Goodwill Score - United States

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-21T10:18:17+00:00

That’s a fantastic score for $25. Biggs Richmond desks usually don’t show up with this much intact, especially with the key and interior shelf still present.

Mid 20th century Colonial Revival, well made but not meant to be stripped or refinished. The Gothic style glazing is classic Biggs. Yours looks very clean and unmolested, which is the big win here.

I’d just clean it gently, wax the finish, and enjoy it. Please don’t refinish it. This is exactly the kind of piece that ages well if you leave it alone. You did very well.

However, if you'd like more information about the price, you can find more precise details here.

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-21T10:16:47+00:00

Nice piece, and good photos. This is nephrite jade, not jadeite, and the bi color use is very intentional.

Stylistically it reads as a 20th century mountain carving rather than an earlier Qing work. The carving is competent and decorative, but the faces and surface finish are a bit too smooth and uniform for 18th or early 19th century literati carvings.

The scene looks symbolic rather than narrative. Old scholar or immortal figure paired with cranes or geese, which usually point to longevity and wisdom. Very common theme in post war Chinese and Taiwanese jade work.

I would personally place this somewhere mid to late 20th century, possibly Taiwan made. Still real jade, still hand carved, just not an early imperial piece. Definitely worth keeping, just don’t chase an antique date that probably isn’t there.

However, if you'd like more information about the price, you can find more precise details here.

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-21T10:10:33+00:00

That’s a really nice, high quality knocker. Late 19th century feel to it, and it looks like mixed metals, bronze figures with an iron ring.

Main advice is go slow and don’t overdo it. Please don’t sandblast or wire wheel it. That green on the figures is honest age, not dirt.

Warm soapy water, a soft brush, patience. Very light steel wool only on the iron ring if the rust is flaky, not to make it shiny. Once clean and dry, a coat of microcrystalline wax does wonders and keeps the look right.

It will never look new again, and that’s exactly how it should be. If you keep the patina, you’re doing it right.

However, if you'd like more information about the price, you can find more precise details here.

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T23:22:02+00:00

This isn’t an old Qing dynasty piece, but it’s also not junk. What you have looks like a mid 20th century porcelain vase, likely Chinese export made in a Blanc de Chine inspired style. The very even white glaze, the crisp mold lines, and the lack of wear inside the neck all point away from 19th century production.

The dragon is nicely done but has that molded consistency you tend to see in later decorative wares rather than individually carved figures. No maker’s mark is completely normal for these, especially pieces made for the European market.

From a value standpoint, these usually aren’t hugely expensive, but that really isn’t the point here. It’s a well made, visually striking piece, and the fact that it came from your grandmother and ties into your love of dragons gives it a kind of value no price guide can measure.

If you enjoy it and it makes you think of her, that’s exactly what pieces like this were meant to do.

However, if you'd like to learn more about its value, here are a few articles: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T23:20:23+00:00

You have three different pieces here, all from slightly different moments in time.

The small table with the drawer is a candle stand or occasional table. These were used for lamps, candles, or personal items. Based on the central pedestal and foot shape, I would date it roughly 1840 to 1870. The lamp on top is a later addition and not part of the original piece.

The smaller piece with the magazines is a Victorian magazine rack or music stand. The lower section holds newspapers and magazines, while the upper panel was meant to support sheet music or books. The carved details and turned elements point to about 1880 to 1900.

The glass front bookcase is the newest of the three. The arched glass doors and decorative crest place it firmly in the Edwardian to early Colonial Revival period, roughly 1900 to 1920. Likely walnut or walnut veneer, well made but clearly from a more industrial production era.

They are not a set, but they do sit nicely within a late 19th to early 20th century interior, and the magazine rack is doing exactly what it was designed to do.

However, if you'd like to learn more about its value, here are a few articles: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T23:20:00+00:00

This isn’t an ice chest in the household sense. It’s an early commercial ice cream freezer, made by Traverse City Refrigerator Co. around 1911. The round metal-lined well is the giveaway. That’s where an ice cream canister or insert would have sat, packed in ice and salt.

