Coffee in fashion long before baristas were everywhere

By Terry Maurer, What's it Worth

Fancy and custom-made coffee may seem like a modern concept, what with a barista working on nearly every corner. But the idea that coffee was a special drink goes back quite a long way.

Today's What's It Worth takes on a fancy coffeemaker/ server that's older than it looks -- and valuable too.

We'll also answer a reader's query about a once-common household accessory that poured another kind of liquid.

Q. We've never been quite sure what this thing is. It looks like a combination coffee maker and server, complete with spigot. The markings include the words "Empress NY S Co., Brooklyn." It's 16 inches tall and the burner unit that sits underneath the "server" part has a patent date of 1895. Any ideas about it? -- Pat in Colfax

A. What you have is a tabletop percolator and coffee server from the early part of the 20th century. These are unusual items; we don't see very many.

It was made by the New York Stamping Company which was located in Brooklyn, N.Y., from just before the turn of the 20th century until, probably, the 1930s. They may well have gone out of business during the Depression -- there is limited information available on the firm.

In additional to a nickel-plated model like yours, they made a unit that featured both copper and plating, in the same size, design and quality. Several other models and sizes, most less ornate than this one, were also available. One we traced to a collector on the East Coast attributed to circa 1913. We'd call this piece "first quarter of the 20th century," for dating.

It looks to be complete and probably works just fine. Technically it is a percolator, with hot water running up from the tank and "percolating" down through the ground coffee. The handles and knobs are Bakelite, an early plastic. That adds to the collectibility.

The serving part of the unit is based on the design of a samovar, developed by the Russians in the 1700s to boil water for tea.

To a serious collector and in its excellent condition, a retail value would be $200 to $250.

Q. I have what looks to be a complete set of items to match this pitcher and bowl. They were in my wife's family going back at least two generations. There are no marks on any piece but nice gold decoration. Is there much interest in these? -- Carl in West Richland

A. While we only show the bowl and pitcher, Carl has a very decorative Victorian era ceramic "toilet set" of eight pieces, all in the same design and decoration.

These sets could have as many as a dozen items. They were part of every late 19th/early 20th century household that didn't have running water. They can date to as early as the mid-19th century, although most surviving examples are from 1880 or later.

Most commonly seen today are the large pitcher (advertised in its day as a "mouth ewer) and bowl. This set also includes the smaller "hot water" pitcher, covered soap dish, shaving mug, slop jar (for waste water) toothbrush holder and chamber pot.

Author and antiques researcher Harry Rinker says these sets were "hot" collectibles in the 1970s and early 1980s. "Collector interest waned in the late 1980s," Rinker says, "as the Country Look became more formal.

Prices fell, but stabilized in the early 1990s" according to Rinker, whose published works include the three-book "Dinnerware of the 20th Century" series. Prices have risen of late. And buyers are willing to pay a premium if the wash pitcher and bowl are accompanied by additional matching pieces.

This set has simple decoration but extensive gold embellishment, which adds to the value. Also, the condition is excellent, with no chips, cracks or crazing. That increases value too.

At a top end show or shop, this set would command about $600.

In Passing

Tri-Cities native and longtime antiques dealer John Hall died earlier this month. He started his home-based business in the mid-1960s and was well-known for buying trips to England, the American South and the East Coast. Many of his sales were to local and regional dealers and antiques that passed through John's hands will turn up for years to come. He will be missed.

w Terry Maurer, a Tri-Cities personal property appraiser and antique dealer, is a member of the Certified Appraisers Guild of America. You may submit your antiques and collectible questions to What's It Worth by e-mail to whatsit worth@clearwire.net

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Sunday, May. 17, 2009

Coffee in fashion long before baristas were everywhere

By Terry Maurer, What's it Worth