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By JAY MOORE Tribune correspondent

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 15, 2009

Antiques collectors are kings and queens of the green - the originals.

The hobby goes back at least two centuries, when people realized a missing limb from an otherwise perfectly good ancient Roman statue was no reason to toss it in the well. It just might look great in the yard! The British realized that in the 18th century and created some of the most beautiful formal gardens in Europe.

Antiques are recycled goods. They range from a million-dollar Philadelphia Chippendale tea table to a 1950s Coca-Cola bottle worth $5. What we love is saved items, things with a history that were touched by people many years ago, perhaps even by a relative. It is our passion.

Antiques, even those salvaged from curbside trash piles, are treasured. Saving them keeps them out of the landfill - and preserves our history as a people.

I would like information about my green glass object. It has a hole in the top section for a candle. It stands 14 inches high and has eight crystals hanging at each level. I inherited it from my great aunt and wonder if she bought it during one of her trips to Europe.

P.C.

Tampa

It's a luster missing its mate. Pairs of lusters were used to decorate fireplace mantels between the mid- and late 19{+t}{+h} century. Most of these decorated glass pieces were made in Bohemia and exported.

Lusters mostly were popular in England and the United States. The usual configuration is a circular base with a standard supporting a circular cup with a candle socket and prisms. It would retail for $225.

Please tell me about the origin, age, style and value of this antique armchair that has been in the family for about 80 years. It is made of dark wood and is upholstered. It has a carved crest and there are casters on the legs.

W.M.

It is an Eastlake style armchair that probably was once part of a suite that may have included a sofa, large armless chair and several side chairs. It probably was manufactured in the United States around 1880. It appears to be made of walnut.
Charles Eastlake was an English designer. His book "Hints on Household Taste in Furniture, Upholstery and Other Details" became popular in America in the 1870s. The furniture produced here was quite different from his original designs.

This chair appears to be of good quality and would retail for about $195. The finest examples of American Eastlake-style furniture were produced by Herter Brothers of New York City along with a handful of other shops.

Have a question about antiques? E-mail a complete description with a clear, high-resolution digital image in .jpg format to baylife@tampatrib

.com. Include a name, address and daytime phone number. Regular mail can be sent with clear photographs (not computer printouts or Polaroids) to Jay Moore, BayLife Magazine, The Tampa Tribune, P.O. Box 191, Tampa FL 33601. The large volume of mail may mea

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