caraf

[Pearltree]

This is a caraf I was given by my mother in law who said it is an antique. Is it an antique and about how much would it be worth? There is gold and white design on the bottle. The stopper is plastic but plastic was invented in the 1800's

[Michelle Staley]

This looks like a vinegar cruet and while "plastic" has been around since about 1843 (http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/a/plastics.htm or http://www.plastiquarian.com/ind3.htm) the plastic that is probably used on this stopper is from the 1950's or later.

It very well could be that the plastic was put on the stopper at a later date but is highly unlikely.

I cannot tell much from the cruet as far as detail, pontil mark, etc. but it looks to be Bavarian in origin and from the style it looks to be from circa 1950.

Early plastics such as celluloid, vulcanite, casein, bakelite were hard plastics used in making jewelry, billiard balls, handles for small items, dresser sets, and many more items. They were not soft pliable plastics or vinyl.

Does you mother-in-law know any history on it or where she got it?

[Pearltree]

The caraf is 11 1/2 inches tall and has a circumfrance of 4 1/4. My mother in law said it was given to her by a friend. That's all she knows about it.

[Michelle Staley]

What does the mark say??

[Pearltree]

That's suppose to be circumference of 4  1/2 inches. No markings are on it. Just the white and gold decoration. My mother in law  has alzheimers now

[EAPG]

You seem to be having trouble with the word circumference (measured around the base or body?), or do you mean 4-1/2" diameter (measured across the base)? This decanter appears to be Late Victorian and of Bohemian origin and came with 6-8 matching wine glasses and sometimes a tray that was glass or metal.  I can't tell if the stopper is as good a match for color as it appears to be, but it's either not original or the plastic was added in modern times.  Many cruets and decanters of this type also had enameling on the stoppers, sometimes a row of white dots.