Q: This is a photo of a pottery vase that I bought at a yard sale in the 1970s for $5. It is around 15 inches tall and is decorated with a matte-brown glaze. The leaves and berries are embossed against a ribbed background. On the bottom are the words and numbers "Roseville — U.S.A. — 40 — 15." I don't know anything about antiques and just bought it because I liked it. A friend who collects antiques told me it might be worth more than I paid for it.

I hope you can provide some information about its age, maker and value.

A: George F. Young established Roseville Pottery in Roseville, Ohio, in 1890. He added a new plant in 1898 in Zanesville, Ohio. Although Young started out making utility ware, he quickly saw the rising demand for art pottery. Weller Pottery and J. B. Owens Pottery were introducing their art pottery, and he grasped the opportunity to transition from utility ware to art pottery wares. Young hired established designers and artists and was soon marketing his "Rozane" art pottery. New pottery lines and shapes followed, and the pottery continued to be in demand. Your vase is an example of Roseville's "Bushberry" pattern. It was introduced in 1948. The number "40" is the design number, and "15" is the height. The pattern was available in at least 60 different pieces that included vases, candleholders, pitchers and jardinieres. Bushberry pottery was hand-painted and in green, blue, orange and brown matte-glazed finishes. Roseville Pottery slid into a decline in both design and demand in the late 1940s and closed around 1954.

Your vase is very collectible and would probably fetch $150 to $300 in antiques shops or on the internet.

Q: This mark is on the bottom of an Art Deco porcelain figurine of a female dancer. She has her arms outstretched, has blond hair and is wearing a flowing green gown. One of her feet is on the oval base, and the other foot is raised. The overall height is 12 inches, and the figurine is in mint condition.

What can you tell me about my figurine?

A: Your figurine was made by Porzellanfabrik Hertwig & Co. located in Katzhutte, Thuringia, Germany. It was founded by Christopher Hertwig and Benjamin Beyermann in 1864. When Beyermann left the company in 1869, Hertwig's sons joined the firm. They produced porcelain figurines, gift ware, decorative pieces and doll heads. It was a family-owned company until it was nationalized in 1958, and it closed in 1990.

Your figurine was made around 1930 and might be worth $75 to $150.

Roseville Pottery introduced its "Bushberry" pattern in 1948.

Porzellanfabrik Hertwig & Co. was founded in 1864.

Address your questions to Anne McCollam, P. O. Box 247, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Items of a general interest will be answered in this column. Due to the volume of inquiries, she cannot answer individual letters. To find out more about Anne McCollam and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.