Beauty, condition count most in Victorian whatnot shelves

A: Enclosed with the query is a small snapshot showing a wall-hanging Victorian display unit. The piece has two shelves, spindles, what looks like leaded glass doors (hard to tell) and a small gallery on top.

Technically, it’s a Victorian multilevel wall whatnot and open display case.

Smart collectors know that Victorians left no space undecorated, or heaven forbid, under-decorated. It follows that this smallish wall piece is both decorative and intended to hold more clutter.

Such wall pieces were made with varied levels of skill, and in varied sizes. The reader’s is factory made in a delicate and pleasing design. That’s a definite plus.

Keys to value for such units are aesthetics and condition. Clunky Victorian wall units in mediocre condition are non-sellers. This one seems to be tops on all fronts.

Another key is wood. Unfortunately, we can’t make out the wood in the photo sent. Generally, solid cherry is preferable and brings higher prices than walnut or mahogany.

On the free site www.liveauctioneers.com, we saw a similar whatnot, not as fine as the reader’s, that sold in a 2012 auction for $250.

Q: I want to buy a piece for my mother and need a price range for a piece I’ve found.

A: Attached to this e-query is the image of a large squash blossom necklace. Because the inquiry came via iPhone, I assume the photo was shot on site in a shop. Other goods are adjacent, and the necklace has a $1,500 price tag attached.

I usually pitch unfocused requests such as this, but the writer does raise an important issue.

Assuming that he/she wants to buy mom a piece of Native American jewelry, I figure the question really is, “Is this a good deal? Is $1,500 a good price?”

First off — and I cannot stress this enough — if you don’t know what you’re doing, know your seller. With SB necklaces, be sure that the seller will guarantee in writing that the stones are natural turquoise. Ask them to ID the mine where the turquoise was found and have the receipt state the age of the piece. Finally, confirm that the item can be returned for full refund if it is not as represented.

Off the bat, the price here seems to indicate that the necklace is recent. That’s OK if it’s what Mom would like and/or does not need the very best. Who knows; the necklace could be a foreign fake. They exist.

Very early and original SBs from the late 1800s are plainer, highly desirable and very expensive. Ones from around 1900 to the 1940s are also high. SBs from the 1950s and ’60s are numerous because many were made due to high demand then. Expensive at the time, they sell for far less today. A tag price could include high markup.

I can’t vouch for the turquoise in this necklace or its construction. Design wise, it’s undeniably attractive. Whether it is what it’s represented to be needs to be assessed in person by someone who knows the goods.

See what I mean about know your seller? We’re all looking for a hidden bargain, but at the same time, unethical or unknowing sellers are always alert for a pigeon.