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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: greenacres on March 06, 2013, 04:13:58 PM
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I went to the museum today with my mug. Good news to report. The mug is real! She agreed with me with the time period. It's around 1840. Claire, (the curator), asked if she could keep the mug for 3 months to do further research. She made connections before I came. One was "The Mercer Museum, which is amazing, I've been there.
http://www.mercermuseum.org/ There was somewhere else, but I can't remember. Claire she had many other places she wanted to check. As far as an appraisal, she could not give me one. They don't have one at the museum. However she did give me three places to contact for appraisers that will really research and then give you the value. Haym Solomon is so rare they only have 3 or 4 items at the museum. He was George Washington's financier. His picture was never taken, but they have his signature. Claire said there is a huge upswing in interest of "Haym Solomon". They just built a statue of him in Chicago. Claire told me she would keep me up to date. What do you think the mug is worth now? Just curious as to your thoughts.
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1840 isn't that early, but it's the connection with that alley and Solomon, so potentially several thousand.
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Claire gave a little more history that I'll read tonight. She'll tell me more when she knows more.
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She also stated that it was definitely after due to the term "Unsung Heroes". Originally the houses were 1 thru 17, and as soon as we figure out when the address change occured that will help date the mug better. House 17 was 139 Elferth's Alley. By the way I told her about all of you :), and how we dicussed the mug.
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pls give the rest of us a recap on this, I can't find the original post at this point.
YEA for you!!
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Has it been a week already....how time flies...gawd..I,m a week older....
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She also stated that it was definitely after due to the term "Unsung Heroes". Originally the houses were 1 thru 17, and as soon as we figure out when the address change occured that will help date the mug better. House 17 was 139 Elferth's Alley. By the way I told her about all of you :), and how we dicussed the mug.
I'm surprised they don't know that already. Can't be that difficult to ascertain with access to hard copies of records.
You should also ask if she has any experience with pottery and if she's seen something made in that manner from that time period. I haven't.
Really hope it's early because it would be one of those moments - mostly why we're all interested in antiques.
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Did you check out Mercer Museum? They are one of the foremost in the field, and "The Pennsylvania ? Society". Shoot I should have wrote it down. She has other people she needs to contact. Haym Solomon died in 1785. It not that far off. I'll check from the other name she gave me. This is a very prestigious museum. I'm not concerned about her contacts.
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http://www.antique-shop.com/forums/index.php?topic=7929.0
Here sugarcube5419
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WAY COOL--so very interesting--glad for you. Keep us updated---
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Thank you sugarcube5419! :) It's like a good novel and you can't wait to find out the end. Ipcress this is for you. This is the second place she told me about. http://www.psupress.org/books/titles/978-0-271-05240-3.html .
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America didn't sign a peace treaty until 1815 England.
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Nice progress so far , greenacres !
As to $ value .... well , certainly more than you paid for it !!!
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You re so right fancypants! The worst thing is I understand the plight of the museum. I can see what I think Claire would like. My MUG! lol ;D They have so few items on him. I think she would like me to donate it. The history is so overwhelming once your put in this situation. I'm waiting to learn more. The paper I signed was a receipt for "inspection of prospective donation". She crossed that out for me, and whispered it slightly as we spoke. It's for 3 months. It's being stored with other exhibits. Claire is a lovely women, and was very helpful. I trust her judgment.
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Fascinating!!!!! Keep the new coming!!!
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I workout with the same trainer for 15 years. Her father owns an antique shop. He told her that he might know someone in New York that would like it. She says he also does appraisals. I wouldn'thurt her feelings. I'm using the museums appraisers they referred. I told her I don't know what I'm doing yet! Boy I'm glad I decided to lend it to the museum for three months. She asked for photos. I did send them, but that's because she's a friend.
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P.S. You all will be the second to know! ;D My husband comes first! ;D
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Congratulations GA!!! That is absolutely wonderful! I'm so glad that yours is authentic! That's VERY exciting! Remind me again where you got it?
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If my old memory is serving me well.was it not in a wall??..of a house....or am i barking up the wrong tree..
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You are correct Bigwull. It was found by a person who was close to my father in law. This person gave it to him as a gift. It sat in my mother in laws china cabinet all these years. My husband says he remembers it as a small child. I don't think that anyone realized what it was. My mother in law ,being 87, decided she wanted to give some things away now. She gave me the mug because she knew I would really appreciate it. I told her I was going to look in to it. She is too cute! I haven't told her anything yet because I want to surprise her. I have something in mind. If I decide to loan it to the museum, I would do it in honor of my husband's father. Then, surprise her and take her to the museum. Will see what happens, but Thanks Tales.
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That would be a wonderful gesture.....and it brings to mind..a memory..of something i did many years ago...but it had the adverse effect..and the person to whom i did it...was my late mother....many years ago I had given my mother a pair of watercolours..they were of a seascapes nicely framed...i,d picked them up for a paltry amount of money..
fast forward 15 years.....whilst browsing the net..i discovered that those two watercolours were quite valuable.....I told my mother what they were worth...fast forward 2 weeks. i went to visit my mother,and whilst there noticed that the paintings were not in their usual place...when i asked where they were she replied..."Oh they are too valuable to hang on the wall, they might get damaged...or someone might steal them....I,ve got them hidden away"....after she died in 2006...i found these 2 paintings locked in a chest hidden away in the attic...where they had lain for 20 years....therefore donating the mug to the museum might be the best thing to do..
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Part of it to is the importance of the mug to the museum and of the history of Jewish people to this country. Like I told Ipcress many people are unaware that Jewish people fought for America during the Revolution and supported George Washington. They have so few things that document this. The mug says it all. Maybe more people need to know this. It's truly important.
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Part of it to is the importance of the mug to the museum and of the history of Jewish people to this country. Like I told Ipcress many people are unaware that Jewish people fought for America during the Revolution and supported George Washington. They have so few things that document this. The mug says it all. Maybe more people need to know this. It's truly important.
greenacres, that says it all. Something $$ could never buy....... knowledge and an expanded appreciation for the generations before who made our countries what they are. Priceless
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Yes, sapphire, I would have never know this story without the mug. I asked the curator if she thought it was left there for that reason. They wanted someone in the future to find it. Claire wasn't sure about that. Since they such few items from Haym Solomon this would be something that they would really like to have. He has become very important in the last several years. History such a wonderful thing. I wished everyone saw the importance of old things. My mother in law met an old friend in the elevator the other day, and her friend was telling her she wanted her grandchildren to come over and take some of her antiques now. They didn't want them. They probably think it's junk. When the women got off at her floor the gentleman in the elevator says " the kids must be stupid because her things could be of value if they are antiques!" This is the problem today. In a way it's disrespectful.
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Well, it could very well be that the folks are downsizing in preparation to move into a retirement home. My grandparents had the attitude that they would much rather gift family heirlooms to their children and grandchildren while they were alive so that they could enjoy giving it to them and ensure that the story with the items were passed along.
That will be such a neat surprise! It would be fun if you didn't tell her anything, just arrange a museum outing for the two of you, then let her spot the mug! ;D
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Tales I'm hoping that's how it works. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
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Tell us all about it afterward!!!
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I absolutely will. :)
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What an exciting way to preserve the past and present it to her!
A pic would also be grand with her standing by the display!!! Document this wonderful journey!!!
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Perfect KC! Great idea!