Antiques & Collecting: Colorful decorations on mocha mugs

To a pottery collector, a mocha mug isn’t meant for a coffee drink. Mocha is a type of decorated earthenware pottery made in England and sold in America in the early 1800s.

Mocha pottery, or mocha ware, is usually utilitarian; pieces were originally used in the kitchen or during meals. It has colorful decorations painted in a slip glaze made from clay thinned with water to a liquid consistency. The decorations are usually painted over white glaze.

Traditional patterns have descriptive names, like “banded,” “checked” and “marbled,” or repeated “tulip,” “fan,” “seaweed,” “dendrite” or “leaf” motifs.

Others have less obvious names, like “cat’s-eye,” which consists of clusters of dots, and “earthworm,” or thick, mottled lines in waves or loops.

This mug, which was made about 1800 and sold for $375 at Link Auction Galleries, has earthworm and cat’s-eye patterns in its center section, with a green and brown banded top border and brown banded lower border.

The name “mocha” may come from some patterns’ resemblance to mocha stone, another name for moss agate, an opaque multicolor semiprecious stone. Mocha pottery may also be named for the coffee-colored glaze that appears in many designs.

When my father was ill in 1939, he received a letter from Jack Dempsey wishing him “a speedy recovery.” The letter was typed on his restaurant’s stationery and signed in ink. What is it worth?

Jack Dempsey (1895-1983) was an American boxer who was the world heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926. He opened his restaurant near Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1938. It closed in 1974.

The value of an autograph is determined by the importance of the signer, rarity, condition and proof of authenticity. Signatures on letters are worth more than an autograph by itself.

A handwritten letter is worth more than a typed letter with a handwritten signature. The content of the letter also affects the value.

The letter must be seen by an expert to authenticate it. Contact an auction house or gallery that holds sales of autographs to see what it is worth.

Tip: Never display bottles with labels in a sunny window. The labels will fade.

Current Prices

Bank, still, figural, oil tanker, painted red, coin slot in back, pressed steel, wood wheels, Wyandotte, 1930s, 2 1/4 x 6 1/4 inches, $70.

Iron doorstop, figural, owl, perched on stump, leaves, berries, green eyes, ear tufts, Hubley, 10 inches, $240.

Wristwatch, Longine, automatic, gold filled, gold dial, bar indices, date window, black pebbled leather band, $320.

Display, toy, Klik-Klak Blox, red, yellow and blue, toy sample attached to front, “For Girls For Boys For Fun” on sides, electric, 18 inches, $540.