A stunning bowl of chocolate glass
Q: I have a bowl made of chocolate glass. Although it is quite stunning, I can’t find anything in my reference books about this type of glass. Can you help me? — Stella, Miami
A: Jacob Rosenthal developed a rich-shaded opaque brown glass from caramel slag in about 1900 at the Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Company of Greentown, Ind. He called his new glass “chocolate,” and early pieces of it are quite rare. A bowl can fetch as much as $600, and a pitcher recently sold on the Internet for $1,500.
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Q: My wife has a fairly large collection of Elvis items. How can we learn more about the various pieces and their value? — Ronald, Central Falls, R.I.
A: Elvis Presley memorabilia, especially the earlier items from the 1950s and ‘60s, continues to be extremely desirable. There are several sources that should be helpful, including the Elvis Forever Fan Club, P.O. Box 1066, Miami, FL 33780; dealer Peter Weldon, Pete’s Music, 815 2nd Ave., Troy, NY 12182; and Elvis expert Eddie Hammer, 735 Roosevelt Ave., Carteret, NJ 07008. Many collectors also contact Graceland, 3732 Elvis Presley Ave., P.O. Box 16508, Memphis, TN 38186.
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Q: I purchased an unusual item at a flea market. It is a small container with a label that reads: “Mosaics, St. Mark’s, Venice.” Inside the container are several mosaics and a paper tag that claims they were purchased in 1863 in Jerusalem. I am interested in finding out if it is authentic and if it has value. — Brenda, Port Richey, Fla.
A: It might be authentic, but to find out might cost you as much as it is worth. You need the services of a good appraiser. You can find one in your area by contacting the American Society of Appraisers, 555 Herndon Parkway, Suite 125, Herndon, VA 21070; and 1-703-478-2228.
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Q: I have about 80 “Good Old Days” cartoons that were clipped from old newspapers. Would anyone be interested in them? — Nadine, Salem, Mo.
A: One of the better groups is the National Cartoonist Society, Columbus Circle Station, P.O. Box 20267, New York, NY 10023.