Two-toned glass where one color shades into the other was fashionable in the late 19th to early 20th century. It started with amberina, which shades from red to amber and was made by reheating part of a piece of amber glass. Many companies made it, but usually under different names, since amberina was patented for the New England Glass Company.

Other color combinations were made by adding a thin layer of flashed glass to the interior of a piece of transparent colored glass. Bluerina, a blue-shaded glass whose name is influenced by amberina, was made this way. Collectors use the name “bluerina” for several color combinations, including blue shading to clear and blue shading to red. The latter is also called ruby sapphire.

Blue shading to amber is rarer, so when it comes to auction, like this bluerina glass vase that sold for $1,080 at Woody Auction, it sells for high prices. This vase is not marked and its maker is unidentified, but it shows characteristics of the art glass of the late 19th to early 20th century. In addition to its two colors in an unusual combination, it is decorated with acid cut cameo flowers and gold stencils.

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Q: Do you know anything about a furniture maker called O.W. Richardson? I have a small carved wood table by this company, but I have not been able to find out much about them.

A: O.W. Richardson was a company in Chicago that sold home furnishings, like furniture, flooring, and draperies, retail and wholesale. The store offered plain furniture, and customers could choose decorations, like the carvings on your table, to add to the pieces they bought.

They were active in the 1920s, but we haven’t found a definite opening or closing date for the company. Many companies in the Midwest made affordable, mass-produced furniture at the time. For example, Grand Rapids, Michigan, was known as “The Furniture Capital of America” because it had nearly 70 active companies. The S. Karpen & Bros. company in Chicago became the world’s largest upholstered furniture manufacturer.

You may be able to find out more information about O.W. Richardson from a library or historical society in the Chicago area. Books on the Midwestern furniture industry in general may be helpful, too.

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Q: I am looking for information about a pair of unmarked porcelain figures. They are a man and a woman in Renaissance-style clothing. They both have brown curly hair, and the man has long hair, a small mustache, and a goatee. Both have feathers in their hats and painted gold accents on their clothes, and the woman has painted gold jewelry. They are standing on square bases that are painted to look like rocky ground. The bases are hollow and glazed white underneath.

A: Because so many porcelain companies have made figures in historical dress, it is difficult to identify them when they are unmarked. The most famous figurines, which sell for the highest prices, are made in Europe, like Meissen or Dresden in Germany; Jacob Petit in France; Capo-di-Monte in Italy; and Staffordshire in England. These factories have easily recognizable marks, but some are left unmarked. To add to the confusion, many of these makers are still active today, and many figurines have been reproduced.

If there are antiques dealers in your area who sell porcelain, you may be able to contact them to help identify your figurines. If you can take your figurines to the dealer in person, even better. Reproductions are often recognized by features that are not clear from photographs; for example, reproductions of porcelain figurines are often lighter than authentic antiques.

There are some visual cues that may help you date your figurines. Certain colors were not used until the nineteenth century, like maroon or yellowish green. Figures made before the 19th century rarely had blue eyes; they were usually brown. Early porcelain has a slightly greenish color, whereas later porcelain is pure white.

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TIP: Do not put wire-stemmed artificial flowers in a valuable, narrow-neck glass vase. The stems will scratch and damage the vase.

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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.

Furniture, desk, lap, burlwood, rectangular, lid, mother-of-pearl inlay, red velvet writing surface, pencil tray, storage compartment, 5 x 13 x 9 inches, $85.

Royal Crown Derby, compote, lid, Japonesque, pierced knot finial, concave top, Imari style panels, multicolor, pierced handles, footed, gilt trim, 7 x 9 inches, $115.

Cut glass, punch set, scalloped bowl, hobstars, sawtooth rim, dome foot, 10 cups, handles, bowl 13 x 14 inches, $160.

Radio, Admiral, Aeroscope, AM, rectangular case, Bakelite, emerald green, top handle, cord, 9 1/2 x 13 inches, $190.