Britannia figurines wore helmets as a rule

Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926, but she celebrates her birthday on several different days.

The English monarch's birthday had been celebrated on the actual date of his or her birth since 1788. But in 1936, after King George V died, the date was changed to the second Monday in June to commemorate his death and to get better weather for the "Trooping the Color," a British regimental parade.

The date was changed again in 1959 to the second Saturday in June. To add to the confusion, some places, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, chose a different day.

This year it will be celebrated in Britain on June 8.

A Roman goddess was the inspiration for Britannia, the personification of Britain, by 1797. She always wears a Corinthian helmet, carries a trident or spear and has a lion lying at her feet. She represents unity, liberty and national pride.

This Staffordshire figure of Britannia was made about 1820. The figure, 11 inches high by 8 inches wide, was sold at a Thomaston auction for $586.

Q: I acquired an antique lamp sculpted by Auguste Moreau in the late 1800s. It's the figure of a draped woman reaching for a flower and leaves on a round base. The lamp's metal is dull but it's in excellent shape. It needs to be rewired. It is signed by Moreau. Is it worth getting it restored?

Q: I have a Cherry Boy statue of a boy holding cherries above his mouth, but he has blond hair. The statue's bottom under the tree trunk has "Atlantic Mocd" scraped into it, like it was put there when the material was still wet. Can you tell me anything about my statue?

A: The original Cherry Boy was a 21-inch figure made of chalkware. The design was copyrighted in 1906 by Boston Plastic Art Co. (in business from about 1900 until the early 1920s). It often was painted with watercolors, but oils were used, too, so the cast sculpture could be painted with different colors. Your statue is much newer, with less detail and a more contemporary style. It was cast by the Atlantic Mold Co., which operated from about 1960 until 2001. Atlantic called it the Cherry Picker. Other companies still sell some of Atlantic's old molds. Cherry Boy statues from the early 1900s sell from $40 to $75. Asking price online for your Cherry Picker is about $15, but we haven't seen any sell.

Write to: The Kovels, c/o King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019. The website is kovels.com.

Prices are from shows nationwide.

Mettlach stein, pottery, soldier, students, violin player, outside pub, pewter lid, 1/2 liter, $170.

Bronze dog statue, whippet, ready to run, oval black and orange marble vase, after P.J. Mene, 4 by 5 by 3 inches, $365.

Linen press, chestnut, two arched panel doors, shelves, two over three drawers, wooden knobs, French bun feet, Canada, 1800s, 83 by 51 inches, $430.

Christmas ornament, kugel, cluster of grapes, olive green glass, baroque cap, Germany, 5 1/2 inches, $445.

Sterling silver belt buckle, interwoven bands, enamel decoration, Cymric, Archibald Knox, Liberty & Co., 1903, 2 1/2 inches, $500.