What better place to show off one’s antique wares than at the historical Pruyn House in Newtonville.
Curators at the circa 1825 historical home are hoping their first antiques appraisal day will have a good turnout on Mother’s Day weekend. All proceeds will benefits the Pruyn House Restoration Fund. Several projects have been slated for this construction season, including repairs the home’s roof and walls.
This is the Pruyn House version of Antiques Road show, said Diane Morgan, Pruyn House curator. `We did have an antiques sale about five years ago, but not just an appraisal day.`
Morgan said she isn’t certain what to expect as far as turnout. But, she has been told that appraisal days have been known to bring in large crowds.
Some of the money collected could go toward restoring the home’s own antiques that decorate the 177-year-old facility, which once belonged to Casparus Pruyn. Pruyn was the principal business agent of Albany Patroon Stephen Van Renssealaer.
Friends of Pruyn House, which manages the home, has asked Stair Galleries of Hudson to appraise the furniture, silver, lamps, glassware, fine and decorative arts, textiles, ceramics and sculptures that are expected to be brought in.
Rupert Fennell, a consultant for the Hudson gallery is confident that some good pieces will make a showing at the event.
`I would love to see some New York or Albany Silver, which I love. The Albany area is rich in Revolutionary War and pre-Revolutionary War history,` said Fennell, who was an appraiser with the PBS’s `Antiques Roadshow` in its early stages. He has appraised antiques since 1970.
The Pruyn House event could draw people from throughout the Mohawk River Valley, he said. It is an untapped antique market that is sure to make a good showing at the appraisal, he said.
He said that generally at appraisals, for every 100 pieces shown, 10 will be of unusual interest to appraisers, but that’s not to say unusual pieces, despite their worth will make an appearance.
For the most part, people are just curious about what they have. Sometimes it’s junk; sometimes it’s a jewel.
`Some people know what they have and had their piece appraised 20 years ago. Now they want o sell it, and we can tell them the price they can fetch on the open market at auction,` he said.
The Pruyn House event will be a great opportunity for area antiques enthusiast to tap the expertise Fennell and Stair Gallery owner, Colin Stair, have gathered over the years, said Morgan.
`If you invited an appraiser to your home, you could be looking at $100 just to have them there,` she said.
The Pruyn House Antique Appraisal Day will be held at the Buhrmaster Barn on the historical site, Saturday, May 12. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friends of Pruyn House ask that people do not bring jewelry or ethnographic arts or artifacts. Contribution per item appraisal is $10, or $25 for the appraisal of three items. Beverages and snacks will be available.
For information call 783-1435.
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