For art glass collectors, a peachblow vase can be as much of a treat as a perfectly ripe peach at the peak of its season. Peachblow is one of the many types of two-tone art glass popular in the late Victorian era. The shaded glass craze began with Amberina, shading from amber to ruby, patented in 1883. Burmese glass, shading from pink to yellow, was registered in 1885.

In 1886, tonal pink shades came into vogue, thanks to the sale of a famous antique Chinese ceramic vase, today called the Morgan vase, with a mottled pink glaze described as “peachblow” or “peach bloom.” By then, many manufacturers had already perfected suitable opaque two-tone pink glass, so they capitalized on the vase’s fame with names like “Peachblow” (or “Peach Blow”), “Peach Bloom,” and “Peach Skin.” The exact colors and glassmaking techniques varied among companies; for example, the Peachblow glass by Hobbs, Brockunier & Company had an outer layer shaded from red to amber and a creamy opaque lining, while Mt. Washington Glass Company used the name for a single-layer glass shaded from pink to pale blue.

The vase pictured here, made by the English company Thomas Webb & Sons, is shaded from red to peach. It sold for $163 at Forsythe’s Auctions. Like many pieces of peachblow glass, it has a satin finish; a velvety texture, perhaps reminiscent of a real peach’s skin, created with an acid vapor treatment.

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Q: My father taught Engineering Graphics at Ohio State University during the 1960s and 1970s. One of his favorite students was from India and gifted him a carved ivory chess set sometime in the late 1960s. I know ivory is controversial, but there is a “cut off” date under which it could be imported. I have two questions: 1. Does the late 1960s fall within that date? 2. Is there a way to get an appraisal value?

A: International trade in elephant ivory was banned by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in 1989. It is legal to own ivory that was imported before then. Ivory chess sets like yours have been made in India for hundreds of years. We have seen sets from the mid-20th century valued at about $200. Sets from the 19th century can be worth more than a thousand dollars.

To get a more precise appraisal, you may want to look for an antiques dealer in your area or contact an auction house that handles ivory. Look for specialists in Asian art. If you are planning to sell your chess set, transport it across state lines or even give it as a gift, donation, or inheritance, be sure to check both federal and state laws. Federal laws regarding ivory have been updated several times in the last decade. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov) will have the latest federal laws.

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TIP: When storing dishes, glassware, and especially textiles, don’t use old newspapers for wrapping. The ink will come off and may leave permanent stains.

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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 close-up 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, 300 W. 57th Street, 41st Floor, New York, NY 10019, or email us at collectorsgallery@kovels.com.

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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.

Fenton, Aqua Crest, vase, milk glass, blue ruffled rim, flared, pedestal foot, 11 inches, pair, $35.

Coverlet, jacquard, four colors, red, blue, green, cream, center flower medallion, leafy scrolling spandrels, flower and leaf borders, fringe, c. 1850, 96 x 88 inches, $65.

Nippon, vase, painted landscape, moriage trim, stylized flowers, swags, wreaths, scrolling handles, flared lip, red rim, M in wreath mark, 12 inches, $95.

Copper, planter, globular, flared lip, hammered body, brass mounts, three shaped handles, paw feet, Arts and Crafts, England, William Soutter & Sons, 8 x 10 inches, $140.

Furniture, washstand, pine, arched gallery top, shaped apron, frieze door, turned legs, shaped lower shelf, 40 x 34 1/2 inches, $255.

Toy, Ferris wheel, Hy-Lo, six baskets, multicolor, orange center, wood spinner, tin lithograph, Buffalo Toys, early 1900s, 15 1/2 inches, $265.

Coin-operated, trade stimulator, Ginger Cigarettes, three reels, 1 cent, round plate on front, woman with cigarette, wood base, 12 x 8 inches, $375.