Antiques Appraisals: Art Nouveau candle holder is a lovely find

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Have you ever seen these Huebach children’s teapots or pitchers? They are about 4” to 5” tall, hold about a cup of liquid, well marked with rising sun mark. They were a gift to a child circa 1910-1920. Have had many dealers’ opinions including Mr. Bowes from [Antiques] Roadshow back in the 1990s.

— C.A.

Your question regarding your children’s teapots, one of a cat, and the other of a bulldog in regards to being of the German company of Gebruder Heubach bring wonderment and doubt in regards to their true identity. The photos received indicate a shiny gloss appearance of each and porcelain that does not look to be from the 1920s. Without a hands-on examination of each and their respective marks, I feel doubt remains.

The size also mentioned of 4” to 5” tall seem rather tall to be considered as child size. Perhaps they were each individual adult size single serving teapots. The rising sun mark you mention has also been associated, for instance, with Nippon in a different form. The mark indicating Heubach was a sunrise with initials H over C or G below and the words “Trademark” and “DER” below that. The Gebruder Heubach company was most known for producing early 20th century character dolls, porcelain, and most notably also piano babies. I suggest an examination of particularly the mark of your cat and bulldog teapots to further correctly identify them.

I would like an opinion of the date this was made. There was a pair of these for sale, but one was broken. The lady had a broken neck and chips on the hurricane shade – I only bought the good one. The base is pressed glass, as I have found a seam on both sides. P.S. No marks found.

— P.G., Crystal Falls, Michigan

The decorative arts period referred to as Art Nouveau, 1890-1910 is highly portrayed in your lovely satin glass lady candle holder with very detailed lady etched glass shade. The figural lady forming the candle holder base is made of satin glass. The satin glass was formed in the decorative arts period both in the United States and England during the 1880s.

The dull matte finish of satin glass is achieved when the glass is immersed in hydrofluoric acid or exposed to its fumes. In the 19th century the process was synonymous with frosting and was a technique associated with fancy art glass. Your lady candle holder coupled with its ornate detailed etched shade glass of a lady in fashion of the period 1890-1910, I would value conservatively between $450 and $650.

You did mention a few things that possibly could have affected value. You did mention that no marks upon your examination were found. I would suggest an appraiser in your area double check, a mark could be lightly etched and hard to detect. If found a mark could greatly affect value.

Lastly you mentioned your candle holder was once part of a pair, maybe that once graced a dining room table or perhaps a mantel. I always believe a pair is more rare and desirable than a single item and with expert restoration available in today’s marketplace this may have been a feasible choice.

Of course costs, eventual value, and a repair that can be actually achieved always need to be taken into consideration when making a choice as to purchase a single item of a pair or the pair itself.

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