Antiques & Collecting: Grape art

Fall is traditionally a time for harvest, and grapes are one of the fruits frequently picked in early October. Since they were cultivated during the Neolithic era, grapes have been granted many symbolic meanings, from power and divinity to life and health, hospitality, sacrifice, celebration and indulgence.

No matter what they might represent, grapes are something good to eat or a source for a tasty drink, so it’s no wonder they often appear in decorative arts, especially tableware.

This glass pitcher, decorated with gilt and colorful enameled grapevines, was probably made as a decorative piece. It sold for $1,140 at a Morphy auction.

It was made about 1895 by Moser, one of the most famous Bohemian glassmakers of the 19th and 20th centuries; the company is still active today in the Czech Republic.

Ludwig Moser, who founded the company about 1857, started work as a glass engraver. His company is best known for its enameled glass, and this pitcher is an excellent example. But underneath the enamel, the glass has a coloring called rubina verde, shaded red and green.

I have a question on a coffee set, which belonged to my grandmother, who was born in 1884. I am confused because this set has four larger serving pieces, including a coffee pourer and creamer. All of these items have the Ceramic Art mark — per your guide, says Belleek, 1906-1924. The set also has six cups and saucers, which are marked “J.P.L France.” Again, per your guide, 1842-1898. The pattern of all, however, appears to be identical to me, and I haven’t been able to find it anywhere.

That is an interesting question; you don’t often see a complete set of dishes with marks from different makers. The J.P.L. mark was used in Limoges, France, from the late 1800s to about 1932.

It is unlikely that Ceramic Art and Limoges made the same pattern, but they did have something in common: They both made blanks to be decorated at other factories or by hobbyists at home. This may be the case for your coffee set.

Professional decorators would sign the pieces they painted, usually with their initials. If yours aren’t signed, they may have been decorated by an amateur, making your set truly one of a kind.

Tip: If you have valuable old glass, you should keep it in a safe environment. It should be stored or displayed where there is some air movement to dry off the surface. Glass bottles and containers should be stored with the lids and stoppers open.

Current Prices

Toy, tractor, John Deere, Model 730, diesel, green, box, collector’s coin, Precision Classics, 6 x 9 inches, $60.

Store, sign, soda fountain, Bon Bons, gold leaf lettering, black ground, reverse painted, wood frame, Long Island, N.Y., 9 x 40 inches, $1,260.

Window, leaded, bull’s-eyes, oak frame, 1800s, 32 x 19 inches, two pairs, $1,510.