This poster invites the reader to “Enjoy These Winter Days” with an illustration of a peaceful snow-covered path lined with trees. It’s not simply an encouragement to admire the beauty of nature, though; it also encourages the viewer to enjoy “your complete wardrobe dry cleaned in the modern manner.” The framed 48 1/2 x 28 1/2-inch poster sold for $65 at Ripley Auctions. As an advertisement for an unspecified dry cleaner, it suggests that its readers can enjoy the winter because of the convenience of someone else cleaning their clothes, and may also imply that the dry cleaner can clean up any stains or damage caused by the harsh weather.

The poster specifies dry cleaning “in the modern manner.” Its date is not specified, but there have been many advances in dry cleaning since it began in the 19th century. In 1821, Thomas L. Jennings, a tailor, was granted a patent for his “dry scouring” technique for cleaning clothes, making him the first African-American patent holder. In 1845, a dry cleaning service that used chemical solvents like gasoline and kerosene opened in Paris, France.

Dry cleaners continued experimenting with different solvents and techniques, tackling the problems with the present methods. Up to the 1930s, the main problem with dry cleaning solvents was flammability. Since then, concerns for the health and safety of the workers exposed to the solvents, and for the effects on the environment, have grown. Dry cleaning has decreased in popularity in recent years (it is estimated that about 30% of dry cleaning businesses in the United States closed during the COVID-19 pandemic), but research and innovation continue.

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Q: I have an unusual canopy bed I would like to know more about. It is mahogany wood and has four posts with a twisted pattern on the bottom and ridges on top. The headboard is rectangular and has a small flower with five petals inside a circle carved in the center. Can you tell me how old the bed might be, or where it is from?

A: Based on the simple style of your bed, it sounds like the type of furniture made in the United States from the 1920s to the mid-20th century. They were mass-produced, often in simpler versions of popular antique styles. Relief decorations were less elaborate than the ones you see on authentic antiques, and were usually carved or pressed by machine. Many companies made similar styles, so it can be hard to identify a maker if it does not have a mark or label. Beds like these generally sell for about $200 to $500. They are worth more if they have a maker’s mark.

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TIP: Date a poster or print from the lettering. Original store lithographs have sharp-edged, solid letters. Inkjet and modern color printing almost always have lettering with jagged or blurred edges.

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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, (Name of this newspaper), 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.

Basket, flat lid, round finial, woven, white ground, red and black insects, Zulu, Africa, 5 x 6 inches, $50.

Rug, Malayer, runner, dark green ground, golden yellow diamond medallion, spandrels, flower and leaf border, Persian, 12 feet 9 inches x 3 feet 5 inches, $65.