“Carnival Means More Than Rides” - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – Expensive Glass.

Canival Glass Plate - Thanks to www.usauctionlist.com

Each day brings new and exciting things into my life. I often encounter questions from members of the “31 Club” that require me to hit the books because answers don't immediately come to mind. This is one way to keep this old brain of mine active and I thoroughly enjoy it. However, the greatest part of what I do is keep in contact with people I really like.

This happened today when my mentor Cecil Roeder called and asked about a Carnival Glass plate. I almost had to laugh because it is so seldom that Cecil has to ask me about anything. You see he is almost a walking encyclopedia when it comes to Antiques and Collectibles. But this plate was one that he couldn't find so we were like two kids, both going through our libraries searching for the answer, while holding the phone with our head and shoulder. Most of you have read what I have written on Carnival Glass and how it was the poor man's Tiffany, but it no longer is. In fact, some Carnival ranks right up there with Tiffany. Since the piece that Cecil was trying to appraise was a plate which often can carry prices in the thousands of dollars, he wanted to be sure that he found the correct information.

After maybe 30 minutes we finally found what we were looking for and it seemed like a mystery solved. This is what I love about this business and that is, if you give it time, all the questions you have can be answered and often it is with the help of a good friend. In this case what we were searching for was a price for an Orange Tree blue 9 inch plate, but with a twist. The center didn't have the normal pattern and that could have made a tremendous difference in the price. Finding that this center is called "tree trunk", it was possible to establish a price for the plate which was under $500. The great thing about our study of this piece was the information that we were able to store in our minds about other items that we ran across in our books. Now we both know that in the event we find this identical plate in green it would be worth up to $5000.

This is the type of information that will send you to the front of the class. How would you feel if, attending one of the local garage sales, you noticed this Carnival Glass plate sitting in the china cabinet where it was placed fifty years ago? Approaching it and picking the plate up, you discover that it is the Orange Tree pattern and in green. How would you keep your composure as you turned to the clerk and asked the price? To your surprise the answer could be as low as $25. No it isn't Tiffany, but it could even be better. However, if you didn't know about this piece you would probably walk away wondering why are they asking so much. Again I have to state knowledge is king and don't you forget it.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lamberts Antique and Collectible Club . Join Us Today!Check out the new Paintings and new items in our Gallery and Marketplace here.