Antiques Detective Answers Readers’ Questions, November 6, 2021

An antique copper candy cauldron.

A question about copper pots: My great-grandparents came to America in the late 19th century. My great-grandfather was a candy maker in Greece and continued making candy in America.

This copper pot that he supposedly used has been handed down in the family. I plan to keep it as a family heirloom.

I think it was made in America around 1890. It has cast-iron handles and is very heavy. It measures 17 inches in diameter and is 8 inches high. It is in good condition, considering its age.

What can you tell me about it and its value?

B.G., Evanston, Illinois

Answer: From your information and photo, it appears you have an American, copper, candy cauldron made around the late 19th century.

Such pieces are rare, and a copper collector could pay as much as $700 for it.

An antique cocoa tin.

On the value of cocoa tins: I found this old cocoa tin box in my late mother's sewing box. She used it to hold needles and thimbles. It is in good condition and measures about 2 inches tall. The Dutch couple are depicted on the front and other sides have a coat of arms and gold medals.

I plan to keep it, but does it have any value?

B.G., Evanston, Illinois

Answer: Historically, collector interest began in the 1960s, when small grocery stores and drug stores closed to make way for supermarkets. Tins were tossed.

Unusual examples were rediscovered by collectors at flea markets and basements for $1. They became reinvented as decorative accessories in offices and were used for other purposes. By the mid-1970s, reproductions of many appeared.

Currently your authentic tin is priced at over $100 on eBay sources. There is a price guide on the subject.

A Bakelite vanity set including a hand mirror and hairbrush.

An antique vanity set: This hand mirror and hairbrush belonged to my late grandmother. I found them in her dresser drawer after she passed on. Since I plan to keep them, I would like to know what they are made of, their age and any value. The brush is 10 inches long and the mirror is about 6 inches by 14 inches.

B.G., Evanston, Illinois

Answer: You have part of what is known as a "vanity set." It is done in the art deco style (1920s-1930s).

Historically, such sets were first introduced in the 18th century and were known as "toilet services," and contained as many as 30 pieces. By the 19th century, they were made of silver and the small boxes for powders were of glass. By the early 20th century, celluloid and Bakelite sets were popular.

Your items are made of Bakelite. Their retail value could be $50 or more.

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Weekly recap of your favorite B section columns, recipes and kids’ content.

Collecting old laundry items seriously began 10 years ago. Items were bargain-priced. These days, prices depend on where you find them.

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Are you confused when you spot a piece of silver that looks Japanese, Egyptian or Islamic, but is signed by such American silversmiths as Tiffany or Gorham? Back in the 1870s and 1880s, the designs, techniques and influences from Japan, the Middle East and archeological Egypt were in fashion with furniture and decorative arts.

When it comes to Oriental rugs, knowing the ins and outs of pillars, saddles, kilims and pictorials can go a long way to determining your antique rug's worth.

These humble antique wood boxes made in 18th-century America may seem simple and quaint, but they can be surprisingly valuable.

Nineteenth-century mourning art depicted graveside monuments, lilies and mourning women and is considered highly collectable.

Anne Gilbert is a private consultant doing antiques appraisals for a fee. She can be reached at 1811 Renaissance Commons Blvd., Unit 2310, Boynton Beach, FL 33426.