Pairpoint Table Lamp, ca. 1900

Appraised on: July 16, 2005

Appraised in: Houston, Texas

Appraised by: David McCarron

Category: Glass

Episode Info: Houston, Hour 2 (#1005)

Originally Aired: February 6, 2006

IMAGE: 1 of 1  

Appraisal Video: (2:18)

GUEST: I inherited it from my aunt in the '80s, and she had gotten it in Des Moines, Iowa, probably in the early '20s, from her husband. I know it's a Pairpoint. The shade is a Carlisle shade, and the pattern on the reverse painting is Garden of Allah. It was signed by one of the artists who worked with the Mount Washington Glass Company in those early years-- Frank Guba is the name.

APPRAISER: Okay, this is a Pairpoint lamp. It is a Carlisle shade that is very wonderfully reverse-painted by Frank Guba, who is one of the better designers. Here we have the Pairpoint Company mark on the shade, and then also... Frank Guba's... signature here. The base has the Pairpoint mark underneath-- a "P" in a diamond-- and it's a beautiful neoclassical base with a bronzed metal finish. Now, this has a flaw in here and a flaw in here that I presume to be chips-- probably old chips. Were there chips in it when you got it?

GUEST: Yes, they were there.

APPRAISER: Okay. And more importantly, here we have on the outside a chip that's visible to the eye when the lamp is assembled. And that, I think, has been there since the '30s, probably, or in the life of the original owner. You have a great shade, and in these lamps, most of the money is in the shade. Now, do you have any idea as to value?

GUEST: Not really, and that's why I'm here today. I'm hoping it's worth into the thousands, but I don't really know.

APPRAISER: The chip is a major consideration. Now, that can be polished, but it can never be removed. It can never really be repaired. I think the lamp now would be about $1,500 to $2,500, because of that designer and this motif.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: But if it had been in perfect condition, probably $8,000 to $12,000. It's a big difference in glass when you have a damage that can never be repaired.

GUEST: Sure. Well, I appreciate knowing.

APPRAISER: Okay. I'm glad you came.

GUEST: That's a good figure.

APPRAISER: Yes.

GUEST: Thank you.

APPRAISER: Thank you.