Antique Appraisal Event with Mark Moran

The Door County Historical  Society presents An Antique Appraisal Event featuring author and antique expert Mark F. Moran of Iola, Wis. on Saturday, November 19 from 1 – 4 pm in the lecture hall of the Collins Learning Center.

Antique expert Mark F. Moran of Iola

The Historical Village at The Crossroads is closed for the season, but the Village Committee of the Door County Historical Society remains quite active. This is the time of year that the buildings are prepared for winter and recently acquired antiques and artifacts are cataloged. This year, add to that a very special event that centers on the valuation and history of antiques of all varieties. The Door County Antique Appraisal Show is scheduled on Saturday, November 19 as fundraiser for the Historical Village Maintenance Fund.

We love antiques! The workmanship often is exquisite, but more importantly, without them, The Village would be nothing more than a collection of empty buildings. But antiques are  more than props for living history.   Antiques are the objects that were meaningful to our ancestors. They are a tangible link to the past.  And thanks to the generosity of the community, we have been able to “stock” the Greene General Store and furnish the Warren House.

To hold an antique in our hands is to hold a piece of history. As we examine a kitchen tool, we can imagine a pioneer  woman preparing meals for her family or perhaps a threshing crew.  A logging tool or piece of farm equipment remind us of the backbreaking toil it required  to settle Door County.  We imagine a bride sewing the linens for her hope chest, we picture a child learning to read from a a primer, and we giggle as we examine chamber pots and strategically place a spittoon near the potbelly stove.

The committee members (who call themselves “the Village People” ) learn about antiques  in different ways. Some remember items from their childhoods… Grandma sitting at the pump organ or treadle sewing machine, grandpa sharpening knives or harnessing horses. Reproductions of  Sears and Montgomery Wards catalogs have been invaluable to establish the age and use of many items. As disconcerting as it might seem, committee members often use wireless  laptops and smart phones to do their research on-line. Nevertheless, they often find themselves left clueless about the true value of the items.

A family heirloom is priceless as a keepsake, but so often, folks find themselves wondering “what’s it worth?” We watch the PBS series “Antique Roadshow” and fantasize that that Aunt Verna’s creamer, hope chest or that carpet that has been passed down through the generations might actually be very valuable… or worthless.

The Door County Historical  Society presents An Antique Appraisal Event featuring author and antique expert Mark F. Moran of Iola, Wis. on Saturday, November 19 from 1 – 4 pm in the lecture hall of the Collins Learning Center. This is a fundraiser with the proceeds going to the Long Term Maintenance Fund of The Historical Village at The Crossroads.

Formerly senior editor of Antiques and Collectibles Books for Krause Publications in Iola, Wis., Moran  has also been a contributing editor for Antique Trader magazine. He has served as editor of Antique Review East magazine; as producer of Atlantique City, an antique show held in Atlantic City, N.J.; and as editorial director of F+W Media’s Antiques Group. He has also been a guest expert on the PBS series Antiques Roadshow He is the author or co-author of more than 25 books on antiques and collectibles, including the 800-page annual Warman’s Antiques & Collectibles, now in its 45th edition.

Moran bought and sold antiques for more than 30 years, specializing in vintage folk art, Americana, and fine art. He has been active as an appraiser of antiques and fine art for more than 20 years. Opinions of value are informal, and may not be used for insurance or charitable donations, which require a certified appraisal.

The cost of an appraisal is $15 (one item/person) with advanced registration required. Participants will be assigned to a specific hour but will be welcome to watch and learn for the full three-hour event.  Those just wanting to watch and learn can do so for $3 admission at the door on the day of the event. Anyone wishing to have an item evaluated must preregister with the following Antique Appraisal Form (PDF online) or available at Crossroads.

Summer may be over, but hiking is still interesting, not to mention great exercise! Join the naturalist on Thursday morning or Sunday afternoon for a late autumn hike.

Thursday, November 13, 11:00
Nature Hike
Don’t let the change of season drive you inside. Join the naturalist for a late autumn visit to the various habitats of the preserve.

Sunday, November 13, 1:00
Nature Hike
A visit to Big Creek is always surprising. Join the naturalist to visit the creek in late autumn.

Saturday, November 19, 1:00-4:00
Antique Appraisal Event