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 Treasures
made of tin
Until World War I, we
were were importing dolls and their accessories from flourishing factories
in Germany. A set of German table, chair and sofa, all of printed tin plate,
is worth £750 today. And if you’re lucky enough to have a similar miniature
grandfather clock (not a working model, note) it’s easily £300.
Tin-plate toys were made
in England, too: the firm of Evans &
Cartwright, Wolverhampton, is a favourite with collectors: one of their four
inch tin ‘walnut’ tables was another £300 item. Look for marks on the back.
Tiny knives, forks and spoons
rarely survive unscathed - a good set, about one inch long and made of tin,
can be worth £60; and wooden hand-painted tea services are around £100.
Value of
the dolls
 The
residents of these miniature households are
worth most if they are still in their original clothes. An early 19th
century ‘china shoulder’ doll with wooden body, china limbs and head, is
£200; if earlier and made of all wood (a ‘peg’ doll) she could be £250.
Perhaps the strangest of
all, and worth £60, are the little figures of
babies in bathtubs: moulded of rigid china, they’re called (don’t ask me
why) ‘frozen Charlottes’.
Previous editions:
Family Treasures - 1
Family Treasures - 2
Family Treasures - 3
Family Treasures - 4
For subsequent editions - see the laterlife
interest index
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