Kovels Antiques & Collecting: Embroidered Textiles

By Terry and Kim Kovel

Embroidered Textiles

Textiles are fragile and need special care. Dust, light, insects and moisture can damage them. Antique textiles in good condition are rare and often sell for high prices.

This needlepoint casket was made about 1660 in England and sold for $17,920, nearly three times its low estimate, at Morphy Auctions. A closer look shows that the colorful people, plants and animals stitched onto the fabric are three-dimensional, making the stitching even more complex. This tricky technique, called stumpwork, required padding the stitches to make the designs stand out.

The embroidered figures on this 17th-century box were made with a technique called stumpwork that shows the embroiderer's advanced skill. PHOTO CREDIT: Kovels.com

All forms of embroidery, including stumpwork, were popular in England throughout the 1600s. Richly embroidered textiles and the items made from them grew more popular as more people could afford them. Many surviving examples of embroidery, including some museum-quality pieces, were made by amateurs, probably girls or young women. Girls would learn embroidery at a young age and practice their stitches with samplers, another popular collectible. Elaborately embroidered boxes like these may have been projects for girls learning embroidery to show their mastery of the skill.

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Q: You had an article about a "Back to the Future" VHS tape selling for thousands of dollars. What auction houses or other outlets might be interested in buying or selling VHS tapes or LPs?

A: The VHS tape that sold for a record $75,000 was a sealed copy of the original 1985 film from a collection owned by Tom Wilson, who played "Biff" in the film. Factors contributing to the high price include the popularity of the film and the actor who owned the tape. Desirability, rarity and condition determine price. An unopened or sealed copy is more valuable than a used copy. Most VHS tapes sell for less than $10. Vinyl records have become popular again. Many are worth less than a dollar, but sought-after albums, including those from the 1960s and '70s, are worth more. You can find prices online for both VHS tapes and LPs by searching sites like valueyourmusic.com or discogs.com. Look for "sold" prices on eBay. There are stores that buy and sell old VHS tapes and LPs. They can tell you which ones are worth more than a few dollars. They'll give you about half what they expect to sell them for.

TIP: The best way to store plates is vertically in a rack. If you don't have space, store them with pads between the dishes.

CURRENT PRICES

Cane, carved figure of fisherman with net, crustacean and fish, varnished wood, resin and green stone accents, D.P. Dahlquist, 20th century, 37 1/2 inches, $190.

Advertising sign, Perrier, c'est fou (it's crazy), stylized woman's face with bottles as eyes, wild yellow hair, red ground, heavy paper, linen backing, signed by artist Bernard Villemot, holes for hanging at top, 1970s-1980s, 26 x 18 inches, $685.

Stoneware jug, cobalt blue bird and flowers, stamped White's Utica, bulbous, tapered, two high curled handles, marked at top, 5 gallons, 17 inches, $1,375.

For more collecting news, tips and resources, visit www.Kovels.com

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