Terry and Kim Kovel

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Photo Caption: This toy car was a clever ad for Moxie, a soft drink popular in New England. It sold for $2,600. (c) 2022 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.

Antique toys conjure fond memories — and fetch premium prices

A Moxiemobile, named for the turn-of-the-century soft drink, sold for $2,600 at a recent auction.

Photo Caption: This toy car was a clever ad for Moxie, a soft drink popular in New England. It sold for $2,600. (c) 2022 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.
Photo Caption: This hooked rug with a picture of the continental United States has the name of the recipient and the date on the back. It brought $469 at Cowan’s Auctions. (c) 2022 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.

Hooked rugs developed into an art form — and a collectible

Especially prized are the rugs made a century ago at Grenfell Mission in Canada’s Maritime provinces.

Photo Caption: This hooked rug with a picture of the continental United States has the name of the recipient and the date on the back. It brought $469 at Cowan’s Auctions. (c) 2022 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.
Photo Caption: Paying $12,390 would be awfully expensive for a Coke, but apparently not for this Coca-Cola sign sold by Morford Antique Advertising Auctions.

Fetching vintage Coca-Cola advertisement fetches big money

The self-framed tin lithographed sign showing Elaine, the girl on the company’s 1916 calendar, sells for more than $12,000.

Photo Caption: Paying $12,390 would be awfully expensive for a Coke, but apparently not for this Coca-Cola sign sold by Morford Antique Advertising Auctions.
Photo Caption: Francois-Xavier Lalanne often used animal motifs in his modern, minimalist sculptures. His porcelain eggcup with a chicken's head, wings and tail sold for $2,080 at Palm Beach Modern Auctions. (c) 2021 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.

‘Pocillovy’ is the obscure hobby of collecting eggcups

It stems from Victorian times, when nearly every type of food had its own specialized dish and utensils.

Photo Caption: Francois-Xavier Lalanne often used animal motifs in his modern, minimalist sculptures. His porcelain eggcup with a chicken's head, wings and tail sold for $2,080 at Palm Beach Modern Auctions. (c) 2021 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.
The White Rose cornucopia vase by Roseville Pottery has been reproduced. Authentic vases like this one can sell for $100 to $125. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)

Strange piece of art pottery goes all the way back to the 1890s

This strange piece of art pottery is a cornucopia vase, popular in the 1930s. It was made by the Roseville Pottery Company. The pattern name… Continue reading

The White Rose cornucopia vase by Roseville Pottery has been reproduced. Authentic vases like this one can sell for $100 to $125. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)
Advertising posters often had fanciful illustrations to attract attention. This one with tandem bicyclists sold for $6,600 at Poster Auctions International. (c) 2021 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.

Vintage advertising often relied on fanciful illustrations

This poster of turn-of-the-century tandem cyclists pedaling to the moon sold for a cool $6,600.

Advertising posters often had fanciful illustrations to attract attention. This one with tandem bicyclists sold for $6,600 at Poster Auctions International. (c) 2021 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.
This fanciful bisque match holder made to look like a man sold for $59 at Conestoga Auction. A recognizable caricature of a known person would have a higher value. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)

What was a tiny bisque vase shaped like a man used for?

Maybe it held flowers for a day, or maybe it was a match holder, but it could also just be a fanciful figure.

This fanciful bisque match holder made to look like a man sold for $59 at Conestoga Auction. A recognizable caricature of a known person would have a higher value. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)
Woodcarver Johannes Scholl went by John after emigrating from Germany to the United States. One of his elaborate folk art whimsies sold at Conestoga Auctions for $4,130. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)

This folk art whimsy by John Scholl auctioned for over $4,000

A woodworker, Scholl’s carved decorations are thought to be among the most important works of the 20th century.

Woodcarver Johannes Scholl went by John after emigrating from Germany to the United States. One of his elaborate folk art whimsies sold at Conestoga Auctions for $4,130. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)
This silhouette of a woman, cut by mouth by Martha Ann Honeywell, had an estimated value of $400 to $800 at Garth's Auction, Inc., but did not sell. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)

Circa 1800 silhouette of woman in a bonnet was ‘cut by mouth’

Born without hands, Martha Ann Honeywell (1786-1856) could cut and paste, thread a needle, embroider and write using her mouth.

This silhouette of a woman, cut by mouth by Martha Ann Honeywell, had an estimated value of $400 to $800 at Garth's Auction, Inc., but did not sell. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)
Many 19th-century potteries and amateur artists made and decorated stoneware figures. This handmade ram sold at Conestoga Auctions for $144. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)

19th century New England resting ram figurine was a doorstop

The 9-inch hand-molded animal sold for $144, probably because it was missing part of his horn and an ear.