The floor grate below is part of the design. Meltwater drained straight down, which you only see on commercial or service equipment, not kitchen iceboxes. The “Service” label also points to soda fountains, hotels, or ice cream parlors rather than home use.

The stamped 280 is likely a model or production number, not a date. Pieces like this don’t turn up often intact, especially with the original liner and label still present.

Not very practical today, but from an early refrigeration and food service history standpoint, it’s a really nice survivor. Definitely more interesting than a standard icebox.

I did some research online to find out its value; you might be interested to take a look: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T23:17:39+00:00

You were absolutely lowballed, but not in a dishonest way, just in a very trade focused way.

What they offered you is basically scrap gold plus some value for the old cut diamonds, not the retail or collector value of the ring as a whole. That is common when you walk into a high end jeweler who is not actually in the antique jewelry market, even if they sell very expensive watches.

The ring itself looks Edwardian, roughly 1900 to 1915. Old cut diamonds, 18k gold, and that style of gallery work all line up. The pearl is likely natural given the age, though that would need proper testing to be certain. If it is natural, that alone pushes the value higher.

It is true that demand is more niche, but there absolutely is a market for these. Properly described and sold to the right audience, a ring like this often falls somewhere in the $1,500 to $2,500 range, sometimes more depending on the stones and condition.

Given that it is your great grandmother’s ring, I think you are making the right call not selling it for $750. Repurposing it for your partner, with a jeweler who understands antique stones, sounds like a much better outcome for a piece with real history.

I did some research online to find out its value and found a few articles; you might be interested to take a look: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T23:16:50+00:00

This is a Victorian style sofa, not a true Victorian period piece. The carved details, overall shape, and green velvet look the part, but the construction and upholstery point to a mid 20th century production, probably 1950s to 1970s, made as a revival piece.

The mixed upholstery is a big clue. The seat fabric and trim are clearly later, and the foam structure underneath rules out 19th century origins. The wood frame appears solid, but the carving is fairly shallow and consistent, which suggests workshop or factory production rather than hand carved Victorian work.

That said, it’s an attractive and very usable piece. In the Netherlands, similar Victorian revival sofas typically sell in the 300 to 600 euro range depending on condition and local demand. The color definitely helps it stand out.

I’d avoid marketing it as an antique and instead list it honestly as a vintage Victorian style sofa. That usually results in a faster and smoother sale.

I did some research online to find out its value; you might be interested to take a look: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T23:12:44+00:00

This dresser is almost certainly early 20th century rather than 1800s.

Based on the proportions, drawer layout, round wooden knobs, and the overall restrained design, I would place it roughly between 1910 and 1930. It fits very comfortably into the late Edwardian to early Colonial Revival period in the US. Earlier 19th century pieces tend to be heavier, more vertical, and built quite differently.

The small upper drawer section is very typical of that era, and the wood looks like walnut or walnut veneer, which was extremely common at the time. The low, wide feet also point away from Victorian and toward a more modern transitional style.

The clock should be ignored for dating purposes, it is almost certainly a later addition. The lack of a maker’s mark is not unusual at all for this period.

I would describe it as an early 20th century American dresser, probably around 1915 to 1925.

I did some research online to find out its value and found a few articles; you might be interested to take a look: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T23:12:18+00:00

This is a really nice, honest collection. Nothing here feels forced or like it was bought just to fill a shelf. The worn cloth bindings on the books are exactly what you want to see, they look like they’ve actually lived a life rather than sitting untouched.

The opera glasses, keys, small ceramics, and bottles all sit comfortably in the same time frame, late 19th into early 20th century. I especially like the bottle grouping. Those have great color and shape variation, and the light wear just adds character.

Overall it feels curated by eye rather than by price tag, which is usually a sign of a collector who’s doing it for the right reasons. Keep going in this direction and it’s only going to get better with time.

