Antiques & Collecting: Empire style

Antique collectors know that styles repeat, pieces can be replicated and design periods can be revived. This stool was made in the 20th century, but its style is from the Empire period, which lasted from about 1815 to 1840 in America.

Empire style originated with the French Empire in the early 1800s and was inspired by antiquities. Napoleon Bonaparte led an invasion of Egypt in 1798. Although his troops were defeated, a scientific expedition began.

Napoleon sent scholars back to Egypt to study monuments and antiquities. This was the beginning of archaeology, inspiring a fashion for antiquity.

Decorative arts in the Empire style featured designs from ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman art and architecture. The influence of ancient art is clearly seen in this Empire-style stool, which sold for $1,250 at New Orleans Auction Galleries.

It is an example of Empire style, even if it is not from the Empire period. The winged animal’s head supports, paw feet, gilt rosettes and Greek key trim are all borrowed from the ancient world, but the materials, construction and maker’s label identify it as modern.

My parents gave away all my toys when I went to college. One toy that I can’t forget about was a Fisher-Price Tick Tock clock. I finally found one recently in an antiques mall. I paid $8 for it, even though the music mechanism sounds damaged. Is this a good price?

Sorry about your parents throwing your toys out. I hear that a lot from collectors wanting some of their childhood back, even if it is through items from antiques stores.

Your Fisher-Price Tick Tock Teaching Clock was very popular, introduced in the early 1960s. The most popular models, with slight visual differences, came out in 1962 and 1964.

It is colorful, with stickers and a clock face with big numbers and arms. Images of night and day are revealed as the arms move. When wound up, it plays the song “Grandfather’s Clock” and has a background metronome ticking sound.

You got a bargain. Most of those clocks sell online for up to $60, depending on condition. They are still being made and sold.

Tip: If you have an old carving set and the steel sharpener is stained, do not worry. It will still work, and it’s safe to use with knives that touch food.

Current Prices

Dedham Pottery plate, repeating turkey border, blue and cream color, marked, c. 1910, 6 1/4 inches, $185.

Folk art whirligig, sailor boy, pine, old painted features, blue and white sailor suit, paddle arms spin, New England, c. 1900, 13 x 9 1/2 inches, $370.

Advertising, sign, Phillips 66, double-sided porcelain, shield shape, orange and black, slanted numbers 66, 29 3/4 x 29 1/4 inches, $1,650.

Baseball, ball, signed by Mickey Mantle on sweet spot, Official Ball, American League, Rawlings, $3,050.