Antiques & Collecting: Cornucopia vase

This strange piece of art pottery is a cornucopia vase, popular in the 1930s. It was made by the Roseville Pottery Company. The pattern name is White Rose.

Roseville Pottery Company started in Roseville, Ohio, in 1890. A second plant was opened in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1898.

White Rose pattern was introduced in the 1940s. White Rose cornucopia vases were made in two sizes, 6 inch (143-6) and 8 inch (144-8).

By the late 1940s, there were over 50 shapes in the White Rose pattern glazed in different colors such as sea blue, coral or autumn brown.

Reproductions of Roseville pottery have been made in China and sold since the 1980s. The fakes are a different size, so they can be identified.

A real, blue Cornucopia White Rose vase that is 8 inches tall sells for $100 to $125.

I have two boxes with 50 matchbooks. Are they worth more individually or as a set in the box? Are the covers worth more with the matches or without them? If I want to sell them, are there restrictions on shipping matches?

Book matches were invented and patented by Joshua Pusey in 1892. He sold the patent to the Diamond Match Co. of America in 1894.

Matchbook collectors are called “phillumenists.” There are local, regional, national and international clubs for collectors.

The Rathkamp Matchcover Society is the world’s oldest phillumenic organization. The society’s website, matchcover.org, lists swap meets and conventions.

Collectors look for unused matchbooks with old ads, travel themes and other subjects. If there is a swap meet near you, you can see what covers are selling for and you might be able to find a buyer.

Don’t let someone pick out the best ones and leave you with a bunch that are not worth much and will be hard to sell. If you plan to ship your collection to a buyer, remove the matches before shipping.

Tip: The value of a matchbook cover is lowered by writing or marks, scrapes or gouge marks from a carelessly removed staple or a damaged or missing striker.

Current Prices

Postcard, Thanksgiving Day, panel with young boy riding turkey, holding reins, white ground, multicolor, gilt border, divided back, 1917, $15.

Toy, dollhouse, rustic Craftsman style, three floors, wood, painted yellow with green trim, arched window trim, doors open, outside stairs lead to second floor porch, 24 x 20 x 18 inches, $135.

Trap, mouse, wire, die-pressed tin, oval, open end, spring trap, Maine, c. 1900, 4 1/2 x 8 x 6 inches, $240.

Steuben glass basket, Aurene, amber iridescent, flared form, flared and ruffled edge, arched handle, etched “Aurene 455″ on base, c. 1915, 17 x 11 x 7 1/2 inches, $625.