We three are smokers (no comments, please) and the fair's not-so-hidden agenda was to add our names to their mailing lists. However, the fair itself was well-planned and executed, featuring certified professional appraisers from around the country. Visitors had to be over 21, and were limited to bringing only two items apiece. In exchange for completing two surveys, we were treated to a free hot buffet lunch, live music, contests, and free gifts.
I brought with me a silver Chinese lantern whose origin I had not been able to determine, and a wood "whatnot" shelf that had a mirror and hand carving. One of my sisters brought a salt-glazed mug, and a beautiful blown glass cordial with etched designs. The other sister brought two paintings that we had inherited from our mother.
My lantern was examined and it was found to be a hand-made incense burner, from the late 19th century, possibly made in China or by a European artisan. Its value was estimated at $150-$175, which was double the price I'd placed on it!
However, the wooden shelf was determined to be a "marriage" of a machine made shelf and some hand-carving. While probably European in origin, it had a badly replaced mirror with a glued backing and there was also some damage to the carving. All in all, it was worth about $75-$100. Hey, I still hang it in my house and I like it!
The appraiser admired the glass cordial very much and thought it came from England, dating from the early to mid-18th century. She could not place a value on it without researching the etching of a royal crest. The salt glazed mug seemed to be made on a pottery wheel and to be part of a set. Little more was learned about it.
Our paintings, sadly, did not impress the appraiser (formerly of the Antiques Roadshow and Skinner's Auction House in Boston). The watercolor's artist is an unknown name, but it was French, and probably was purchased as a memento of a pre-WWII trip to the continent. An oil painting of Havana, Cuba had a similar provenance. Again, we love these paintings and will continue to display them, but I believe art works are among the most difficult items to appraise.
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