Experts Estimate Antiques’ Value

At Appraisal Day Event

By Andrew Gorosko

The owners of antiques last weekend had an opportunity to gauge the value of their precious holdings when they took part in the Newtown Historical Society’s Antiques Appraisal Day held in the Newtown Meeting House on Main Street.

At the session, antiques dealer Tucker Frey of Tucker Frey Antiques of Woodbury, Jack DeStories of Fairfield Auction of Newtown, and Lincoln Sander, the executive director of the Antiques Dealers’ Association of America, estimated the value of about two dozen antiques presented for their consideration.

Resident Werner Schulz was among those who presented antiques for review.

Mr Schulz said his massive Latin bible was printed in Germany circa 1499.

The appraisers reviewed the huge book’s features and recommended that Mr Schulz submit the item for review by experts who specialize in valuing such antiquarian texts, explaining that such an appraisal is an antique subspecialty.

“We were unable to definitely determine its value…It certainly has value,” Mr Sander said later.

Mr Schulz would need to do some specialized research to clearly learn what the book is worth, Mr Sander said.

 Mr Sander said the appraisal day met the historical society’s expectations in terms of the number of people who presented antiques for review. The society charged $10 per appraisal at the event, which was a fundraiser for the group.

Mr Sander is the historical society’s president. He specializes in 18th Century American furniture.

Items reviewed by the appraisers included jewelry, prints, paintings, furniture, a pistol, and a military cap.

The society has not held such an appraisal event for the past several years, Mr Sander said. The group may conduct such sessions annually or in alternate years, he added.

A majority of the people who presented antiques for valuation were Newtown residents, Mr Sander said.

“I think it was positive. It think the turnout met or exceeded our expectations,” he added.