Antiques & Collectibles | www.canarsiecourier.com

Q: I recently inherited a beautiful diamond butterfly pin. When I took it to a jeweler for an appraisal, he said it was an exceptionally fine piece and may have belonged to an infamous Chicago madam ac-cording to an article that appeared in your column some years back. Could you please repeat that information? Marcella Jones, Munster, IN

A: Here is that Q&A article that ran in my column way back in 1994.

Q: At an estate sale, I bought a beautiful vase decorated with colorful butterflies that had an attached tag saying it came out of the Everleigh Club which was a turn-of-the-century Chicago bordello run by the Everleigh sisters. How can I find out more about the club, its furnishings, the sisters, and the value of the vase which (given its history) may be worth a lot more than I paid? Joan Lee Anderson, Springfield, IL

A: Although the notorious and naughty madams, Ada and Minna Everleigh (who opened their exquisite and expensively-furnished bordello on Feb. 1,1900 in an impressive three-story, fifty room brown-stone which stood at 2131-33 South Dearborn in Chicago) loved butterflies and no doubt had many expensive items decorated with the butterfly motif. Therefore, your vase (in order to have added value) would have to be positively identified and documented as actually having been part of the bordello’s lavish and luxurious furnishings. The same holds true for any butterfly pins that (being a popular craze in the early 1900’s) and that Minna adored and wore studded with diamonds, in all sizes on the front of her gown, beginning with a small brooch at her neck to a seven-inch clasp at her waist.

In fact the sisters referred to the more than 600 "girls" in their employ, as "butterflies" who came and went and worked for them over a period of eleven years before the bordello was closed down by the mayor of the city on Oct. 23, 1911, and the building (originally erected in 1890 to accommodate visitors to the 1893 Columbian Exposition) was razed in 1933.

Without proof-positive documentation, there would be no way to tell whether or not your diamond butterfly pin belonged to Minna Everleigh unless you wake her from beyond by holding a seance, or by contacting her spirit on a Ouija board. You’ll be in-terested to know that a gorgeous selection of antique pins and brooches (including a diamond, ruby, garnet, moonstone, gold and platinum early butterfly brooch valued at $6,325) can be found pictured, and fully described, in the new 2003 "Warman’s Antique Jewelry Field Guide - Values and Identification" by C. Jeanenne Bell, G.G., available in a 509-page book with hundreds of listings, over 400 photos and illustrations, and up-to-date prices for antique, modern, estate, and costume jewelry, in an easy-to-take-along size when antiquing, for $16.95 postpaid from Krause Publications, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001. Or phone (888)-457-2873 toll free to order. You’ll love this book.

Q: Where can I find information on the history of Bleuette dolls, and where can I possibly see examples? Francine Harrison, Decatur, IL

A: You can find out everything your heart desires regarding such astonishingly beautiful dolls by visiting Barbara Hilliker, author of "Bleuette The Doll and Her Wardrobe" that’ll be available for purchase at a special book signing on August 23 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., and August 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, at the National Antique Doll Dealers’ Association and Windy City Doll Show at the Sheraton Gateway Suites, Chicago O’Hare Airport, 6501 N. Mannheim Rd., in Rosemont, IL Phone 847-699-6300. The show hosted by prominent doll dealer Gigi Williams-Giannone welcomes one and all to come and gasp at the beauty of it all. Autographed copies of the book "Bleuette The Doll And Her Wardrobe" by Barbara Hilliker is also available by mail, in a huge 176-page hardcover edition with color photos from Barbara C. Hilliker, 4515 Walking Stick Lane, Gainesville, GA 30506-5138. Also to join the Che’re Amies de Bleuette

Socie’te’ call 770-983-0945. Website: www.gigidolls.com E-mail: gigi@gigidolls.com

Q: How can I find out the value of, and where can I sell a collection of old 45 rpm records dating from the early fifties? R. Rippy, Hampton Roads, VA

A: To check out the value of old 45s, 78s, LPs, and all other types ranging from country to classical to comedy to childrens records, and including jazz, rock n’ roll, rhythm and blues, soundtracks, soul, spoken word, doo-wop, big bands, picture discs, promotional records, rap and reggae, etc., and to know where to sell them, send for a copy of "How to Find Out the Value of All and Any Types of Old Records - With List of Record Buyers" available for $3 and a long self-addressed stamped envelope from Anita Gold, P.O. Box 597401, Chicago, IL 60659.

Write Anita Gold, P.O. Box 597401, Chicago, IL 60659. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope with a copy of this column and the name of the paper in which it appears for a reply.