Finger baubles ring true for collectors

Rings have been popular since the days of ancient Egypt and Greece, perhaps even longer. The Greeks said that one of their gods used the first ring. It was an iron ring made for Prometheus.

Rings through history include those found with Egyptian mummies, with early saints and in 13th-century stories about Marco Polo. They're always connected to someone of wealth or fame — usually a man.

There were signet rings, betrothal rings and magical rings that protected the wearer. A gold ring was often a sign of class; slaves and those of the lower class could wear rings only of iron or bronze.

Rings were worn on every finger, sometimes several on each. They were often very large and heavy. A signet ring was usually worn on the index finger so it would be easy to use with sealing wax. Roman baby-sized rings found today were probably used on the upper part of an adult's finger.

The betrothal ring, like our wedding ring, was placed on the fourth finger because it was thought the vein from the heart ended there.

Rings were sometimes suspended from a chain around the neck or wrist or worn over gloves. Rings gained in popularity in later centuries, and precious stones were added. By the 1600s, rings looked like those preferred today. They were usually made of a precious metal set with precious stones and were small enough to be comfortable.

Collectors and those interested in the latest fashions buy rings from any era. Since the 1920s, rings have been getting larger again. They have more-elaborate settings and larger colored stones. Some are made with unusual metals. But high on the list of easy-to-sell antiques are small Victorian rings set with tiny stones or a cameo.

Queries from readers

Q: My solid cherry bookcase headboard was made by Pennsylvania House in 1959. I haven't been able to find out if the manufacturer is still in business. Is it?

A: Pennsylvania House, founded in 1887 in Lewisburg, Pa., made high-quality case furniture, including dining-room and bedroom sets, until just a few years ago. La-Z-Boy Inc. of Monroe, Mich., bought Pennsylvania House in 2000, and four years later closed the Lewisburg factory and moved production to China. Last year, La-Z-Boy sold the Pennsylvania House brand name to Universal Furniture of High Point, N.C. If your bookcase headboard is for a full bed, it would sell for about $250.

Q: I have collected a group of trade cards that I call "vegetable people." Do you know how many different ones were made?

A: Pictures — especially color pictures — were not common in the 19th century. There were no color photographs, books almost never had printed color pictures, and newspapers were black and white. Colored, lithographed trade cards were small ads for products. They were given as premiums or gifts. Most cards were about 3 inches by 5 inches. Today, they are popular with collectors, and sell for $1 to $200, depending on the product pictured. Most anthropomorphic vegetable people trade cards were made in the 1880s by lithographers in Boston, Detroit or Buffalo, N.Y. Most are marked with the lithographer's name or the name of the company being advertised. Many were ads for vegetable seeds. We have seen pictures of more than 120 cards that picture vegetable people — or oysters, eggs or flowers also drawn to look like people.

Current prices

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.

--Yellowware canister, molded handles, white band with blue mocha seaweed design, 1920s, 8 inches by 7 inches, $165.

--Oak smoothing board, horse-form handle, carved with birds, buildings, flowers and 1816, 5 inches by 6 inches by 23 inches, $360.

--Needle case, book-form, watercolor-on-paper cover, church and houses in oval reserve, inscribed "Moravian Church, Salem N.C., 1800," fabric pages, pincushion, 2 inches by 3 inches, $495.

--Redware jar, applied and coggled neck design, 2 pinched applied lugs, manganese splash design, 1800s, 11 inches, $520.

--Pieced quilt, pyrotechnics pattern, blue and orange, black squares, muslin backing, dated 1898, 67 inches by 88 inches, $1,725.

--Windsor bow-back chairs, blue paint, circa 1810, 36 inches, pair, $1,885.

Ralph and Terry Kovel answer as many questions as possible through the column. The return of photos is not guaranteed. Personal answers and appraisals are not available. Write to The Kovels, The Post and Courier, c/o King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., 15th Floor, New York, NY 10019.

Cowles Syndicate/King Features.