Q: My friend who gave me her old upright piano also gave me the antique piano shawl she always draped over the piano. It’s 52 inches square and appears to be black silk crepe. It’s reversible and covered in embroidered pink roses. The fringe around the whole shawl is 15 inches long with smocking around the edge of the fabric. Is the shawl valuable?
A: Many piano shawls like yours were made in Spain in the 1890s. They sell for $50 to $100 if they’re in very good condition, with full fringe and without holes.