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Appraisal fair a fun learning experience
BY MARGO OXENDINE • STAFF WRITER
 | | Sarah Samples brought three items to the Highland County Historical Society's appraisal fair last Saturday. Jeffrey Evans and Kent Botkin of Green Valley Auctions lent their expertise to the popular event. |
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McDOWELL - A crisp fall day provided the perfect setting for the Highland County Historical Society's appraisal fair here Saturday. Spectators were neither too warm nor too chilly, but the chili was hot, and the appraisers were cool.
Jeffrey Evans and Kent Botkin of Green Valley Auctions did the honors. The two have steeped themselves in history, as well as the trappings of everyday life in days gone by.
By their very nature, appraisal fairs are exciting - the promise of perhaps finding out that a treasure has been sitting on the sideboard, in the cupboard, or out in the barn is certain to draw a hopeful crowd. And the curiosities folks lug, haul or gently carry to the event are often an entertainment in themselves.
What is that? Where'd you get it? How much did you pay? Queries that may seem impolite in other circumstances are perfectly appropriate, indeed, even expected, in this situation. But appraisal fairs can also take on a circus like atmosphere, where too many people bring too many things, and wait too long to find out too little.
 | | Phyllis Whetzel of Monterey found this fascinating Victorian-era dresser box in an antique shop for $75. The interior of the 1890s box had been "renovated" into a doll house about 1915, complete with chandelier, tiny dolls with moveable limbs, Cracker Jack prizes and early 20th century buttons. At the Highland County Historical Society's appraisal fair last Saturday, Jeffrey Evans put a combined price of $350-$400 on Whetzel's find. (Recorder photos by Margo Oxendine) |
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That was not the case in McDowell last weekend. The historical society mounted a well-conceived and perfectly-planned event. Everyone got the chance to learn about every oddity and artifact; even if folks didn't leave rich, they left happy.
"There were no stunners today," noted Clay Hamilton, a member of the society's board of directors. "I guess the most valuable thing was a handmade wooden cradle from the early 1800s that Dot Shepherd brought by, which the appraisers valued at several thousand dollars. There were quite a few interesting items, though, and everyone got to learn about them, and what they were worth."
That's for certain. Spectators were seated on comfy chairs, under a tent, and each appraisal was a learning experience. Each person got to see and hear about every other person's items. Botkin and Evans were on a stage outside the lovely Hull house museum, speak- ing through microphones.
"We thought it was important that the appraisers speak to the audience about each item that came up," Hamilton said. "This fits into the educational part of our mission; plus, people want to know about what things are, and their value."
Some items were curiosities even for the appraisers, who don't often come across something they can't put a name and a value to. One lady presented a green contraption that might have been just about anything at all. Appraisers were stumped, but able to value it, nonetheless, at $400 or $500, simply because of its antiquity value.
Sarah Samples brought a piece of pottery. "This is a very artistic piece," Evans said. "It's kind of unusual this is not marked. It's got a nice glaze on it. It's very arts-andcraftsy looking. We can say it's American; we can say it's 1910 to 1925, probably; but without doing research, we can't tell you who made it. I've collected art pottery since I was a little kid, when people would sell you a plant for a dollar, and it's in a $10 piece of pottery. But I've never seen this before; it's a very attractive piece, and very well done. I would certainly think that it's worth a couple hundred dollars."
Samples also brought a child's lamp, painted tin, which sold originally in a Sears catalog for about 15 cents, Evans said. "Today, it would retail for around $60 or $70 or so."
Folks were welcome to bring up to three pieces. Samples's third piece was a "very nice" egg basket that belonged to her grandmother. "This is going to date to probably around 1910," Evans said. "It's a very finely woven basket, in great condition."
He pointed out a spot on the bottom, which had been rewoven. "Apparently, an egg broke in it, and mice ate through the basket to get to the yolk," Evans noted. "The fact that it's been repaired is going to hurt the value. If it didn't have that repair, it would be a $300 or $400 basket; as is, it's probably in the $100 to $170 range."
It wouldn't be an appraisal fair without a Civil War era sword or two. Sure enough, there were two in McDowell Saturday. Both were Yankee swords, one with a scabbard, made by the Ames Company in Pennsylvania. Evans valued it at about $650. But then, he taught the crowd a little something: Confederate swords are much more rare than Union swords; had that same piece belonged to a Confederate soldier, it would have been worth thousands.
One especially interesting item was a Bath County land grant, on parchment, signed in 1800 by then- Virginia Governor James Monroe. Evans valued it at $1,500, and then advised its owner to store it in archival quality paper, and keep it out of the light.
"Thank you," the owner said. "I've learned something."
Learning something while having fun - what better way to spend a crisp fall day?
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