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Saturday, May 21, 2005     Page: 2D

This spring, my “What’s it Worth?” appraisal event at Wilkes University in
Wilkes Barre highlighted both old objects and new information. At all of my
appraisal events, whether in intimate classrooms or public auditoriums, people
bring art, antiques and collectibles for evaluation. Participants share their
items as I provide historical information and values and discuss the ins/outs
of the antiques world. I know from experience that valuable pieces are right
under your nose.
   
My appraisal events are object-driven art-history lessons. I like to call
them the adult version of Show and Tell. Attendees get unbiased appraisals
based on actual sales records. That means other people got those prices for
similar objects and you can, too.
    I began presenting “What’s it Worth?” shortly after meeting an Allentown
woman. I worked as a museum curator at the Allentown Art Museum, and at the
time, curators regularly offered public information sessions about the works
of art and antiques brought in by local citizens.
   
During one such session, a senior citizen explained that she had sold an
old document to pay the electric bill. She was shocked when I told her I
researched her piece and found a historical document like hers had sold for
nearly $50,000. Unaware of what she owned, the Allentown woman lost $49,950
because she had fallen victim to a common scheme. She expected to receive an
appraisal of her item, and instead, she got a below-market-value purchase
offer. She believed her antique was worth only $50 because that’s what she was
offered from the person who bought it from her. Unfortunately, her story is
quite common.
   
Arm yourself with unbiased information from a reliable source. In my
opinion, a reliable source is someone with the knowledge and background to
evaluate your object properly and who has no financial interest in your
object. Your appraiser should be neither a buyer nor a broker.
   
Most agree that the Allentown woman’s experience is awful. And it could
happen to you. After meeting that Allentown woman, I decided to use my
background as an art historian, university professor, museum curator and
certified appraiser to inform the public about its art and antiques. That was
a decade ago.
   
Fast forward to 2005. Today, the “What’s it Worth?” appraisal events
inspired by that Allentown woman have informed many people and kept precious
and valuable family heirlooms in the proper hands — yours. This spring at
Wilkes University, area folks asked me to evaluate objects ranging from Delft
pottery to Pre-Columbian sculpture.
   
For instance, Jeanette from Wapwallopen had a valuable earthenware crock,
Michelle from Forty Fort brought a pretty pink Bavarian dessert set, and
Charles, Maureen and Theresa discovered they shared a fine piece of American
brilliant cut glass. The class of about 30 students included some dedicated
members of the Hazleton Rotary Club, who arranged a group field trip to attend
my class in Wilkes Barre.
   
Like all antiques information seekers, the Rotarians were interested in
learning the history and the value of their items. They were trying to
establish true values so they could get the best price for their items to
donate the funds to the Rotary Club’s numerous community-service projects.
They didn’t want their community to lose out just because they didn’t know the
current market value of their donated art, antiques and collectibles.
   
The Rotarians brought a range of items, including post-World War II
ceramics, French art deco glass by Rene Lalique, 19th-century Asian porcelains
and even a converted gas chandelier. The Rotarians’ objects sparked a
discussion of art trends ranging from the late 1800s interest in all things
Asian to the flood of post-war American ceramics of the baby-boom era. I
reminded the class that art and antiques reflect society and that values are
driven by scholarship.
   
I urged them – and urge all of you — to know the true value of any object
before making any decision about selling or donating objects.