If this thread is still 'alive'...I would greatly appreciate a 'use-identification' anyone can offer. I have no idea what it is...found it in my parents collection and they were married late 1940s. It is 3.5" in diameter x 3" tall, and only markings are "Wallace" & "88" on the underside. (I covered my Dad's personal etched i.d. info w orange tape). It has a fish and maybe acanthus leaf design, a square opening on top-center, and round opening (not threaded) on bottom-center. Is this some sort of flower-stem holder for a vase?? Thanks for any thoughts!!!

Your pieces have printed outlines....the differences in placement you see are due to the printing being laid on the piece differently or to differences in how the hand done embellishments, coloring was added. The puzzle in the whole matter is the mark.....early showa period...1920's and after. BUT the McKinley tarrif act passed in 1891 made it illegal to import porcelain without the place of origin marked... Perhaps it was bought but not for import? Or imported into Germany? or perhaps at one time it had a paper label also attached....or perhaps the importer turned a blind eye....that happened some! All that said....it's still not worth much. I still say garage sale it....because the packing and shipping will be prohibitive. Someone may pay $50 for the set....but not when they have to pay another $30 for packing and shipping.

They are Limoges porcelain plates....likely about 1880....and if I remember correctly, the Elite porcelain works was one that became part of the Haviland porcelain works. Worth? What someone will pay. Are they "piece of cake" sized?...likely $6 to $8 each...if you can get that. They would look nice hanging on the wall in the bedroom where you put the lamp. Linda c

The question is this specific dining room set. As has been pointed out, the finish is in bad shape and refinishing furniture is expensive and is probably not worth it for this set which is neither particularly unique or attractive. If one needs functional furniture that doesn't look trashy, then painting it is probably the best and easiest solution. Painted wood furniture isn't my taste although I have seen painted stuff which really is fun and much fresher than the original finish. My friend had her 1920's wing chair with carved arms upholstered in a beautiful contemporary fabric and had the wood painted in a gorgeous cream finish with subtle iridescent over tones. She could have bought a fantastic chair for what she spent but why should she have preserved a nondescript mass produced chair in its original state when the new version is much more attractive and can now go on for another 80 years. I love vintage items and much of my stuff is vintage and I even had a custom sofa and table made that replicated authentic Art Deco. I also had a custom Chinese Deco rug made because I couldn't find a vintage one that combined the colors and patterns I want. I had the two end drawers of my Waterfall bedroom suite turned into night stands because I no longer had use for the vanity as a vanity. However not everything that is old is sacred and needs to be preserved. Some of it can be repurposed to suit individual tastes and needs.