Broken Stemware
By catdla1
@catdla1 (6005)
United States
December 3, 2008 1:56pm CST
An aunt recently mailed me some stemware that had been a wedding gift to my parents, both of whom are now deceased. Unfortunately, most of the glasses were broken in delivery. I was broken-hearted! Even though the box was clearly marked that the contents were fragile, it's pretty obvious that something heavy was dropped on the box.
The shipment was insured, but in order to process it, I must establish value. The glasses (see picture) are from the 1930's or 1940's. Can anyone help me figure out the pattern name or a possible manufacturer? Any help would be very very appreciated. Thanks!
2 people like this
4 responses
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
6 Dec 08
Take one to a antque dealer or store and ask them if they know who made them and out much they are worth and ask if they can write you up a oh what is the word? Well you know and get at least three or four of them. and give that to who ever insured it. That is all I have for you on that. Or you can try ebay. They are good at that as well. Your friend onlydia.
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
6 Dec 08
Thanks for the suggestion. You'd laugh at the 'antique' shops in my area. Mostly what they sell is reproduction antiques. Being from the New England area, I expected to see real antiques, and knowledgeable dealers. Of course, Oklahoma is only 100 years old, so I have to take that into consideration. I was able to get the pattern name from replacements.com, when I get the insurance money, I'll use that information to look at ebay. Happy MyLotting!
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
3 Dec 08
OMG--those glasses look fairly similar to glasses my family had...my great-grandmother in particular...sadly they exist no longer either. There are three major crystal glass companies I can think of...Waterford Crystal, Stueben and Libby...usually the first two have their name etched into the glass, while Libby didn't...so my guess...Libby glasses??
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
6 Dec 08
You are so smart! I heard back from replacements.com and the glasses did indeed end up being from Libby! The pattern is called Glenmore by Libby - Rocke Sharpe.
Are you any good at picking powerball numbers? Teasing you..thanks for your response!
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Dec 08
Wow--I'm glad you found them!! Way to go! As for picking powerball lotto numbers..oh, how I wish!
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
10 Dec 08
Oh NO! How devastating for you. Try an antique dealer. I hope you get some answers but of course, nothing can replace them. My daughters sent me a collage of photos one year for Christmas...there were dozens of photos of my girls and their children, some of me, my little dog, Pixie and some other people. My daughter Nicole had cut the photos up and arranged them all and it's fabulous. Unfortunately, the glass and the frame were broken in transit and some of the photos were scratched. I replaced the frame and all is well but why is it that really special things of great sentimental value are the things that are more likely to be damaged? Such a shame.
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
10 Dec 08
I agree with you. I get lots of 'junk' delivered in perfect condition. It broke my heart to lose more than half of the glasses. As far as the antique dealers go, around here what is passed off as antiques is usually reproduction stuff. The most 'knowledgeable' dealer in my area didn't even know what ironstone was (I'm always looking to add to my collection while I'm out and about...lol). I guess the plus side of that is that is if I stumble across something good, the dealer may not know what it is, and underprice it. It is a shame, but I'm trying to tell myself that I at least have some of the glasses, where a week ago I didn't have any.
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
27 Oct 09
im curious. did you ever get out of the post office what they were worth? i've never thought it was fair the way they have you insure something then dont want to pay you. worst of all is how do they expect you to put a price on something like that?
they once lost a special unreplacable photo of my mom when she first married my dad that my aunt sent me. it was from 1946. when i tried to get them to investigate into it, they offered me a book of stamps for replacement how crazy is that?
they once lost a special unreplacable photo of my mom when she first married my dad that my aunt sent me. it was from 1946. when i tried to get them to investigate into it, they offered me a book of stamps for replacement how crazy is that? @catdla1 (6005)
• United States
27 Oct 09
I did finally get paid, as I found several of the same glasses online and printed the information on the most expensive...and that's what they ended up paying. I had to jump through hoops to get it though.
The biggest problem, to me, is how they sell the insurance. You can insure a package for any amount, and pay accordingly. The more you insure for, the higher the fee. That's fine, they will take your money with a smile and a 'thank you'...until it's lost or damaged while it's in their hands. In order to submit a claim, you have to prove a value. For something like photographs, paintings or other artwork that's almost impossible. It's nothing but a 'gotcha'. Proof of insured value should be required at the time you purchase the insurance, or they should accept the value that they took your money for. When someone buys life insurance, you only have to prove that the insured is deceased. You don't also have to prove what their worth is.
