A FABulous Affair

In early November, I worked as a featured appraiser in Melbourne's Brevard Cultural A lliance's second annual Fabulous Affair, which is an Antique Roadshow style appraisal fair. The event, sponsored by the Brevard Cultural Alliance of Brevard County, Florida, featured six celebrity appraisers from across the United States. I was fortunate to be one of those appraisers and to participate in this well organized event. Proceeds went to the Cultural Alliance’s Art Fund. The attendance at the event was more than anticipated, and everyone seemed to enjoy learning more about articles from their collections.

The diversity of items for which I provided verbal approximations of value was incredible; there were lots of fabulous treasures belonging to local residents. Many of the items were accompanied by great stories, some had documented historical provenance, and some have been in families for generations.

I valued items in my specialty area and, as I am also a generalist appraiser, I also valued a wide variety of decorative items and collectibles. Overall, I saw around 140 items during the 7 ½ hour appraisal fair. Asian art and ceramics were very prevalent; I saw some of the best Asian paintings that I have seen in my appraisal career, including one with provenance from an early US ambassador. There was also a variety of quality Chinese ceramics, including a Sung dynasty bowl, Chinese export porcelain, and Chinese blue and white porcelain.

I valued a number of Japanese items, including Satsuma pottery, woodblock prints, scrolls, and even an early 19th century Japanese matchlock rifle. And then there were the two fabulous Turkish bracelets with hand painted miniature tiles which were absolutely gorgeous. There was a large assortment of family silver items, including American sterling silver bowls, English sterling flatware and German 800 silver….all items for which their owners should have written appraisals for insurance purposes. One piece of English sterling flatware was a John William Blake hallmarked piece, complete with an 1824 datemark. Also with family provenance were porcelain sets of china and dishes, including some manufactured by some of the best 19th century English and French manufacturers, including Coalport, Worcester and Limoge. One collector had a two Egyptian tomb figurines, including an Ushabti, and while another collector brought two pre-Columbian figurines.

Barbie made her appearance, complete with a dated 1961 vinyl case. There were also German dolls, some quite collectible. Musical instruments were abundant, with the most impressive ones I saw included a 1938 Martin Guitar and a late 18th century signed Holt violin.

As in any appraisal fair, there were lines, but the seating which was provided made the time pass quickly. Organizers from the Brevard Cultural Alliance provided shuttle transportation, had well marked item drop off points, and insured that everyone was directed to the right appraisers, making the day a “FABulous Affair.” Attendees seemed to enjoy seeing items brought to the event by other attendees, and everyone seemed to enjoy the event. The day was long, but was lots of fun for appraisers and collectors alike.

If you want to have some of your collectibles valued at an appraisal fair, watch for local press releases which advertise these types of event. And, be sure you choose an event which features credentialed appraisers by ISA, ASA, or AAA. And never take your collectibles to an event where organizers or appraisers are purchasing items; appraisers at appraisal fairs should always be unbiased, and never have a personal interest in the item they are valuing. If you can not find an appraisal fair, you can always hire an appraiser for a verbal approximation of value; if you have several items, hiring an appraisal for an hour or so can provide you with a wealth of information.

Authentic Appraisal & Estate Services, LLC (c) 2009
Vicky Nash Shaw, ISA CAPP
Certified Appraiser of Personal Property

919 475-6930 email: vicky.shaw@verizon.net

Durham Regent "roadshow" style appraisal fair was great success!

Following in the footsteps of the Raleigh Antiques Roadshow, the Durham Regent Retirement Community hosted an appraisal fair on August 4th. Open to both Regent residents and the local Durham community, the fair had a steady line of people for the three hour event. A wide array of items were valued; notable items included, a Springfield rifle, a Persian gold armor set, pair of period Windsor chairs, pair of mid-20th century Japanese presentation vases, German and English porcelain, and notable original oil paintings.

Becky Vollers, event coordinator reported "Our Durham Regent Retirement's) first appraisal fair was a wonderful and exciting experience. This event was filled with unforgettable memories.”

Antique and art appraiser Vicky Nash Shaw (blog author) was the featured appraiser. I provided valuations for about 40 customers and for about 150 items. Not only did I see some unusual treasures, but I heard some fabulous stories about the items. It was a fun appraisal event. Several individuals brought valuable treasures and collectibles which were unique and one of a kind…..many were items that need insurance appraisals for documentation in the event of a loss. Becky Vollers, event coordinator, also added “A special Thank You to Vicky Nash Shaw for her kindness and participation in this event.” The Durham Regent Community residents have a tradition of supporting the community, and proceeds from the appraisal fair benefited both school children and the local Ronald McDonald home. The retirement community is located on Pickett Road in Durham; the management office as well as Becky Vollers can be reached at 919 490-6224.

