Uncover that old painting in the closet, dust off Grandma’s silver serving tray and search the jewelry box for that jade brooch Aunt Liz gave you, because the Arts Council of Snohomish County is holding its own version of “Antiques Roadshow.”
This is a first-come, first-served event that, just like the popular PBS program, gives you an opportunity to find a hidden treasure among the family heirlooms, or, if you’re really lucky, a chance to strike it rich.
Appraisal Day is set for Friday at the Monte Cristo Hotel in Everett.
The event is expected to be a lot like the high-energy “Antiques Roadshow,” with its share of surprises and disappointments and complete with antique specialists.
These specialists will be from Bonhams &Butterfields auction house in San Francisco and will review treasured items in the categories of American painting and drawings, Asian art, fine silver, jewelry and furniture, and decorative arts.
“We love to hear where you had no idea what a piece was or its worth, and you find out it’s worth a million,” said Heather O’Mahony, Bonhams regional representative in Seattle. “Everyone wins in that situation.”
Appraisals are $25 for the first item and $15 for each additional item with a five-item limit. Appraisers can also work with photographs.
Participants receive a verbal “auction appraisal” to help them understand the fair market value of their item should they decide to sell it. That on-the-spot verbal appraisal cannot be used to authenticate a piece for insurance purposes.
Proceeds from Appraisal Day benefit the arts council’s Visual Arts Education Center project, a new multiuse regional arts center in downtown Everett.
“This comes at a good time — when people are needing extra money and museums are needing extra money,” O’Mahony said. “People are re-prioritizing, so if there’s a million-dollar vase sitting on the table, you may be able to pay off some other bills with that.”
O’Mahony told the story about a woman who brought in a Korean porcelain jar for appraisal at Bonhams &Butterfields in Los Angeles. Turned out that jar was worth a record $4.2 million. (You can read the story online at www.bonhams.com.)
Even if you don’t make millions, Appraisal Day offers you the experience of sitting face-to-face with an antiques expert.
“There’s a huge curiosity factor of what exactly is this and should I keep it or should I pass this down in the family,” O’Mahony said. “There’s always the element that there will be a disappointment, so it’s either going to be a great surprise or great disappointment. But either way, it’s good information to know.”
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424, goffredo@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
