Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest says ‘oh my word’ after hearing the value of her 130-year-old cookie jar (marketrealist.com)
A simple cookie jar recently shocked its owner on Antiques Roadshow with a surprisingly high valuation. The guest, who received the jar as a gift years ago, initially knew little about its origins, guessing it might be English despite a “Napoli” mark on the bottom.
Expert Arlie Sulka quickly identified the jar as a product of the Mt. Washington Glass Company, noting the “MW” mark inside the lid.
Sulka explained that Mt. Washington operated first in South Boston and later in New Bedford, Massachusetts, placing the jar’s production after the company’s 1870 relocation.
The “Napoli” glass, a rarer type, was produced for only a brief period around 1896. The guest reacted with a stunned “Oh, my word!”
upon learning the jar’s age.
Sulka highlighted the jar’s intricate details, particularly the painted figures on the interior of the glass, a testament to the skill of the artisans involved. She also examined the gilt webbing and twig design on the handle, remarking on its remarkably good condition despite some tarnishing of the originally gold-plated metal.
The final appraisal? A stunning $4,000 to $6,000 at auction.
The guest, visibly delighted, could only repeat her earlier exclamation, “Oh, my word!” adding, “I had no idea.
That’s great!”