Many 19th-century potteries and amateur artists made and decorated stoneware figures. This handmade ram sold at Conestoga Auctions for $144. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)
This bentwood box, 4 by 9 by 6 inches, sold for $4,260, more than four times its estimate. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)

Bucher bentwood box sells for more than 4 times its estimate

Collectors treasure the hand-decorated storage boxes made by the Bucher family from about 1750 to 1800.

This bentwood box, 4 by 9 by 6 inches, sold for $4,260, more than four times its estimate. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)
This rare Louisiana Creole Gros Rouge punkah from the late 18th-early 19th century made of Southern Yellow Pine with mortise-and-tenon construction, 40 1/2 by 35 inches, was estimated to sell for $10,000 to $15,000 at Neal Auctions, but it didn't sell. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)

Strange antique made from Southern yellow pine is a punkah

It was the “air conditioner” of the early 19th century. A man called a “punkah wallah” pulled a cord to make it swing back and forth like a fan.

This rare Louisiana Creole Gros Rouge punkah from the late 18th-early 19th century made of Southern Yellow Pine with mortise-and-tenon construction, 40 1/2 by 35 inches, was estimated to sell for $10,000 to $15,000 at Neal Auctions, but it didn't sell. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)
This 1930 Palmer Cox Brownie Ten Pin Set with 12-inch-high paper and wood Brownies sold at Bertoia Auctions for $354. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)

Brownies toys were based on children’s books circa 1879

The popular characters were featured as paper dolls, trade cards, rubber stamps, card games, puzzles and cloth dolls.

This 1930 Palmer Cox Brownie Ten Pin Set with 12-inch-high paper and wood Brownies sold at Bertoia Auctions for $354. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)
This Centennial Exhibition handkerchief with portraits of Washington and Grant and pictures of exhibition buildings is 22 inches by 28 inches and sold at Conestoga Auction Co. for $70. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)

This bandanna was made in celebration of US’s 100th birthday

It’s just one of the many souvenirs from the Centennial Exhibition of 1876, celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

This Centennial Exhibition handkerchief with portraits of Washington and Grant and pictures of exhibition buildings is 22 inches by 28 inches and sold at Conestoga Auction Co. for $70. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)
Each of these Ming Tree vases sold separately at a Humler & Nolan auction. The blue gray vase sold for $489, the light blue vase for $431, and the turquoise blue vase for $401. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)

Three Ming Tree vases each have a different trial glaze color

The very modern looking pottery, introduced in 1949, each sold separately at a recent auction.

Each of these Ming Tree vases sold separately at a Humler & Nolan auction. The blue gray vase sold for $489, the light blue vase for $431, and the turquoise blue vase for $401. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)
This 19th-century 10-inch-high painted tin coffeepot sold in a Cowan auction for $544. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)

Toleware coffeepot from 1700s Pennsylvania auctions for $544

The tinware lost favor when copper and silver plate became more available because tin often rusted.

This 19th-century 10-inch-high painted tin coffeepot sold in a Cowan auction for $544. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)
The terra cotta tobacco jar by Jon Maresch, shaped like a smiling black dog, is marked JM#116 and sold at Fox Auctions for $240. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)

Terra cotta jars in 1800s and 1900s held loose pipe tobacco

If you have a jar with the initials JM, they made by Johann Maresch (1821-1914) and sell for $300 to $500.

The terra cotta tobacco jar by Jon Maresch, shaped like a smiling black dog, is marked JM#116 and sold at Fox Auctions for $240. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)
Photo Caption: This 1920s apothecary sign shaped like a mortar and pestle is 20 inches high, made of tin with cut and colored glass mounted to the outside, and sold at Cowan's for $8,125.

How store signs drew attention before electricity was invented

Cigar store signs are readily recognizable, even a century later.

Photo Caption: This 1920s apothecary sign shaped like a mortar and pestle is 20 inches high, made of tin with cut and colored glass mounted to the outside, and sold at Cowan's for $8,125.
The "Goat and Bee" milk jug with incised triangle and script Chelsea mark, 1745-49, sold at Doyle for $3,780. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)

Famed Chelsea porcelain ‘Goat and Bee’ jug auctions for $3,700

The milk jug desiged by Nicholas Sprimont about 1742 was inspired by the tale about two goats and a bee.

The "Goat and Bee" milk jug with incised triangle and script Chelsea mark, 1745-49, sold at Doyle for $3,780. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)
The 13-inch-high antique wooden San Rafael figure with wings and holding a staff and a fish sold at a Cottone auction for $9,600. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)

Wooden figure of San Rafael the Archangel made circa 1763

Fra Andreas Garcia, an 18th-century Mexican Franciscan friar and folk artist, carved and painted the figurine.

The 13-inch-high antique wooden San Rafael figure with wings and holding a staff and a fish sold at a Cottone auction for $9,600. (Cowles Syndicate Inc.)