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 A gentleman in Lancaster recently purchased this antique telephone at an estate sale for $175. It is an oak box, and the metal work is in excellent condition, showing no signs of rust or deterioration. The piece came to the Northern Neck many years ago from a home in New Jersey. The label reads “Western Electric”, and the finish, although somewhat alligatored, is original. The bells are operable manually, and have good tone to them.
Antique telephones have retained their popularity through the years, and this one is especially fine. In this case I recommend against refinishing the oak, which is the most common wood used in such telephones. If the alligatored finish is bothersome, applying Kotton Klenser should smooth it without removing the original varnish. If not available locally, it is on the Internet, and the company has a web site. A quart costs less than $10. In the past The Burgess House at Burgess regularly stocked Kotton Klenser.
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A couple in Lancaster County acquired this Sheraton washstand at an estate sale about six years ago. The marble is in excellent condition, and the wood of the base is mahogany, the legs being veneered. They question whether the top and bottom are married.
This piece combines two distinct periods of American furniture making. The base is pure Sheraton, dating from the period 1820 –1840. The top is equally pure, but Victorian, not Sheraton, and dates from the period 1840 – 1860. The two have been united in furniture matrimony, probably as the result of the original top of the base having been lost or destroyed. Most likely, that top was mahogany, and not marble, unless it had been a pier table. I suggest looking at the back to see if evidence of a mirrored back exists. If it does, restoration to that form, although costly, could be justifiable.
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Fenton carnival glass hexagonal dish |
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 A writer from Northumberland County asks about her Fenton carnival glass hexagonal dish, which she acquired at an estate sale. It is deep purplish blue with a flower motif in the center and surrounding the edge, and is in perfect condition. It bears the raised mark, “Fenton” on the bottom.
Fenton is the oldest continuously manufactured glass in America. The company began in Ohio in 1905, and produced its first pieces in 1907. Its longevity and success have resulted from its ability to produce a very wide range of products, in short, something for everyone. That tradition continues today, and all major antiques and collectibles price guides cover Fenton in detail.
Carnival glass became popular in the early twentieth century, when pieces often were prizes at carnivals, thus the colloquial name. Because of the company’s long tenure during which it manufactured the ever-popular pieces, dating individual items is difficult without seeing them in person. By examining the amount of wear on the bottom one can get a better picture than merely by seeing a photograph.
That much said, this piece appears to date since 1970, the year the company began using a trademark in the form of an embossed oval with “Fenton” inscripted in the center. The hexagonal shape is particularly popular, as is the purplish blue coloring.
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I think that really SUCKS< Even Thou-The Cem...