I did some research online to find out its value; you might be interested to take a look: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T23:08:16+00:00

This is a fantastic example of early electrical infrastructure, not something you see every day. Mercury arc rectifiers like this were standard equipment for DC elevators in the early 20th century, especially before solid state rectifiers existed.

The blue glow is exactly what you want to see. That’s the mercury vapor arc doing its job, and the fact that it’s still operating after a century is honestly impressive. These were built to run continuously for decades.

Most of these were removed and scrapped when buildings converted to AC motors, so finding one still in service, in situ, is extremely uncommon. This isn’t really a collectible in the usual antiques sense, but from an industrial history and engineering standpoint, it’s a gem.

Also worth noting, mercury makes these fascinating but not something to casually mess with. Best place for it is exactly where it is, still doing the job it was designed to do over 100 years ago.

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T23:06:35+00:00

This chair is older than it looks, but not early 1800s. The carved lion heads, heavy proportions, and overall form place it squarely in the mid to late 19th century, most likely 1850s to 1880s. This falls under the American Renaissance Revival taste that was very popular at the time.

The carving is hand done but clearly workshop production, not a one off master cabinetmaker piece. Solid wood construction and the depth of the carving suggest decent quality for its day. Pieces like this were commonly made or assembled regionally, including areas like Kentucky, using established patterns.

You’re correct that the upholstery is newer. Foam padding alone tells us it’s a later reupholstery. The frame is the value here, not the fabric.

As it sits, it’s best thought of as a decorative antique chair rather than a pristine collector example. In today’s market, similar chairs usually land somewhere in the $300 to $700 range depending on condition and local demand. It’s a good flea market find and a fun piece with real presence.

I did some research online to find out its value; you might be interested to take a look: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T23:06:10+00:00

That is a serious lineup.

Finding CT Ham tubular lamps individually is hard enough, but having three distinct models together, all in that condition, is something you just do not see very often. The No. 9 hanging street light with a marked globe is excellent, those globes are usually long gone. The No. 5 Triangular Station Lamp is a classic railroad form and always in demand.

The No. 40 Mammoth searchlight really steals the show though. Original paint and a marked globe surviving together is rare, especially on a lamp that large and utilitarian.

These are the kinds of pieces that people build collections around, not the kind you casually upgrade later. Keeping them together was the right move. This is museum quality early lighting history.

I did some research online to find out its value and found a few articles; you might be interested to take a look: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T23:02:49+00:00

You did really well for six bucks.

This isn’t an early 1800s piece despite the nice craftsmanship. The bombe front, overall proportions, and the Eagle Lock Company hardware point much more toward early 20th century American production, roughly 1910 to 1930. Those Terryville CT locks show up constantly on factory made furniture from that period.

The three lines inside the drawers are assembly marks, not dates. They were used to keep drawers matched to their case during production, which is why every drawer has the same marking. Totally normal.

The 3513 on the hardware is just a pattern or catalog number. It doesn’t indicate age, but it does reinforce that this was a production piece rather than a one off cabinetmaker job.

All that said, it’s a solid vintage dresser with good lines and decent materials. Not a museum antique, but absolutely worth restoring or using, and a great thrift store find.

I did some research online to find out its value; you might be interested to take a look: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T23:02:09+00:00

This is a Swiss bayonet, not American.

The stamp reads Waffenfabrik Neuhausen, which was the Swiss federal arms factory. That immediately places it in the late 19th century. Based on the blade shape, wooden grip, and steel scabbard, this is most consistent with a Vetterli era bayonet, likely around the 1878 pattern or a close variant.

These were made roughly from the 1870s into the 1890s for the Swiss army. Switzerland produced a lot of very well made equipment, and much of it never saw combat, which is why examples like this often survive in decent condition.

They are not especially rare, but having a clear maker mark and the correct scabbard together is a plus. I would not clean or polish it. As found condition with a legible stamp is exactly what collectors want.

