Terry and Kim Kovel

Cabinetmaker George Hunzinger patented this chair in 1869. It was just one of the many patents he filed during his furniture-making career.

Victorian furniture design more diverse than you might think

For example, Hunzinger’s inventive designs include this beech wood chair that looks as if it’s made from pipes.

Cabinetmaker George Hunzinger patented this chair in 1869. It was just one of the many patents he filed during his furniture-making career.
With its ornate brass and painted porcelain features, this candelabrum’s primary purpose is decoration, not illumination. By the time it was made, improved forms of lighting like oil lamps and electric lights were available.

Candelabra today valued less for utility than decorative ornaments

This candelabrum, featuring a handpainted tree branch adorned with flowers and parrots, sold for $594 at auction.

With its ornate brass and painted porcelain features, this candelabrum’s primary purpose is decoration, not illumination. By the time it was made, improved forms of lighting like oil lamps and electric lights were available.

Mechanical banks that taught kids to save now sell for impressive sums

The cast-iron variety made in the 1800s now sell for impressive sums. Even this 1940s tin toy sold for $615 Canadian.

Eagles are a powerful symbol in American designs from the Great Seal to everyday decorative arts. A carved eagle holds up this table’s faux marble top.

Colonial Revival pieces celebrate American history with classic symbols

Stars and stripes, Uncle Sam, Lady Liberty and, of course, eagles often appear in works from this period.

Eagles are a powerful symbol in American designs from the Great Seal to everyday decorative arts. A carved eagle holds up this table’s faux marble top.
This Limoges porcelain piece originally held toothpicks. Now, it has found a new purpose, even if it’s simply an attractive addition to a collection.

Though rarely used today, toothpick holders make great collectibles

This unusual porcelain piece appears to have been made blank by one person and painted by another.

This Limoges porcelain piece originally held toothpicks. Now, it has found a new purpose, even if it’s simply an attractive addition to a collection.
To a perfume bottle collector, it’s what’s on the outside that counts. An eye-catching design by a famous glassmaker brought a high price for this 19th-century Stevens & Williams bottle.

Careful cameo cut boosts this antique perfume bottle’s value

This elegant bottle boasts a glass-decorating technique fashionable in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

To a perfume bottle collector, it’s what’s on the outside that counts. An eye-catching design by a famous glassmaker brought a high price for this 19th-century Stevens & Williams bottle.
This majolica stool was made in the 20th century. It is square instead of the antique barrel shape, but still shows the influence of 19th-century style.

Garden seats have long allowed us to bask in the beauty of our gardens

This 20th-century majolica features the vivid colors and 3D decorations of older Victorian-era pieces.

This majolica stool was made in the 20th century. It is square instead of the antique barrel shape, but still shows the influence of 19th-century style.
The embroidered figures on this 17th-century box are three-dimensional. They were made with a technique called stumpwork that was popular at the time and, even after hundreds of years, shows the embroiderer’s advanced skill.

3D figures made with tricky stumpwork shows embroiderer’s skill

At auction, this 17th-century English needlepoint casket garnered nearly three times its low estimate.

The embroidered figures on this 17th-century box are three-dimensional. They were made with a technique called stumpwork that was popular at the time and, even after hundreds of years, shows the embroiderer’s advanced skill.
Although it was made in the 20th century, this wine rack brings Regency style into a modern setting.

Revival furniture offers period styles at more affordable prices

This 20th-century wine rack — made in the style of the early 19th-century Regency period — sold for $813 at auction.

Although it was made in the 20th century, this wine rack brings Regency style into a modern setting.
Three-dimensional silver figures of animals and wildlife are often seen on elaborate silver pieces. This bowl takes a slightly different approach, with figures of sea animals attached to a wire net.

This silver ‘Sealife bowl’ features 3D creatures caught in a net

Decorations on silver can include engravings, piercings and textured designs, as well as more elaborate applications.

Three-dimensional silver figures of animals and wildlife are often seen on elaborate silver pieces. This bowl takes a slightly different approach, with figures of sea animals attached to a wire net.
Figural cocktail shakers, like this silver-plated rabbit, were popular in the 1920s and ’30s and have been reproduced more recently. This Easter bunny cocktail shaker isn’t leaving treats for kids!

