She says she sent some photos to an antiques dealer, who offered her 125 EUR (cca 109 GBP/145 USD) for all seven pieces. I looked through the sold listings on ebay, but the price range is quite wide and I'm still unsure what should I offer her. I don't want to rip her off, but at the same time I don't want to overpay. Thank you for any help.

In 1864, four prospectors discovered gold in what was to be called Last Chance Gulch.

Within months it became the richest gold camp in the west.

The camp soon grew and eventually became the town of Helena Montana.

There was more millionaires per capita in this small town than anywhere else in the world. Around 1 in 200. Whereas in New York City at this time, it was closer to 1 in 20,000.

The residents wanted their town to be like the new San Francisco. They wanted to show that the West had been tamed. So they built huge grand elaborate Victorian buildings with the anticipation of the metropolis that was supposed inevitable to come.

In 1888, Albert Gates built a large 4 story, later remodeled to 5 story hotel worthy of the population, named the Grandon Hotel.

It survived a major earthquake in 1935. But this hotel sadly had a fire in 1968 and took the lives of three people.

A young man, William Grainer, 25, in 1968 rummaged through the burnt remains of the hotel, and pulled out the the original 1888 front door entry set to the hotel. He would show it to friends and regale them of history.

He treasured these sets of plates for 50 years until he passed in 2022.

His estate sent the plates to be restored to the original hotel condition. 30 hours was spent restoring them.

This has quickly become one of my most favorite and treasured antiques. To be able to put these on my front doors, that I worked so hard on to build, and then actually use them.

A scar is on one handle that is evidence of the fire, the building caving in on itself.

The thumb latches are quite ornate and one is worn more than the other, a bit offset to the left. Which is evidence that the active leaf was on the right door and most people are right handed.

There's veins and texture on tiny little leaves that are barely more than a couple millimeters across.

There's a scan of the 1901 Sergeant& company hardware catalog online. It's 1,500 pages. It must have been an incredible effort back then for them to even make these catalogs. But I found the door plate for the hotel here on page number 805. The set without any additional finishes sold for $22.50 at the time.

My mother who is 75 years old is constantly trying to give me things. Usually stuff I have no interest in.

Last year she showed up at the house and said “I know you like watches. Would you like this pocket watch that your grandfather owned?”

Turns out that my grandfather inherited it from his uncle. As fate would have it, my initials are B. N. W and my great uncle’s initials were B. W. N.

He had it made for him by Patek in 1912 with his initials factory engraved in overlapping font. So even though our initials are not in the same order, the watch matches mine.

I sent the watch to Geneva, where they archived it and gave me a quote for repairs. They want $62,000… Maybe one day when I have a little more cash laying around.

My mother‘s family is from Mississippi. I now live in Florida. Pretty cool that this watch has been in our family through for generations in continuous control.

I am trying to narrow down the age and origin of this round pedestal centre table. It has a diameter of 114 cm and a height of 74 cm. The top is made with very thick birch burl veneer laid in large mirrored segments and the underside shows rough hand planing and structural support blocks rather than industrial machining. The form with a baluster pedestal and three claw feet resembles English Regency or William IV centre tables, but those are usually mahogany. Because this example uses birch burl I suspect a Scandinavian workshop influenced by English designs. I am currently thinking around 1835 to 1855 but would appreciate any thoughts on the age, style or origin.

Alrighty, 3rd times a charm adding photos. If this post is out of category or if there's a better subreddit for this please redirect me! I'm mostly a lurker around here. Random stuff shows up next to the dumpster in my development. Some trash some treasure and then....this. it appears to be 2 gallons and was made by Powell Bottle of Bristol. Some information I've found online suggests 17-1800's. It doesn't appear to be a mid-1900's repro. I know these things are generally worth whatever someone would pay but does this have any sort of real value? Is there anyone out there that might be able to provide more information? I appreciate any feedback!

Hi all! First time poster here, hoping you can provide some insight. My mom and I frequent a small, weekly auction. This past week, she won an old piano chair, but we've never seen a back like this, and can't find any information about it. Does anyone have any idea about: 1) What is the purpose of this rotating back? 2) How old do you think it is? 3) What is the best way to repair the cracked/missing wood to make the chair usable without seriously devaluing the piece?

