May 2015

Antiques With Gary DonFeatures

I would like to thank you all for the great response I have had to this valuation section. I do respond to everyone through this column, some items taking a little more research than others but all will be answered when I have the relevant information. Please keep sending them in. You never know what might be discovered!

Dear Pam

Your figure of Winston Churchill (1874-1965), twice Prime Minister and a wonderful artist and writer, is by Bovey Pottery Devon and made in the 1940’s.

It is part of a series of 19 ‘Our Gang’ figures designed by Gwyneth Jolt and Fenton Wyness.

I have come across several others over the years but have never had a complete set. Other figures I have sold from the set are – A Nurse,  Pilot, ARP (air precaution warden), Land Girl, various Soldiers, G.I. Joe, Scottie Highlander, Officer, Tommy and Anzac Service Man.

The rarest one of all is Franklin D Roosevelt which can sell for several hundred pounds. Winston Churchill is the most common as more pieces were sold of that figure than the others. They usually sell at auction between £35-55.

If you are looking for an exciting project in the future, you could visit all the fairs and auction rooms and see if you could find all 19 figures. That would be a very desirable collection!

Dear Kirsty,

Thank you for your email. The Buddhas are based on the three wise monkeys, “see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil”. The origin of the monkeys  is believed to come from Japan, during the Moromachi period and part of a folk religion called Koshin. This belief is basically “by behaving well, you will stay well”. 

Although you say they are made of resin, they are probably made of latex and fibre glass. They are made as garden ornaments and I have seen at identical set  online for buy it now at £150.

I hope that helps and that your statues bring you enlightenment and good luck.

Dear reader,

This is a really fine English pocket globe and quite rare to find in such good condition.

It may be by George Adams and is from the 18th century. It has twelve engraved gores and two polar calottes and is hand coloured. It is contained in its original wooden case.  It has everything going for it!

I have sold similar globes in the past in poorer condition between £2000-3000. I will stick my neck out on this occasion and suggest it may sell for between £4500-5000 because of its wonderful condition.

Dear Gill,

Thank you for your email enquiring about the value of your Levi jacket. You have not sent us an image, but I will tell you what to look for in dating and valuing Levi jeans and jackets.

The image I have put up is a rare 1940’s First Edition 506XX Levi jacket. Some have been sold in specialist shops for £500 – 1000, and there is one on offer on the internet for £1200. Whether it actually sells is another matter. The second image is a Levi XS from the 1960’s offered on the net for £250.

There are many vintage Levi jackets and jeans on the market today, ranging from £30 – 1500 and a great deal of interest is created in them thanks to the popularity of movie stars such as John Wayne, Marlon Brando and James Dean. The highest price asked was on an American site where they were asking $8000 for a Levi jacket!

In valuing your jacket, here are a few pointers to look for- 

Dark denim is worth more than faded denim.

A big ‘E’ on the tab is worth more than a little ‘e’.

Selvage edges on a jean’s inside cuff is an indicator of higher value.

A leather patch is worth more than a paper patch on the back of the jeans. 

A good tip is to look for concealed copper rivets.

Unworn items with tags are considered the best.

Size is important – waist measurements of 32” – 36” and length of 30” – 32” will sell the easiest.

Here are the facts about how to determine the age of your Levi jacket –

If the jacket has two hand warmer pockets, it will date from the mid 1980’s to the present. It will also then have four pockets and a small e tab.

If your jacket doesn’t have hand warmer pockets, but still has the small e red tab, then it dates from 1971 till the mid 1980’s. It will also have a double row stitching adjacent to the buttonhole.

Jackets from the 1960’s to 1971 will have 2 chest pockets, small e on the tab, orange stitching and single row stitching adjacent to the buttonhole.

The big ‘E’ (Type III) is from the 1950’s – 1971. They have only two chest pockets and are sometimes blanket lined.

The big ‘E’ (Type II) has vertical pleats on the front adjacent to the buttons. It has a straight pocket flap instead of a pointed one. These date from the 1940’s to late 50’s.

The First Edition (Type 1) with the Lot number 506XX date before the 1940’s and has a pleated front and a single breast left side pocket.  The earliest versions didn’t have a pocket flap, which was added later. 

You may be sat on a treasure trove! It is often the items that you think are worthless that can turn out to be the most valuable.

Not sure? Then send an email to antiques@yorkshirereporter.co.uk. I will answer everyone.

Look forward to valuing for you

Gary Don

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