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Trina Calantoni just can't pass up a good garage sale. For years she found herself collecting other people's junk, but now she wonders if she should just get rid of it all. Collector Inspector Harry Rinker pays a visit to see her stuff.

Figure A

Figure B

Calantoni paid $75 for this table (figure A) and four matching chairs at a garage sale. It's an enamel table from the 1920s or '30s with contrasting black-and-white color and a terrific design. It's labeled with a Montanari copyright, which is probably a design copyright rather than a manufacturer name. Rinker values the set at $150 to $175. The chairs are worn in places, showing several layers of paint (figure B). Calantoni likes this shabby chic look.

Figure C

Calantoni uses this candy dish (figure C), circa 1920s to '40s, as an olive dish for holiday functions. Purchase dishes like these from flea markets for $10 to $15. Once the dish makes it in the antique shop, they're usually selling for $55 to $65 according to Rinker.

Figure D

Though some milk glass is considered valuable, Rinker calls this floral vase (figure D) an example of "junky" milk glass.

Figure E

Figure F

Calantoni got these riding boots (figure E) from her mother and thinks they came from an auction or a garage sale. The boot supports are labeled "Mrs. AP Jones" (figure F) Rinker suspect the boots were specially made for Ms. Jones by a high-end boot maker, who provided the labeled inserts as well. The boots are in great condition and are even labeled "left" and "right." Rinker values them at $85 to $100.

Figure G

Figure H

Calantoni found this piece (figure G) in her mother's garage, covered with dust. It purports to be from the Thirty Years War. The Thirty Years War took place from 1618 to 1648, and was one of the many religious wars. During the war, Gustavus Adolph from the Lutheran side came down to Nuremberg on the Catholic side and there was a battle. They had to build embankments around the city of Nuremberg, and the story is that this shoe fell off one of the horses they were using while building embankments. The shoe is in a great old wooden frame with a decorative plaster top. The frame has some damage at the corners (figure H) and top but could be easily repaired. The value is largely conversational but could still fetch from $250 to $300.

Also in this Episode

Collector Inspector : Episode CTI-110
•	Attic Treasures
•	Exotic & Homey Collectibles
•	Garage-Sale Finds
•	The More You Know ...

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