Gary R. asks: I am looking for an appraisal

of a Sterling Vase piece that my mother has.

• Here are the details.

• 17 1/2 inches high
• 7 inches at base

• 12 1/2 inches at mouth opening
• 12 inches handle

• Side Engraving;

• EMLEKUL
• A

• NEW - YORK
• ELSO MAGYAR
• ONKEPZ EGYLET
• FERFI

• OSZTALYATOL
• 1921

• DEC 21

• BOTTOM OF PIECE;

• Round Mark – DERBY SILVER PLATE CO

• STAMPED 1218

AW says: Thanks for the question Gary.

Actually, what this is, is a very nice silver plated "presentation" basket. I can't decipher the Egyptian text, but I believe it was most likely from a Women's Shriner sect called the Eastern Star, or a similar order.

They used a lot of Egyptian terminology.

The fact that your basket is silver plated, of course means it cannot be Sterling and the price difference is huge. There is a growing market for early silver plate, especially very ornamental things like the basket you have. It would retail between $35.00 and $65.00. If it were made of Sterling it would be about $900.00 on the low estimate depending on the maker.

The Derby Silver co. was founded in 1872, along the Housatonic River in Derby, CT. It is still there today.

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