Antique or Junque by Anne McCollam

Q: Enclosed is a photo of a child's highchair backed by solid oak. My mom bought it at an antique store in Maine in the mid-70s. There is a raised floral pattern on the top of the chair. With the exception of a missing tray, the chair is in excellent condition.

Do you have any idea of the era it was made as well as its current value?

A: You have a late Victorian highchair with a pressed back chair rail. The floral pattern was not hand carved — an embossing machine stamped it into the wood. It is common for chairs of this type to survive in good condition, although they are often missing trays.

Your highchair is circa 1900 and the value would be in the range of $125 to $150.

Q: This mark is on the porcelain face of my antique clock. The case is brass with beveled glass on all four sides. Opening from both the front and the back, it stands about 10 inches high and is in good working condition.

A local clock collector always wants to buy it from me, and I would like to know what it is worth.

A: Your clock was made by Ansonia Clock Co. in New York around 1915. Its value would probably be $400 to $500.

Q: Can you tell me something about my mother's pink elephant bank? I remember it when I was a child in the early 1960s. It has a cork stopper on its belly and is decorated with raised colored flowers and glass stones. There are also glass stones for the eyes and on each foot. Gold-like sparkles are around each ear, and a yellow ruffle around its neck is decorated with metal studs.

Underneath the bank are a crown and the words: "Hand Painted — Lefton China."

What can you tell me about my bank?

A: Founded by George Zoltan Lefton in the mid-30s, Lefton China started in Chicago. Most of his china and ceramic pieces were made in Japan. Lefton China continues to sell high quality giftware.

Your pink elephant bank would probably be worth $25 to $35.

Q: We have a Mies van der Rohe black leather chair that has been in the family since around 1950. Supported by leather straps, the back leather cushions and the seat are tufted. And the steel legs are X-shaped.

What can you tell me about our chair?

A: You have a Barcelona Lounge Chair. Designed by Miles van der Rohe in the middle of the 20th century, it was produced by Knoll Furniture Co. in New York.

Assuming it is in very good condition, the value of your chair would probably be $2,000 to $2,500.

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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