Tiffany & Co. Half Compacts, ca. 1900
APPRAISER:
They belonged to two sisters?
GUEST:
Two sisters of my grandmother.
APPRAISER:
You know what they are.
GUEST:
They're a little compact of some sort.
APPRAISER:
They're very ornate, dressy compacts.
GUEST:
Oh, good.
APPRAISER:
Did you know that they came from Tiffany and Company?
GUEST:
No, I didn't. No, I had no idea!
APPRAISER (laughs): Tiffany and Company had a, had a factory in Newark, New Jersey.
GUEST:
Uh-huh.
APPRAISER:
And back at the turn of the century, they manufactured things like this for young ladies. The "Tiffany and Company" is right here. It's no mistake. These all opened up. They have rouge and powder inside.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
And the mirror to straighten out-- no lipstick.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm, oh...
APPRAISER:
So this is a half, what we call a half-compact, not a full compact.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
Now, these are 14-karat gold.
GUEST:
Oh, great.
APPRAISER:
You have roughly somewhere around three, $3,500 in gold alone.
GUEST:
Oh, my goodness.
APPRAISER:
So gold is high right now.
GUEST:
Oh, my goodness.
APPRAISER:
If they weren't engraved, they'd be worth a little bit more.
GUEST:
Really?
APPRAISER:
Because you can't get the initials out...
GUEST:
Right.
APPRAISER:
But you're not selling them.
GUEST:
No, I'm not.
APPRAISER:
So you've got to really insure this for between $8,000 and $10,000.
GUEST:
Oh, my goodness. (both laugh)
Appraisal Details
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