Q: I have enclosed a photo of a porcelain tea set I own. It is a service for four that includes a teapot, dessert plates, cups and saucers. It is decorated with roses against a tan background and gold embellishment. Marked on the back of each piece are the words "Lefton China — Hand Painted — Reg. U.S. Pat. Off." Also, on the teapot is the number "1866." The letters "NE" and the number "1882" is on the plates, and "703" is on the cups.

I would appreciate any information you can give me on my set.

A: Hungarian emigrant George Zoltan Lefton founded Lefton China Co. in Chicago in 1941. After World War II, he seized the opportunity to export porcelain made in Japan to the United States. By the 1970s, factories in China, Taiwan and Malaysia were added to the list of suppliers. Lefton was one of the largest importers of giftware and became referred to as "The China King." Some pieces were also marked with a paper label. You have a coffeepot, not a teapot. A teapot is much more round and squat. The pattern is Lefton's "Brown Heritage — Floral." The numbers are model numbers. "NE" shows the set was made in Endo Toki, Japan.

Your coffee set was made between 1946 and 1955. It would probably be worth $125 to $175.

Q: I have a porcelain washbowl and matching pitcher that is decorated with a floral design against a white background that graduates to a soft green. The bowl is 16 inches in diameter, and the pitcher stands 11 inches tall. They are in mint condition.

The set belonged to my great-grandmother; it was gifted to her in the early 1900s. I would never part with it, and since I plan to pass it along to my granddaughter, I would like to know more about its history and value.

A: Your wash set was made by La Belle China, also known as Wheeling Pottery Co., in Wheeling West, Virginia, from 1879 to 1910. Wash sets often included a washbowl or basin, a large water pitcher, a small pitcher, a toothbrush holder, a soap dish, a chamber pot and a waste bowl.

Similar wash sets can be seen selling in the range of $100 to $150 on the internet and in antiques shops.

George Zoltan Lefton founded Lefton China Co. in 1941.

Address your questions to Anne McCollam, P. O. Box 247, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Items of a general interest will be answered in this column. Due to the volume of inquiries, she cannot answer individual letters. To find out more about Anne McCollam and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.