There’s nothing like a hot drink on a cold day! How about a classic hot chocolate? Spiced apple cider? Maybe a warm cup of freshly steeped saffron? That last one might sound odd to us, but it’s a popular drink across many cultures and has been for hundreds of years.

Saffron, a spice made from the stigma of a type of crocus, has been prized for its flavor, color, fragrance and purported health benefits since antiquity. As a drink, it can be steeped as an herbal tea (or, as some tea purists insist, tisane or herbal infusion) on its own or with other spices or herbs; or it can be blended with tea leaves to add color and flavor to the brew.

Saffron tea was fashionable for a time in Victorian England, with special teapots made specifically for it, like this one made by silversmith Charles Fox in the mid-1800s. It sold for $218 at World Auction Gallery. It is about 4-inches tall.

Saffron teapots were smaller than common teapots and meant to brew small quantities. Saffron tea would have been a luxury, taken only a little bit at a time. Throughout the long history of its use, saffron has always been, and still is, expensive. At some points in history, it has been worth its weight in gold, or even more!

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Q: I have not been able to identify the mark on a beautiful vase. It has the letters “RH” inside a shield underneath a crown, all in red. Any idea who the company is?

A: This mark was used by Robert Hanke Porcelain Factory from about 1900 to 1918. The factory was founded in Ladowitz, Bohemia, Austria (now Ledvice, Czech Republic), in 1882 and operated until 1945. They made decorative porcelain and giftware, some of which resembles the more expensive Amphora porcelain made in the nearby Turn-Teplitz region. Vases like yours generally sell for about $50 to $100 today. Pottery and porcelain made in the regions formerly called Bohemia and Czechoslovakia are popular with collectors. A club like the Czech Collectors Association (czechcollectors.org) may have more information.

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Q: I have two of the Rat Bis-Kit rat poison papier-mache statues. They both appear to be in good shape and even have the poison cube that the rats are holding in their hands. They have some cobwebs on them but other than that they look very good. I am sure the cobwebs will wipe off, but I didn’t want to touch them because they are made of papier-mache.

A: You may have a treasure. Papier-mache advertising statues can be worth over a thousand dollars. You may want to contact a collectors’ club like the Antique Advertising Association of America (pastimes.org) for more information. If you are planning to sell your statues, contact an auction house that specializes in advertising.

You are correct to be careful with your statues; one reason why antique papier-mache statues can be so valuable is because paper antiques are often delicate and rare to find in good condition. They should be kept away from heat and direct sunlight. Very high and very low humidity can be damaging; about 50% humidity is usually the best. Keep them away from liquids. If you want to remove dust and cobwebs, you can try gently wiping the surface with a soft, dry cloth, brushing the cobwebs away with a soft-bristled paintbrush or blowing them away with a hair dryer on its cool setting and lowest power. Do not use water or cleansers.

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CURRENT PRICES

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.

Porcelain, glove mold, blue mark, round base, General Porcelain, Trenton, New Jersey, 14 inches, $75.

Purse, mesh, enamel, multicolor flowers, white and green ground, serrated fringe, metal frame, chain strap, Whiting & Davis, art deco, 5 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches, $95.

Rug, hooked, scenic, maple sugaring, red cabin, two figures, black horse, kettle, trees in background, wood stretcher, 24 x 40 inches, $155.

Castor jar, blue crackle glass, enamel flower vine, silver plate frame, mechanical lid, Pairpoint, 12 inches, $180.

Royal Doulton, vase, squat, two handles, light brown, blue flowers on white lattice, glossy brown rim, raised quatrefoils, marked, Doulton & Slaters, Lambeth, 1913, 3 x 5 inches, $190.

Canton, basket, chestnut, pierced sides, blue rim, shell handles, underplate, pierced rim, c. 1850, 5 x 10 x 9 inches, $250.

Walrath, cider set, stylized branch with leaves and fruit, brown ground, angled handle, slightly tapered, pitcher, four mugs, marked, c. 1910, pitcher 7 1/2 inches, five pieces, $2,520.

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