VISTA: It's antique appraisal time

By Leigh Ann Dewey - For the North County Times | Monday, April 14, 2008 10:13 AM PDT ∞

VISTA ---- Most people own at least one: an item from another era bought at an antique store or passed down by a friend or relative. They're old and often beautiful, and they may have sentimental value, but are they worth anything?

North County residents lined up Sunday at the Gloria McClellan Senior Center in Vista to find out. In the spirit of the PBS TV series "Antiques Road Show," the center, in conjunction with the Friends of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe, sponsored the first Antique Appraisal and Craft Fair.

The event was a fundraiser for the center and the adobe. Both groups hope the fair will become an annual event. The center received money from food sales and vendor fees. The Friends of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe ---- which maintains the historic Vista landmark, conducts tours of the site, staffs the gift shop and promotes the adobe within the community ---- earned funds for the adobe from the $10-per-item appraisal fee paid by people who came learn what their favorite treasures are worth.

Appraisals were made by certified personal property appraisers Carol McAndrew of Valley Center and Paul McConnell of Encinitas, who were paid a nominal fee for their services and have appeared at similar events throughout San Diego County. Both referred to several reference books on collectibles while making their appraisals.

"You get to meet people who have wondered for years if something they own is worth anything," said McAndrew. "We can usually tell in five minutes. Sometimes we'll find a treasure, but often people don't care if it's worth anything, they just want to know."

While the craft fair in an adjoining room offered new jewelry, paintings, gourd art, toiletries, tote bags, greeting cards and other merchandise for sale, people seeking appraisals carried and waited with their carefully wrapped, bagged and boxed treasured items from the past.

John Calhoun and Letty Linhart of Vista waited their turn with an intricately designed sake jar they bought in Japan for 25 American dollars in 1956.

"One man said it was worth something," Linhart said, "but he may not have known what he was talking about. There's something we want to buy, so we'll sell it if it's worth something."

Although she admired its design and craftsmanship, and believed it was manufactured between 1890 and 1910 in Japan, McAndrew appraised the jar at only about $95.

"I guess that's not a down payment," Linhart joked about the new item they had hoped the jar would help fund.

"There were a lot of (Japanese art pieces) shipped to the U.S. after World War II," McAndrew said, and "there are a tremendous amount of Asian items in San Diego because it's a naval port. It may be worth more elsewhere, but because the whole market now is depressed, it would be hard to sell anywhere."

Dean Koon of Vista, a car buff and former driver's training instructor at Vista High School, arrived with a small blue-and-black English-manufactured Villiers Deluxe Junior motorcycle he said was one of many used by American soldiers during the Normandy invasion of World War II. Koon said he inherited the vehicle from a Vista man he and his wife cared for for 25 years until his death at age 90.

"We thought he was broke so we didn't charge him for taking care of him," Koon said.

At the man's request, Koon's wife, Sheila, handled his will, and learned he had $9 million in his bank account. The couple did not receive any of the savings, but were given the motorcycle, which Koon said was dropped into the battle by parachute for use in battle by U.S. troops.

The man said he "brought it from Normandy," Koon said. "I heard they weren't supposed to bring them back . . . but he wouldn't say how he got it."

Never having appraised such a vehicle, McConnell photographed the cycle and said he would research the item and get back to Koon.

Minna and Frank Riber of Vista waited for their appraisals with a small carved wood and cushioned footstool

Minna said came from her aunt's estate, "so I know it goes back a ways," she said.

They also brought two mounted sculptures depicting biblical scenes by East Coast artist George Aarons, who Minna said was deceased. "I think they may be worth something," she said.

McConnell examined the footstool and determined that it probably was manufactured in the United States in the 1930s or 1940s. If the piece were created in France, he said, the wooden base and legs would have been made of walnut, and would have a natural luminescence. Other features, including the nails used, proved the piece was from the early 20th century.

McConnell looked up the creator of the two mounted sculptures in a reference book, but since the artist was not listed, he could not determine their value.

"I always wondered what I would do with them," said Minna.

"Enjoy them." McConnell said.

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