The Experts at Antiques Appraisal Day may Tell You It’s Worth a Fortune.
“We like dirt,” said Robert Harrison, the chairman of this year’s Antiques Appraisal Day.
Harrison, who is the proprietor of Harrison Appraisals, LLC in Westminster, was referring to his experts’ aversion to cleaned up, refinished and otherwise altered antiques.
“A lot has to do with demand,” he said, “But the key is condition, condition, condition. And there is a fine line between character and condition.”
People who succumb to the temptation to spruce up their antique furniture may, in fact, be reducing its value. So if you intend to bring your prized possessions to the American Legion hall at 2 Sycamore Street, Westminster, for assessment on Saturday, September 8 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., be warned: Your 18th century Philadelphia highboy’s grubby cabinetry is worth more if you leave it alone.
On the other hand, character may trump condition. Three years ago, someone brought an old Russian icon in to the appraisers. They assessed its value at $80,000. A single piece of jewelry fetched $20,000. Last year, the experts appraised a painting by Harry Aiken Vincent at more than $30,000.
At the lower end of the scale, but still exciting, a piece of jewelry that its owner paid 5 cents for at a yard sale was appraised at $1,500. And still lower, last year a man brought in an electric typewriter, believing it to be a valuable antique. The appraisers told him it may have been antique by today’s digital standards, but probably valuable only as a boat anchor.
You may have something valuable in your house. The event, which last year garnered its sponsor, the Historical Society of Carroll County, $16,000 in fees, donations, program advertisements and dues from its 850 members, will have six accredited appraisers on hand. They will be looking at furniture, silver, folk art and primitives, porcelain, glassware, books and documents, militaria, toys, coins, fine art and jewelry and will provide verbal, not written, evaluations.
The Society limits the number of objects to three per patron and the cost of appraisals will be $20 for the first and $5 for additional items. The appraisers will look at large items outside the Legion hall. This year’s event will be the seventh Antiques Appraisal Day. Last year some 200 people lined up with their treasures before the doors even opened. Food will be available and a strolling violinist will provide music.
“We want to make people as comfortable as possible,” said Timatha S. Pierce, the Historical Society’s executive director.
The whole staff of the Historical Society, plus some 20 volunteers, will be involved, according to Pierce.
The internationally accredited experts, in addition to Harrison, will be James Callear, of Barnesville Antiques and Appraising, Barnesville, MD; Joel Litzky, of Antique Marketplace, Severna Park; Maureen Heenan, of Antique & Estate Appraisals, Silver Spring; Etta Saunders, of Saunders Appraisal Services, Gaithersburg, and Fred Winer, of Appraisal Solutions, Inc., Towson.–S.D.K.