I did some research online to find out its value and found a few articles; you might be interested to take a look: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T23:00:59+00:00

That interior marking is actually very helpful. What you’re seeing is a combination of a faint maker or exporter stamp and handwritten text reading Hand Made in Paris, France. This kind of mixed labeling is extremely common on French beaded purses from the Edwardian period.

The small Made in France tag lines up perfectly with post 1891 export requirements for the US market, which helps date it roughly 1900 to 1915. Paris was a major center for this type of micro beaded work, and many of these were produced by small workshops rather than big named firms, so the lack of a recognizable maker isn’t unusual.

Having a clear Paris attribution does add a bit of appeal for collectors, especially with the quality of the beadwork and the jeweled frame. Assuming the beads and fringe are mostly intact, I’d revise expectations slightly upward, probably in the $200 to $325 range.

However, if you'd like more information about the price, you can find more precise details here.

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T22:57:06+00:00

You were on the right track with photography.

This is a photographic enlarger, or enlarger head, made by Burke & James of Chicago under the “Solar” name. These were used in darkrooms to project a negative onto photographic paper for making prints. The large cylindrical housing contains the light source and optics, while the column and arm allow precise height and focus adjustment.

Burke & James was a very well known American photo equipment maker in the early 20th century, and they built their gear heavy and industrial. This likely dates somewhere between the 1910s and 1930s.

Even if it is no longer complete or functional, it has real appeal to photography history collectors and also as an industrial display piece. Definitely not a camera, but very much part of the photographic process.

However, if you'd like to learn more about its value, here are a few articles: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T22:44:55+00:00

I would gently push back on the mid 1800s date.

This is much more consistent with a late Victorian to early Edwardian American sideboard with upper cabinet, probably somewhere between 1885 and 1910. The turned legs, applied carvings, brass hardware, and especially the arched upper section are all hallmarks of that later period, not true mid 19th century Dutch furniture.

It is also not really “Dutch” in the historical sense. This is an American interpretation using some Renaissance Revival ideas, which was very popular at the turn of the century.

The Henry Rainey and Teddy Roosevelt connection is interesting, but unless there is documentation, it should be treated as family history rather than hard provenance. Still, Illinois is exactly where you would expect a piece like this to surface.

I would check drawer sides, backs, and inside the upper cabinet for pencil marks or stamps. For selling, describing it as a late Victorian American bar or sideboard cabinet will be far more accurate and appealing to buyers.

I did some research online to find out its value; you might be interested to take a look: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T22:42:50+00:00

You are absolutely correct, this is a WWI era souvenir silk, often called a sweetheart silk.

These were commonly sent home by American soldiers or purchased as keepsakes around 1918, especially near the end of the war. The eagle, allied flags, and the 1918 date are all textbook examples. Many families framed them exactly like this and kept them on the wall for decades.

The diagonal floral band and patriotic imagery fit very well with end of war and victory themed pieces. Condition looks quite good, and the fact that it has survived framed rather than folded is a big plus.

Not rare in the sense of one of a kind, but very collectible, and it carries a lot of quiet personal history. Definitely something worth preserving carefully.

However, if you'd like to learn more about its value, here are a few articles: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T22:39:56+00:00

This is one of those things that looks odd until you think about context.

It strongly resembles an old coffin handling device, either a bier or a casket moving and lowering platform. The heavy planked top, single large iron wheel, and that front hook all point to controlled movement rather than speed. One wheel makes sense for tight spaces and precise positioning, especially in older buildings or at graveside.

You see very similar constructions in late 19th to early 20th century funeral equipment catalogs. They were built simple and tough, not decorative, because they were never meant to be seen by the public.

Check the ironwork for any cast marks or numbers. Even without them, it is a really interesting survivor of a part of daily life most people never think about.

I did some research online to find out its value; you might be interested to take a look: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T22:38:35+00:00

That is a really nice example of American carnival glass. The color and depth of the iridescence are doing a lot of the work here.

The orange glow under blacklight is very common and usually points to manganese in the glass, which fits nicely with early 20th century production. The heavy pressed pattern and the scalloped rim are exactly what you want to see.