This Easter item will help grown-ups get through the egg hunt

Festive bunny figurine is actually a cocktail shaker. Somebody paid six grand for it at an antiques auction.

Figural cocktail shakers, like this silver-plated rabbit, were popular in the 1920s and ’30s and have been reproduced more recently. This Easter bunny cocktail shaker isn’t leaving treats for kids!
This midcentury Windsor style chair features the crest and colors of Harvard University. It sold for $438, more than twice its estimate, at a Bonhams Skinner auction.

This chair brings together two icons of colonial America

This Harvard University Windsor chair is just one of many variations on so-called stick furniture.

This midcentury Windsor style chair features the crest and colors of Harvard University. It sold for $438, more than twice its estimate, at a Bonhams Skinner auction.
Antique mocha ware, made in England to export to the United States and Canada in the 18th and 19th centuries, caught collectors’ attention in the mid-20th century. Like many mocha pieces, this colorful mug is decorated with several patterns.

The name for decorated pottery like this can be deceiving

Mocha pottery is made from clay and features colorful patterns painted over a white glaze.

Antique mocha ware, made in England to export to the United States and Canada in the 18th and 19th centuries, caught collectors’ attention in the mid-20th century. Like many mocha pieces, this colorful mug is decorated with several patterns.
This cast-iron wood stove kept a 19th-century room warm. Its embossed designs, especially the rows of pointed arches on its sides, were meant to evoke medieval architecture.

Designs on this cast-iron wood stove exemplify Gothic Revival style

This Victorian-era stove features a row of pointed arches, a distinctive feature of Gothic architecture.

This cast-iron wood stove kept a 19th-century room warm. Its embossed designs, especially the rows of pointed arches on its sides, were meant to evoke medieval architecture.
When advertisements include pictures of people, their clothing and hairstyles can help date the item. This store display for Bicycle Playing Cards is from about 1930.

Dating this display ad for playing cards comes down to garb

The Bicycle Playing Cards brand has been around since 1885, but this display is not quite so old.

When advertisements include pictures of people, their clothing and hairstyles can help date the item. This store display for Bicycle Playing Cards is from about 1930.
This steel pod chair garnered extra interest from collectors due to its upholstery — a graffiti version of the Declaration of Independence designed by Stephen Sprouse for Knoll.

Pod chair’s colorful upholstery pairs perfectly with unusual shape

Made of pressed steel and upholstered in fabric by Stephen Sprouse, this chair sold at auction for $4,375.

This steel pod chair garnered extra interest from collectors due to its upholstery — a graffiti version of the Declaration of Independence designed by Stephen Sprouse for Knoll.
This brass inlaid inkstand was made in Victorian London. A label on its base provides insight into its history.

An original paper label adds value to this Victorian inkstand

Information about this specific item’s provenance is not immediately obvious

This brass inlaid inkstand was made in Victorian London. A label on its base provides insight into its history.
Is it a music box, a toy, a showpiece or a robot? Wind it with a key, and a feathery bird pops out to chirp and flutter in a lifelike way.

Mechanical creatures have long captured our imaginations

This singing bird, which appears from inside a music box, sold for $4,560 at auction.

Is it a music box, a toy, a showpiece or a robot? Wind it with a key, and a feathery bird pops out to chirp and flutter in a lifelike way.
This seed chest was made about 1870 out of inexpensive wood for a practical purpose. Now it can command a higher price than some designer pieces.

Little is known about artisan except that his work is coveted

Famous names add to the value of an antique, even if we know more about the maker’s work than about the maker. Few names of… Continue reading

This seed chest was made about 1870 out of inexpensive wood for a practical purpose. Now it can command a higher price than some designer pieces.
We don’t know whose eye is depicted in this miniature, but it must have been someone well loved. Wearing a miniature painting of a loved one’s eye was fashionable in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Soapy TV show inspires interest in 19th century accessory

An eye miniature on a pendant, as seen on “Bridgerton,” sells for $704 at auction.

We don’t know whose eye is depicted in this miniature, but it must have been someone well loved. Wearing a miniature painting of a loved one’s eye was fashionable in the 18th and 19th centuries.