AMERICAN ENCAUSTIC TILES
These decorative tiles were made by the American Encaustic Tiling Company from 1875 until 1935 when the factory closed. (It was reopened as Shawnee Pottery Company in 1937 and closed permanently in 1960.) Each tile is marked with a stylized A T and an O within a C.
AURENE GLASS
An iridescent blue or gold glass made into bottles, bowls, candlesticks, vases, etc., in the early 1900s by Frederick Carder, most pieces of Aurene glass are marked either Aurene or Steuben, often with a paper label. This glass is quite valuable, but on occasion a piece will surface at a garage sale held by someone who is ignorant of its worth.
BAVARIAN PORCELAIN
The word Bavaria appears in the backstamp of most Bavarian pieces. If the mark also says Germany, then the piece was probably made after 1871. Bavarian porcelain was sometimes decorated by hand, and sometimes by use of the transfer method. A good hand-painted decoration is the most valuable.
BEEHIVE MARK
Many people get excited when they see a mark that resembles a beehive on the back of a piece of porcelain. Sometimes that excitement is warranted, sometimes it isn't. The original beehive mark was used by the Royal Porcelain Manufactory of Vienna, beginning in the early 1700s. It was underglaze; most pieces were hand-decorated and are highly valued. However, the beehive mark has been copied on cheap, transfer-decorated items. And on most of these pieces, the beehive is over the glaze. Incidentally, even though the mark is called beehive by dealers, it actually was designed to depict a shield.
BENNINGTON WARE
During the 1800s, two factories in Bennington, Vermont, produced bottles, bowls, creamers, crocks, cuspidors, inkwells, jugs, pitchers, vases and many other pottery items. A mottled finish was common. Most pieces were marked Bennington and so are easily identifiable. They are highly valued.
BRIDES' BASKETS
Glass bowls that fitted into silver-plated holders with handles were popular wedding gifts from the late 1800s until around 1905. Most of these are one-of-a-kind designs produced by American and European glass makers. You may find them in cased glass, cut glass, hand-painted glass, ruffled-edged glass, etc. Many more silver-plated holders than glass baskets have survived. The holders alone are worth far less than the complete unit, but the glass bowl alone is still quite valuable.
CAMBRIDGE POTTERY
A brown-glazed pottery made in Cambridge, Ohio, from 1898 until 1909, Cambridge Pottery bears many marks, including the outline of an acorn or the words Oakwoody or Terrhea.
CASTOR SETS
American Victorian castor sets had silver-plated holders and glass bottles intended as containers for an assortment of condiments from oil and vinegar to mustard and sugar. They became popular in the 1700s and continued as a standard item on American tables until the early part of the 1900s. In the late 1800s, the bottles were often made of colored glass. Look for sets with bottles that match and stoppers that aren't broken or missing. While wear to the silver plate detracts from a set, it doesn't render it worthless. Castor sets have been reproduced, especially those with colored bottles. Beware of the set that looks too perfect.
CASTOR, PICKLE
Standing about five- to seven-inches high, ornate pickle jars fit into silver holders with arching handles similar in style to those found on brides' baskets. Each holder has a hook on which a pickle fork rests. Pickle castors were the rage for about ten years from the late 1800s until the early 1900s. Look for examples with the glass jar and the pickle fork still intact.
CLOISONNE
The type of cloisonne that you're most likely to find is made by applying enamel between wires that protruded out from a metal item. Most cloisonne was, and is, made in the Orient. Much newer cloisonne is marked China and will not command the price of older cloisonne. Any damage greatly reduces the price. We've found that interest in cloisonne, and, in fact, any Orientalia, is regional. New England and the West Coast are the two areas where we have found the most interest in Orientalia.
CORALENE GLASS
This usually quite expensive glass was made by firing glass beads to glass objects. The glass beading was applied in a variety of patterns, resulting in raised designs. The process, widely used in the late 1800s, has been reproduced.
COSMOS GLASS
Produced by the Consolidated Lamp and Glass Company from 1895 until about 1915, most pieces of Cosmos glass were made in milk glass, although a few items were produced in clear glass. The most popular pattern features an array of colored flowers in raised relief designs. The process was used on everything from lamp shades to salt and pepper shakers.
CROWN MILANO
This biscuit-colored glass with satin finish was made by Frederick Shirley in the late 1800s. Adorned with flowers, Crown Milano sometimes features gold decoration. Crown Milano is usually marked with a crown over a stylized M. You'll find examples in tumblers, vases, biscuit jars, etc.
CUT GLASS
Many novice dealers have trouble telling the difference between cut glass and pressed. Cut glass is sharp on the edges of the pattern, while pressed glass has a smoother feel to it. Near-cut glass is pressed glass of a little better quality than most and is slightly sharper on the edges. Made in many patterns, many of the better pieces of cut glass are signed by the manufacturer. Cracks and chips are often difficult to find and are more appare'nt to the touch than the eye. A crack will greatly detract from the piece, but the absence of a tooth on the edge reduces the value only minimally.
DAUM NANCY
The Daum Nancy glass works was started in Nancy, France, in the late 1800s by Jean Daum. This expensive, beautifully decorated, usually cameo or etched glass, has been marked in a variety of ways, but the mark usually includes both Daum and Nancy.
DAVENPORT
The word Davenport on a piece of pottery or porcelain means that it was made in Staffordshire, England, at the Davenport factory, which operated from the late 1700s to the late 1800s. Davenport creamwares, earthenwares, iron-stone, and porcelains were of high quality and are very desirable.
DE VEZ GLASS
This French cameo glass was made by the Cristallerie de Pantin in the late 1800s. Most pieces are signed De Fez, often in scroll.
DEDHAM POTTERY
First produced from 1891 to 1895 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, then in Dedham, Massachusetts, from 1895 until 1943 when the factory closed, Dedham Pottery dishes are easily identifiable, decorated with a crackleware finish and figures of animals and flowers. Most of the designs are done in dark blue and are backstamped Dedham Pottery with the picture of a rabbit—one of the manufacturers most popular subjects.
DEGUE GLASS
This French cameo or smooth glass made around the turn of the century bears the acid-etched signature, Degue. Vases are the most commonly found pieces.
DELFT
A tin-glazed pottery with blue and white or multi-colored decorations, Delft has been made in Holland since about 1564. Windmills and tulips are common designs. Many of the older pieces aren't marked, while pieces made after the late 1800s are usually marked Holland.
DOULTON
Pottery and porcelain wares made by Doulton and Company in Burslem, England, from the 1880s until 1903 were marked with the name Doulton in some form. Those marked Royal Doulton were made after 1903.
DURAND GLASS
This iridescent, American glass was produced at the Durand Art Glass Works, a division of Vineland Glass Works, in New Jersey from about 1924 until 1931. Much of it is signed Durand. Some pieces are numbered. Durand art glass is quite desirable.
ELFINWARE
Originally