History can come from the strangest places, so Oak Park residents will have a chance to have that old painting or sculpture checked out before they try to sell it at a yard sale for a few bucks.
The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest will be hosting an appraisal event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Nineteenth Century Club, 178 Forest Ave. The event is in the same vein as the television show “Antiques Roadshow” where people dig out items from their attics and basements to see what, if any, historical or monetary value they may have.
“People just want to know the history and value,” said Jean Guarino, historical society board member. “A lot of people have family (heirlooms) and they want to know the history of it. It might be sitting in an attic and they don’t really know what it is, or it is a painting that means a lot to them.”
The event is both a fundraiser and a service to the community, Guarino said. Each appraisal will cost $10, or $25 for three items, and will help fund the historical society and future events.
The appraisers, who will be provided by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers of Chicago, will look at jewelry, fine art, decorative items, fine books and manuscripts. Help will be available to unload residents’ vehicles. However, anything especially large, like furniture, should not be brought in, as residents should provide photographs from a few angles for the appraisers.
Guarino said they decided on the appraisal event because it fit with their mission, but also because it has not been done in the area before and figure residents in a historic town might have some historic items.
“They have these antiques, but people simply don’t know where to take them,” she said.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is doing the work pro bono and tends to do community-level appraisals four or five times a year.
“Oak Park is a terrific old suburb,” said Leslie Hindman, who has been in the appraisal business for about 30 years. “Any time we get calls from Oak Park, we send someone out right away. Some residents have been there such a long time and might not know the value (their antiques).”
But people aren’t always interested in finding out how much an antique is worth just so they can sell it. Both Hindman and Guarino said it is often because they have some kind of family heirloom they want to know more about, not because they want to unload it for cash.
“Often they are more interested in telling us the story about the antique more than finding out how much it is worth,” Hindman said.
Diamonds in the rough are often found, said Hindman appraiser John Walcher. Recently, they appraised a Guy Wiggins painting at an event in Hinsdale. The piece sold at auction for almost $110,000 last year. At another event, someone brought in a clock on a pull cart. It turned out being a German Meissen Clock.
“It’s probably a $10,000 clock, and they had it in this cart covered by some dirty towels,” Walcher said.
While the historical society will allow walk-ins, organizers are asking residents to register ahead of time so Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will know what items to expect and what type of specialists to send. Local businesses will also be available for free consultation for preservation, such a insuring items, framing art, decorating and refurbishing. Residents will not be able to sell any items at the event.
But the money is only part of the intrigue, Walcher said.
“People always want to think they have this priceless object, and sometimes it is, sometimes it isn’t. But the nice thing is that we get to come out and take a look at it,” he said. “You never know what you are going to find.”
Registration can be completed online at www.oprfhistory.org or by calling 708-848-6755.
