Kewpie dolls vary by maker, vintage and value

Q. I have a large aluminum cone-shaped sieve with stand marked “Guardian Service” with the Guardian emblem. I haven’t been able to find anything about it or its worth. Can you help me?

A. Guardian Service cookware was made by Century Metalcraft Corp., a company that started in Chicago in 1933 and moved to Los Angeles in 1938. It closed after the factory burned down in 1956. The Guardian Service line was introduced after the company moved to Los Angeles. Most of the cookware was made after 1945, when aluminum was no longer needed for military use. Guardian Service cookware was sold at home parties. A salesperson cooked a meal for the guests, and the hostess received gifts for holding the party. The first Guardian logo was a knight’s helmet facing left with two crossed swords behind it. Later, the swords were replaced with two stars on each side of the helmet. Still later, three stars were used on each side. The value is $10 to $25.

Q. Can you give me more information about a doll? It’s a kewpie dressed in a blue dotted romper with eyelet trim. It has its original box that reads “Cameo Collectibles” on the front. Can you tell me when it was made and its value?

A. Kewpies were the creation of Rose O’Neill (1874-1944), an author, illustrator, poet and suffragette. They were first pictured in a 1909 issue of Ladies’ Home Journal. In 1912, a young sculptor named Joseph Kallus collaborated with O’Neill to create the first Kewpie figures. Soon the impish, cupid-like characters were everywhere. The earliest dolls were bisque, made in Germany. They were marked by a heart-shaped label that read “Kewpie” and “Germany,” and the feet are stamped “O’Neill.” Since then, Kewpies have been made by many firms, of many materials, and with and without clothing. After O’Neill died in 1944, rights to produce “official” Kewpie dolls were given to Kallus and his Cameo Doll Co. by O’Neill’s family. Just before Kallus died in 1982, he assigned his rights to Jesco Inc., which agreed to continue to use original molds. In 2003, Charisma Brands acquired the rights to reproduce Kewpies. You have one of these. The Kewpie dolls are vinyl, come dressed in different costumes, and have a certificate stating “... this Kewpie(r) is created from the original molds ...” They do not have the heart-shaped decal that distinguishes the original, older versions, and they sell from about $10 to $35.

Q. My antique copper bowl is lined with silver. Both the inside and outside show the hammer marks made by a metalsmith. It is almost 3 inches high and 8 inches in diameter. The bottom is marked “Gebelein” in a thin rectangle. Under that is a “G” in a diamond, and below that is “Boston.” Is it old? Or valuable?

A. George Gebelein was one of the most famous silversmiths in Boston, and he had an important jewelry store that sold a lot of his metalwork. Your bowl is shown online as an “offering” bowl to be used at an altar. Examples sell for $200 to $400 now, although when they were made some sold for under $50. The silver lining was used to keep the copper from contact with acidic foods that might result in a poisonous substance. It is not safe to use a burned pan with exposed copper. Do not cook or store vinegar, pickles, citrus fruit or other acids, or milk, butter, cream or yogurt where it touches a copper surface. Be extra careful when feeding babies or children.

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.

Whirligig, red-beaked woodpecker pecking at an apple tree, red, white, green, 19 3⁄4 x 46 1⁄2 inches, $90.

Penny scale, white pedestal, diamonds, black trim, American Scale Mfg. Co., 45 x 25 inches, $280.

Match safe, Uncle Sam head, bearded, smoking red pipe, porcelain, screw off top, 2 inches, $470.

Bookcase, 2-piece, carved, figural frieze, rosettes, baskets, upper glass panel door, lower case with carved drawer over door, 85 x 35 inches, $1,280.

Newcomb College pitcher, tapers, blue flower buds, handle, May Louise Dunn, 7 3⁄4 x 5 inches, $2,500.

Marblehead vase, overlapping stylized moths, gray, Maude Milner, Sarah Tutt, 6 3⁄4 x 5 inches, $3,125.