Once again it’s time to dust off that family heirloom and schlepp it down to the Nineteenth Century Club in Oak Park to see if it has more than just sentimental value.
Fresh off the success of last year’s successful appraisal event, The Historical Society of Oak Park-River Forest will have experts on hand to appraise and offer knowledge on items through its Family Heirloom or Flea Market Find: What’s it Worth? The event is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This year, Judith Martin, a certified appraiser and former president of the International Society of Appraisers, will head up a team of eight professional evaluators to help members of the public have their family treasures appraised by experts for a nominal fee. Martin, owner of The Perfect Thing, a furniture consignment store in Wheaton, has years of expertise in estate sales.
Other certified appraisers will be on hand to value furniture, fine arts, toys, jewelry, books, comics and decorative arts, including porcelain, textiles, wood, ceramics and silver.
“My specialty is fine arts, so I’ll be ready to appraise paintings, prints, drawings and sculpture,” says Joe Stanfield, of Oak Park’s John Toomey Gallery. “I’ve done many of these kinds of appraisal events. It’s usually predominantly looking at pieces that fall into the under $500 range, but there’s always one or two items that are significant and could be worth anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000. Usually, one of these people will have an inkling that they have a significant item, and one will be totally surprised at their item’s value.”
Stanfield added that providing information on specific items also has value for those attending the event.
“These appraisal events are really great because we have a nice give and take with the client about the family history of the item they’re having appraised and what it means to them,” he said. “It’s always nice for people to find out more about a piece.”
Frank Lipo, executive director of the historical society, says some folks may have seen something similar on television.
“This event sort of came out of the success of PBS’s Antiques Roadshow, in that it can be fun to find out about these things. Historical societies don’t think merely in terms of material value. Historical value can transcend material value. A great story can go hand in glove with overall value.”
Lipo notes that last year’s event was so successful they had to turn people away. “The long wait times last year indicated that there is a pent-up need in the community for this kind of service. This year we’re tweaking the details to help fine-tune the process. We’ll have a limit of three items per household and are asking that all participants pre-register for appraisals.”
Forest Park resident Terence Cloherty, who has been actively researching his Irish family’s history, is looking forward to having two items appraised. One item, a small silver rickshaw meant for holding condiments, offers some international intrigue.
“A distant cousin was living in China during the 1920s when she and her husband were interred in a prison camp. They eventually returned home, and this piece bought during their time in China, was later returned to them. The details on this piece are amazing, and I’d love to know more about it.”
Cloherty’s father served in the Royal Naval Air Squadron during World War I and passed down a clock from his own father who was born in 1850.
“This skeleton clock sits on a marble base with a glass dome and works perfectly,” he says. “I know it goes back to my grandfather, but it might go back even farther.”
Cloherty says he wouldn’t mind hearing about the monetary value of the items, but he’s really more interested in finding out the details of their history.
“My father passed away when I was 8, and the clock is a tie to his side of the family. I’ve been working on a history of my family, and I’d love to know how old these pieces are and how genuine they are.”
Lipo notes that Cloherty’s interest reflects what most people bring to the event.
“It can be about clearing up legend or clarifying history. We all care about the monetary value, but more than that, we all love a good story,” he says. “It’s about solving a history mystery.”
Jean Guarino, chair of the event, is especially grateful for the support of returning sponsors such as Forest Agency and Frame Warehouse, along with new sponsors John Toomey Gallery and Vintage Market of Oak Park and Prairie Bread Kitchen, who will provide sweet treats.
“These local businesses that are invested in the community understand the importance of the historical society as a resource and repository of the community’s history,” Guarino says.