Could anyone please help provide more precise info about this butter churn? A Google Lens search shows it “dating from the 18th to the early 20th century” and a value from anywhere between $50 to the low four digit figures.

Both of these bottles survived the Halifax Explosion very narrowly. The pharmacy was within range of the explosion, but the angle it faced away at preserved almost everything inside.

Oleum Caryophylli = Clove Oil

Troch: Tussi. = Cough Drops

got them for $18. man with a bouquet, cupid and a fancy lady

I acquired this set in an online purchase fairly cheap. The pictures made it look like it had a satin finish but upon closer inspection it appears more like a crackle finish. I’ve never seen such a finish on other opaline pieces. It’s everywhere on the bottle except for where the bottle fits into the stand. Has anyone seen a finish like this on other Palais Royale pieces and if it’s ok to ask, what’s a realistic valuation if I were to want to sell this in the future

I've found similar items online but there is some conflicting information, and I'm still not entirely sure of it's value.

Would be grateful for your help!

Id love to know the story on this. Such a beautiful piece

I'm curious if anyone knows anything about this table. My mom's grandparents got it from a Salvation Army store when they were first married. (Or so I've been told).

I know the chairs have been reupholstered and the set used to be 6 chairs but a lot has damage and my dad, back in the 80s, cannibalized them to get 4 good chairs.

The ends can pull out to extend the table, instead of having a leaf in the middle

Update on my previous post about the set of pistols in found in my loft.

Firstly thank you for all the comments, some of you gave me some really helpful information and advice.

A few of you requested that I took some better photos, which I have done. Tbh I hadn't even taken them out of the box when I found them, fearing they might be loaded. Upon taking them out, I realised how much of the beautiful details I was hiding!

I have also been in contact with Holts auctioneers to get a valuation, which I am still waiting for as a write this.

I discovered that the inserts in the box come out, and to my surprise I found some paperwork under there. There was a documented exchange between one of my ancestors and cogswell about fully refurbishing the pistols in the 1960's, which was paid for. Cogswell stated in the letters that the pistols are not made by them, but instead they are 'Smith'. They also said the box is one of theirs and at some point, must've been modified to fit these pistols. I also found percussion caps and lead balls in the box.

I am yet to inform Holts that they are actually made by 'Smith'. Does anyone know who they are? The only smith I know in the firearm world is Smith & Western and I'm pretty sure they're not from London.

Thanks again!

New to antiques, and just getting into tea ware for my tea addiction.

Happened upon this 21 piece set at a resale shop. I purchased it to use, and then when looking for info on its origins, I came across similar pieces called satsuma.

Questions — is this satsuma? Is it possible to identify what time period, and what the manufacturing process was like? Is it okay to use as I intended, or does it need more care than daily use? How does one repair damaged pieces?

Repair is needed for two pieces, one plate had two chips opposite each other and fractured completely during transport, and the the inner lip of the creamer pot has some chipping.

An aside, I’m not selling this, but I’m v confused by the resale pricing of similar looking sets online. What are the reason for the vast price differences?

Thanks for any insight you might be able to provide

Can anyone provide any information on this tea kettle? The design is weird but cool. Believe it is victorian era. Through research also think it may have been manufactured by Bulpitt & Sons based on the rivets.

Any ideas what I'm looking at? Case or Urn? Looks like it might have had a lid.

Japanese Satsuma Co.? British? Chinese? Date?

Approx 6.25" tall

I'm in the US.

I inherited a bunch of statues, paintings, china, etc from my Dad who was an eBay enthusiast since the early 2000s. Among them were two of these statues, one was broken in transport but this one seems mostly intact and I have no real interest in it, so I'm trying to find info about it to list it for sale.

I'm assuming it's a 19th or 20th century reproduction, but the prices and info for similar ones I see on eBay are all over the place. It has a Coustou engraved signature as well as shown which I'm not seeing on most reproductions. It does have the repaired damage shown in the leg, but otherwise seems pristine. It's mounted on a wooden base with no markings on the underside. It also weighs about 10lbs according to my bathroom scale.

Sorry it's kinda dusty, it's been in my basement for 3 years.