Q: Please look at my enclosed photo of a handkerchief box. It is marked "Tiffany Studios, N.Y., No. 831." It measures approximately 7 inches by 7 inches by 2 inches, and we think the pattern is "Pine Needles." Beneath the bronze pattern is caramel-colored glass — the overall condition is excellent.

Any information on its history and value will be greatly appreciated.

A: You have a utility box with beading, ball feet and a hinged lid; it is part of a desk set. You are correct: It is Tiffany's "Pine Needles" pattern. The number "831" is a design number. Founded in 1900 by Louis Comfort Tiffany in New York City, Tiffany Studios designed splendid art glass objects, windows, leaded glass lampshades and decorative accessories. Although the pattern, "Pine Needles," was available in around 30 different pieces, a typical desk set included an ink well, stamp box, utility box, letter holder, calendar holder, pen tray, blotter and letter opener.

Your box was made sometime between 1906 and the 1920s and would probably be worth $2,000 to $2,500.

Q: This mark is on a porcelain hot chocolate set that I inherited from my grandmother. All in mint condition, the set includes six cups, six saucers and a pot. Each piece is decorated with pastel roses, green leaves and gold trim. I know the set is old — I am 70 and it was given to my grandmother as a high school graduation gift.

Could you please tell me when my heirloom was made and its worth?

A: Your hot chocolate set was made by Zeh, Scherzer and Co. They have made porcelain in Rehau, Germany, since 1880.

Your set was made around 1915 and would probably be worth $175 to $225.

Q: I have a complete service of Lenox china dinnerware; the 12-set dinnerware was purchased in 1956. In addition, I own 20 accessory pieces. All are marked with the gold Lenox logo, except one of my vases has a green mark.

Why did Lenox change their sign from gold to green?

A: Actually, it's the other way around. Lenox China Co. used their green mark as early as 1906. In 1953, a marketing decision was made to change to the now familiar gold mark. That being said, your vase is older, albeit possibly only by a year, compared to the other pieces in your collection.

Q: I inherited a small coffee grinder from my grandmother. I was told it is about 200 years old. It is made of wood and cast iron; the overall measurements are 4 inches wide by 5 inches tall. There is an iron receptacle for the coffee beans on the top and an iron handle, which is turned to grind the beans. The crushed beans empty into a drawer below. On the side is a triangle with the words "Gesetzlich — Friedrich."

Can you tell me if my grinder has any value? If not, should I throw it out?

A: First, let me say, your coffee grinder is not anywhere near 200 years old. It was made around the turn of the last century. In any event, antique coffee grinders are popular country-kitchen appliance collectibles — many can be found for sale on eBay or in antique shops. Your coffee grinder was made in Germany, and the word "Gesetzlich" means registered or patented with the German government.

Don't throw it out. It might be a welcome gift to someone in your family as a memento of a grandparent or a reminder of a time-gone-by. The value of your circa 1900 grinder would probably be $25 to $50.

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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