In the unsanitary world of the 18th and 19th century, bad smells were everywhere. There was no garbage pickup, no indoor flushing toilets and no refrigeration to keep food from spoiling.
In the 1800s, a special lamp was used to remove the strong odors in hospitals and mortuaries. It was a catalytic lamp that burned an alcohol-based fuel. A cotton wick burned for a few minutes to heat a stone. After the flame was out, the heated stone turned odors into carbon dioxide and water.
In 1897, a Frenchman improved the lamp by adding perfume to the fuel to make a scented room. Many lamps were made in figural shapes suitable for a living room or bedroom.
Today, perfume lamps heat with electricity. The best 20th-century perfume lamps were made by French makers Robj, Aladin or Etling.
A perfume lamp shaped like an Art Deco chorus girl sold at a Skinner auction in 2015, in Boston for $1,968. The 10-inch lamp was marked "Meu Bach Aladin."
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Q: Vintage sofas are much lower priced than new ones. I like Victorian sofas with curved backs but don't want to learn my bargain sofa has a problem I can't fix.
A: If you want a 19th-century sofa you should buy from a knowledgeable dealer. So little of the frame shows, and it is difficult to tell a 19th-century sofa from an early 20th-century one. We once told the boss at a house sale that we would pay the asking price for a sofa if we could slit the back upholstery to be sure the frame was old. The marks from old tools said it was old, and we bought it. Smell any old upholstered furniture. Often, the smell will not leave. Decide if the upholstery is a color and condition you want to live with. Re-upholstering furniture is very expensive. Sit on the sofa to be sure it is comfortable. Some seats are low, bumpy, too narrow or much harder than most modern pieces. Some of that can be fixed with decorative pillows. Be sure you can get it in your van or car. If you want to use it in a basement or second-floor room, the stairs may have too low a ceiling or a turn that makes it impossible to take it inside. But if all looks OK, you will have a sturdy bargain.
Q: I'd like some information about an iron lamp marked "Goberg."
A: "Goberg" was made by Hugo Berger in Schmalkalden, Germany, beginning in 1895. He was part of the Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) movement in Germany. Candelabras, lamps and other decorative objects were made in iron and brass. Some pieces were covered with varnish to prevent rust. Most Goberg items were sold in department stores in Europe.
Q: I have some of Russel Wright olive-green glazed dinnerware, including large platters. I'd like to sell them. Is there a market for these? Where can I sell them and what price range would they sell for?
A: Russel Wright (1904-1976) was an American designer of domestic and industrial wares, including dinnerware, glassware, furniture, radios and interiors. He made several dinnerware patterns in modern shapes for different manufacturers. The most popular is his first line, American Modern, which was made by Steubenville Pottery Co. from 1939 until 1959. It was made in several solid colors. Matching glassware and linens also were made. Sets of dinnerware are hard to sell. First, you should find which pattern you have. Check to see what pieces are selling for online. Serving pieces sell for more than plates or cups and saucers. A perfect platter could be worth about $50 and a dinner plate $5, depending on the color.
Q: My childhood teddy bear is, I am told, a Steiff and valuable. What determines the price?
A: Some Steiff teddy bears sell for thousands of dollars, but many things influence the price. A real Steiff should have a button in the ear that says Steiff. The high-priced bears are old and have mohair fabric in a rare color. White, lavender, black or red is best. Older bears are stuffed with straw, kapok, excelsior or sawdust, not polyester. Any nylon or plastic part suggests a newer bear, worth a lower price. Very large and very small bears are expensive. "Well-loved" (tattered) bears used to be OK, but now collectors want toys in almost perfect condition.
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Q: We've just been given a set of silverware that we were told is 100-plus years old. It belonged to a friend of my husband's grandmother who gave it to his mother about 1910. It's a service for eight and pieces are marked "Lake Betty Silver Plate" on the backs. All in excellent condition in a leather, velvet-lined case. We are wondering if the set has any value, other than sentimental.
A: Your silver-plated flatware is not as old as you think it is. The pattern name is Lady Betty and was introduced by International Silver Co. of Meriden, Connecticut, in 1940. The company was formed when some independent silver makers merged in 1898. Silver plating by electricity began (in the U.S.) in 1847, earlier in England. By the 1880s, more than 40 firms, mostly centered near Meriden, made simple to elaborate silver-plated tableware until the 1980s. Silver-plated items generally have a modest value unless they are either very fancy or very rare. Your flatware is not worth much-under $100 - and places that buy silver to melt are looking for sterling silver, not silver plate.
Tip: Gold and silver trim on glass or ceramics will eventually wash off if cleaned in a dishwasher. Gold- and silver-trimmed glassware and ceramics should never be put in a microwave. The metallic glaze will cause electric arcing and could start a fire.
For more information about antiques and collectibles and free price information, visit Kovel's website, www.kovels.com
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