What’s the difference between a lightship basket and a friendship basket? You may have seen both terms applied to the famous wood and rattan woven baskets made in Nantucket.

Lightship baskets, the original name given to this distinctive style, were originally made by the crews of lightships, which were essentially floating lighthouses, in the late 1800s. The work left the crew with long stretches of time with little to do, so they turned their attention to making baskets in the time-honored tradition of sailors making crafts to pass the time at sea.

“Friendship basket” is a 20th-century term, first used to describe the lidded baskets that artist Jose Formoso Reyes started making in the 1940s to sell as purses. They quickly proved to be extremely popular with the people of Nantucket and tourists. According to the Nantucket Historical Association, the name may have come from the friendships that developed between people around the world recognizing each other’s Nantucket baskets.

This heart-shaped basket purse with a woven leather strap sold at Eldred’s auction house, itself a well-known Massachusetts institution, for $640. The artist has not been identified. Baskets made by Reyes can sell for thousands of dollars. Lightship baskets from the 19th century with known makers are worth even more.

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Q: Can you help me identify vintage cordial glasses? They don’t have the name of the manufacturer on them.

A: Identifying vintage glass without a maker’s name can be tricky. Cordial glasses were in use by the 18th century. They were extremely popular in the 19th century, which was also the age of art glass in many colors and decorative styles. If your glasses have a raised design or pattern, this will provide a lot of information. Is it cut glass (sparkling, sharp edges), etched (very thin outlines) or a pressed pattern? Some patterns can be matched to certain companies but remember that some were made by multiple companies and some old patterns have been copied more recently. Check your library for publications. The books “Pressed Glass in America: Encyclopedia of the First Hundred Years, 1825-1925” by John Welker and Elizabeth Welker and the “Encyclopedia of American Cut & Engraved Glass” by Albert Christian Revi are excellent resources. Glass collectors’ clubs often have resources to help identify glassware. The National American Glass Club (glassclub.org) is a good starting point.

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Q: I have a collection of Wee Forest Folk, without boxes, that I need to sell. Is there any interest out there for these little mice figurines?

A: Wee Forest Folk is a small business run by the Petersen family in Carlisle, Massachusetts. They sell handmade ceramic figurines, mostly of mice and other forest animals. Because they are handmade, they are expensive to buy new. There is a collectors’ club (weeforestfolkclub.org) that has resources for valuing and selling. If you use social media, check sites like Facebook or Craigslist for collectors’ or buy/sell groups. Used Wee Forest Folk figurines without boxes have recently sold on eBay for prices ranging from $20 to $300, depending on age, condition and rarity. Most appear to sell for under $100.

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Q: Does Kovel’s have an appraisal service? What are the fees?

A: We do not have an appraisal service. If you need a formal appraisal for insurance or tax purposes, selling a collection, or if you have something especially valuable, look for an accredited appraiser. The American Society of Appraisers (appraisers.org), International Society of Appraisers (isa-appraisers.org) or Appraisers Association of America (appraisersassociation.org) are good places to start. You can also find appraisers listed in the Kovels Business Directory. Appraisals can be expensive, so be sure to check the reviews of an appraiser before you use their services. Be cautious of antique dealers offering free appraisals; they are often trying to buy items at the lowest price possible. In-person appraisals are always more accurate than remote. If you do not need a formal appraisal and are simply looking for more information about an antique out of curiosity, we can provide information and approximate values for the type of antique at no cost. Write to Kovels, (Name of this newspaper), King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or email us at kovels@aimmedia.com. Please include photos and as much information about your item as possible.

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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.

Fishing, minnow bucket, Min-O-Life, green, yellow shield graphic, Kansas City, Mo., 9 inches, $70.

World’s Fair, textile, U.S. Centennial, Fairmount Park Exhibition, Philadelphia, exhibition buildings, eagle and shield crest, red border, linen, 1876, 24 1/2 x 25 1/2 inches, $120.

Delft, plate, blue and white, scenic, boat on water, bridge, trees, houses, figures, stylized flowers and leaves around rim, marked, Joost Thooft & Labouchere, 15 inches, $155.

Toy, playset, Apollo Lunar Station, two spring-loaded launching pads, rockets, figures, vehicles, missiles, box, Multiple Toymakers, 1967, $215.

Waterford, lamp, hurricane, Pompeii, glass shade, flared, brass base, black marble plinth, square stepped foot, electric, 17 inches, pair, $305.

Furniture, chair, hardwood, carved, pierced back, scenic cartouche, dragon’s head arms, stretcher base, three-lobe paw feet, Chinese, 19th century, 43 inches, pair, $345.

Chalkware, flag holder, figural, Uncle Sam, hat in hand, round base, painted, 29 inches, $440.

Carousel, horse, jumper, painted, black, red saddle, gilt trim, carved mane, outside row, braces on front feet, 38 x 52 inches, $535