Treasures hiding in plain sight

It all started with a porcelain bear - and not a particularly attractive one. It stood on a faux iceberg. Its head was bright red, its body a garish blue.

"If you saw this bear at a yard sale, you'd probably walk right past it," said Lee King, the man who dreamed up Hidden Treasures, an annual what's-it-worth opportunity that benefits operations at Riddick's Folly. 

As curator for the historic house in Suffolk, King has an eye for old things. And he had a hunch about that bear, a gift from a friend, now deceased.

In 1998, he and his wife drove that bear to Richmond, one of the stops for that season's "Antiques Roadshow." Turned out the figurine was among just five originals made by Royal Doulton. Estimated value: up to $15,000.

"You just never know," said King, who came home from Richmond and started his own show, now in its 12th year. For $7 an item, local experts - nine this year - will offer a look-see and a verbal appraisal. Written appraisals for insurance purposes require an appointment and $100.

Some real discoveries have come in the door - heirlooms, hand-me-downs, the forgotten, the found. "It's always a shock to see what comes from your area," King said. "Last year, a gentleman from Suffolk brought in 14 documents signed by Albert Einstein."

Estimated value: $110,000.

Other finds include a small seascape that turned out to be a sketch by Thomas Moran, whose images helped inspire the creation of the national parks system ($350,000); eight tintypes of the James Gang ($10,000); a rare gold coin ($35,000-$50,000); and a 5-inch-by-3-inch stone artifact ($5,000).

The relic - a "bannerstone" used by American Indians as part of a contraption that flung spears - was made of green quartz and had a center hole painstakingly drilled using just sand, water and a reed.

"Indian artifacts are big," King said. "Depending on the age, a single arrowhead can be worth $3,000 or $4,000."

Civil War items are also "very high dollar," said King - especially Confederate pieces. So are early- or first-edition books; costume and real jewelry; old buttons; and nostalgic advertising, like train posters, crate labels and road maps from long-gone oil companies.

Condition is important, but the older an item, the more age it's allowed to show. Refinishing an antique dresser, for example, can cut its value in half.

It helps to know what collectors are looking for. The most sought-after duck decoys are those carved for hunting but never used. The most valuable dolls have realistic expressions on the faces, instead of the customary smile.

When it comes to sports memorabilia, the more dramatic the moment, the higher the possibilities. The ball Mark McGwire hit in 1998 to break baseball's single-season home run record was auctioned for nearly $3 million the next year.

King said there's no telling what kind of treasures are tucked away in Hampton Roads' attics, basements, closets and curio cabinets.

"This is fun," he said. "People get excited."

SO EXCITED, WE JUMPED IN EARLY

Watching "Antiques Roadshow" to see the hopeful owners of possible treasure gasp in delight or sigh with disappointment is one thing. But to get a real feel for how it works, we did a run-through by presenting items of curiosity or fondness to the local experts who will offer appraisals at the Riddick's Folly Hidden Treasures Appraisal Fair. We had a small piece of glassware, a silver tray and a camera. Here's what the experts said. 

 GREEN GLASSWARE

Forlines took one look at the green and gilded glassware and knew it was a turn-of-the-century toothpick holder likely purchased at a large public event, such as a world's fair. The little footed piece was "souvenired" with a personal inscription. While Forlines is a generalist and not a glass expert, he is a former collector of toothpick holders. Ray Felton at Simple Pleasures, an antiques shop just down the block from Forlines' store on High Street, confirmed his assessment. It is a pattern glassware piece in the Croesus pattern. Because of a crack on the base, Forlines said, it's of little to no value, except to a collector who might be willing to part with $5 to $20 to fill a spot in a collection. Felton agreed. A perfect specimen might fetch up to $85. While neither Felton nor Forlines needed to consult a book to identify the piece, books on pattern glassware exist. At the appraisal fair, some appraisers will bring books, some will use the Internet for research and others will have a list of specialist consultants to phone in a pinch. Most will rely on their expertise.

Did we strike gold or strike out? Click to find out.

SILVER SERVING TRAY

This heavy-footed tray with handles was fairly easy for Ed Forlines to appraise. The co-owner of Way Back Yonder Antiques in Portsmouth pulled out a loupe to read the stamped hallmarks on the back, which denote country and city of origin, manufacturer and date. For instance, an anchor hallmark places its origin in Birmingham, England. It was made by a company that used a menorah as its symbol. Forlines said the vast majority of trays he comes across were manufactured in the 20th century, and such was the case with ours. While in fairly good condition, it had some dents on the front and blemishes on the back that lowered its $250 potential value.

Did we get served? Find out here.

KODAK INSTAMATIC S-10 CAMERA

This piece, originally owned by a favorite uncle, holds sentimental value, but beyond that was anyone's guess. Tom Perry, owner of Tom's Auctions and Appraisals in Suffolk, is one of the generalists participating in the Riddick's Folly event. He evaluated our camera by a photo sent via email, which has become a more common practice. He did an Internet search to learn that the camera - in good condition except for some paint spots - originally sold for $30 and now is selling for $15 to $25. "There is a market now for people who like retro items from the '60s and '70s," he said. Like Forlines and Felton, Perry can often eyeball items to estimate value. "With 25 to 30 years in the business buying and selling every day, I have a lot in my head. But I always get at least three comparable values from different mediums and regions, not from just one area." Should he get stumped by a particular piece, he has an extensive list of experts just a phone call away.

Is this something you must snap up?Show me the money.

PUT YOUR OWN STUFF TO THE TEST

What Hidden Treasures Appraisal Fair

Find local experts in books and publications, Civil War artifacts and firearms, clocks, coins and currency, dolls, furniture, glass and porcelain, jewelry, quilts and samplers, paintings, prints, folk art, silver, toys, games, and miscellaneous.

Where Suffolk National Guard Armory, 2761 Godwin Blvd.

When 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 26

Cost Admission is free; appraisals are $7 per item

Joanne Kimberlin, (757) 446-2338, joanne.kimberlin@pilotonline.com

Joy Vann, joyvann@cox.net