1905 steamship menu a collectible memento
Q. This 1905 ocean liner steamship menu belonged to my great-grandmother. According to family history, she would have been around 12 years old when they were traveling home from China on a North German Lloyd ship. Featured are illustrations of the Haghia Sophia and an obelisk in Istanbul. It was the lunch menu for Dec. 12, 1905. It is printed in English on one side and German on the other. At the top are the words "Norddeutscher Lloyd - S.S. Bremen." Anything you can tell me about its history will be appreciated.
A. Your menu is nice memento from the North German Lloyd ocean liners from the late 1800s and early 1900s. "Norddeutscher" is the German word for North German. "Hagia Sophia" are the Greek words for "Holy Wisdom." The Haghia Sophia was a Christian church built in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian I in the city of Constantinople, which is now Istanbul, Turkey. It can be recognized by the Byzantine arches supporting a large dome. In the 15th century it became a mosque, and today it is a museum. Vintage steamship ocean liner menus are in the category of ephemera/paper collectibles. North German Lloyd ships were known for their luxurious accommodations and their speed. The S.S. Bremen was in service from 1897 to 1914. Your 1905 ocean liner menu would probably be worth $25 to $35.
Q. Enclosed is the mark on the bottom of my porcelain compote. My mother purchased it in Germany around the year 1950. Also included are the words "East Germany - Handmalerei." The height of the bowl is over 13 inches, and the diameter is almost 10 inches. It is reticulated to make it look like a basket and decorated with raised pastel flowers. On the base are a boy and a girl on a seesaw, along with raised flowers. It is in mint condition. Can you provide information on its history and value?
A. Von Schierholz Porcelain Manufactory made your compote. It was founded in 1907 in Plaue, Thuringia, Germany, and is still in business. It produced high-quality Dresden porcelain. "Handmalerei" is the German word for "hand-painted." Objects marked with the words "East Germany" were made from 1949 to 1990.
Your compote would probably be worth $300 to $600.
• 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 can't answer individual letters.
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