Turn Closet Collectibles Into Red Cross Donations

NEW HAVEN — The South Central Connecticut chapter of American Red Cross will host its 20th Annual Antiques & Collectibles Sale on Saturday and Sunday, December 2 and 3, at its recently restored chapter house. The sale will be conducted from 10 am to 2pm, and proceeds will benefit the chapter’s disaster relief program.

The chapter is already making plans for the sale, and is asking the public for help with items to be sold. Organizers are asking people to think of the Red Cross when they do fall cleaning, while moving into or out of a new home, or while settling an estate. Donations are tax deductible.

Among the items that will be offered in the sale, categories to which the public is being asked to donate are the following: art glass (Tiffany, Steuben, Loetz, etc), art pottery, banks (still or commercial), brass, bronze, copper or tinware, china (Limoges, china plates, etc), clocks and watches, dolls, pre-1940 furniture, blown, cut or, pressed glass, antique or good costume jewelry, nautical items, and Oriental porcelain, Rose Medallion, and Imari pieces.

Additionally, paintings, drawings, or prints; perfume bottles; posters, engravings, or photographs; railroad items; rugs (Oriental or early American); silver (sterling and gold plateware); samplers and sewing items; textiles (linens, laces, embroideries); farming or mechanical tools; toys (Steiff Teddy bears, wind-ups, etc); and quilts and coverlets.

The sale will be an antiques and collectibles event, not a tag sale, so the chapter is not looking for overstuffed furniture, books, records, florist vases, plastic flowers, broken or cracked china or glass, and the like.

Items can be dropped off at the South Central Connecticut Chapter House, at 703 Whitney Avenue in New Haven, or at its branch office at 144 South Main Street in Wallingford. Some items can even be arranged to be picked up by Red Cross employees. Call 203/787-6721 to make arrangements for pickup or to speak to someone about donating items.