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Early is perhaps subjective- There's little available that's truly antique as far as NA jewelry goes, considering the first development of silver work was in the late 1860s, and extremely little was made until the 1880s. To get a piece that is pre-1900 is once a year at most, at least at a price I can buy it for myself or to resell anyways. The vast majority of NA jewelry is post-1920, with significant increases in production in 1940s, and post-1960s with respective tourist booms.

I can dig out some photos of personal pieces later, but can offer some tidbits of information I've always found fascinating. My biggest love is the Ketoh, one of the only items where it was a type of object actually used prior to the adoption of silversmithing among NA tribes. They're leather bowguards adorned with a plate of silver over the top half, the earliest (1880s) ones being tufa-cast and most post-1900 being wrought sheets with heavy stampwork and repousse. They didn't sell at all with tourists, so most of them were melted down to make more popular items as well as reworked into box lids. They're incredibly scarce now.

I highly, highly recommend reading the book "The Navajo and Pueblo Silversmiths" by John Adair. It was written in the 1930s and sources much information from 19th century bureau of ethnography reports. It's also easy to find and usually under $10-20 for the new edition.

Edit: Here's one example that is in another collectors hands now, a ca. 1895-1900 Navajo cuff.

While I regularly use a Sunbeam T-35 toaster from ~1965, something as old as yours would cause me some concern. If all the wiring and plugs looked to be in excellent condition, I would test it out and.. maybe. put it into limited service, but not just with a breaker, with a GFCI. Either a protected outlet, or an unit like this (Deluxe GFCI power bars also exist and could be useful for other purposes, if you want to splurge.)

Now you need to pick up a fat boy, pretty much the best ones they ever made and the one I use every day. Also I strongly suggest using Feather Blades, they're amazing.

I suspect it's an imitation if these two Dale Tiffany lamps: https://www.daletiffanylightinglights.com/product/dale-tiffany-amber-and-green-duck-table-lamps-ta10893.html https://www.amazon.com/Meyda-Glass-Accent-Dale-Tiffany/dp/B000N1OFX4

This one is inspired by the above lamp, but the head isn't angled up like mine: https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-STYLE-DESK-AMBER-GLASS-DUCK-MALLARD-BRASS-NIGHT-LAMP-TIFFANY-STYLE-GR/173464570068?hash=item28634b48d4:g:7lEAAOSwatda0lEN

This one has a raised head, but different shell: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tiffany-Style-Duck-Lamp-stained-glass-/153017225247

I'm pretty sure the body isn't brass, but maybe carved stone? Is it difficult to carve cast iron? It's fairly heavy.

I'd really like to know what mine is, but it has no markings on it. Thanks for any leads!

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Here's a link to an Amazon listing for an original coupon from the store (safe bet that it's the same, same business name advertises six stores in the NY area). Seller is asking $14.

If you just want them off your hands, you could contact that seller and see if they're interested in selling them as a packaged deal, and they could reimburse you for shipping.

If you have more patience and/or time and want to attempt to sell them, list them on Amazon or Ebay for maybe $8 to $10 plus shipping. You would probably get a buyer eventually. You could also contact local pawn shops or antique dealers who may buy them, or check your local small town news classified ads, there are frequently ads from collectors looking to purchase items.

Last resort maybe donate them to your local historical society? Please don't throw them in the trash though, these are cool!

Edit: Here is the link for real sorry
https://www.amazon.com/Ehrlich-Eyesight-Salvation-Professional-Discount/dp/B0186UVTTQ

Here's a quick read on what you should have in your personal files, notify your policy holder of, and check for in your coverage on the type of value they'd use (actual cash value or replacement value).

The company that produced your property has produced a catalog of their works if you wanted to dig deep....

But luckily the company is still in operation- and are actually openly offering a way to contact for authentication and details on early works (between 10-100 Euro fee, depending on the object)

Just keep a file with any information you've gathered, multiple quality photographs, and records of authentication from the company.

Use something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Books-Hand-Neutral-PVA-Adhesive/dp/B0025TZ26Q

Backed with something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Book-Cloth-Linen-17x21-sheet/dp/B0025TZ2TI/ref=sr_1_6?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1413835557&sr=1-6&keywords=linen+sheet

You can mount the entire piece to to a linen backing for better archival qualities.

Restor-a-finish has worked pretty well for me on old pieces like this

Free is a good price. That model retails for almost $200 on Amazon!

Might be of interest to you as well:

http://www.amazon.com/Seth-Thomas-Clocks-Movements-Identification/dp/093016394X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421798223&sr=8-1&keywords=Seth+Thomas+Clocks+and+Movements&pebp=1421798238956&peasin=093016394X

You can typically find these specialty books on ebay as well (for cheaper).

I'd say it's Black Forest (Bavarian) 1850-1910. They carved a huge variety of novelty furniture, sculptures and everyday items which were very popular during that period.

The variations in design were many and varied.


As far as restoration is concerned, be sure to use traditional hide glue. It's reversible and will allow a certain degree of flex in the joins. Modern glues destroy old furniture.


To refinish, use shellac and a simple bee's wax polish.

Edit: If it originally had a dark/almost black patina, Japanning the oak is quite simple: http://www.wikihow.com/Age-Wood-With-Vinegar-and-Steel-Wool

Once japanned, finish with shellac and bee's wax.

HAHA, someone made an amazon listing for it:
https://www.amazon.com/Antique-Print-LUTZEN-BATTLE-NAPOLEONTIC-ARTILLERY-INFANTRY-Georgin-Pellerin-1912/dp/B00DK6PQNW

I had a set with a comb that looked like that in the 1980s. You can actually still get this same set on Amazon Here you go.

There are books on your subject of interest which your local library may not have, you may have to buy them online.

Here are some of them.

https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Purses-Their-Schiffer-Collectors/dp/0764319035

This book by Van Patten might help. Apparently it is the reference, and your set is designated "Van Patten’s #84."

Looks like this

Looks like one of these.

https://www.amazon.com/Puritest-Silver-Platinum-Testing-Solutions/dp/B005G4QXN8/ref=asc_df_B005G4QXN8/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309769275560&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11655552549466462413&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007844&hvtargid=pla-570506492858&psc=1
You can get the kit on Amazon, the directions are simple. Be careful, the testers are acids. When I ordered mine, the acids were shipped separately.

woah woah woah, don't start putting floor varnish on a 100+ year old table. I would either A: listen to the other people in this thread and talk to a professional or B: depending on the amount of shellac/finish removed, you might have enough to spread it around via http://www.amazon.com/Howard-RF4016-Restor-A-Finish-16-Ounce-Walnut/dp/B000LNSIM8