A:  Absolutely!  As a collector, or a dealer, what you don't know can cost you money!  

"ANRI Woodcarvings", by Philly Rains, and Donald Bull, was published in September, 2001, by Schiffer Publishing Ltd. 
This hardcover book contains over 850 cull color photos of over 2500 ANRI items, with categories/chapters: Bottle stoppers (hundreds of different types,) bar sets, bar scenes, corkscrews, bottle openers, bar/dinner bells, bookends, desk calendars, letter openers, paper knives, book marks, cigarette boxes, humidors, match holders, pipe racks, match safes, ash trays, lighters, pipes,
salt & pepper shakers, place card holders, a multitude of serving utensils, egg cups, kitchen timers, toothpick holders, pin cushions, door stops, door knockers, barometers, and thermometers, brushes, shoe horns, needle cases, string/twine boxes,
trinket boxes, lamps/light fixtures, key racks, spoon racks, wall hooks, nutcrackers, hundreds of different types of figurines (doctor/nurse series, animals, professions, musicians, Charles Dickens, etc.,) chess sets, dioramas, music boxes, and other
Objets d'art.  There is also a chapter on things that are mistaken for ANRI, but aren't. 

With 272 pages in full color, "ANRI Woodcarvings" is guaranteed to introduce you to items you had no idea were produced
by the ANRI company, (as early as 1912,) and contains a complete price guide, of course. You can order online, and at a discount, too!  It's also the only place to get a copy autographed by both authors.

If you buy or sell any carved wooden item.....it might be an ANRI.  Click here to order, and here to view the book's index.

PS:  "The Ultimate Corkscrew Book," published in 1999, also has several pages of ANRI corkscrews and bar sets.
For more information contact Don Bull via the link on 'My Friends' page.

A: For values, 'ANRI Woodcarvings,' by Philly Rains & Donald Bull, is the only price guide ever published on vintage ANRI woodcarvings, and includes an introduction by Ernst Riffeser, 5th generation owner of the ANRI company.

If you would like an appraisal (i.e., for insurance purposes, or resale) please contact me for guidelines and a fee schedule. 
For sellers who are planning on reselling their carvings on eBay, or other venues, I charge a small fee..
 
I also provided Price Guide information on ANRI bottle stoppers in a feature article for the Antique Trader's, Collector Magazine, September, 1999.  You can reach Collector by calling 800-480-5168, however, the recent explosion of new collectors have made many of those 'values' obsolete

A:  Vintage ANRI carvings were seldom given names, and item numbers often changed from year to year, or catalog to catalog, so collectors have given some of them 'new names.'

Ltd. Edition carvings do have titles.  If you have a Ltd Edition piece, (Ferrandiz, Sarah Kay, etc., ) fine gift shops in large cities that sell ANRI may have information that will help you.  Contact me for the name of an ANRI Ltd. Edition resource, or the name of a retail dealer in your area.

A:  "Toriart" items were made by ANRI but are NOT carved wood.  They are made of a composite material called Sculptulite, and sold under the Toriart label from 1956 until 1992.

A:  Sadly, it's no longer possible to acquire the original corks used on ANRI bottle stoppers.  Therefore, replacing them with any other cork is a matter of personal preference.   Should you wish to do so you might find success at craft shops, or by using a cork from a bottle of quality wine.  Replacement corks do not necessarily reduce the value of your bottle stopper, but having the original in good condition is definitely a plus.

My suggestion for cleaning ANRI carvings is to use a high quality, semi stiff bristle artist's paint brush to dust them.  If your item is very dirty, some collectors have used a diluted oil soap product mixed with water on a Q-tip with some success.  I do not recommend using furniture polishes/cleaners, or oils which might damage the original paint and age patina.

A:   Sometimes only a professional will know for sure.  If you'd like verification/identification, I will do that for you at no charge, but that does not include appraisals.  Send good, clear pictures showing your item front and back, and any labels or markings.  You can email them to me, or send them by snail mail.  Contact me for a mailing address.