Worth A Look
‘Roadshow’ Event Raises Money For Library System
Posted: February 16, 2013
Professional appraiser Tina Shull of James McHone Jewelry looks at a pocket watch Tuesday night during an antique appraisal event modeled after the popular PBS series “Antiques Roadshow” at Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates Inc. in Mount Crawford. The event raised money for the Massanutten Regional Library system. (Photos by Alex Rohr)
An antique appraisal event Tuesday in Mount Crawford benefitting Massanutten Regional Library draws a good crowd.
Two appraisers examined artifacts, tested materials and investigated origins to approximate the items’ auction values, much like PBS’ “Antiques Roadshow,” the event’s inspiration.
“An Antiques Appraisal” raised $500 for the library system.
Jeffrey S. Evans, who provided space for the Tuesday night event at his office and auction house at Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates Inc. in Mount Crawford, examined paintings, furniture, statues and other decorative antiques.
Tina Shull of James McHone Jewelry was on hand to appraise the more sparkly items.
“For them to donate their time to benefit the library was great,” said Cheryl Griffith, the library system’s community relations manager.
Although she works for the library, Griffith attended the event to participate. She brought a pocket watch, originally owned by her husband’s great-uncle, which had been passed to her son.
Shull began the investigation by scraping the watch to shave flakes off its silver-in-color casing. She then dripped acidic mixtures on the metal flakes.
The bits turned a shade of red, and Shull determined the watch was coin silver-plated, a consistency less valuable than sterling. While plating can make a watch valuable, its inner workings divulge its greater worth, she said.
Shull separated the watch’s levels on which she found several distinct serial numbers. She explained these could indicate parts made by different companies.
“The ones on the watchworks are most important” because a watch is more functional than decorative, Shull explained.
She determined that the open-face watch was made by Elgin, a popular watchmaker out of Illinois. It is from the mid- to late 1800s.
Shull estimated its auction value at about $150 to 200, but like many in attendance, Griffith had no intention of selling.
“I’ve always been curious about it,” she said. “This seemed like a good way to help the library and to get an idea what it’s worth.”
Griffith summarized a common theme among the evening’s participants, including that of Pamela Grimm of Port Republic and her mother, Wilma Grimm, of Linville.
Pamela Grimm brought a necklace, a gift from a friend, and Wilma Grimm brought a shawl pin formerly owned by her great-grandmother, who died 117 years ago.
Neither had any intention of selling their pieces.
“Sentimental value outweighs monetary value of anything we could ever own,” said Shull, who enjoyed her evening volunteering her craft for a good cause.
She also lauded the library as an important, inexpensive resource for people to improve themselves.
“We need to keep the books going, period,” she said.
Contact Alex Rohr at 574-6293 or arohr@dnronline.com