Q: I have what I think is a brass letter holder. It has this mark on it with the letters “VM.” Can you tell me anything about it?
A: This mark was used by Virginia Metalcrafters of Waynesboro, Virginia. The company was started by W.J. Loth Co. in 1890. It made stoves and cast iron hollowware. It began making brass items in 1936 and became Virginia Metalcrafters. The company made reproduction items for Colonial Williamsburg and other items in colonial style. New designs were also made. Your letter holder seems to be inspired by old letter holders but probably isn’t an exact copy. Resale value, under $75.
Brass Duck Mystery Mark
Q: I bought this intriguing piece at a garage sale. It's made of some kind of metal that I think is brass because a magnet won't stick to it. It appears to be plated in chrome or silver. There is an opening in the duck's mouth. The duck's head can be turned to release the wings, which are hinged and lift up towards the back. The quilted top under the wings can be lifted up to reveal removable rectangular and round receptacles. The piece that holds the receptacles can be removed, too. The bottom is marked with the initials FB (or BF), the design registration number 80521 and the patent registration number 53331. The duck is about 9 inches long, 6 inches wide, and 7 1/2 inches from the bottom to the top of the head. Can you give me any information that will help identify the maker and what this was used for?
A: Your duck is a pastille burner, similar to an incense burner. Pastille burners were the air fresheners of the 18th and early 19th centuries. A pastille was made by mixing a sweet-smelling oil with ground charcoal, saltpeter, and a gum-like substance. Floral scents like lavender or roses were popular. When the pastille was burned, it gave off a pleasing odor. Early pastille burners were custom-made for the wealthy, sometimes to match other china or in the shape of a building on the estate. By the late 19th century, they were being mass-produced and were used in public houses as well as private homes. Your duck-shape pastille burner is a 20th-century version. The maker's mark hasn't been identified, but a burner similar to yours with the same mark sold for $26 at an auction in England a few months ago.
