English inventor Charles John Roswell patented the first graphoscope in 1864. The graphoscope, a device to enhance viewings of photographs and other still images, consists of a round magnifying glass attached to an adjustable stand. Later models, like the one pictured here, included a stereoscope to view stereocards that create a 3-D illusion. Collectors call these models stereo-graphoscopes. This one, which sold for $366 at Austin Auction Gallery, was made by the London firm Negretti and Zambra.

Established in 1850, the company started as a partnership between Joseph Zambra, a barometer maker and optician, and Henry Negretti, a thermometer maker and glassblower. Their earliest products, meteorological instruments, were of such high quality that they were appointed opticians to Queen Victoria in 1851. They soon opened a photography studio and, in 1854, became official photographers for the Crystal Palace Company. They were making stereographs by then, and they photographed scenes around England and commissioned overseas expeditions for material for stereoviews. This graphoscope model, available in walnut and mahogany, was made in the 1880s.

* * *

Q: My grandmother had a lamp that sat on her TV set in 1959, possibly earlier. It is clear Lucite with two swans facing each other and flowers around them. The base is wood. It is lit with two Christmas tree bulbs. There is an obvious error — the swans are pink like flamingos instead of white or black. Overall, it is 11 1/2 inches tall, 12 1/2 inches wide, and 3 1/2 inches deep. Can you give me any information about it?

A: TV lamps were popular in the 1950s. There was a belief that having a dim, indirect light on while watching television prevented eye strain. Because they did not need to cast a lot of light, TV lamps were usually made in decorative styles. The most popular were ceramic figures; many midcentury pottery and lamp companies made them. Many companies made Lucite lamps like your grandmother’s. Bases were made of various materials, including wood, iron, and plastic.

Lucite was first made in the 1930s and was used for furniture and decorative arts after World War II. Some Lucite pieces had figures carved, painted, or embedded into the clear plastic, like your grandmother’s lamp. Birds, fish, and scattered flowers were favorite subjects; they appeared to float. You are right that birds in Lucite lamps are usually realistic colors; however, we have seen ceramic TV lamps with swans in fanciful colors like pink, green, or blue. Lamps like yours sell for about $75.

* * *

Q: I was told my wall hanging was a replica that had hung over a fireplace in the White House during John Adams’s presidency. There are three oval-shaped pictures that appear to be hand-painted on porcelain. Two are courting scenes, and one is a bust of a woman in a blue dress. They are in a three-part, gold-colored metal frame with a bow at the top. Is this description correct, and does it have value?

A: We have seen porcelain plaques like the ones on your wall hanging described as “Fragonard style,” after the French Rococo painter and printmaker Jean Honore Fragonard (1732-1806), who was known for his portraits, courting scenes, and genre scenes. Fragonard-style porcelain designs experienced a resurgence in popularity in the Victorian period and again in the 20th century. They appeared on dishes, trinket boxes, decorative plaques, and jewelry by several European porcelain companies. Wall hangings like yours sell for about $50 to $100.

We haven’t confirmed whether there was a similar wall hanging or work by Fragonard in the White House, but we do know that John and Abigail Adams, the first president and First Lady to live in the White House, purchased furnishings from France. When John Adams was in France on diplomatic missions before his presidency, during Fragonard’s career, he mentioned his admiration of the country’s art in his letters home to Abigail.

* * *

TIP: Nineteenth-century photographs are more easily damaged than pictures from later years. They are more likely to fade or deteriorate. Color photos of any date often fade. Keep all photographs away from intense light.

* * *

Kovels answers readers’ questions sent to the column. Send a letter with one question describing the size, material (glass, pottery) and what you know about the item. Include only two pictures, the object and a closeup of any marks or damage. Be sure your name and return address are included. By sending a question, you give full permission for use in any Kovel product. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We do not guarantee the return of photographs, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. Questions that are answered will appear in Kovels Publications. Write to Kovels, King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or email us at collectorsgallery@kovels.com.

* * *

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.

Mason’s ironstone, sugar, cover, pierced finial, blue transfer, Blue Vista, landscape, leafy borders, side handles, blue mark, c. 1880, 6 x 6 inches, $30.

Rug, hooked, rag, pictorial, cottage, brown roof, two red chimneys, multicolor flowers, trees in foreground, black border, 20th century, 2 feet 5 inches x 3 feet 4 inches, $60