Antique Appraisal Day
Saturday September 13th 9AM-3PM
Church Social Hall
Everyone has a treasure. A mysterious object they wonder about. What is it worth? Could it be a valuable antique? Antique and fine art appraisal days provide the answers to these questions. As a result, appraisal days have become a very popular way for people to find out the value of their “treasures.”
Union has engaged Skinner, auctioneers and appraisers of Boston and Bolton, Massachusetts. They have been conducting appraisal days for over 25 years. You’ve seen these guys on a famous TV Show!
The actual process of appraising an item can take several minutes; therefore a limit to the number of items allowed per person is usually set. Donation arrangements are expected to be $10 per item appraised, or three items for $25. Your donation will be tax deductible and will benefit the recent repair of our steeple.
Once processed , the customer is given a number and observe other activities while they wait their turn. The number system keeps the flow of traffic from the waiting area to the appraisal room moving smoothly. The waiting area is usually a bustling place, charged with the energy of customers anticipating the value of their treasures. Often, customers are just as curious about their neighbors’ objects as they are about their own. Be Prepared to chat with everyone. There may be a wait. Most appraisal days see an attendance of 200 people. We are planning light refreshments and additional activities.
Appraisal days are “general,” meaning that individuals can (and do!) bring items from virtually all-collecting areas: porcelain, pottery, toys, dolls, silver, paintings, furniture and rugs. . It is also advisable to substitute good quality photos for items that are fragile or for large pieces of furniture. For services of china or silver, one example of each piece in a set and a list of the total number of pieces is acceptable.
All appraisals are given verbally.
Once the customer’s number is called, s/he will be ushered into the appraisal area. This area provides a semi-private setting for the evaluation. The appraiser will discuss the issues of age and condition, and provide an estimated value based on current market prices for a similar example.
Appraisal days attract a large, curious audience armed with a wide range of objects, and occasionally a treasure is discovered. You never know. In one instance, a local appraisal day to benefit a community hospital unearthed a luminous harbor view by Fitz Hugh Lane. After 62 years in a private New England collection, the painting, “Gloucester Harbor, 1858” brought over $500,000 at a recent Skinner American and European Paintings and Prints auction. According to Colleene Fesko, the department director who examined and marketed the painting, “It was a highly successful maiden voyage to the auction block for Lane’s work.
Stay Tuned for More Details. You can see similar event information at : http://www.skinnerinc.com/resources/n_adays.asp
