Antiques & Collecting: Utilitarian art

Collectors know that the line between artistic and utilitarian objects is not always clearly drawn. This large, glazed earthenware plate with two stylized faces in profile sold at a Rago auction for $3,120. At that price, it’s more likely to go on display than on the dinner table!

The plate was designed by Viktor Schreckengost for Cowan Pottery in Rocky River, Ohio. Schreckengost worked for Cowan in 1930 until the pottery closed in 1931. He designed Cowan’s famous Jazz Bowl with blue and black art deco designs that create a stylized New York cityscape.

The Jazz Bowl is an art piece, but Schreckengost created plenty of practical and utilitarian items, too. He designed dinnerware for Limoges China Company, Salem China Company, Onondaga Pottery and others. Beyond ceramics, he designed chairs, vehicles, toy pedal cars, oscillating fans, radar for pilots and more.

I have my late grandfather’s old trumpet. It’s engraved “Emperor, Made by Boosey & Hawkes, London, Made in England.” Where can I get someone to tell me what it is worth?

Boosey & Hawkes started in 1930 when Boosey & Company and Hawkes & Son merged. Both companies made musical instruments and were music publishers. Boosey & Hawkes made musical instruments until 2003, when it sold that part of its business to The Music Group. The company still publishes music.

The value of the trumpet depends on the desirability of the instrument, the type of metal, tone quality and condition. Take the trumpet to a music store that sells used musical instruments to see if they can give you a value.

If you intend to sell the trumpet, it’s a good idea to take it to more than one music store to get the value. Remember, they will offer you less than what they can sell it for since they need to make a profit.

Tip: Old clocks should be oiled every four to six years and cleaned every six to eight months.

Current Prices

Toy, cement mixer, metal, bright yellow, red slide, green wheels, crank with rope lowers chute, decal, Buddy “L,” 8 inches, $150.

Lamp, pendant, Symfoni Origami style, black and white sheet iron diamonds, Preben Dal for Hans Folsgaard, Model P-018, labeled “Made in Denmark,” 14 x 15 inches, $515.

Marblehead pottery vase, etched stylized flowers and stems, blue glaze, tapered, flared rim, marked “MP” with ship symbol, c. 1915, 3 3/4 x 4 1/2 inches, $1,060.

Jewelry, pin, reverse painted glass, fox’s head, yellow gold spiral frame, glazed compartment on reverse, Victorian, 1 7/8 inches, $1,500.

Candy container, football player, composition, painted features, jointed arms, cloth jersey and quilted pants, black boots, holds original football, 19 inches, $4,300.