Local appraiser Vicky Nash Shaw can be reached at 919 474-6930 or through her website at www.TheAuthenticAppraisal.com.
©2009 Vicky Nash Shaw

Vicky Nash Shaw, ISA AM
Accredited Antique and Art Appraiser
Downsizing & Brokering Consultant

Art, Antiques and Hurriances!

When homeowners prepare for hurricanes, often their art and antiques get overlooked. The Miami CBS4 Affiliate ran an informative and public service article last week; the article was authored by their reporter Jorges Estavez. Here’s a portion of his report:

“When you are preparing for a hurricane, most of us have the basics, like boarding up the house, putting up shutters and stockpiling items like water, batteries, and canned food, down to a science. But there's still the issue of protecting your valuables, the ones you can't lock up like expensive furniture or antiques? Porcelain figurines, ornate chairs, priceless decorations, these are the items on a new kind of hurricane check list.

One woman, who asked to remain anonymous, told CBS4's Jorge Estevez she doesn't want you to make the same mistake she did with her stuff which got ruined after Hurricane Andrew. "My feeling was I really wanted to make sure that I knew what the appraisal value was, God forbid something should happen again," she said. Ever since, she has had everything appraised and thinks everyone else should too.

So make sure and ask yourself before a storm actually begins to head for South Florida, are my antiques checked? An appraisal can cost a couple of hundred dollars, but it could help you save thousands in the future.”To see the entire article, see: www.cbs4.com/local.valuables.antiques.appraisal.2.1109336.html.

Here in North Carolina, we are exposed to potential hurricane and wind damage, even in the areas of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. It is important to remember that although your homeowners’ insurance may be adequate, it is the responsibility of the homeowner to provide proof of existence and valuation of all art, antiques and collectibles. Insurance companies’ claim policies have different provisions. Without an insurance appraisal, many homeowners have limited options after their loss, and some insurance companies only allow for decorative replacement valuation for art and antiques unless adequate proof of real valuation exists prior to the damage or loss. Investment in an insurance appraisal for your original art, high end collectibles, and period furniture is always a wise choice, especially after you spend a lifetime acquiring your collection.

I provide my clients with two signed original copies of their appraisal: one to retain in their home and one to be retained either by an insurance agent or to be stored outside the home in a secure location. In addition, I retain copies of the appraisal and my notes for five years. So, if a loss occurs, clients will always have access to copies of their appraisal document which not only provides value, but also has detailed item descriptions and photographs. If items have significant historical provenance, I include that information within the appraisal, as provenance can greatly impact value. And, because I have viewed the items included in the appraisal, I am a valuable resource for homeowners who need to prove that items actually existed within their home! For more information on insurance appraisals, see the insurance appraisal section of my website: www.TheAuthenticAppraisal.com/appraisals.php#insurance.

Another good altnernative to insurance appraisals are home inventories, especially when prepared by a professional. Again, you not only have the inventory in a formal document, but your appraiser is your best advocate in the event of a loss.

Vicky Nash Shaw, ISA AM
Accredited Antique and Art Appraiser

Missed Antiques Roadshow in Raleigh? Here's some Alternatives!

So, you could not get tickets to Antique Roadshow. Or, Antiques Roadshow is not scheduled to come to your area. If you have art, antiques or other collectibles that you would like to have valued, what are your alternatives? Surprisingly enough, there are lots of alternatives! And, of course, with each alternative, there are advantages and disadvantages.

First, you can research the item yourself. If you need assistance in item identification, there are lots of publications available through local books stores, Amazon, Collector Books and other sources. If you are looking for value, the internet has a wealth of information plus there are pricde guides available. The disadvantage to this approach is that if your item is not something that you are familiar with, obtaining reference material can be quite expensive. If you are trying to establish value, the different types of value can be very confusing and locating a similar item may or not give you the appropriate value you are searching for. The information in price guides is often dated, and may not be the type of valuation you need.

Another approach is to take your item to a dealer; some specialty dealers are knowledgeable, but if you are trying to sell your item, asking a potential purchaser to value your item is not a good idea. Plus, many dealers are not educated on the various types of values, including fair market value, insurance replacement cost, market value, etc.

