This past Saturday, May 14th, the Cincinnati Museum Center offered an antiques appraisal event at Union Terminal. All proceeds from the event went directly to the Museum Center. The $20 entrance fee included free parking, a voucher for an all-museum pass, and appraisal of one item.
Categories of appraisal included Glass and Ceramics, Folk Art and Decorative Arts, Americana & Western U.S., and Fine Arts. Participants were given a suggested appointment time and asked about the type of object they were bringing so that they could be assigned to an appraiser with the appropriate expertise.
I brought in an old family heirloom, a signature quilt dating from approximately 1900. Discussing this item with Diane Wachs, Furniture and Decorative Arts supervisor for Cowan's Auctions, enabled me to learn more about the material and technique employed in making the quilt. Ms. Wachs also discussed the reason such a quilt may have been made and its place in the history of the small Northern Ohio town from which it came.
Perhaps the best part of the event was talking with the other people who had brought in treasures to be appraised. Some of the items were like my own, family heirlooms that had been passed down through the generations. Others were yard-sale finds that at first may have seemed insignificant, but turned out to be valuable.
For those who participated, Show and Tell was a great success. Though it did not draw great throngs of antiquers, it was well organized and provided each individual the opportunity to share their own knowledge and passion with an appraisal expert and other enthusiastic people who also appreciate the past.
Note that Cowan's Spring Fine and Decorative Arts auction will take place on Saturday, May 21st. View the catalogue here: http://www.cowanauctions.com/auctions/catalog.aspx?SaleId=198.
Wes Cowan will speak on Tuesday, May 24th at Union Terminal's Reakirt Auditorium. Call (513) 287-7021 for reservations. Visit the Cincinnati Museum Center website for more information, http://www.cincymuseum.org/information_center/programs_events/ShowandTell.asp#Lecture.
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