Q: My grandmother gave me the pictured piece of pottery in 1954. I know it is old because it has been in our family since the late 1800s. Impressed on the bottom in a semicircle are the names: "Louwelsa — Weller — 626." The color is a beautiful, shiny cobalt blue glaze that lightens near the clock and flowers. Standing 13 inches tall, the clock keeps good time when wound, and the overall condition is perfect.

Could Louwelsa be the name of the piece? What's its approximate value? Any other information you can provide on this unique piece will be appreciated.

A: You have a ewer with a clock that was made by Weller Pottery. Founded by Sam Weller in 1872, the company was located in Zanesville, Ohio. "Louwelsa" is the name of a pottery line that was introduced around 1896 and used until 1924; it was available in 500 different shapes. Although most pieces were finished in a brown glaze, they also produced a shiny blue glaze.

The name "Louwelsa" is a combination of the first three letters of Weller's daughter's first name, Louise, the first three letters of his last name, and the first two letters of his first name. The mark was used from 1896 to the early 1900s, and the number "626" is a design number. Weller Pottery closed in 1948.

Your ewer/clock would probably be worth $1,000 to $1,500.

Q: My friend gave me an antique cup and saucer for my birthday. She told me it is a chintz pattern that was made around 1920. Each piece is decorated with exotic, mythical birds, insects, flowers and fruits against a lavender background. I have enclosed the mark seen on the bottom of both the cup and saucer.

What can you tell me about the history of my cup and saucer?

A: In Tunstall, England, A.G. Richardson created Crown Ducal Ware, which produced earthenware from 1915 to 1974. Chintz china patterns were inspired by the floral fabric patterns imported from India in the 1600s. In the first half of the 20th century, less than a half-dozen English potters were busy turning out a plethora of transfer-print chintz patterns — they produced tea sets, coffee services, accessory pieces and complete dinner sets.

American collectors were swept away with the charming patterns, thus causing prices to rise, not only in the U.S. but also globally. Chintz china has been reproduced. Some manufacturers include a date with their mark. Since not all provide a date, a collector has to use caution when buying.

Your circa 1920 cup and saucer set would probably be worth $75 to $125.

Q: Several years ago, my great-uncle gave me a set of glass tumblers that are decorated with images of Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight to Paris. The scenes include his plane, The Spirit of St. Louis, the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, and the dates of his departure and arrival. My uncle told me that someday the set might be worth something.

I was wondering if you have ever heard of these glasses.

A: Charles Lindbergh was the first aviator to successfully make the solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Ashtrays, bookends, postcards, textiles, glassware and toy airplanes are just a few of the items produced to commemorate his flight.

Each tumbler would probably be worth $25 to $35, assuming they are in very good condition.

Address your questions to Anne McCollam, P.O. Box 247, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Items of a general interest will be answered in this column. Due to the volume of inquiries, she cannot answer individual letters. To find out more about Anne McCollam and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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