You can hire an appraiser. For high end collections, unique items, decorative items, original artwork, period furniture, silver and other items, this is the best approach. Many appraisers provide not only written appraisals, but verbal approximations of value. A qualified appraiser can provide you with the valuation you need, plus help you understand what’s going on in the market. However, professional appraisers charge for their services. (That’s how appraisers make their living, so please don’t expect us to provide appraisals for free.) Services of a professional appraiser will normally give you all the information you need, and they will use current market information for the valuation. Appraisers often have access to multiple data bases which publish real sales prices on all types of items, and that’s how they develop values for appraisals. Be sure you find a credentialed and tested appraiser. (See my website at http://www.theauthenticappraisal.com/appraiser_selection.php for more information on how to select an appraiser.) Selecting a qualified and experienced appraiser is the best way you can insure you will receive a quality appraisal.

Local appraisal fairs are another alternative. With the popularity of Antiques Roadshow, these appraisal fairs are popping up in lots of areas. They are often fund raisers for non-profit organizations, and there is a charge associated with a valuation. Expect to pay around $10.00 for each item you would like valued. If you only need one or two items valued, this is a good approach. If you have lots of items or entire collections, you will soon be paying more than if you had hired an appraiser and paid an hourly rate. Plus, most appraisal fairs only accept items that you can easily transport and bring to the fair. One disadvantage of appraisal fairs is that often the “appraisers “ are not professional appraisers. Before you go, verify that the appraisers are credentialed appraisers, just like you would if you hire an appraiser. Remember that time is very limited in these fairs, and that the appraiser will not do any research before giving you a verbal approximation of value.

Talking about appraisal fairs, if you are near the Raleigh-Durham area, there is an upcoming appraisal fair being hosted by the Durham Regent Retirement Community. The event is scheduled for August 1 between 1:30 and 4:30, and proceeds go to purchase school supplies for under privileged children and to the local Ronald McDonald house. The location is 3007 Pickett Road in Durham North Carolina. For a $15.00 donation, you can get up to two items valued. And I am scheduled to work the appraisal fair. So, if you have silver, Chinese export porcelain, Asian bronzes, prints, paintings, and other collectibles and decorative arts, I hope to see you there!

©2009 Vicky Nash Shaw, ISA AM
Accredited Antique and Art Appraiser

Raleigh Antiques Roadshow

The arrival of Antiques Roadshow to any city is always exciting and Raleigh was no exception. Not only was the show a resounding success, but records were set! The highest valuation ever presented during an Antiques Roadshow session occurred last weekend in Raleigh, NC. A four piece set of Chinese jade, from the 18th century, was valued between $700k and $1.07 million. The previous highest record was a 2008 valuation of $500,000 for a Clyfford Still abstract painting.

The carved celadon jade collection included a large bowl crafted for the Chinese emperor. The bowl was identified by markings which translated as "By Imperial Order." The owner of the jade inherited them from her father, who purchased them in China during the 1930's and 40's.

The Raleigh event also shattered another record.According to an Associated Press report, Antiques Roadshow received over 34000 ticket requests, setting another record as the highest level previously requested had been 29,000 requests. Over 5,000 people actually attended the event, bringing everything from furniture to art to arrowheads to jewelery. According to Antiques Roadshow, three segments will be developed from the filming of the Raleigh event, and they will air in 2010.

So, what does this mean for the Triangle area? From my perspective, it indicates that there is not only a huge interest in art, antiques and collectibles in central North Carolina, but it also highlighted the quality of the collections which exist in North Carolina. Other states are often cited as havens for collectors, but we now know that there are a large number of quality collections and serious collectors in North Carolina. Many residents across the state, not only in Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Durham, collect "stuff" and I believe the upcoming episodes will illustrate just how good these collections are. When you watch the show, I think you will see a varied assortment of fabulous items...most from homes across North Carolina. So, whether you collect Chinese export porcelain, silver, art glass, pottery or postcards, you are in the company of other serious collectors across North Carolina!

If you missed Antiques Roadshow, there are other ways to have your items valued. So, check back for my next blog which will talk about having YOUR items appraised. Also, see my website at http://www.theauthenticappraisal.com/ for appriasal information.


(c)2009 Vicky Nash Shaw
Authentic Appraisal & Estate Services, LLC
http://www.theauthenticappraisal.com/