KOVELS: Artist without arms produced ‘mouth cut’ silhouettes | Community

A recent catalog gave a description of a figure as “cut to the mouth”. Martha Ann Honeywell (1786-1856) was a disabled artist who cut figures and did needlework without using her hands. She was born without hands or forearms, and she was also missing two toes. She could cut and paste, thread a needle, embroider and write using her mouth, toes and upper arms.

Honeywell has played in the United States and Europe for almost 60 years. She charged 25 cents for a silhouette that she “cut out” from black paper, pasted onto a white background, and signed in ink. Two pieces of embroidery, one bearing the Our Father in ink, framed with a silhouette, were auctioned for $ 1,560 last year. A Honeywell beanie silhouette of a woman was valued between $ 400 and $ 800 in another sale, but it did not sell.

Question: I would like to have information on a Kundo 400 day anniversary clock. It is made of brass and has a key winding mechanism. What is it worth?

A: Several companies made birthday clocks in the 1950s and 1960s. These were the first clocks that did not have to be wound every day, but only once a year or about every 400 days. They were often given as gifts and rolled up every year on a wedding anniversary, anniversary, or anniversary of some other important event. Several models of Kundo clocks were manufactured by Kieninger & Obergfell, a company in western Germany. They sell for less than $ 100, some as low as $ 15.

Question: I see a lot of Bing and Grondahl Christmas plates in thrift stores. The prices don’t seem very high, which amazes me. I have a 1962 Bing and Grondahl plate with snowy rocks in the moonlight. Is it worth anything?

A: Bing & Grondahl is a Danish pottery company founded in 1853 by Frederik Vilhelm Grondahl and the brothers Meyer Herman and Jacob Herman Bing. It is known for high quality porcelain and stoneware, tableware and decorative items. The company was acquired in 1987 by Royal Copenhagen. The first blue and white porcelain Christmas plate was made by Bing & Grondahl in 1895 and one is still produced every year. Each annual plate has the year and a Christmas scene. Most are not worth much money on resale. A 1962 Bing and Grondahl Christmas plate is worth around $ 20. The first plaques from the 1890s sold for up to $ 1,000.

Question: Heard on TV that Wonder Bread is celebrating 100 years in business in 2021. I have a promo piece advertising Wonder Bread that my mom received when she bought a loaf of bread from our general store in 1936 The paper is folded into a 5 1/2-inch by 3 3/4-inch rectangle. It reads: “Here is the famous 1-2-3 test” and the word “See” above large eyes, “Feel” above fingers touching bread and “Taste” above an open mouth and a piece of bread. Eyes and fingers open to reveal the ad in the main section that says “Compare Slo-Baked Miracle Bread with All Other Brands.” Is it a collector’s item? What is it worth?

A: Wonder Bread was introduced by the Taggart Baking Company of Indianapolis in 1921. The term “Slo-Baked” was first used in 1925 after the sale of Taggart to the Continental Baking Company. In 1930, Wonder Bread became one of the first sliced ​​breads sold in the United States. People thought sliced ​​bread dried out too quickly, so the company ran several advertisements promoting its freshness. Wonder Bread is now a brand owned by Flowers Foods. Promotional items are collectable, but paper items don’t sell for a lot. Some sell online for less than $ 5 or $ 10.

Question: I have a Limoges plate painted by Nevada Wilson. It is an art deco style image of a woman with a scarf on her head and tassels around the edge of the plate with gold leaf. I would like to sell it but have no idea what it is worth. Can you help me?

A: Nevada Wilson (1877-1961) was known for her paintings of landscapes, flowers, animals and portraits. She has lived and worked in Nevada and California. She opened an art studio in Reno, Nevada, in 1908 and taught art in local schools. Wilson moved to Los Angeles in 1916. Some of his oil paintings on canvas sell for several hundred dollars. His work has also appeared on postcards. Your plate, painted by Nevada Wilson, is worth around $ 25.