Q: I would like to know more about my pictured gilt bronze compote. It is over 7 inches in diameter, 2 3/4 inches high, and is decorated with a blue enameled design on the rim. Marked on the bottom are the words "Louis C. Tiffany Furnaces Inc., Favrile, 519." Included with the mark are four concentric circles with an "L" in the center.

Is this an authentic Tiffany piece? What is it worth?

A: Louis Comfort Tiffany, who founded his Studios in New York in 1900, created your compote. He produced splendid iridescent art glass, leaded-glass windows and lampshades, as well as both silver and gilt bronze metal accessories.

Tiffany established the term "Favrile," which was used on his glass, enamels and pottery. The word was inspired by the old English word "febrile," meaning handmade. The number "519" is the design number of your compote.

Your compote was made around 1920 and would probably be worth $1,000 to $1,500.

Q: This mark is on the back of an ironstone plate that is 9 inches in diameter. Using black transfer print, the plate is decorated with a country scene against a white background. It is in mint condition.

What can you tell me about the manufacturer, the age and value of my plate?

A: Charles Meigh & Son Pottery made earthenware and stoneware in Staffordshire, England, from 1835 to 1901. From 1850 to 1851, they operated under the name: Charles Meigh, Son & Parkhurst. After 1851, they reverted back to Meigh & Son. "California" is the name of the pattern.

Your Staffordshire plate would probably be worth $100 to $150.

Q: I have a 1978 book club edition of Stephen King's "The Stand." A hardcover published by Doubleday, it is in very good condition and still has the dust jacket. The inside flap has an early picture of Stephen King and lists four books that he had written. It also contains the same artwork on the front as the first editions.

Before I put it in a yard sale or donate it, I would like to know if it is "antique or junque."

A: None of the above. It is only 30 years old — too new to be an antique and too collectible to be junque. King told the tale of the post-apocalyptic horror and science fiction following a plague of biblical proportions. The novel was published in 1978 and became a blockbuster book. In 1994, a TV series was based on the story.

As a rule, first edition copies of just about any book are far more valuable than book club editions. Book club copies of "The Stand" are selling for $25 to $35 on the Internet. The 1978 first editions are fetching up to $4,000.

Q: I inherited a cranberry-colored glass bowl that sets in a silver plate stand with a handle. I was told it was given to my great-great grandmother in the late 1800s and that it is a bride's basket. The bowl has a waffle pattern and a ruffled edge; both the stand and bowl are in excellent condition.

What is a bride's basket and does it have any value?

A: Bride's baskets were extremely popular wedding gifts in the late Victorian Era. The stands or frames were often silver plate or gilt metal. Brides loved these baskets because they could be used as centerpieces, hold fruit, or just sit on a side table for everyone to admire.

Your basket would probably be worth $175 to $275.

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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