WHAT’S IT WORTH?

-- Q:I would like to know the history of my rosewood sofa. It is a solid piece but needs to be reupholstered. It has old feather-stuffed pillows. -- P.C.

Answer: The great antiquarian Thomas H. Ormsbee in his book "Field Guide to American Furniture" (first published in 1952) referred to this style of early Victorian sofa as "scroll-curved." I will go with his definition for lack of a better term.

This carved rosewood sofa probably was manufactured in the Midwest or Northeast around 1855. Some of the upholstery elements, such as the horsehair stuffing, are original, but most of it probably dates from the 1960s. The finish appears to be original. The bad news is that large pieces of Victorian seating furniture often are very expensive to reupholster. For this reason, it would retail for about $450. Q:The tea set I inherited from my mother was given to her many years ago. It is marked Nippon and includes a teapot, creamer, sugar and six cups and saucers. One cup and saucer are damaged. What is it worth? -- L.S.

Answer: Nippon is the Japanese word for Japan. Most of the porcelain marked Nippon was manufactured between 1891 and 1921. There were many factories producing porcelain during this period, and many pieces had factory back stamps.

You did not include a copy of the mark so I cannot identify the maker. This tea set is a type often referred to as moriage, because part of the hand-applied decoration is raised. It probably was made during the 1920s.

It would retail for around $85.
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