Items may be worth $2 or so...
but the stories were “priceless”!
Their collectibles and antiques may not have been worth as much as they hoped... but the stories they told were “priceless”! And like the old TV advertisements for MasterCard... our hearts were touched.
The Antique and Collectible Appraisal Event with Mark Moran was sponsored by the Cannon Falls library for three hours recently. There was no charge to the folks bringing their items. And if you didn’t bring anything, you still got to learn how things were valued and the stories of those who brought them.
Like Tom Meinke who had found a rocking chair with inlaid mother of pearl decoration.
One thing he wanted the audience to know is that he never offers to buy or sell the items he appraises. He just provides information.
And the concern when looking at the matting of pictures if there is “mat burn”. This is a brownish color caused by acidic mats which can creep in from the outside onto the displayed piece. Although I liked the effect, now I’ll know what it might be doing.
And then he showed how you can use a flashlight or magnifying glass when looking at a picture or a piece of sculpture. Here Moran and Heidi Helgren find the name of the artist of the nicknamed: “Naked Lady” sculpture, by Paul Gramlin. Heidi explained that this piece had been in the library for 20 years but they didn’t know why. Value: $400-500.
I didn’t get the values for every item because I was busy trying to take pictures and mainly because I got so interested in hearing their stories!
Al Johnson displayed a beautiful bisque vase he had purchased for his mother at the time of WWII when he was in Odessa, Russia. How sweet to think of him as a young man buying something for his mother... because she liked vases... but how careful you had to be when trying to bring it back home! (I think an afghan or wood sculpture would have been easier to trek around with Al!)
Ted Byrne showed a "turn of the century" mahogany Victrola along with a Casino guitar he bought back in 1961. (We've got to hear him play it sometime!)
Lee Ellison showed a beautiful “turn of the century” silver overlaid vase from 1890-1910. One of a kind piece. Her husband inherited it.
Unusual pieces were the walrus cribbage boards from Jim Flakne.
And then there was the cast iron peanut dispenser brought by Ray Meglic.
Helen Baughmann had oriental porcelain with a raised design that might be 100 years old. Moran valued it at $20-$35.
Cindy Molenaar showed a silk screen 1967 “mid century modern” picture whose style is very popular now, Moran explained.
Gayle Finne had a photo mechanical print made up of dots from around 1900. Moran used the magnifying glass to see them.
Pete Otto brought an interesting piece called a “home shrine”. Moran expalined that today it’s “a tough sell”. About $20 would be a fair price.
And then we saw the antique musical revolving Christmas tree stand from 1932-34 that another person's mother had bought. Moran explained that one had sold recently for $500-$600.
I was fascinated when I saw it because it looked like the one I found in my uncle’s estate 40 years ago. But I couldn’t get it to work and it got thrown away!
What did I keep? A small old brass tray. The appraiser said it reminded him of one his grandmother kept ribbon candy in.
It’s worth about $2.
It’s worth about $2.
I could only smile... it’s the memories that are “priceless.”
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