When I scheduled an interview with local antiques appraiser Gary Cox for the article that ran in the Elk Grove Citizen, I asked him if he could do appraisals for the Citizen staff so I could post them on my blog.
On Sept. 3 we were already getting excited talking about the antiques and collectable items we could bring in and have appraised on his Sept. 7 visit.
I’m thrilled to say that the etching I brought in turned out to be worth $800-$1,300 if put up for auction in America. In Europe it could fetch up to $2,000.
The etching was purchased for only $1 at a white elephant sale in Sacramento.
I knew it was by the Czech artist T.F. Simon (1898-1925), and that one print is hanging in the British Museum.
Gary confirmed that it was an original etching by T.F. Simon complete with his red stamp and a watermark. We were all enthralled that something with so much value could be found among the small collection of items we brought in.
The etching was probably made from a highly polished copper plate, the plate was coated with an acid- resistant wax and then the etching is carved into the wax. The idea is to expose the metal along the lines drawn. The plate is dropped into a bowl of acid, which eats into the exposed metal. When the design is complete, the plate is inked and then the surface is wiped with a cloth, this cleans the plate only leaving ink lodged in the lines that have been etched into the surface. A sheet of damp paper is pressed upon the plate and a print results. Voila!
After World War II, the dollar was strong, he explained, and Americans were able to purchase a lot of European artwork. Now, they are buying their art back, he said. That’s is why the etching is worth almost twice as much in Europe today.
I’ve always thought being an antiques appraiser would be an enjoyable job, but after meeting Gary I’m even more certain of that! It was evident that he was enthralled with his work. We could tell when he would pick up an item with an interesting history because of the look on his face. Wow, he sure knew history well!
Gary looked at a spear that Citizen Photographer Laura Bemis brought into the office. She purchased the spear in Scotland and was told it was from a war between Africa and Scotland. (On a humorous note, Laura said when she purchased this spear she was able to carry it onto the airplane- wow, that must have been some time ago!)
Gary confirmed her suspicions about it being from Africa. He showed us that it was a handcrafted spear made by either the Masasi or the Zulu tribes in Africa, and possibly used during the Boer war between Dutch settlers and Africans. He said more research would be necessary to determine a price, but the amount of history he could recall about a lot of be pieces we brought in was impressive.
On Sept. 3, Receptionist June Hanson and I talked about what items we might have of value. She told me about an antique silverware set she has in a wooden box that looks like it is from Germany. As a fan of Antiques Roadshow, I had high hopes that this would be worth a pretty penny because I’ve noticed that utensils and furniture can often be worth more than one might expect. June was realistic and said she wasn’t certain that it was valuable, but we were hopeful that someone on staff would bring in something with a good story and/or high price.
Unfortunately, June’s silverware set was estimated to be worth $150-$175. Not cheap, but not as much as it could be worth if it was sterling. It was made in America and was silver-plated. The box was in a “German style” but also most likely made in America.
She also brought a pair of baby shoes in the original box from the late 1940s. Cox said the shoes might be of interest to a doll collector.
An antiques appraiser not only looks for signatures, materials and manufacturing stamps to determine value, but also must consider the market. Who would buy this? What is the demand?
Even though not everyone’s items turned out to be worth a boatload, City Reporter Cody Kitaura brought in a lot of historical objects from his family’s past.
The cast iron toy train that his grandfather played with as a child still rolled along like new. He also had several framed photos of his grandfather playing with the train and other toys from that period.
Cox examined the train and right away knew the story behind it.
The train was from the 1940s or 50s, but the photos, with the supposed train, were taken in the late 1920s.
Cox told a story he’s probably uncovered a thousands times. Cody’s grandfather probably lost the original train at some point and someone bought the current train because it looked similar. But to a trained professional like Cox, the ironwork was different and there were minor details he noticed about the construction of the train in the photos versus the train he held.
Cody also had V-mail from the same grandfather who served in WWII. The content of the letters would determine their value.
Reading about “what I had for lunch that day” is not of interest to buyers, Cox said, unless the letters were written from, say for example, the USS Arizona or the USS Enterprise. The letters could also be valuable if the content discussed using a new weapon or an upcoming battle that would later be in history books.
Cody also had a history book with only 44 states in the Union, the last one being Utah. This was only worth about $15-$20 because there are so many of these out there.
I was due for a surprised when I learned my antique bed warmer was a mid century re-creation of an early 18th century bed warmer. I had hoped it belonged to an early settler, but no dice.
It’s often the objects that you don’t expect to be valuable that end up being worth something, he said. That’s why when he goes on appraisal jobs at homes he asks to look around, or, he said, he’ll ask them if they have certain items that many people overlook.
I told Cox that I noticed appraisers on the Antiques Roadshow often talked about the “Arts and Crafts” era. I’ve noticed these items always seem to be valuable.
Items from the “arts and crafts” period can be very valuable, he explained. This was a time, shortly after the industrial revolution, when craftsman were returning to the detailed craftsmanship of handmade items. This was mostly taking place in England.
When I first spoke with Cox on the phone and suggested we meet in an antiques store where I can see him in action, he said that antique storeowners generally know what they’re doing and often price their items on the mark.
The best bet is probably grandma’s attic or the family heirloom you thought was unsightly or estate sales.
For the entire story about Gary Cox read my article about the “Modern Day Treasure Hunter” at www.egcitizen.com
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