'Don't take it to the dump'

Editor's note:

This is Jo Rafferty's story from Jan. 17 about getting a family heirloom appraised at the Genoa Antique

Show and Sale.

Just about everyone must have an intriguing item that was in their parents' home the whole time they were growing up that they never thought much of. But, as an adult, they look at it and ask themselves, "I wonder what it's worth?"

They think to themselves, "It could just be a hunk of junk - or maybe not."

If you pursue an appraisal, you never know what you're going to hear, and how you'll feel about the item in the end.

Last week, I decided I wanted to know about a picture my mom has had ever since I can remember. I found out later that a friend of hers gave her this oriental artwork in the mid-1950s.

The piece is a rectangular-shaped horizontal panel, painted black, accented in gold, with large carvings of various shades of green and white stone depicting Chinese people. There are three men, one woman and a child, four of them with handcarved faces. They look as though they are on a journey, three by boat. The picture has seen better days, as some of the stone pieces are missing and the corners are a little banged up. This much I knew.

I began my investigation by asking my mother, now in her early 80s, what she knows about the picture. She said it had been hanging in a friend's house when she was living in Southern California. My mom had always admired it and her friend gave it to her when they moved to Chicago in about 1955. The friend told her that it had belonged to her aunt, and said it had originally been a table that was purchased in Shanghai. She estimated that it was made in about the mid-1800s.

The Genoa Antique Show and Sale was Saturday at the Genoa Town Hall, hosted by Martha Williams of Antiques Plus. The sale took place on both Saturday and Sunday, and when I arrived at about noon on Saturday it was packed with antiques, dealers and their customers.

"They're all individual vendors," said Williams. "Most of them are from California this year, but I try to hire Nevada vendors first to keep the money in the state."

Williams and another Genoa antique dealer, Lisa Bommarito, were the appraisers. Williams said she doesn't do appraisals in her shop, but during the show she offers verbal appraisals for $5 per item. She also tries to keep the entry fee down.

"I charge $1.50 to get in," said Williams. "Most shows charge $5 now. We're smaller, but we're in a historic building. We've got the charm, and all of us are friendly."

Williams and I talked about how antique appreciation and appraisals could be increasing in popularity, with TV shows like the "Antiques Roadshow."

"I do appraisals here because it's a fundraiser for Carson Valley Pops," said Williams. "It helps the community, it helps bring business to the rest of the stores in town."

Williams explained that she is self-taught through experience she acquired being in the antique business for 26 years.

I told her that my mom had mentioned that the picture could be from the Ming Dynasty, but Williams automatically discounted that theory, since the Ming Dynasty period was from 1368-1644 A.D.

"Ming would have been much more detailed," Williams said as she examined the picture, with its black wood decorated with gold paint that is wearing off.

"The difference in quality is between a Rolls Royce and a Honda," she said. "It was probably made for exporting. If it was to be kept in the country, it would have been more detailed.

"This one is very well executed," she said, as she ran her fingers over the uneven stone. "This translucent jade you don't see anymore. The faces are handcarved ivory."

She identified the shiny white-colored stone as mother of pearl. She pointed out that several pieces are missing. She said it was definitely Chinese, whether it was made in China or not, and figured it was possibly from the late 19th century. She suggested taking it to a framer and having it preserved behind glass before it became more damaged.

"This type of thing is very difficult to say what it's worth," she said, giving it an estimated worth of about $195-200. "If it had everything still in it and it was still a table, it would be worth a lot more."

Bommarito verified the price, when she said she had seen similar "mint condition" panels at a show in Reno going for about $300.

I asked if the stones would be worth more if they were removed from the picture.

"You would have to look at it individually, when looking at the condition," said Bommarito. "Sometimes the value of the parts is more. The finely carved ivory faces, when put in a bracelet, would sell for a lot more."

I hadn't really been interested in making money on the picture, I just wanted to know about it.

I looked at it as only someone could who had stared at it for years. Those little carved faces all at once felt like friends. I probably had looked up at it from my walker, thinking it was very mysterious.

But, at that moment, the picture that had always been so familiar suddenly looked very old and tired.

It occurred to me that 100 years from now my grandchildren could be getting the jewelry made from the stones appraised and find out it would have been worth more if it had been left intact.

I knew what I was going to do. On Tuesday morning before work, I hung it back on the wall.

What I learned from this experience is that it's worth having things checked out. I would highly suggest that if you have something old, especially if it has been in the family a long time, take it to an antique appraiser before getting rid of it or selling it. After finding out about it, you may just decide its value is more in the memories than in the price. And, you never know how your children will feel about it. Maybe they'll love it too, or maybe they'll want to get rid of it, but then you wouldn't be around to know about it.

In the words of Williams, an antique "purist," who only collects items which are at least 100 years old: "Don't take it to the dump until you have it checked out."