BHHS Bluebird Benefit Bash Sterling Success!
It was, thankfully, cooler this year and the threat of showers failed to dampen spirits as close to 75 participants at this year’s Buxton-Hollis Historical Society’s Bluebird Benefit Bash gathered in the gorgeous gardens of the Brewster Mansion grounds during the pre-event social hour. Delightful wine and hors d’oeuvres held the attention of attendees as the experts looked over the items brought by guests to be estimated.
Everyone enjoyed not only the refreshments in the garden, but then also went on to enjoy the assorted sandwiches, fresh fruit and delicious homemade pies in the beautifully decorated barn, all made by the loyal and talented members the Buxton Hollis Historical Society’s Board of Directors.
The evening kicked off with door prizes of all types including a dinner for four at The River Tap and Grill at the Salmon Falls Country Club (won by Jackie Webber) to a gift certificate from our newest restaurant in Buxton, The Buxton Common (won by Frank Martin). Other lucky winners of silver trays were Jim Pate and Girl Scout Lilly Gaudiano, while Bette Robicheaw went home with a new silver teapot.
Everyone enjoyed not only the refreshments in the garden, but then also went on to enjoy the assorted sandwiches, fresh fruit and delicious homemade pies in the beautifully decorated barn, all made by the loyal and talented members the Buxton Hollis Historical Society’s Board of Directors.
The evening kicked off with door prizes of all types including a dinner for four at The River Tap and Grill at the Salmon Falls Country Club (won by Jackie Webber) to a gift certificate from our newest restaurant in Buxton, The Buxton Common (won by Frank Martin). Other lucky winners of silver trays were Jim Pate and Girl Scout Lilly Gaudiano, while Bette Robicheaw went home with a new silver teapot.
Then it was time for BHHS President Jan Hill to introduce the antique experts of the evening: Steve Center of Centervale Farm Antiques in Scarborough; Kevin Keraghan of Warehouse 839 in Saco; and Rachel Gurley of Gurley Antique Gallery in Scarborough, to take the stage. Together they represented over 100 years of experience in the antique business and provided background on what’s been going on in the vintage and antique markets over the past several years.
Some trends in antique valuations and the values and lifestyles distinctions between millennials vs. their parents and grandparents are clearly in play in today’s antique market place. Steve noted, “Your children don’t want most of your stuff, won’t use it, and won’t take it! That beautiful mahogany dining room set of yours won’t fit in your son’s house without a dining room.” Surprisingly, the popular trend today is toward mid-century modern furniture and accessories, as well as re-purposed industrial materials for tables and smaller upholstered pieces. Even sets of Pyrex have their fans – at $145.00! Art work that is most popular today comes from the 70’s and 80’s and is often very colorful and abstract.
Some trends in antique valuations and the values and lifestyles distinctions between millennials vs. their parents and grandparents are clearly in play in today’s antique market place. Steve noted, “Your children don’t want most of your stuff, won’t use it, and won’t take it! That beautiful mahogany dining room set of yours won’t fit in your son’s house without a dining room.” Surprisingly, the popular trend today is toward mid-century modern furniture and accessories, as well as re-purposed industrial materials for tables and smaller upholstered pieces. Even sets of Pyrex have their fans – at $145.00! Art work that is most popular today comes from the 70’s and 80’s and is often very colorful and abstract.
Rachel Gurley showed some examples of pieces that have maintained their value, as well as some that have not. She noted that a decorator had come into her shop and bought a large collection of decoys for a client. Evidently, ducks go up in value the older they get for the right customer! And Kevin Keraghan added that the condition of paper goods and tin toys is paramount. If they aren’t perfect, their value diminishes.
Then it was on to the verbal opinions of value. A distressed church bench was valued at retail for $145 to $160, noting that an antique dealer would pay you less – the wholesale value. A Civil War era Waltham pocket watch was valued at $350. A railroad lamp was valued at $400, while a chair thought to be Shaker, was found to have been cut down and had a replaced seat. The experts were puzzled by a Parcheesi Board that looked like one from the 1860’s and noted that, if it could be authenticated, it could be valued at $4,000. A small Steiff teddy bear was valued at $75 to $100. One large oil painting under glass of an attractive seated woman was ascribed to Sidney Songs of California and was valued at $1,800 to $2,500. Similarly, a one hundred+ year old girls needlepoint sampler was given a value of $275 to $800. In each instance, the experts noted that items are worth what people are willing to pay for them…
The experts also referred people to the “askART” website for art prices, artist auction records, and art research tools; and the Maine Antique Digest and other publications that list current antique show and auction market information.
All in all, it was a delightful evening at the gracious 1805 National Register Royal Brewster residence of our most generous hosts, Bev and Sandy Atkinson. Grateful thanks to Sandy & Bev, all the BHHS volunteers who made the evening possible, AND those of you who attended and continue your strong support of the Buxton Hollis Historical Society!
Then it was on to the verbal opinions of value. A distressed church bench was valued at retail for $145 to $160, noting that an antique dealer would pay you less – the wholesale value. A Civil War era Waltham pocket watch was valued at $350. A railroad lamp was valued at $400, while a chair thought to be Shaker, was found to have been cut down and had a replaced seat. The experts were puzzled by a Parcheesi Board that looked like one from the 1860’s and noted that, if it could be authenticated, it could be valued at $4,000. A small Steiff teddy bear was valued at $75 to $100. One large oil painting under glass of an attractive seated woman was ascribed to Sidney Songs of California and was valued at $1,800 to $2,500. Similarly, a one hundred+ year old girls needlepoint sampler was given a value of $275 to $800. In each instance, the experts noted that items are worth what people are willing to pay for them…
The experts also referred people to the “askART” website for art prices, artist auction records, and art research tools; and the Maine Antique Digest and other publications that list current antique show and auction market information.
All in all, it was a delightful evening at the gracious 1805 National Register Royal Brewster residence of our most generous hosts, Bev and Sandy Atkinson. Grateful thanks to Sandy & Bev, all the BHHS volunteers who made the evening possible, AND those of you who attended and continue your strong support of the Buxton Hollis Historical Society!