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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: gg27 on December 20, 2013, 03:43:20 PM

Title: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: gg27 on December 20, 2013, 03:43:20 PM
Hi All!!
My turn to ask for help.  I am having a hard time trying to put a selling price on this light fixture.  All the vaseline shades are in perfect condition, the light itself has all original parts, but it has been rewired to Canadian standards & has it's little certification tag. I am on the West Coast of Canada.   Thanks in advance for any help!!  Merry Christmas to all, Gabriola Girl aka GG27.
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: bigwull on December 20, 2013, 03:46:42 PM
How much of your corn has this light fitting eaten...that,s what it all boils down to...
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: gg27 on December 20, 2013, 03:53:38 PM
How much of your corn has this light fitting eaten...that,s what it all boils down to...
The problem Wullie, is that we bought it about 20 years ago & we don't know what the market is like for these.  GG
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: bigwull on December 20, 2013, 04:00:41 PM
Wel,let me just say....its not my cup of tea...but Avril loves it....I showed her the pic and then asked her opinion and after saying that she really liked it, i asked her, how much she,d pay for it if it was for sale, ...and she said she,d be prepared to pay up to £150....which is around $250...i nearly choked when she said that... ;D
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: gg27 on December 20, 2013, 04:16:39 PM
Wel,let me just say....its not my cup of tea...but Avril loves it....I showed her the pic and then asked her opinion and after saying that she really liked it, i asked her, how much she,d pay for it if it was for sale, ...and she said she,d be prepared to pay up to £150....which is around $250...i nearly choked when she said that... ;D
Tell Avril, thank you.  But I know the shipping cost would kill you!!  ;D
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: bigwull on December 20, 2013, 06:25:31 PM
Tell me about it...i was quoted £50 ...or $80 for a small package weighing 2.5lbs....with a value of £20...going to America...over here things are arse to elbow...I recently sent a model boat,..crate size 5ft x 2ft x 2ft,weighing 50kg,....to America,..via FedEx ....which cost the buyer £125 or $200....yet our Post O,want $80 for a 2.5lb parcel.....FedEx can,t do it as it is a gun part,....
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: mart on December 20, 2013, 06:41:09 PM
Have you checked it with a black light ??  Wouldn`t think there would be much difference in the wiring but don`t know what their residential system is ??
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: sugarcube5419 on December 20, 2013, 06:42:26 PM
I was at the post office today--in MN--some lady was mailing home made cookies to Hawaii---her cookies cost her 75.00 to ship.

I told her next year send them money--in a card.

Postage is crazy stupid expensive
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: gg27 on December 20, 2013, 06:54:01 PM
Have you checked it with a black light ??  Wouldn`t think there would be much difference in the wiring but don`t know what their residential system is ??
I'm not sure what I'm checking with a black light?  The shades are original vaseline shades verified by Vintage Lighting & rewired by them.  I was pretty sure that Wullie was kidding about the offer.  I can get $250+ here without all the bother of packing it up.  I just wondered if anyone had any idea of value these days.  The only 2 I could find on the net, one was $2250 & sold & the other was $7950.  I was hoping to get something less than the first one, but I wanted some perspective as I haven't sold lighting for a number of years.  :)  GG
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: Rauville on December 20, 2013, 07:12:17 PM
Did you purchase the fixture as shown, or did you have it restored and polished? The only reason I ask (and Frogpatch would know) are those "screw on UNO shade fitters". Most old fixtures that I've dealt with have the "bell fitters" that mount on top of and cover the socket, rather than screwed on the bottom.

That said, it's a nice looking piece...and I would think $250 would be a fair price.

(Sugarcube5419: We just received a card from my Aunt in your hometown. The way we handle our gifting is that she gives us Omaha Steaks...and we give her a Schwan's gift card. Problem solved on going to the PO! :D)
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: sugarcube5419 on December 20, 2013, 07:23:48 PM
Rauville--  I thought sure you were going to say she gives you a gift card for hormel spam@!

