorated with vases and flowers sold at a Bunch auction in 2021 for $354.

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In Qing dynasty China, everyday objects were turned into art

This vase is red, traditionally the color associated with luck, happiness and celebrations.

"Wiener" dogs may not come from Vienna, but this gold-colored letter opener did. It was made by Werkstatte Hagenauer and sold for $813 at a Rago auction.

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Weiner dog letter opener is a must for dachshund fanciers

The art deco antique by design studio Werkstatte Hagenauer of Vienna sold at auction for a cool $813.

This set of three copper fingers sold for $3,770 at a recent Palm Beach auction.

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French couple’s surreal sculpture-furniture are collectible

Somebody shelled out nearly 4 grand at auction for these odd copper fingertips.

Photo Caption: A set of six cups of Cabaret dinnerware sold at a Palm Beach Modern auction for $585.

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Frank Lloyd Wright’s dinnerware was created for Japanese hotel

The art-deco Cabaret pattern was designed for the Cabaret Dining Room of the Imperial Hotel, which stood from…

Photo Caption: The appeal of this Lucite trunk is crystal clear. It sold for $531 at New Orleans Auction Galleries.

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Clear Lucite furniture brightened 1960s room decor

The clear acrylic resin developed by DuPont was put to innovative uses by interior designers.

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Furniture that fools the eye was popular in 19th century

This a trompe l’oeil screen looks for all the world like a set of shelves. It sold for…

Moving eyes add interest to an antique clock. This blinking-owl clock sold for $1,900 at a Morford's auction in 2021.

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These antique clocks have shifty eyes that move with time

More modern moving-eye clocks include the Kit-Cat clock, a fixture in nurseries since 1932.

Photo Caption: A coal scuttle wasn't always used for coal; it could hold logs or collect ashes. This one from about 1900 sold for $125 at DuMouchelles in Detroit. (c) 2022 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.

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Coal scuttles of days long gone by now used for fire logs

This circa 1900 coal scuttle is made of oak with brass trim, and sold for $125 at auction.

Photo Caption: This antique Betty lamp was made by a known craftsman of the early 1800s, so it is very expensive: $2,000. You can find old Betty lamps for sale for less than $100 if they are in poor condition. (c) 2022 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.

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Antique lamps would come in handy during today’s outages

A Betty lamp made by a 19th century craftsman recently sold for $2,000 at auction.