Date: Fri 22-May-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Historical-Society-appraisal

Full Text:

Appraisal Day Draws Lots Of Loot And Lore

(with cut)

BY KAAREN VALENTA

The primitive portrait wasn't in the best of shape. It was painted in the 18th

century by an unidentified American artist on a piece of wood that had, over

time, split completely in half.

Nonetheless, it was a treasure. The Sandy Hook woman who brought it to the

Newtown Historical Society's Antiques Appraisal Day on Sunday at the Matthew

Curtiss House learned that it was probably worth $10,000 or more.

Seventy-five people brought 151 items to be appraised, at $5 each, by Tucker

Frey of Newtown, an antiques dealer who has a shop in Woodbury; Don Broderick,

a Springfield, Mass., dealer; Wayne Mattox, a Woodbury dealer and syndicated

columnist of "Antique Talk"; and Steve Steiglitz of Newtown and New York City.

The four men collaborated to give an estimate of what each piece was worth,

prices that ranged from $10 to $10,000.

Kim Proctor and her daughter, Lee, brought a collection of Civil War items

that belonged to Union General Benjamin Butler. Mrs Proctor's son, Russ,

inherited them from her great aunt whose husband was the grandson of General

Butler. The items, which included epaulets and a belt buckle, were valued at

$6,000 to $8,000.

Mary Fran Sumple and her husband, Don, came with a large turn-of-the-century

windup model locomotive made by the Ives company in Bridgeport where Mrs

Sumple's grandfather worked.

A complete set of the pre-electric trains could fetch up to $5,000, Mr Mattox

said. The Sumples didn't have a complete set; they have several locomotives,

however, and a 1905 Edison Standard Phonograph with record cylinders that was

valued at $750.

Mary Mitchell came with one piece of a set of what she called Cape Cod chowder

dishes which she uses for cereal and soup. They were, in fact, Chinese

transfer ware, now fetching more than $100 each.

"This is an example of the type of item that has increased in value ten times

in the last decade," Mr Mattox said. "A lot of this is due to Martha Stewart

who made collecting so popular."

Stephanie Kirik of Stratford came with a Victorian pewter tankard that was

appraised at $150, while the vase that Irene Dawidowicz bought for $5 at an

auction in Rhode Island in 1953 now is worth $500.

Carol Foss brought her late mother's oyster plate that featured a Presidential

seal on the back of the rim, and several antique dolls that had belonged to

her grandmother. There also were canes and walking sticks, an 1817 musket and

powder horn that had belonged to Don Studley's great-great-grandfather, a

stained glass window, dolls and woven Indian baskets. Pieces of pottery,

hand-colored steel engravings, and dozens of other items were carried into the

historical society's headquarters, and carefully unwrapped on the appraisers'

table.

Two chairs that resembled 16th century English Jacobean work turned out to be

19th Century reproductions. Instead of thousands of dollars each, the pieces

were appraised at several hundred, but the owners still were happy. And so

were members of the historical society who had arranged the event.

"We didn't have any preconceived idea about how the day would go," said

Historical Society President Elin Hayes. "It was just perfect. People didn't

have to wait in line long. But the fact that the appraisers were busy for the

entire time thrilled us the most.

"We'll definitely have a repeat performance," she said.

The historical society also is investigating the possibility of taking a

busload of persons to the Public Broadcasting System's Antiques Road Show when

the show is taped in Hartford on Sunday, August 22.

"We have written to the show asking about this possibility," Mrs Hayes said.

Anyone who is interested in possibly going on the trip should call the Newtown

Historical Society at 426-5937 and leave their name and phone number on the

answering machine tape.