Say hello to the teacher.  Merry Christmas to you and yours...
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: mart on December 20, 2013, 07:25:33 PM
Vaseline glass will glow under black light !!  That would make a sizable difference in the price !! Wendy has a collection of Vaseline glass and she would be more likely to give an accurate value !!
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: gg27 on December 20, 2013, 07:28:44 PM
That style of fitter is pretty typical for here, with the open top shades (I think they are 3 1/2" fitters) you couldn't have a bell fitter.  It was only rewired, not restored or polished.  As those shades sell for around $100 each on Ebay, I afraid that $250 just isn't worth selling it.  I will hang it in the office.  Thanks for the help.  Cheers! GG
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: gg27 on December 20, 2013, 07:30:18 PM
Vaseline glass will glow under black light !!  That would make a sizable difference in the price !! Wendy has a collection of Vaseline glass and she would be more likely to give an accurate value !!
That's why I was confused, they are verified as Vaseline glass, Vintage lighting did that.  GG
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: mart on December 20, 2013, 07:39:30 PM
If it were me,, I would check it myself !! If you sell it without that,, you are taking someone else`s word for it !! You personally can`t say that it is Vaseline glass,,just that you were told it was !!  But that's just me !!  I don`t do it because it comes back on me if there is a problem,, not the lighting company !!
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: gg27 on December 20, 2013, 07:45:18 PM
If it were me,, I would check it myself !! If you sell it without that,, you are taking someone else`s word for it !! You personally can`t say that it is Vaseline glass,,just that you were told it was !!  But that's just me !!  I don`t do it because it comes back on me if there is a problem,, not the lighting company !!
At this point I won't be selling it, so won't matter.  But I will make sure before I sell it.  Thanks for the advice.  Cheers, GG
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: mart on December 20, 2013, 07:49:33 PM
Get Wendy`s opinion on it as far as value !! She knows much more about Vaseline glass than I do !! Then decide which way to go with it !!
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: Ipcress on December 21, 2013, 09:51:03 AM
That style of fitter is pretty typical for here, with the open top shades (I think they are 3 1/2" fitters) you couldn't have a bell fitter.  It was only rewired, not restored or polished.  As those shades sell for around $100 each on Ebay, I afraid that $250 just isn't worth selling it.  I will hang it in the office.  Thanks for the help.  Cheers! GG

Has a nice Benson look to it. I'd have no problems cataloguing it for auction at £200-300
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: frogpatch on December 21, 2013, 03:35:44 PM
I am in agreement with Ipcress on this one. In the New York area at a good auction house. I would expect to see around 500.00 if there is no signatures etched on the rims of those shades.I did not have time to read every  post but if you have not looked closely I would. They look like they may be important to me. The fitters and everything look perfect from here. I really like it.
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: Rauville on December 21, 2013, 04:08:54 PM
I would suggest perhaps Phoenix Glass Company as the maker of the shades. They were producing opalescent glass in different colors and designs in the early 1900's.

http://www.urbanremainschicago.com/original-antique-american-victorian-white-stripe-opalescent-swirl-art-glass-ceiing-fixture-shade.html (http://www.urbanremainschicago.com/original-antique-american-victorian-white-stripe-opalescent-swirl-art-glass-ceiing-fixture-shade.html)
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: Ipcress on December 21, 2013, 04:33:33 PM
Yes. There's two markets for this - light fittings and glass. The latter looks good quality but also the design of the brass fittings. Be surprised if the light didn't have a mark somewhere.

It's a really nice example.
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: gg27 on December 21, 2013, 07:49:10 PM
Unfortunately there are no signatures on either the shades or the fixture, I have gone over it with a loupe.   The shades glow green under a black light, so they are as they were said to be.
 
Don't click on this link if you are faint of heart.  This shop is in Vancouver & as you can see quite a few of the fixtures have reproduction shades.  Perhaps we should start importing fixtures if the prices some are quoting are correct!  ;) ;) :) :)  GG
www.renewgallery.com/ (http://www.renewgallery.com/)
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: KC on December 21, 2013, 11:45:12 PM
Love these swirl vaseline glass pieces!!!!  Gorgeous and getting harder/harder to come by!!!

Nice piece!

Would easily sell for over $500 in our area (if all is original and immaculate shape) and is truly vaseline glass bell globes!  I would hold off for a true evaluation as well!

Love how vaseline glass GLOWS!!!!
Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: cogar on December 22, 2013, 07:01:28 AM
The globes are where the money is because they will fit on a variety of different light fixtures. 

Like this one, to wit:

(http://image0-rubylane.s3.amazonaws.com/shops/tolw/TOLW861.1L.jpg?64)

IMHO, your ceiling fixture would be hard to sell without those globes. And if it was sold “as is”, there is a good chance the buyer is only wanting the globes.

Title: Re: Value for Vaseline Glass light fixture
Post by: KC on December 22, 2013, 09:45:11 AM
Believe that "most likely" they will be buying for the globes....but there are so many "blast to the past" people out there that are going for that look as well.  Especially in an area where they are re-lifing historical neighborhoods!!!