Q: The pedestal bowl in this photo belonged to my mother. She used it as a fruit bowl and I do, too. Because the design isn't blurry enough, I don't think it would be considered an example of authentic flow blue. It is in perfect condition and stands about 7 inches tall. Marked on the bottom are a crown and the words "Regala — Semi Porcelain — Thomas Hughes & Sons — England."

Anything you can tell me about my pedestal bowl would be greatly appreciated.

A: Your pedestal bowl is an example of flow blue. It was made sometime between 1896 and 1910 by Thomas Hughes & Sons, which was located in Staffordshire, England. "Regala" is the name of the pattern. It is less blurry than earlier pieces and typical of later flow blue dishes made around 1900.

It would probably fetch around $100 to $150 in an antiques shop.

Q: This mark is on the bottom of a silver-plated candelabra that belonged to my grandmother. It stands about 8 inches tall and is in excellent condition. It has four arms with candlestick holders. My grandmother always used it for the holidays and I will pass it down to my daughter.

I would like to know if it is an antique, when it was made and what it is worth.

A: There are varied opinions on the definition of an antique. The United States government declares an imported object must be 100 years old to be considered an antique and therefore, duty-free. Some antique authorities agree that if something is 50 years old, it is an antique. Most people would accept an item to be an antique if it is 75 to 80 years old. The word "candelabra" is plural. If you have only one, officially the word is "candelabrum." Truth be known, most people use the word "candelabra" even when referring to just one.

Homan Manufacturing Co. was a well-known maker of silver-plated pieces. It was founded in the mid 1800s and was located in Cincinnati, Ohio. "Quadruple Plate" was a term used for high-quality silver-plated objects. Your candelabrum was made around 1930, and based on the 75-80 rule, it is an antique. The value would probably be $150 to $200.

Flow blue bowl was made by Thomas Hughes & Sons in England.

Homan Manufacturing was located in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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.