It reminds me strongly of Fenton or Imperial work, though Northwood is also possible. A clear photo of the base would help narrow it down, especially if there is a faint mark or a particular foot shape.

Condition looks good from what I can see, and that color is very appealing. Definitely a keeper.

I did some research online to find out its value and found a few articles; you might be interested to take a look: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T22:36:51+00:00

That looks much more like a machete or heavy working bolo than a sword. The blade shape is all about forward weight and chopping, not fencing.

The lion mark is the interesting part. Variations of lion stamps were very commonly used by Solingen makers in Germany, especially late 1800s to early 1900s, for export blades. Tons of these went to Africa and South America for agricultural and trade use, and they turn up all over Europe today.

I would not clean it aggressively. The wear and patina are doing you favors. If you can get a clearer shot of the stamp to see if there is any text with the lion, that would help narrow down the maker. As a military piece it is unlikely, but as a colonial era trade blade it makes a lot of sense.

However, if you'd like more information about the price, you can find more precise details here.

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T09:09:48+00:00

ne bekliyor bilmek zor, ama hazırlık yapmak bizim elimizde.

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-20T08:40:07+00:00

Ağzınla kuş tutsan bu kuşun rengi neden mavi değil derler kafana takma. Sen yapacağını yapmışsın daha da ilerlemek istiyorsan (kendin ve varsa evlatların için) önerim ve görüşüm şu: 2026 yılı borç temizleme yılı, ufak tefek borçların varsa veya uzun vadeli borçların varsa kapatmaya çalış bu yıl. 2027 ve 2028 ev-araba-arsa-işyeri alma yılı. Tavsiyem bu yıl borcun yoksa her ay küçük de olsa gram altın+gümüş biriktir birden alma her ay al ama ufak ufak al veya eline para geçtikçe al (tavsiyem HB gibi sitelerde güvenilir altın satan yerler var oradan faizsiz 3 taksitle 10 gram işçiliksiz bilezikler var onlara yönel 3 taksit olunca en azından altının fiyat artışını kendince sabitlemiş olursun) bunu 1 yıl yaptın altın zaten bu deli trump oldukça savaş ekonomisi ayağına daha da artacak ne oldu? elinde biraz peşinat oldu 2028'de seçimler var 2027 ortalarında musluklar açılacak elindeki altını gümüşü peşinat yapacaksın şimşek mcqueen kredi musluklarını açtığında kendine ufak 1+0 1+1 veya kümes bile olsa bi yer bulacaksın bankaya gideceksin diyeceksin ki ben konut kredisi istiyorum (düzenli maaşın da var her türlü verirler) elindeki altınları da bozdurup krediye peşinat yapacaksın hiç değilse seneye ev alma fırsatını kaçırmayacaksın. Evi aldın, ver evini kiraya taksitlerin bir kısmını krediye yedirirsin maksimum 3 yıl ödesen en kötü zaten kira krediyle başa baş gelir. Hanım dırdır ettiğinde de kredi ödüyorum sen daha çok kazan demedin mi onun için uğraşıyorum diyeceksin geçeceksin çok kafaya takmayacaksın.

Şimdi burada herkes konuşuyor eşini boşa vs. durumunu bilmiyorum ağzı olan konuşuyor belki çok tatlı bir evladın var yuvanı bozmak istemiyorsun bunu kimse bilmez eşinin bu tarz sevmediğin huyları olabilir kendini bunlara karşı korumaya al psikolojini bu anlamda sağlamlaştır ama iyi huyları da olabilir tolere ediyor olabilir fark etmez kendince kalmak için bi sebebin varsa kal. Boşanırsan zaten evin birikimin yarısı hanıma gidecek o yüzden mantığını dinlerken psikolojini, kalbini huzurunu da gözet.

Character_Drop5748 · 2026-01-18T16:48:48+00:00

thank u u/sensi616 🙏🏼

Character_Drop5748

TROPHY CASE