A kilim is a type of rug that originated in Asia, falling into the broad category of Oriental rugs. The earliest known examples were found in China, and the most famous come from western Asia. Unlike pile-woven rugs, which have a thick, tufted texture made from thousands of knotted threads, kilims are flat woven, tapestry style, typically from wool. Their designs are usually geometric and often symbolic. Oriental rugs were introduced to western Europe and America by the 18th century.

Thanks to the quality of the weaving and beauty of the designs, they quickly became fashionable luxury items. They weren’t just for the floor; paintings show them covering tables. Some decorators will hang them on the wall as decoration and extra insulation. The durable fabric, not to mention the attractive colors and patterns, also make them appealing options for upholstery.

This bench, which sold for $594 at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, is upholstered with a kilim. According to the description, it was made in the 20th century, but the fabric came from an earlier rug. It may have been a way to repurpose a worn or damaged rug, indicating that what we now call recycling or upcycling has been around for a long time.

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Q: I have some treasures from my grandmother that have been in the family for many years, like a cut glass bowl with twelve matching shallow bowls. Sadly, I have discovered that my children do not want them. I would like to sell them to someone who would appreciate them. Would you tell me their approximate value and how I would go about selling them for a fair price?

A: As you may expect, this is not an uncommon situation; not everyone wants to inherit their family’s antiques. But there are many collectors who would happily give them a good home. Check local antiques or consignment shops to see if they sell similar items. If possible, look for reviews or ask for references. To determine a fair price, it helps to have as much information as possible about your items. There are many books available to help you identify your cut glass and find pattern names. Look for American Cut and Engraved Glass by A. C. Revi or The Encyclopedia of American Cut and Engraved Glass. A collector’s club like the American Cut Glass Association (cutglass.org) may have more information to help you identify and sell your glass bowls. Another option for glassware is to sell to a pattern-matching service.

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Q: I purchased this metal container about 40 years ago. The owner said he bought it in Japan. It is in perfect condition and has an ornate design with towers and a small boat floating among tall grasses. It seems to be made of bronze. What is it used for and what is your judgement of its value?

A: It sounds like you have a bronze censer, used for burning incense. Incense was used in Japan for Buddhist ceremonies by the sixth century and became an important part of Japanese culture and status symbol among the wealthy. Some Japanese censers are made to use in tea ceremonies. Early censers were usually made of porcelain or wood. Bronze censers with elaborate decorations became popular in the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries. These are often collected today. Depending on their size and condition, bronze censers are usually worth about $100 to $400.

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Q: We found a ceramic frog in our mother’s estate. It is signed “E. Galle” and “Nancy” below the name, but we do not know if it is authentic. How do we determine the authenticity? If it is authentic, what is it worth?

A: You are right to be skeptical; there are many fakes of famous pottery pieces, and an authentic-looking mark isn’t always what it seems. There are several European potteries that made animal figures that look like Galle’s, like Mosanic and Fayencerie Augy, but their pieces are usually marked for their own companies, not with Galle’s mark. We recommend contacting an antiques dealer or auction house in your area, preferably one familiar with Galle or early 20th-century pottery, if possible. You may need to take your frog to be examined in person. Pottery fakes are often caught through details like the weight of the piece (fakes are usually lighter so they are easier to ship), the texture of the glaze or the color of any exposed clay. If your piece turns out to be a fake, it may still be worth hundreds of dollars. We have seen “Galle-style” or “Galle-attributed” pottery sell for about $100 to $250. Authentic Galle animal figures can sell for about $500 to over $1,000.

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TIP: If you reupholster an antique piece of furniture, save some of the original fabric. Put it in an envelope and tape it to the bottom of the seat so future owners can know more about the original appearance. When selling a piece, this sort of history will add to the value.

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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.

Aluminum, tray, brass handles, figural, ducks’ heads, Herco S.A., Mexico, late 20th century, 16 x 27 inches, $30.

World’s Fair, medal, 1901, Alaska-Yukon-Pacific, gilt, embossed, three figures, William H. Seward bust, Seal of Seattle on reverse, black ribbon, medal, 1 inch, $105.

Quilt, crazy, multicolor, embroidered animals, gray flannel backing, marked, Completed February 1915, 85 x 82 inches, $120.

Lamp, electric, Quezal glass shade, iridescent gold, ruffled, brass base, curved stem, marked, Chase, early 1900s, 15 inches, $200.

Porcelain-Chinese, planter, fishbowl, phoenixes and flowers around exterior, orange, yellow, blue, goldfish and coral interior, 19 x 22 1/2 inches, $225.

Advertising, warmer, Hy-Power Tamales, Rutherford Chile Co., red label, stainless, electric, American Metalware Co., Chicago, 14 x 17 inches, $255.

Garden, figure, dog, sitting, ears raised, painted, black, white spots on face, red collar, cement, c. 1940, 16 1/2 inches, $290.

Furniture, chair, Federal, mahogany, pierced shield back, inlay, upholstered seat, box stretcher, refinished, early 1800s, 38 1/2 inches, $750.