Antiques appraisal popular at fair Visitors bring family heirlooms to Curran Homestead for expert assessment

ORRINGTON – It’s not every day you find an intricately painted vase sitting on a picnic table in the country. But Saturday was Coral McCormack’s chance to find out what the family heirloom might be worth.

The Orrington woman was one of numerous people who dug up a treasure or two for appraisal during Curran Homestead’s Country Fair on Fields Pond Road.

“My mother bought it somewhere, I’d say in the ’40s or ’50s,” McCormack said, adding that one of the feet on the large Japanese vase had been patched.

The handsome piece was part of a set purchased by her mother, Abby French of Danforth, and McCormack was interested to find out that the pair was probably worth $250.

“A lot of people have admired it,” McCormack said, and certainly the jardiniere drew the eye of many who attended the weekend’s activities. Her appraisal came from Larry Clough, who runs Cindy’s Antiques in Ellsworth.

After 42 years of dealing in antiques – “It’s all I’ve ever done for a living,” Clough said – he finds it hard to say which items he likes best.

“Early American furniture,” he named, then “scrimshaw, antique marine paintings by Jacobson and Badger, and I’m very fond of art pottery,” he said.

His favorite over the decades would probably be “a collection of decoys by Gus Wilson, and second, a 14th century Chinese painting,” Clough said.

Those rarities, of course, don’t come along every day. Still, he was interested to see the treasures people presented, from a child-sized carpet rocker to a framed calendar print.

Irv Marsters, one of the organizers of activities at the Curran Homestead, brought along three silver-plated items belonging to his mother.

“This is a Victorian pattern,” Clough said, turning in his hands a sturdy pitcher engraved with flowers and leaves. The dealer gave an estimate of $65-$75 for the pitcher, which had a slight dent in it.

With the popularity of “Antiques Roadshow” on Public Broadcasting stations around the country, local organizations are trying a similar activity to raise money and to bring in visitors to nonprofit events.

The Curran Homestead picked up the idea from Brewer’s First Congregational Church, which held an appraisal day last fall in conjunction with its 200th anniversary celebration.

It was a popular event, said Bud Jeffrey, and 146 people brought in items to the church.

On Saturday, Curran Homestead charged $3 per item to be appraised, Marsters said, with one-third of that amount going to First Congregational Church.

Paul Zebiak of Maritime International in Bangor looked over old coins and military memorabilia, while Bob Gilbert of Brewer had the tent for appraising sports collectibles.

Duke Nolte took on kitchen items, while Ruth Farrington talked up Depression glass – “and elegant glass, too,” she pointed out.

Jeanette Larez of Magic Dolphin in Brewer lovingly handled old dolls, telling one woman that her Flora Dora doll was worth more than $400.

“She sleeps well,” Larez pointed out, changing the doll’s position so that the eyes would open and close. The eyes have weights on them, she explained, so the best way to store such an antique is on her belly.

Even visitors who didn’t bring in an antique enjoyed the appraisals, standing nearby to hear the verdict on each old item.

They also looked into the homestead, strolled through the barn and stopped at stalls to look over the horse or baby goats or young pigs. The project is a turn-of-the-century living history museum.

Families settled in for picnics, while some of the older duffers took a turn at horseshoes. Simple children’s games – tossing a beanbag or walking around a series of steps – brought the opportunity to win prizes.

Nine-year-old Travis Wood of Bangor scurried over to his family to show off the jar of bubbles and the small stuffed bear his talents had earned him.

“I won nine games,” he said proudly.

Other activities for the weekend included an auction, barbecue, baked bean supper, square dance, storytelling and music.

Membership in the Curran Homestead is $10 a year for individuals, $25 for families, sent to Curran Homestead, 880 North Main St., Brewer 04412. For information, call 989-7468.