The table is attributed to a famous 19th century design company and its value is rising rapidly

If you identify the designer of an antique, it will usually sell for more. Sometimes an attribution is all you need. This Aesthetic Movement table with a blackened finish, engraved gold decoration, and floral panels sold for an impressive $6,144 at Neal Auction. While there’s no denying its visual appeal—after all, it was made during the Aesthetic Movement of the late 19th century, the era of “art for art’s sake”—its attribution to the New York firm of Kimbel & Cabus was likely a factor in its sale.

The Kimbel & Cabus firm was active from 1862 to 1882 and was famous for exhibiting their furniture at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876. The blackened table is typical of their designs, with its dark finish, elaborate gilding and incisions, sturdy square shape, and nature-inspired decoration. Very little information survives about the firm. They marked their furniture with paper labels that wore off over time, so the only way to identify their furniture is to match it to the pictures in their only surviving trade catalog. For this reason, this table is attributed to them, not confirmed. Because they are so difficult to identify, Kimbel & Cabus furniture pieces are extremely rare and therefore valuable.

Q: I have quite a large collection of Roseville pottery. Do you know where I can find current prices?

A: Check local stores or online for current prices. There are several books on Roseville Pottery that are helpful in identifying them, such as “Warman’s Roseville Pottery” (second edition, Denise Rago, 2007) or “The Collectors Encyclopedia of Roseville Pottery” (Volume 2, revised edition, Sharon & Bob Huxford and Mike Nickel, 2001), but they are so old that the prices are out of date. The website Just Art Pottery (justartpottery.com) is a good source of information and prices. It has a section for Roseville. Another way to find current prices is to check recent auction results. Look online for auction houses that specialize in art pottery and browse their archives of past auctions. Rago Auction (ragoarts.com) has an excellent reputation in the world of art pottery. Remember that with pottery, condition is an important factor in price.

Q: I need help identifying an antique witch’s ball that has been passed down through generations in my family. I know nothing about it.

A: Witch balls are hollow spheres made of blown glass that are left floating in the air or placed on a base, usually as garden decorations. They became popular decorations in the mid-1800s. There are many legends surrounding the name “witch ball.” Some say it is because witches can use them as divination tools; others say they offer protection from witchcraft spells and evil spirits by either bouncing them off or trapping them within the ball. Another story says that they were originally called “watch balls” because you could see your surroundings reflected in the glass, making them useful for monitoring a room if you kept them indoors, or for seeing who was approaching the house if you kept them outside. They are also called “gauze balls.” They are made in many different colors and patterns; Glassblowers may have made them as “whimsies,” pieces they made in their spare time to practice techniques, use up leftover glass, or give as gifts. Like many 19th-century glass shapes, they had a revival in the 1920s and 1930s. Antique witch balls sell for about $100 to $350. The value is higher if you can identify the maker and narrow down the year of manufacture.

Q: I have a necklace that is a long string of red faceted beads. Can you tell me what it might be worth?

A: Your necklace sounds like the Art Deco style that was popular in the 1920s and 1930s. Its value depends on what the beads are made of. We’ve seen similar necklaces with plastic beads sell for $30 to $75, with glass beads for about $50, and with gemstones for $100 to $300. Look for a maker’s mark or metal type information on any metal hardware, such as the clasp and any chain links or bead separators. Costume jewelry from a famous maker can be worth more than some pieces with gemstones. Costume Jewelry Collectors Int’l (costumejewelrycollectors.com) is an organization dedicated to providing educational resources for collectors and can be extremely helpful.

TIP: Beware of fake Bakelite jewelry made in Taiwan and other Asian regions. The new plastic is heavier than old Bakelite and smells very different underwater than old Bakelite. Old Bakelite has metal pins or decorations riveted on, but new fakes have them glued on.

On the block

Current prices are collected from antique shows, flea markets, sales, and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations due to local economic conditions.

Porcelain, Asian, plate, two quails on ground in center, leafy and flowering branches around rim, blue and red geometric bands on outside, Nabeshima, Japan, 8 inches, $30.

Quilt, applique, Sunbonnet Sue, colorful characters, embroidered animals, hand sewn, crib, 47 x 57 inches, $50.

Toy, radio, transmitter, Remco, sends and receives messages, telegraph, intercom, signal detector, flashlight, box, 1950s, $110.

Steuben, candlestick, frosted glass globe, free blown, clear cut, round base, marked, 4 x 4¾ inches, $185.

Furniture, mirror, Adam style, giltwood frame, reverse painted frieze, nautical scene, gilt swan neck pediment, flower vase finial, bellflower scrolls to sides, curved pendulum base, 54 x 22 inches, $210.

Lighter, figural, oil lamp form, curved handle, gold-colored cap, silver, marked, Roberts & Belk, Sheffield, 1901, 3¾ x 5¼ x 3 inches, $270.

Porcelain, Chinese, vase, spherical, blue and white, dragon, all-over scroll pattern, scalloped border around the rim, short foot, pierced side handles, blue seal mark, 15 inches, $290.

Cabinetry, dry sink, grained finish, two upper cabinet doors, zinc trim, three drawers beside two doors on base, interior shelves, console feet, two-piece, 74″ x 49″, $630.

Auto, gas pump globe, Texaco, flat top, eight sided, alternating flat and ridged surfaces, green stars on the flat surfaces, frosted glass, 9½ x 8 inches, $660.

Toy, tug of war, two platforms on wheels, each with three children, rocking back and forth, wind-up toy, Einfalt, Germany, 9 inches, $1,920.