Art expert to appraise pieces in Elgin
Submitted by Elgin History Museum
The Elgin History Museum has invited fine art expert Mark Moran to appraise antiques and collectibles, from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 6. It will be held in the community rooms at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin.
Register now to have an item appraised. Registration is only through the Elgin History Museum. You can register online at www.elginhistory.org/events.html or call the museum at (847) 742-4248 during open hours.
Only one item per person, the cost is $18 for nonmembers or $12 for museum members. There will be no charge for watching the appraisals. The program is free for a general audience.
Mark Moran is the former senior editor of Antiques and Collectibles books for Krause Publications. He has bought and sold antiques for more than 30 years, specializing in vintage fold art, American, and fine art. He is the author of more than 25 books on antiques and collectibles, including the 800-page annual Warman’s Antiques & collectibles, now in its 45th edition.
In case of snow or inclement weather, the event will be held Jan. 27. Categories of objects for appraisal may include:
Ÿ Fine art, including paintings, drawings, prints and statuary.
Ÿ Furniture (usually smaller pieces are best).
Ÿ Ceramics, including figural pottery, vases, dishes, kitchenware and stoneware.
Ÿ Glassware, including lighting, marbles and souvenir items.
Ÿ Vintage photographs, including snapshots, tintypes, ambrotypes and daguerreotypes.
Ÿ Advertising, including posters, lithographed tin, paper and figural objects.
Ÿ Folk art, including carvings, quilts, weathervanes, windmill weights and “outsider” art.
Ÿ Assorted toys, including dolls (bisque, composition and plastic), windups and mechanical banks.
Ÿ Metalware, including iron, bronze, brass, pot metal, silver, silver plate.
Ÿ Clocks, including mantel, hanging and figural.
Ÿ Costume jewelry, including brooches, bracelets, earrings.
Excluded items include: all weapons, including swords and knives (though folding knives with advertising are accepted); coins and paper money; Beanie Babies; fine jewelry, including precious gems, pocket and wristwatches; most musical instruments, including violins (though some acoustic and early electric guitars are accepted).
Questions about objects not covered here can be submitted to Moran in advance to determine if they are appropriate. Suggested categories for advance inquiry include, but are not limited to: Oriental, Native American and other tribal objects (African, Oceanic); ancient artifacts (Egyptian and other early cultures); fossils and minerals; books; wind/reed musical instruments; automotive items; nautical and military-related objects; sports memorabilia (including baseball cards); records; antique tools and technological objects (typewriters, cameras, assorted machinery or instruments for scientific measure, like sextants, telescopes, microscopes, etc.). If in doubt, contact Mark Moran in advance: (715) 281-5060 or moranm1953@gmail.com. Opinions of value are
informal and may not be used for insurance or charitable donations which require a certified appraisal.