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Posted By: CarltonHendricks

Leon,
Well, I hate to be the napkin ring police but no, I don’t think it’s real based on my experience and intuition as a collector. However what you could use is an expert in silver plate Victorian napkin rings, and they’re out there. I’m a generalist but I appreciate figural items.

Probably the best antiques show in the S.F. bay area is the Hillsborough Antiques show, comes three times a year I think. The front hall is the more high brow stuff, the back hall is more Americana, this is a wide generalization. In the front hall, there are usually about three dealers who specialize in napkin rings. Their booths are full of them and they are all glistening examples. The one you’re showing would stick out like a sore thumb compared to the quality they deal in. I wish I had the email address of Ronald E. Van Anda of Lititz, PA. He’s prolific in them. If you could show it to him you’d get it straight from a specialist. I googled him but didn’t get any emails address.

FYI, This is off your football napkin ring subject but while I was trying to find his email address for you I came across an interesting story about Van Anda that I just have to share. Seems he was victimized at the Atlantique City show by a bad check. Later he was doing a gun show in Las Vegas when the perpertratior come into his booth. Get this this story below, I think our community will appreciate it.

quote: http://www.robertsgallery.com/news.htm
HOORAY FOR RON VAN ANDA
2/04
Three cheers for Pennsylvania dealer Ron Van Anda! I have never met this man but I would love to shake his hand, and here's why: last October Mr. Van Anda, along with a number of other dealers, fell victim to two men who kited checks to the tune of $100,000 at the Atlantique City show in New Jersey. Fast forward to Jan. 18, 2004, where Van Anda is doing a gun show in Las Vegas at the Riviera Hotel. Who did he recognize scouting out items on his table? None other than one of the two suspects who stung him at Atlantique City! Thinking fast, Van Anda grabbed the guy and, with the help of a fellow dealer (a retired cop) called for hotel security. The crook's partner then jumped into the fray and he, too, was subdued by dealers until the Las Vegas police arrived. At last word, the FBI was involved and had found outstanding warrants from numerous different states for the pair. And, if Nevada isn't one of them, it probably will be soon. When asked for ideas about a possible reward, Van Anda supposedly suggested free both rent for life at the Atlantique City show. And you know what? I sure hope he gets it.
Here's a tip, by the way, for any would-be crooks like the ones mentioned above: don't mess with gun dealers. From my own observations, they tend to be a different breed than the dealers at your average local antique show. Not to say they are bad, mind you, just cut from a bit tougher cloth. The Atlantique City check bouncers found that out the hard way, and good riddance to them.
http://www.robertsgallery.com/news.htm

Unquote:
Anyway, good luck with the napkin ring but you know my feeling about it, sorry to be the messenger of bad news -Carlton