By Christina Scanlon
They started filing in a good hour before the excitement was to begin. They carried plastic bags and cardboard boxes. There were delicate items gingerly tucked in leather purses and a large oversized object carried in by two men.
Though the items hidden by their plastic or paper wrapping covered a wide array of keepsakes, they were all there for the same reason: to find out what they’re worth.
The Antique and Jewelry Appraisal Roadshow, presented by the Granville Lioness Club at the Granville Hook and Ladder, has been around for 10 or 15 years, according to the best guesses by Nancy Williams, event organizer, and Jim Marquis, certified antiques appraiser, who chatted before the appraisals got started.
Numbers were distributed to those in attendance, called up in order for Marquis to get a look at what they brought. Most brought three items for appraisal at $10 for the lot.
Cynthia Fish, Gansevoort, was up first and had with her…three fish.
The collection of like-items didn’t escape Marquis, who asked if she was a Pisces and got laughter from the audience.
Her answer, “Yes, and my last name is Fish,” drew even more.
And that is how the night continued, with Marquis chatting, entertaining and appraising, while guests looked on and enjoyed corn chowder, sandwiches and desserts made by the Lioness members.
Fish said selecting which pieces to bring, from her hundreds of fish collectibles, wasn’t that difficult. She went in with “no idea,” she said, of their values. “Maybe they might not be worth anything.”
Together, the three fish-shaped items were valued at $160, which wasn’t a bad amount for two Avon bottles and a Chianti decanter.
Leonard Rathbun of North Granville was up next with a 1901 Whitehall Chronicle, tintype photos and framed artwork. All of his items were valued at small-dollar amounts, though as he often did,
Marquis explained how each item, if a little different, may have brought more interest. Tintypes can be worth thousands of dollars if they contain military content.
There were books, vases, knives, magnifying glasses, baskets, toys and magazines.
All with a story and all with hope.
One of the largest items was wrapped and unveiled by Guy Murphy and Mike Drouin on Marquis’ table, where all eyes turned with intense interest.
Two giant posters from WWI and WWII hawked Liberty Bonds and enlistment – certainly posters that many in the room were familiar with, but had not seen in person.
“Condition, condition, condition,” said Marquis as he reasoned the $150 value.
Had the two been in pristine condition, they’d be priced in the thousands, he said.
A cast iron toy of what Drouin thought may have been a replica of racers on the Champlain Canal turned out to not be worth much either. It didn’t deter the group, which included Regina Murphy and son Gabe, from having a good time. They ate and all left with smiles.
For most, it was just the experience that was of value.
It’s such a great time each year for Debbie Hayes-McGraw of Manchester, Vt., that she keeps coming back.
Marquis recognized her and asked her how she had anything left to bring. In fact, she had three unique items, a German Christmas tree stand, a shaker basket and a 1880s roll-up map, that all garnered triple-digits.
Marquis has 50 years in the business and has seen a lot of changes. Like many things, the market adjusts with other influences and often. There were several items he appraised that night that were a perfect example of the fickleness of antiques. Some were worth triple just a few years ago, but have fallen out of favor.
Will their value come back? Who knows, but you could always hang on to it to find out at next year’s roadshow.