Porcelain baby; sofa; old gun; French tea set: Attic Finds

Our expert appraises your objects.

Ironing clothes was even more of a chore before electricity

Cowles Syndicate Inc. This 8-inch early-20th-century copy of an ancient Chinese iron used to press cloth sold for $89 at a December 2011 Ivey-Selkirk auction in St. Louis. Its shape inspired a 1950s ashtray. An antique Chinese iron would sell for hundreds of dollars.

Dual-Purpose Furniture Popular For Centuries

Dual-purpose furniture has been made for centuries. By the 1700s, there were chairs with large, round backs that flipped down on the top of the arms to make a table. There also were chairs that could be flipped over to be used as library steps. In the

Old irons, ironing boards may be collected today

Permanent-press fabrics have relieved most households of the need to iron clothing.

Antiques: Irons, accessories

All types of old ironing sticks, mangling boards and irons are collected today.